The Irving S. Gilmore International Piano Festival will feature the finest international pianists playing classical, jazz, and pop music. The piano will be center stage for Gilmore-commissioned world premieres, free community concerts, films, musical theatre, and so much more.

Festival Schedule:

11:00 AM: Beaton, MacGillivray, and MacNeil: A Cape Breton Trio

Andrea Beaton, piano, fiddle
Troy MacGillivray, piano, fiddle
Tracey Dares MacNeil, piano, fiddle

No stage? No seats? No problem! Parents can relax while kids of any age can have fun checking out the piano, meeting the artists, crawling or dancing around the room. A Baby Grands concert is The Gilmore’s way of sharing great music with the whole family. Refreshments will be available.

Andrea Beaton, Troy MacGillivray, and Tracey MacNeil hail from the isolated beauty of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their joyful style of dance music is defined by its improvised folk piano tradition. Expect instrument-switching, solo dancing, and inspiring harmonies, as they explore the traditional music of Ireland, Scotland, and Cape Breton, along with original compositions. Their performances offer a shared sense of fun and years of making music together.

Location: Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, Kalamazoo

2:00 PM: Gabriela Montero and the Calidore String Quartet

Gabriela Montero, piano
Calidore String Quartet: Jeffrey Myers, violin – Ryan Meehan, violin – Jeremy Berry, viola – Estelle Choi, cello

Venezuelan composer and pianist Gabriela Montero presents the world premiere of her new work for piano and strings, commissioned by The Gilmore, with the Calidore String Quartet. Also on the program: Dvorak’s Piano Quintet in A Major, Op. 81. Montero’s visionary interpretations and unique compositions have garnered critical acclaim and a devoted following on the world stage. Born in Venezuela, the GrammyⓇ Award-winner studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London and has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras. Founded at LA’s Colburn School in 2010, The Calidore String Quartet is recognized as one of the world’s foremost interpreters of a vast repertory, from the cycles of quartets by Beethoven and Mendelssohn to works of celebrated contemporary voices.

Location: Dalton Center Recital Hall, WMU

4:00 PM & 7:00 PM: Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio

Delvon Lamarr, piano
Josh Perdue, bass
Sam Groveman, drums

The Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio specializes in the art of ‘feel good music.’ The charismatic Lamarr’s energetic, soulful Hammond organ blends soul, jazz, funk, and R&B’s infectious rhythms in an energetic performance. A self-taught musician with perfect pitch, Delvon Lamarr plays a multitude of instruments. With Jimmy James on guitar, and Julian MacDonough on drums, the trio has issued two Billboard-charting albums and toured internationally. Look for sprinkles of Motown, Stax Records, blues, and cosmic Jimi Hendrix- style guitar with the trio’s fiery and intuitive chemistry.

Location: Bell’s Eccentric Cafe, Kalamazoo