Stephen Porter’s pianism has been described as “superb…invigorating…perfect” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch). His solo recitals have been highlighted by performances in Italy and Turkey, as well as at Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, and The Palm House and Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis. This spring Steinway and Sons selected him to present a lecture-recital on the Horowitz piano, currently on tour throughout the United States. In February he performed for a sold-out house at Amherst College’s Buckely Recital Hall, and gave chamber concerts with cellist Katherine Kayaian at the Newton Public Library and the Noble and Greenough School. In May he will give a recital on the Crescendo Concert Series of St. Charles, Missouri.

Stephen Porter has been on the faculty of Webster University, and has judged piano competitions and given master classes at several schools, including Washington University and Boston University.  His chamber music performances include concerts with members of the St. Louis Symphony, and with concertmaster David Halen at the invitation of the Missouri Fine Arts Academy.  Mr. Porter graduated Magna Cum Laude from Oberlin College, and has a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance with Distinction from the New England Conservatory of Music.  His teachers include Peter Takacs, Jacob Maxin and Paul Doguereau, the protégé of Ravel. He is currently on the faculty of Phillips Academy Andover.

This is Stephen Porter’s sixth appearance on the Historical Piano Concerts Series.

For more information, please visit stephenporterpiano.com

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, Katherine Kayaian came to Boston to pursue her degree at the New England Conservatory of Music where she studied cello with Colin Carr, and chamber music with Eugene Lehner, Irma Vallecillo, and Scott Nickrenz. Subsequently, she won a three-year fellowship with the New World Symphony where she performed as principal cellist under the baton of Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas, and often performed in the chamber music series. She spent three summers at the Tanglewood Music Center where she was the cellist of the Conductor's Quintet. While in residence there, she was involved in many collaborative projects with groups such as Jacob's Pillow Dance Company and Shakespeare and Company.

She performs as soloist and chamber musician throughout Chicago, Miami, Boston, and London, England, and is associate principal cellist with the New England String Ensemble, and the Key West Symphony Orchestra.  She also performs with The Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Opera Boston, the Cantata Singers, The Rhode Island Philharmonic, and the Boston Pops. Ms. Kayaian teaches cello both at the Winchester Community Music School, and privately, is the head cello coach and director of the chamber music program for the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, and the Director of the String department at the Noble and Greenough School.

We welcome Katherine Kayaian to her first appearance on the Historical Piano Concert Series.