Twenty-six year old American pianist Rachel Breen’s performances have been described as “truly show-stopping” (Gramophone UK), having “a beautiful piano sound and original detail.” She is a student of the late Lars Vogt at Hannover's Hochschule für Musik; previously, she completed degrees at Yale University and the Juilliard School under--respectively--Boris Slutsky and Julian Martin. Breen was self-taught until age 10, when she began lessons with Dr. Sharon Mann at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
Breen has enjoyed an active competition career, having been awarded top prizes at Premi Iturbi (2023), the Hans von Bülow International Competition (2023), the Bösendorfer International Competition (2023), the Honens International Piano Competition (2022), Concorso Internazionale Palma D’Oro (2022), the Beethoven International Competition in Vienna (2021), the Livorno International Piano Competition (2020), the Georges Cziffra International Competition (2019), the Nuova Coppa Pianisti International Competition (2019), the Gallinari International Competition (2019), Premio Melini (2019), and Concurso Internacional de Piano Compositores de España (2018), among others. She was selected as the 2021-23 National Federation of Music Clubs’ Young Artist in the US, and received the 2021 Kurt Alten Prize at her university in Germany.
She has performed and taught masterclasses around the United States, as well as in Argentina, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. She is featured in the 2021 podcast “30 Bach” alongside Jeremy Denk, Angela Hewitt, Tim Page, and Simone Dinnerstein in a discussion and performance of the Goldberg Variations. Her most recent concert seasons have featured guest artist appearances at the Chautauqua Institute, The San Francisco International Piano Festival, the Beethovenfest in Bonn, Merkin Hall for IKIF, Festival Liszt en Provence, and Fazioli Hall's Concert Series.
Aside from piano, Breen has an interest in languages, having received first prize on the National Latin Exam and third prize on the National French Exam. She spends her spare time running, exploring philosophy and visual arts, and forgetting to answer important emails.
Breen is currently based in Hannover, Germany.
The Southeastern Piano Festival is grateful to the many generous individuals and businesses that help our festival become a reality. Steinway and Sons is the official performance piano of the festival. The Symphony League of the South Carolina Philharmonic sponsors the Arthur Fraser International Concerto Competition.
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