The Frost Chopin Academy & Festival launches its 2026 edition with an unforgettable opening concert featuring internationally acclaimed pianist Kate Liu. Catapulted to global attention after winning the Bronze Medal and the Audience Prize at the 17th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw, Liu has since earned a reputation as one of the most compelling Chopin interpreters of her generation. Her performances—praised for their poetic depth, luminous sound, and extraordinary emotional insight—have captivated audiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, Liu has appeared with major orchestras and on the world’s leading stages, consistently recognized for her rare ability to illuminate the inner life of Chopin’s music. Her artistry combines intellectual clarity with a deeply personal voice, making her a Chopin player of the highest caliber.

For this opening recital, Liu offers a richly sculpted program that highlights the breadth of the Romantic imagination: Schumann’s Arabeske unfolding with intimate lyricism and Brahms’ Piano Sonata No. 1 showcasing youthful brilliance and symphonic scope. The program will, of course, also feature music by Chopin; the Mazurkas, op. 50—miniatures of exquisite nuance and national character—and the iconic Piano Sonata No. 2, whose dramatic contrasts and haunting “Funeral March” remain among the most powerful statements in the piano repertoire.
This opening concert sets the tone for a week of exceptional music‑making, so join us June 14-21 at Frost Chopin Academy and Festival.

Program:
F. Chopin – Mazurkas, op. 50
F. Chopin – Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor, op. 35
R. Schumann – Arabeske, op. 18
J. Brahms – Piano Sonata No. 1 in C major, op. 1