Poster Avery Gagliano, pianist
Avery Gagliano, pianist
Chris Lee
Performance Today®

Young Artist in Residence: Avery Gagliano

PT - Young Artist in Residence - Avery Gagliano - Parts 1 & 2

Washington D.C. native Avery Gagliano was five years old when she got her start on the piano. At age 10, she made her first appearance on National Public Radio’s From the Top. She entered the Curtis Institute of Music as a pre-college student at age 14.

Then, at age 18, Gagliano received the Audience Prize at the 2019 Cliburn International Junior Piano Competition, was the winner of the Aspen Music Festival Concerto Competition, the MostArts Festival Piano Competition, and the 2019 National YoungArts Competition.

At age 19, she reached international distinction as the First Prize and Best Concerto Prize winner of the 2020 National Chopin Piano Competition.

The next year, at age 20, Gagliano made her Carnegie Hall debut, released her first album, Reflections, on the Steinway & Sons label and was the only American semifinalist at the 18th International Chopin Competition.

Now, at age 22, Avery Gagliano can add Performance Today Young Artist in Residence to her mounting list of achievements. And even though Gagliano is extremely poised and seems to just collect accolades as the years go by, she’d tell you that her music playing is rooted in faith and gratefulness. When we spoke to Gagliano about what music means to her, she said what’s most important is to glorify God with the talent she’s been given and to continue to share that gift with the world.

So far, we’d say Gagliano is well on her way in that endeavor to share her gift with the world. In addition to Carnegie Hall, she’s appeared on such stages as Warsaw Philharmonic Hall in Warsaw, Poland, the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris, France and the Luxembourg Philharmonie in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Her solo appearances with orchestras include performances with the Louisville Orchestra and the Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. Gagliano has also appeared at such festivals as the Verbier Festival in Verbier, Switzerland, the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois and the Gilmore Piano Festival in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Avery Gagliano holds a Bachelors degree in piano performance from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and will begin graduate studies at the Kronberg Academy in Taunus, Germany under the guidance of her mentor Andras Schiff in the fall of 2024.

Most recently, Gagliano became a finalist of the 2025 American Pianists Awards. After a year of performances and adjudication, the winner will be named in April of 2025.


Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest Performance Today® Episodes

PT Weekend: Jessie Montgomery

PT Weekend: Jessie Montgomery

In the Spring of 2020, the pandemic was brand-new, isolating, and scary. American composer Jessie Montgomery wrote a short composition called Peace… and when Clarinetist Anthony McGill first heard it, he was moved to tears. On today's show, Anthony McGill and pianist Conrad Tao play music about coming to terms with sadness: Peace by Jessie Montgomery.

1:59:00
Leif Ove Andsnes plays Grieg's Piano Concerto

Leif Ove Andsnes plays Grieg's Piano Concerto

Publishing houses in Germany initially rejected Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto. When pianist Franz Liszt played through the piece with Grieg, Liszt warmly shook his hand and said, "You have the gift. Keep on composing. Don't let them intimidate you." Liszt’s advice changed Grieg's life; that piece has become one of the most famous pieces of its kind in classical music. On today's show, pianist Leif Ove Andsnes plays Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the Lucerne Festival Orchestra in Switzerland.

1:59:00
Stewart Goodyear: Panorama

Stewart Goodyear: Panorama

Trinidad is the home of the steel drum — or the steel pan as it's called there. Every year at Carnival, Trinidad hosts Panorama, a showcase for the best steel pan ensembles. Composer and pianist Stewart Goodyear plays his take on Panorama on this episode of Performance Today.

1:59:00
Jessie Montgomery: Peace

Jessie Montgomery: Peace

In the Spring of 2020, the pandemic was brand-new, isolating, and scary. American composer Jessie Montgomery wrote a short composition called Peace… and when Clarinetist Anthony McGill first heard it, he was moved to tears. On today's show, Anthony McGill and pianist Conrad Tao play music about coming to terms with sadness: Peace by Jessie Montgomery.

1:59:00
Elfrida Andrée

Elfrida Andrée

Swedish composer and organist Elfrida Andrée was determined to do it all. She advocated for legal changes so women could work as organists and telegraph operators, and she wanted people to know that women could compose significant works. We'll hear Elfrida Andrée's Symphony No. 2 on this episode of Performance Today.

1:59:00
Honoring our veterans

Honoring our veterans

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, and ‘Performance Today’ is honoring those who've served our country in uniform. We’ll hear music by composers who were in the armed forces, including William Grant Still and Samuel Barber. Listen now!

1:59:00
PT Weekend: Nikolai Kapustin

PT Weekend: Nikolai Kapustin

Nikolai Kapustin’s compositions are full of joyful syncopations, and some listeners called him a jazz pianist. But, Kapustin emphasized that he was a classically trained composer who just happened to love jazz. We’ll hear Kapustin’s music at the intersection of classical and jazz on today’s show.

1:59:00
Maria Dueñas

Maria Dueñas

Violinist Maria Dueñas is a university student, but she already has a global following and is selling out concert halls worldwide. Gustavo Dudamel says: "She has the magic... an artistic soul. She is fire." We’ll hear Maria Dueñas play a concerto by Max Bruch on today’s show.

1:59:00
The Aznavoorian Duo

The Aznavoorian Duo

The Aznavoorian sisters gave their first concert at a local church when cellist Ani was four and pianist Marta was eight. Ani and Marta have each grown up to have successful careers, and now, they're sharing a stage again. Join us to hear sisters Ani and Marta Aznavoorian play at a concert presented by the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida.

1:59:00
The intersection of classical and jazz

The intersection of classical and jazz

Nikolai Kapustin’s compositions are full of joyful syncopations, and some listeners called him a jazz pianist. But, Kapustin emphasized that he was a classically trained composer who just happened to love jazz. We’ll hear Kapustin’s music at the intersection of classical and jazz on today’s show.

1:59:00
VIEW ALL EPISODES