Dr. Pierre van der Westhuizen, the Executive and Artistic Director of the Gilmore, has announced that starting in the spring of 2026, the Gilmore Piano Festival will shift from its current biennial schedule to become an annual festival. This decision was made following extensive consultations with various stakeholders who expressed a strong interest in experiencing the exceptional piano performances more frequently. Along with the change in frequency, the festival will be shortened in duration each year.
By transitioning to an annual format, The Gilmore will have more opportunities to collaborate closely with renowned artists from classical, jazz, and other musical genres. The increased frequency will also provide Gilmore Artist Award recipients more chances to present projects that may not have fit into the previous biennial schedule. Additionally, this change will allow for more commissions of new piano works and will help expand the festival’s educational and community engagement programs. Making the festival an annual event is expected to benefit the Kalamazoo community by drawing piano enthusiasts from across the country, which will support local businesses and contribute to economic growth.
The first annual festival in 2026 will also mark the introduction of the inaugural Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award. This new award, modeled after the Gilmore Artist Award for classical pianists, will be presented to a jazz pianist selected by an anonymous committee. Over the years, The Gilmore Piano Festival has hosted world-class jazz musicians such as Kenny Barron, Chick Corea, Ray Charles, Eliane Elias, Sullivan Fortner, Hiromi, Brad Mehldau, Dr. Lonnie Smith, and Herbie Hancock. The establishment of the Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award further cements the festival’s dedication to jazz as a vital American art form. Similar to the Gilmore Artist Award, the Bell Jazz Artist Award will be granted every four years.
The Gilmore Piano Festival was created in 1989 to honor the legacy of Kalamazoo businessman and philanthropist Irving S. Gilmore. Since its inception, the festival has hosted 16 biennial events, commissioned more than 40 new piano works, and named 9 Gilmore Artists and 40 Gilmore Young Artists. In addition to the festival, The Gilmore hosts concerts throughout the year, ensuring that world-class piano music is a constant presence. The organization also runs a robust program for community engagement and music education, offering a variety of services such as neighborhood concerts, piano lessons in elementary schools, music therapy, group lessons for adults, toddler-friendly concerts, summer piano camps, and master classes. These initiatives impact thousands of children and adults across the region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian pianist Illia Ovcharenko, the Honens Prize Laureate, is set to open The Gilmore’s 2024-25 season on Sunday, September 15.
