FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2018
Roberto Plano
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is pleased to announce the appointment of Roberto Plano as associate professor of music in piano, effective Aug. 1, 2018.
An Italian native, Plano has performed around the world, appearing with prestigious orchestras under the direction of renowned conductors such as Sir Neville Marriner, James Conlon, Pinchas Zuckerman and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Plano has played as a recitalist at Lincoln Center, Sala Verdi, Salle Cortot, Wigmore Hall, Herculessaal and the internationally acclaimed Newport Festival, Portland Piano Festival, Ravinia Festival, Gilmore International Keyboard Festival (U.S.), Chopin Festival (Poland), Gijon International Piano Festival (Spain) and Bologna Festival (Italy).
“Roberto is the consummate performer, a devoted pedagogue and a musical scholar,” said Gwyn Richards, David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean. “These traits are hard to find in a single individual, but when combined with his infectious personality, they endear him to students, colleagues and the public alike.”
His engaging personality has made him a favorite guest on radio programs such as NPR’s “Performance Today” and on TV shows for PBS, France’s Mezzo, and Japan’s NHK. He has recorded for numerous labels and been awarded the maximum five-star rating by several music magazines. International Piano magazine calls him “a dazzling pianist, with a beautiful tone and plenty of temperament” in its current issue.
Also an avid chamber musician, Plano has performed with some of the most renowned string quartets in the world, such as Takacs, Cremona, Jupiter, St. Petersburg, Fine Arts and Muir. He was a first-prize winner at the 2001 Cleveland International Piano Competition, prizewinner at the Honens, Dublin, Sendai, Geza Anda and Valencia competitions, and finalist at the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
“I cannot describe my feelings when I was offered a position on the Jacobs School of Music faculty, and I’m still feeling that same excitement,” said Plano. “Joining such a school makes me immensely proud—not only because of its legacy and the incredible artists who have contributed to it in the past, but also because of its present. Its current superb musicians will now be my colleagues, and its campus and facilities are admired worldwide. My family and I cannot wait to call Bloomington and the Jacobs School home!”
Plano studied at the Verdi Conservatory in Milan, Ecole “Cortot” in Paris and Lake Como Academy. He joined the faculty at Boston University in 2016. His hometown of Varese has awarded him several prizes, including the Lumen Claro, previously given to influential people like soprano Barbara Frittoli, stylist Ottavio Missoni and economist Mario Monti. In January 2018, Plano won the American Prize in the solo professional division.
MEDIA CONTACT
Linda Cajigas
Assistant Director of Communications
IU Jacobs School of Music
812-856-3882 | lcajigas@indiana.edu