Joseph Irrera (piano) Joseph Irrera (piano) earned his Bachelor’s degree with Distinction from the Eastman School of Music in 2005, and his Master’s Degree, just one year later, from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. He began his piano studies at the age of five and was accepted into the Community Education Division of the Eastman School of Music’s Preparatory Department in 1993. Principle teachers include Alla Kuznetsov, Douglas Humpherys, and Alexander Shtarkman. Mr. Irrera has also received additional training from renowned pedagogues Martin Canin, Philip Kawin, Lev Natochenny, Irina Edelstein, Victor Rosenbaum, and concert pianist Jon Nakamatsu.

Mr. Irrera has concertized throughout the United States and abroad with appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C with Leonard Slatkin, the Moulin d’Ande International Music Festival in France, and additional solo recitals in Bulgaria, Germany, and Italy. At the age of 18 he made his concerto debut performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. Highlights from Mr. Irrera’s 2008-2009 concert season include solo appearances at the Steinway Piano Society Concert Series in Naples, Florida, the Washington Square Recital Series in Rochester, NY, and his Carnegie Hall debut in New York City.

Mr. Irrera is laureate of many national and international piano competitions including the Guthman International Piano Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, the Young Artist’s International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., and most recently the American Protégé International Piano Competition in New York City, where he was awarded first Prize.

Currently, Mr. Irrera serves on the faculty of the Eastman School of Music Community Music School and the Hochstein School of Music at both their Rochester and Canandaigua campuses. He will be pursuing the DMA Degree at the Eastman School of Music beginning in September 2009. If you would like to contact Mr. Irrera you may do so at www.josephirrera.com