Mackenzie Melemed
Pianist Mackenzie Melemed makes his Phillips Music debut with “Keys Across America,” an all-American recital inspired by the United States’ 250th anniversary. Presented in the Phillips Collection’s Music Room, the program spans nearly two centuries of American piano music, combining familiar works with lesser-known pieces and two Washington, D.C. premieres by Laura Kaminsky and Avner Dorman.
A recipient of the 2022 Avery Fisher Career Grant and a Steinway Artist, Melemed has performed with major orchestras and at venues and festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia. His “Keys Across America” project explores American piano repertoire in more than 50 cities and includes new works written for him by Kaminsky and Dorman. Born in Massachusetts, Melemed began studying piano at age four, performed more than 500 times by age 13, and appeared at White House Holiday Open House celebrations from 2004 through 2008. He has been based in Finland since 2020 and holds degrees and an Artist Diploma from The Juilliard School.
When: October 11, 2026
Showtimes: 4–6 PM
Venue: The Phillips Collection, Music Room
Format: In-person solo piano concert
Program: Aaron Copland’s “Buckaroo Holiday” from *Rodeo*; Laura Kaminsky’s *Threnody…October 2024*; Amy Beach’s *Ballade*, Op. 6; Ned Rorem’s *Piano Sonata No. 1, III. Toccata. Clear, Fast, and Hard*; Avner Dorman’s *Lament and Variations*; Edward MacDowell’s *New England Idyls*, Op. 62, including “An Old Garden,” “In Deep Woods,” and “The Joy of Autumn”; and Louis-Moreau Gottschalk’s *Union (Concert Paraphrase on National Airs)*, Op. 48.
D.C. Premieres: Laura Kaminsky’s *Threnody…October 2024* and Avner Dorman’s *Lament and Variations* are identified as Washington, D.C. premieres.
Intermission: The concert includes an intermission between Rorem’s piano sonata and Dorman’s *Lament and Variations*.
Rush Tickets: A limited number of rush tickets may be available beginning at 4 PM on the Friday before the concert. Requests can be made in person, online, or by phone, depending on availability.
Standby Tickets: Limited standby tickets are available on the day of the concert on a first-come, first-served basis. In-person requests begin at 3 PM in the admissions lobby.
Tickets: Price not available
Ages: No age restriction stated.
Accessibility: No accessibility information stated.