Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell, Pianist

London-born pianist Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell received his musical training in England, France and at the Juilliard School, and has performed throughout Europe and the United States, most notably at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. He has lived and worked in Minnesota for many years, including Stillwater, having previously been based in London, New York, and Boston. His multifaceted musical career includes solo piano recitals, song recitals, chamber music, conducting choirs, orchestras and Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, and collaborating with violinists to saxophonists. In addition, he has played Broadway shows, worked in straight theater, and coaches opera, musical theater and song repertoire. He has collaborated this last year with Zephyr Theatre, including composing music for last year’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream”, as they prepared to buy and develop the building of the old Zephyr Depot. This versatility and range has added richness and depth to his musical and artistic vision. Roderick’s performance aims were captured by the reviewer of a concert in New York, who wrote: “There are concerts when the stars align such that one leaves this dimension entirely and for a blissful span resides in some world that is more beautiful, more profound, than anything imaginable… [His] contribution was of stunningly beautiful substance, his playing a continuum of every nuance, and replete with the variegated textures and colors that swim and sparkle in this repertoire [and] … delivered a glittering performance of Ravel’s Sonatine for piano solo. I’ve rarely heard the Steinway at Weill sound so good as he was able to coax it. The true spirit of the Mouvement de Menuet, usually mismanaged by emotional fussiness that impinges upon its classic gait, walked elegantly in his care.” Currently he is finishing a memoir for Calumet Editions, incorporating his ideas on how to develop more imagination, creativity and expression in the training of musicians. He also has a vision to provide an innovative space for musicians to continue their growth after college and to expand their artistic and professional performance opportunities.