International music stars to shine during Impromptu Classical Concerts’ 2020 season

Many of the classical music world’s most talented artists will take to the stage at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church early next year during the 2020 season of Impromptu Classical Concerts.

Offering unique performances from piano/cello duos to saxophone quartets and more, this much-anticipated season looks to be one of the most varied and interesting yet for the concert series, the oldest such showcase for classical music in Key West, having been founded in 1972.

First up, on Jan. 12, Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot will share with Key Westers the magic of his first local performance .

A native of Toronto, Pouliot has quickly become one of Canada’s most celebrated and promising young artists. He was the Grand Prize winner of the 2016 Orchestra Symphonique de Montréal Manulife Competition, and has been featured on a number of television and radio broadcasts across North America, including CBC Radio and NPR’s Performance Today.

The Toronto Star has described Pouliot as “One of those special talents that comes along once in a lifetime.”

Next, on Jan. 26, enjoy the scintillating sounds of Trio Gaspard, whose members hail from Germany, Greece and the UK. This ensemble is one of the most sought-after trios of its generation, and together violinist Jonian Ilias Kadesha, cellist Vashti Hunter, and pianist Nicholas Rimmer have been invited to perform regularly at major international concert venues such as Wigmore Hall and the Berlin Philharmonic. They have also won three major international competitions since forming in 2010.

On Feb. 9 don’t miss the Canellakis-Brown Duo.

Composed of pianist and composer Michael Brown, (making his third Impromptu experience,) as well as cellist Nicholas Canellakis, the duo has been hailed as “a pair of adventurous young talents” by Time Out New York and lavishly praised by the New York Times as “two outstanding musicians who are captivating audiences with innovative programs that combine masterpieces from the standard repertoire with original compositions and arrangements.” The two highly acclaimed artists continue to pursue solo careers with performances in such venues as the Lincoln Center and Alice Tully Hall.

Superb reed instrument playing will be on dazzling display Feb. 23 during Impromptu’s presentation of the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet. This group appears regularly at major concert halls in Europe, Asia and the U.S., and has been hailed as the “Uncrowned Kings of the Saxophone” by the Vienna Zeitung, and celebrated by Die Welt, which claimed that “If there were an Olympic discipline for virtuoso wind playing, the Raschèr Quartet would definitely receive a gold medal.”

Although founded in the United States in 1969 the quartet was relocated in Germany several years later and has been based there ever since. The group members will conduct a workshop for students of Key West High School the day after their performance, thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of the Florida Keys.

A special afternoon will be had by all on March 8 when Impromptu’s 2020 “Rising Star,” pianist Natalia Kazaryan, returns to perform in Key West. Kazaryan has played at a number of prestigious concert halls across Europe, and received top prizes from the Eastman Young Artists International, Kosciuszko Foundation Chopin, and the New York piano competitions as well as the Concours FLAME and Concours international de piano d’Ile de France. She studied at The Julliard School and recently completed her doctoral studies at the University of Michigan.

And last, but certainly not least, a concert by the Calidore String Quartet will conclude the 2020 Impromptu season on March 22.


Noted for its “deep reserves of virtuosity and irrepressible dramatic instinct” by the New York Times, and “balance of intellect and expression” by the LA Times the group has won accolades across the globe and is now firmly established as one of the finest chamber music ensembles performing today.

All Impromptu performances take place at 4 p.m., at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 Duval St.

Tickets cost $20 at the door, on the day of the show, with all students being admitted free of charge.

Season tickets are available, as are sponsorship opportunities.

For more information, and ticket orders, visit http://www.keywestimpromptu.org/

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]