As the new millennium firms itself into our calendars, the Newtown Friends of Music has once again discovered a musical treasure in the fabulous talents of the pianist Jeremy Denk. Mr Denk will perform in concert in the auditorium of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street in Newtown, on Sunday, February 13, at 3 pm.

The American pianist, who is just ending his twenties, has established a formidable reputation as one of the most spellbinding artists today. To quote from The New York Times: “Jeremy Denk’s performance was elegant and imaginative; his insights were always compelling … Pungent, sustained harmonies. [His] searching mind was the hallmark of his playing.”

The recipient of the 1998 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Jeremy Denk also won the 1997 Young Concert Artists International Auditions. He made a highly acclaimed New York debut at Alice Tully Hall in April 1997 as the recipient of the Juilliard School’s William Petschek’s piano debut award.

As a winner of the concerto competition at Juilliard in 1995, Mr Denk performed the Schumann Piano Concerto with Kurt Masur leading the Juilliard Orchestra in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. That performance was broadcast nationally on NPR’s “Performance Today.”

In another notable engagement, Mr Denk played the Brahms Piano Concerto No. 1 with London’s Philharmonia Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall.

This young man’s career is already marked by a commitment to chamber music and to the music of today’s composers, as well as to the central works of the recital and concert repertoire. In 1990, Jeremy Denk received both a BA in chemistry from Oberlin College and a BM from the Oberlin Conservatory and a master’s degree in music from Indiana University, where he studied with Joseph Schwartz. He is on the faculty of Indiana University’s School of Music and a doctoral candidate at the Juilliard School.

The program for February 13 will feature two Bach toccatas (BWV 912 and BWV 910), and four impromptus by Franz Schubert. Following the intermission, Mr Denk will perform Schubert’s Sonata D.850, Opus 53.

Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. Children between the ages of 5 and 14 are admitted free when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. The box office will open one hour before the performance starts and parking is free behind Edmond Town Hall. There will be an informal reception following the concert.

For further information and ticket information call Newtown Friends of Music at 426-6470.