Michelle Cann

"Technically fearless with…an enormous, rich sound”—La Scena Musicale

Pianist Michelle Cann made her orchestral debut at age fourteen and has since performed as a soloist with prominent orchestras such as the Atlanta and Cincinnati symphony orchestras, The Cleveland Orchestra, the New Jersey Symphony, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.

Ms. Cann’s 2022-23 season includes an appearance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, return engagements with the Cincinnati and New Jersey symphonies, and debut performances with the Baltimore, National, New World, Seattle, and Utah symphonies. She makes her debut at Carnegie Hall with the New York Youth Symphony and performs recitals in New Orleans, Little Rock, Sarasota, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.

A champion of the music of Florence Price, Ms. Cann performed the New York City premiere of the composer’s Piano Concerto in One Movement with The Dream Unfinished Orchestra in July 2016 and the Philadelphia premiere with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin in February 2021, which the Philadelphia Inquirer called “exquisite.” She has also performed Price’s works for solo piano and chamber ensemble for prestigious presenters such as Caramoor, Chamber Music Detroit, the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, San Francisco Performances, and Washington Performing Arts.

Ms. Cann is the recipient of the 2022 Sphinx Medal of Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the Sphinx Organization, and the 2022 Andrew Wolf Chamber Music Award. Embracing a dual role as performer and pedagogue, Ms. Cann frequently teaches master classes and leads residencies. She has served on the juries of the Cleveland International Piano Competition and at the Music Academy of the West. She has also appeared as cohost and collaborative pianist with NPR’s From The Top.

Ms. Cann studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, where she serves on the piano faculty as the inaugural Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies.

Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies

Ms. Cann is the inaugural Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies. The chair honors the memory of the school’s longest serving faculty member, the esteemed Eleanor Sokoloff, and is to be held in perpetuity only by an exceptionally gifted and forward-thinking female pianist.

Media

Images

High-resolution files are available to download from the full promotional kit

01 - 09 Michelle Cann (credit Steven Mareazi Willis)

02 - 09 Michelle Cann (credit Jiyang Chen)

03 - 09 Michelle Cann with the Philadelphia Orchestra (credit Jeff Fusco)

04 - 09 Michelle Cann with the Philadelphia Orchestra (credit Jeff Fusco)

05 - 09 Michelle Cann with the Philadelphia Orchestra (credit Jeff Fusco)

06 - 09 Michelle Cann with the Philadelphia Orchestra (credit Jeff Fusco)

07 - 09 Michelle Cann in Field Concert Hall

08 - 09 Michelle Cann in Field Concert Hall

09 - 09 Michelle Cann with the North Carolina Symphony (credit Michael Zirkle)

  • Michelle Cann performs selections from Piano Concerto in One Movement by Florence Price with the Philadelphia Orchestra; Verizon Hall, February 2021


    Ms. Cann performs Ballade No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 47 by Frédéric Chopin; Gould Rehearsal Hall, July 2020


    Ms. Cann performs Piano Sonata in E minor by Florence Price as guest host for From the Top; Interlochen Center for the Arts, March 2019


    Ms. Cann performs Ballade Op. 10, No. 2 by Johannes Brahms; February 2021


    Ms. Cann teaches 10 short lessons on Chopin’s 3rd Ballade; Tonebase; March 2023


    Ms. Cann is featured on PBS/Great Performances “Now Hear This”; April 2022


    Find more performances of Ms. Cann on YouTube

  • Florence Price: Piano Concerto in One Movement with New York Youth Symphony

    GRAMMY Award-winning Recording!

    Listen on Apple Music

    Listen on Spotify

    Listen on Amazon



    Uncovered, Vol. 2: Florence B. Price — Catalyst Quartet & Michelle Cann

    Released in February 2022 on Azica Records, the album is the second issue of a multi-volume anthology highlighting chamber music works by historically important Black composers which aims to bring greater awareness and programming of their music. Vol. 2 explores the work of the African-American composer Florence B. Price, and includes four world premiere recordings. Already garnering critical acclaim, the release underlines the importance of Price’s output for chamber music and showcases all six of her surviving works for string quartet and piano quintet in “richly imagined performances” (Financial Times) by the Catalyst Quartet and Michelle Cann.

    Learn more about the release

    Listen on Apple Music

    Listen on Amazon Music

    Listen on Spotify



    Revival, Music of Price & Bonds

    Michelle Cann’s debut solo piano recording, Revival, celebrates the vast legacy of Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, whose extraordinary music was either neglected in their lifetimes or abandoned after their deaths.

    Learn more about the release

    Preview on Apple Classical (iOS Only)

    Preview on Apple Music

    Full album release on May 5th


Press

Michelle Cann [is] a pianist of sterling artistry.

—Gramophone, March 2022

Cann brings flawless technique and measurable passion.

—Broad Street Review, February 19, 2021

Michelle Cann is a musician and pianist of exceptional integrity and skill. She is a wonderful example of what it means to be a vital, fully engaged citizen of our profession.

—Robert McDonald, Penelope P. Watkins Chair in Piano Studies, Curtis Institute of Music

Repertoire

Repertoire is subject to change and must be approved by Michelle Cann. Contact the Curtis Institute of Music with any inquiries.

  • View as PDF

    BEETHOVEN Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
    BEETHOVEN Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 (“Emperor”)
    CHOPIN Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
    CHOPIN Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
    LISZT Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, S. 124
    GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue (can be paired with Price Piano Concerto in One Movement)
    GERSHWIN Second Rhapsody
    MACDOWELL Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 23
    MENDELSSOHN Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
    MOZART Concerto No. 12 in A major, K. 414
    MOZART Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
    MOZART Concerto No. 23 in A major, K. 488
    POULENC Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra in D minor, FP 61*
    PRICE Concerto in One Movement (can be paired with Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin Second Rhapsody, Ravel Concerto in G major, or Strauss Burleske in D minor)
    RACHMANINOFF Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
    RAVEL Concerto in G major (can be paired with Price Piano Concerto in One Movement)
    SAINT-SAËNS Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 22
    SCHUMANN Concerto in A minor, Op. 54
    STRAUSS Burleske in D minor, TrV 145 (can be paired with Price Piano Concerto in One Movement)
    TCHAIKOVSKY Concerto No. 1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23
    *performed with Kimberly Cann
  • View as PDF

    RECITAL PROGRAM I
    The Women of Chicago’s Black Renaissance
    Performance to include spoken commentary and storytelling about the fascinating lives and journeys of these trailblazing artists.

    PRICE Fantasie nègre No. 1
    PRICE Fantasie nègre No. 2
    PRICE Fantasie nègre No. 4
    BONDS Spiritual Suite
    JACKSON KING Four Seasonal Sketches
    HOLT Negro Dance Op. 25, No. 1
    SCOTT Improvisation on Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in C-sharp minor
    SCOTT Improvisation on Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2

    Program to include intermission. Program order to be confirmed.

     

    RECITAL PROGRAM II

    GINASTERA Piano Sonata No. 1
    THOMPSON My Dungeon Shook, Three American Preludes
    RAVEL La Valse
    —intermission—
    GULLA Ballade for Piano
    Note: new work written for Michelle Cann
    GRANT STILL A Deserted Plantation
    Spiritual
    Young Missy
    Dance
    LISZT Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514

     

    Alternate option for the second half of the program (keeping the same first half above):

    PRICE Sonata in E minor
    LISZT Mephisto Waltz No. 1, S. 514

Collaborations

  • Cann Duo performs together

    Michelle Cann, piano
    Kimberly Cann, piano

    Ms. Cann regularly performs duo recitals with her sister, pianist Kimberly Cann. Together their “sheer verve and evident passion is something to behold” (Mountain Xpress).

  • Catalyst Quartet

    Following an early 2022 recording release of the same works, Michelle Cann and the GRAMMY® Award-winning Catalyst Quartet perform the two piano quintets of Florence Price: the powerful and elegiac Quintet in A minor and the smaller Quintet for Piano and Strings.

  • Karen Slack, soprano

    Renowned for her artistic versatility, charisma, and entrepreneurial endeavors, soprano Karen Slack performs recitals with Michelle Cann, including songs by Florence Price and Margaret Bonds.

Residencies

Collegiate

Engaging with communities and working with students is central to Ms. Cann’s mission as a performing artist and educator. She has experience designing and leading in-school interactive performances and individual instruction curated by students’ age, skill level, and learning objectives. Her goal is to meet students where they are and to use music as a means of connection.

Ms. Cann offers a variety of instruction for collegiate level music students, including:

  • Piano master classes
  • Chamber music coaching
  • Workshops on developing and leading effective community engagement activities
  • Lecture-demonstrations on Florence Price, Margaret Bonds, and other topics

(photo credit: ECU News Services)

Elementary through High School

Ms. Cann offers age-appropriate interactive programs encouraging active participation with a focus on performance and learning objectives. She also offers piano master classes for advanced high school students.

Contact

General Management
Andrew Lane
Vice President, Touring and Artist Management
(215) 717-3124
andrew.lane@curtis.edu

Booking Inquiries (North America)
Julie Gaitens
Booking Representative
(215) 717-3146
julie.gaitens@curtis.edu

Brayton Arvin
Artist Manager and Booking Representative
(215) 875-4204
brayton.arvin@curtis.edu

Booking Inquiries (Europe)
Julika Castro
Booking Representative, Europe
+49 (0)178-514 43 26
julika.castro@curtis.edu

Advancing for Confirmed Engagements
Catelyn Cohen
Manager of Artist Services
(215) 717-3129
catelyn.cohen@curtis.edu

Visit artist website

@MichelleCannPianist
@MichelleACann