Performing Arts Houston presents PIANO BATTLE
(March 7, 2025) – Performing Arts Houston presents PIANO BATTLE, an onstage competition between friends and renowned classical pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis, at Jones Hall on March 28. The evening, divided between rounds of varying music styles, features back-to-back performances and improvisations between the pianists, followed by an audience vote to determine the winner of each round. Tickets start at $29, at performingartshouston.org.
As part of Performing Arts Houston’s Education & Community Engagement programming, over 700 students from 11 schools and homeschool groups across Houston will attend a student matinee performance of PIANO BATTLE on the morning of March 28. Spots are still available. To reserve seats for the student matinee, contact info@performingartshouston.org.
The brainchild of internationally acclaimed pianists Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis, the PIANO BATTLE sees the duo go head-to-head on stage, charming and enchanting the audience with a variety of classical pieces. The show is divided into several rounds, each featuring a certain musical style. The two artists, with distinctly different performance techniques, will even go so far as to improvise on the tunes you request.
Originally created for the Hong Kong City Festival, PIANO BATTLE has been performed for sold-out audiences in Europe, the United States and Asia – including the Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, Seoul Arts Center and an open air spectacle before 6,000 fans in Taiwan. The show has also been well-received in the pianists‘ home country where Andreas Kern and Paul Cibis have performed for enthusiastic audiences in concert halls and at festivals all over Germany – including the Beethovenfest Bonn, the Rheingau Musik Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, the Prinzregententheater Munich and the Philharmonie Berlin.
ABOUT PAUL CIBIS
Educated in Hanover, Berlin and London, Paul Cibis has performed on five continents and established an international presence. He has been invited to international festivals in the UK, Germany, USA, South Africa, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand. In addition to his many concert appearances, he has been featured in radio and television programs around the world, including the BBC, WDR, 3Sat, ORB, HR, RTHK, and CCTV.
Paul has released several albums, including a collection of French mélodies and piano works by Berlioz, Fauré and Debussy, in collaboration with German mezzo-soprano Barbara Senator. His latest album features a collection of solo pieces by Taiwanese composer Kai-nan Huang.
Paul has also been involved in various film projects. He penned the music scores for several short films, and was the initiator and music supervisor of the international award-winning documentary PIANOMANIA.
A committed pedagogue, Paul has taught at Trinity College of Music in London and frequently gives master classes in Germany, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.
ABOUT ANDREAS KERN
Born in South Africa, Andreas Kern studied piano in Cologne and Berlin with Günter Ludwig and Pascal Devoyon. As a soloist and chamber musician, he has extensive experience in Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Japan, India and South Africa.
Keen to present classical music in unconventional ways, Andreas has developed concert projects and formats that often feature unorthodox venues, or whereby musicians collaborate with artists in other fields, such as theatre and dance. Such performances have successfully drawn a much wider and younger audience than traditional classical concerts.
Andreas Kern has also created the critically acclaimed “arte lounge” for the French-German TV channel Arte. As the show‘s co-host, he has performed with musicians including Mischa Maisky, Renaud Capucon, Sol Gabetta, Sarah Chang, Vadim Repin, Nils Mönkemeyer, Elina Garanca, and Jörg Widmann.
He was also the architect of the Piano City Berlin Festival 2010, which featured more than 100 piano performances held in Berlin within one weekend. Since then, Piano City has branched out to other cities such as Milan, Naples and Rome.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets start at $29, at performingartshouston.org or by calling the Performing Arts Houston Box Office at (713) 227-4772. To support the arts and enjoy benefits like early access to new performances, exclusive pricing, and more, become a Performing Arts Houston member at performingartshouston.org/memberships.
ABOUT PERFORMING ARTS HOUSTON
Performing Arts Houston is a leading non-profit performing arts presenter dedicated to connecting audiences with exceptional artists from around the globe. Founded in 1966, the organization remains committed to advancing artistic innovation, community engagement, and cultural enrichment. With a legacy spanning over five decades, Performing Arts Houston has presented many of the most influential artists of our time.
Each year, Performing Arts Houston presents a multi-disciplinary season of over 60 performances across Houston’s historic Theater District and venues citywide and creates a wide range of programs and opportunities for students and lifelong learners to engage with and experience the arts, including masterclasses, workshops, talks, student matinees, performance avenues for local arts groups, paid arts administration internships, a commissioning series for working Houston artists, and in-school residencies. Learn more at performingartshouston.org.
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CALENDAR DETAILS
Performing Arts Houston
presents
PIANO BATTLE
March 28, 2025
Jones Hall
Tickets from $29
performingartshouston.org
For media inquiries, please contact:
Caroline Senter, Public Relations Manager
Email: csenter@performingartshouston.org
Phone: 713-632-8105