Pianist Christopher Guzman enjoys an international performing career, known for his versatility in styles ranging from the Baroque era to the avant-garde. Since winning top prizes in international competitions such as the Walter M. Naumburg Competition (USA), the Seoul International Music Competition (S. Korea), and the Isang Yun Competition (S. Korea), Mr. Guzman has performed across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. His victory at the Concours International de Piano d’Orléans in Orléans, France, led to extensive tours and masterclasses throughout France.
Mr. Guzman has appeared in major international venues such as Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Leipzig’s Gewandhaus, Buenos Aires’s CCK, Carnegie’s Weill Hall, and London’s Wigmore Hall. As a chamber musician, he collaborates regularly with members of the world’s most prestigious orchestras and soloists. He is also a sought-after orchestral pianist, and as such has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Guzman joined Chicago’s Grant Park Symphony Orchestra as a keyboardist in 2024.
While Mr. Guzman has earned several international accolades for performing the traditional Western canon, many of his performances showcase music written after 1900. His performances have included world premieres by Donald Martino, Nico Muhly, and Paul Schoenfield. The New York Times hailed his performance of Christopher Theofanidis’s Statues as “coiled” and “explosive.” His CD of German and Austrian music from the past one hundred years, Vienne et après, is available on the Tessitures label. His CD of Paul Reale’s compositions, Chopin’s Ghosts, on the Naxos label, was included in Fanfare magazine’s Top Five releases of 2018. Other world premiere recordings include solo works by Peter Ablinger and Jörg Widmann.
Born in Texas, Christopher Guzman began studying piano at age nine and violoncello two years later. He later studied at the University of Texas at Austin, the New England Conservatory, and The Juilliard School. In addition to performing, he is also a Professor of Piano at the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University. He previously taught at Penn State University and has taught masterclasses throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. For more information, please visit christopherguzmanpiano.com.
Past Performances
Tuesday, October 24, 2023Rhapsody on a Theme of PaganiniCommunity Arts CenterWilliamsport, PAWilliamsport Symphony Orchestra
Gerardo Edelstein, conductorRachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op.43more info... Saturday, October 21, 2023Yaniv's Salute to the Boston PopsCoronado Performing Arts CenterRockford, ILRockford Symphony Orchestra,
Yaniv Attar, conductorGershwin: Rhapsody in Bluemore info... Sunday, August 06, 2023Vivace Music FestivalWilson Center Wilmington, NCAni Kavafian & Sunmi Chang, ViolinsMoszkowski: Suite for Two Violins and Piano, op.71
more info... Friday, August 04, 2023Vivace Music FestivalWilson Center Wilmington, NCWith Dmitri Berlinsky, violin, and Andrew Shulman, celloBeethoven: “Ghost” Trio in D Major, op.70 no.1
more info... Wednesday, July 12, 2023Faculty Recital at the Atlantic Music FestivalColby CollegeWaterville, MEFranck: Quintet for Piano and Strings
Pierre Jalbert: Ephemeral Objectsmore info... Saturday, July 01, 2023Recital for the Matthay Festival 2023Recital HallUniversity Park, PAmore info... Wednesday, June 14, 2023Chamber Music at Music at Penns WoodsRecital Hall at Penn State UniversityUniversity Park, PADebussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano with Max Zorin, violin
Rachmaninoff: Selections from Etudes-Tableaux, op.39more info... Monday, June 05, 2023
Concert for Ukraine
Grace Lutheran Church
State College, PA
All proceeds go to Nizhyn, Ukraine, State College's new sister city. www.SistersSister.org
Valentin Silvestrov: Postludium DSCH
Myroslav Skoryk: Spanish Dance
Friday, June 02, 2023Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association: Penn State Faculty ConcRecital Hall at Penn State UniversityUniversity Park, PAPoulenc: Oboe Sonata and Ravel's Habanera
Ian Clarke (b. 1960): Maya for two flutes and piano
Chopin: Polonaise in F-sharp minor, op.44
more info... Sunday, May 28, 2023Recital at the McNayLeeper Auditorium, McNay Art MuseumSan Antonio, TXBach: English Suite in G minor
Chopin: Mazurka in E minor, op.41 no.1
Chopin: Polonaise in F-sharp minor, op.44
Rachmaninoff: Prelude in F-sharp minor, op. 23 no.1
Rachmaninoff: Selections from Études-Tableaux, op.39
more info... Monday, May 22, 2023Chamber Music with the Olmos Ensemble Laurel Heights United Methodist ChurchSan Antonio, TXCamille Saint-Saëns - Caprice on Danish and Russian Airs
Richard Strauss - Violin Sonata
Georges Hüe - Fantasy for Flute and Piano
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Quintet for Piano and Winds in Eb Major K. 452more info... Thursday, January 23, 2020
Recital with Naomi Seidman, flute
Recital Hall, Penn State University
University Park, PA
Sunday, January 19, 2020Soloist with the Pennsylvania Chamber OrchestraRecital Hall, Penn State UniversityUniversity Park, PAPennsylvania Chamber Orchestra, led by Music Director Yaniv AttarMozart Concerto in D minor, K. 466more info... Sunday, November 03, 2019Recital with Timothy Deighton, violaUMass Amherst Fine Arts Center - Bezanson Recital HallAmherst, MAR. Clarke: Viola Sonata
Hindemith: Sonata for viola and piano, op.11 no.4
Bloch: Suite for viola and pianomore info... Sunday, October 27, 2019Recital with Milan Milisavljevic, violaRecital Hall, Penn State School of MusicUniversity Park, PABrahms: Sonata for Viola and Piano in E-flat Major, op.120 no.2
Schumann: Adagio and Allegro, op.70, for Viola and Pianomore info... Friday, October 25, 2019Recital with Timothy Deighton, violaRecital Hall, Penn State School of MusicUniversity Park, PAR. Clarke: Viola Sonata
Hindemith: Sonata for viola and piano, op.11 no.4
Bloch: Suite for viola and pianomore info... Monday, October 21, 2019"Sabores Latinos": Chamber music with the Olmos EnsembleLaurel Heights United Methodist ChurchSan Antonio, TXVilla-Lobos, Fantasia Concertante, clarinet, bassoon, piano
Turina/arr. S. Jutt – “Sonata Espanola”, for flute and piano
Granados – “Los Requiebros” from Goyescas, piano solo
Piazzolla- Histoire du Tango, violin, piano
Miguel Del Aguila: Tango Trio, violin, cl., pianomore info... Sunday, October 13, 2019Recital with Timothy Deighton, violaShangraw Performance Hall, Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall at LycWilliamsport, PAR. Clarke: Viola Sonata
Hindemith: Sonata for viola and piano, op.11 no.4
Bloch: Suite for viola and pianomore info... Friday, October 04, 2019Memphis International Piano Festival and CompetitionRudi E Scheidt School of Music, University of MemphisMemphis, TNGranados: "Los Requiebros" from Goyescas
Debussy/Ravel : Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune for Four Hands with Jonathan Tsaymore info... Sunday, July 07, 2019Soloist with Monteux Music Festival OrchestraForest Studio at the Pierre Monteux School and Summer FestivalHancock, MaineGershwin: Concerto in Fmore info... Wednesday, July 03, 2019Chamber Music at the Monteux Music FestivalForest Studio at the Pierre Monteux School and Summer FestivalHancock, MaineTBAmore info... April 4-6, 2014
with Orchestre Symphonique d'Orléans
Théatre d'Orléans
Orléans, France
Shostakovich: Concerto no.1 in C minor for Piano, Trumpet, and Strings (with David Guerrier, trumpet)
