Drew Petersen’s Fall Performances Met With Acclaim From Audiences and Critics

Drew Petersen’s busy fall has taken him around the US to play an eclectic mix of recital and concerto repertoire with new collaborations that have garnered enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics alike. In Duluth, Minnesota he kept the audience spellbound throughout his recital playing Bach, Schubert, and Chopin. He received a standing ovation before intermission and audience members, students and staff commented”

“We’re still floating from last night.” “His technique and musicianship were tops.” “His programming, musicality, and technical virtuosity was a perfect musical achievement. While of course there are great pianists across the globe, rarely are the ingredients for such a wonderful event combined to bring such a marvelous aesthetic experience for the entire audience. Bravo to you all.”

Petersen also made several orchestral debuts where local critics were impressed with his musicianship and performance style.

Tchaikovsky with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra
“Poise also characterized Petersen’s reading of the B-Flat Minor piano concerto — arguably one of the most popular works in the classical literature. He hit it just right. It was lyrical, rather than aggressive, with the opening chords attacked forcefully and without the usual bombast. There’s an obvious structure to this work that demands precision, and Petersen nailed it on all counts, with crisp arpeggios and wonderful attention to the constantly changing tempos.” The Morning Call

Liszt with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
“For his most recent return visit to Kleinhans Music Hall – where he served as the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s music director for nearly a decade – Max Valdes led the orchestra through the lushly romantic orchestration of Richard Wagner and, with pianist Drew Petersen, a take on the ferocious keyboard virtuosity of Franz Liszt…From a musical standpoint, the concerto burst out of the gate with Petersen’s thunderous piano attack fitting into the dramatic strings opening the first movement. This is another one of those “standard” concert pieces that demands a blend of power and grace. Just when you think the score is weighted toward muscle, the string section slides into the backdrop as the piano floats over the whole, then dives headlong into drama and transitions into transcendent beauty. Rinse and repeat. It was no wonder that Petersen, Valdes and the BPO left the stage to a rousing standing ovation.” Buffalo News

Beethoven with the Sarasota Orchestra
“Soloist Drew Petersen, another speedily rising talent, delivered a crisply defined yet poetic performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37. In the outer movements we enjoyed the musical play between confident bursts of bravado and inwardly questioning asides. Petersen’s sparkling fingerwork was neatly controlled.” Sarasota Herald Tribune