College of Charleston International Piano Series

Tom Hicks has been praised for his "gorgeously creative playing" that "transports the listener to another place and time." As a recitalist and chamber musician, he performs internationally and has appeared as a concerto soloist on more than 60 occasions. He is a Yamaha Artist.

His recordings for the Metier, Nimbus and Divine Arts labels include works by Tchaikovsky, Liszt, John Ireland, Rebecca Clarke, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Camden Reeves and Augusta Read Thomas. His recording of Liszt and Ireland was selected as American Records Guide’s Critics Choice of 2022 and his recording of Augusta Read Thomas was selected as BBC Music Magazine’s Recording of the Month. He has most recently recorded the complete nocturnes by Chopin for release in 2025.

Hicks is the newly appointed Director of Piano Studies at the College of Charleston and Artistic Director of the International Piano Series.

This performance is generously supported by the Remington Master Artist Series. 

Daria Rabotkina is lauded as "a pianist full of fire and warmth" (The Plain-Dealer). Winner of the 2007 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, Rabotkina received top prizes at several international competitions and participated in Russia's White Nights, Finland's Kuhmo and Copenhagen's Summer festivals. In the United States, Rabotkina has appeared at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, International Keyboard Institute and Festival, Music Academy of the West and San Francisco International Piano Festival.

David Gross has performed extensive solo concerts both in the United States and Europe, including performances with the Berliner Symphoniker, Staatsorchester Frankfurt/Oder, Ensemble Oriol (Berlin), Rockford Symphony, Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Greenville Symphony, Brevard Philharmonic, Anderson Symphony, Merrimack Valley Philharmonic and Hendersonville Symphony, as well as several university orchestras throughout the United States. He has been a featured soloist for the American Liszt Society National Conference, and has performed several recitals for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago.

Gross grew up and studied piano in Germany from a young age, and holds a Diploma from the Hochschule München, a Master’s Degree from the Yale School of Music, an Artist’s Diploma from the Hochschule Hannover and a Doctoral Degree from the University of Illinois.

Since winning the gold medal at the first Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Douglas Humpherys's concert career has spanned four decades across four continents. During recent years, he has concertized in many of the major cities of Asia. A frequent guest artist in Beijing, he has performed at the National Center for the Performing Arts, the Beijing Concert Hall, and the Forbidden City Concert Hall. He has presented concerts and lecture-recitals throughout the Chinese conservatory and university system, including the Central, Shanghai, China, Wuhan, Shenyang, Guangzhou, Cheng-Du, Xian, Dalian, and Xiamen Conservatories, as well as Beijing, Tsinghua, Renmin Universities and the Shenzhen School of the Arts.

All attendees must obtain tickets (free or paid). 

SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS are available through Sept. 17, 2024. (discounted tickets for 4 concerts, preferred seating, flex ticketing) 

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS ($30 adults, FREE for youth 18 & under with student I.D. at the door, $10 for CofC students, FREE for CofC faculty/staff)

Need help? The George Street Box Office is open (Tue.-Fri., 10a.m.-4p.m.) to help you navigate the online system or to take your order by phone 843.953.GSBO (4726), email, or in person at the Sottile Theatre (44 George St.)

Each year, we stage concerts for pianists hailing from the United States and around the world. While on campus, guest artists offer masterclasses in which students perform and receive critique. These masterclasses are open to the public. 

These performers are role models to our students and a source of cultural entertainment for our community. The concerts take place in our historic, newly restored Sottile Theatre.

Funded entirely by donations and ticket sales, the performances are offered to the community at affordable prices and are free for youth under the age of 18.

Proceeds from ticket sales and donations ensure the longevity of the program and support educational opportunities for our students.  

Patrons of the International Piano Series not only enjoy world-class concerts and meeting artists from around the world, their generosity has a direct impact on piano students at the College of Charleston School of the Arts and our community. For more information email Tom Hicks, IPS Director.

Ways to give:

• Credit Card: Make your gift here (Select International Piano Series)
  
  
• Mail your check made out to International Piano Series to:
  
  Attn: Tom Hicks
  Music Department
  College of Charleston
  66 George St.
  Charleston, SC 29424
  
  

INTERNATIONAL PIANO SERIES PATRON PROGRAM LEVELS

Prelude: $100-$249

•  Recognition on the International Piano Series website and in the program

Nocturne: $250-$499

•  Recognition on the International Piano Series website and in the program
•  Invited to post-concert receptions with guest artists, faculty and students
•  Reserved seating at IPS concerts

Etude: $500-$999

• All benefits above, plus
• Invitation to special season preview in May

• All benefits above, plus
• Invitation to one special event during the season highlighting students, IPS artists or an in-home musicale 

Ballade: $2,500-$4,999

• All benefits above, plus
• ¼ page recognition or advertisement in one program

Sonata: $5,000-$9,999

• All benefits above, plus
• ½ page recognition or advertisement in one program
• Invitation to a private dinner with the Director of IPS and Chair of the Music Department

Concerto: $10,000 and above

•  All benefits above, plus
•  Exclusive sponsorship of one season concert

CURRENT SUPPORTERS

Legacy Gift: 
William Tate

Sonata: 
Herzman-Fishman Fund
Carol H. Fishman
Remington Master Artist Fund

Waltz: 
Barbara and Jeremy Gilbert
Mary Anne and Robert Grenfell
Polly and George Kosko
Bettsy and Thomas Mosimann
John M. Rivers, Jr.
Kristin Wise

Etude: 
Richard Land
Anthony Laneve
Susan and Jan Mashman
Susan and Michael Master
Dean Emeritus Valerie B. Morris
Carol Mysel
Dale and Gary Tasker

Nocturne: 
Georgia Bell
Yvonne D. Evans
Anne F. Lewis
Janice and Jay Messeroff
Evelynn Putnam

Prelude: 
Charlene and Karl Bunch
Marianne and Richard Buta
Tina M. Rogonia
William Notz