Alan Weiss (born 1950 in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

) is an American musician. His first instrument was classical

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

, which he studied with

Andrés Segovia Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña (21 February 1893 – 2 June 1987), was a Spanish virtuoso classical guitarist. Many professional classical guitarists were either students of Segovia or students of Segovia's students. Segovia ...

. When he was ten years old he changed definitively to the

piano A piano is a keyboard instrument that produces sound when its keys are depressed, activating an Action (music), action mechanism where hammers strike String (music), strings. Modern pianos have a row of 88 black and white keys, tuned to a c ...

, studying with

David Saperton David Saperton (October 29, 1889 – July 5, 1970) was an American pianist known for being the first pianist to play the entire original compositions as well as the complete transcriptions of his father-in-law, Leopold Godowsky. He also recorded ...

. In 1978, Alan Weiss participated in the International

Queen Elisabeth music competition The Queen Elisabeth Competition (, ) is an international competition for career-starting musicians held in City of Brussels, Brussels. The competition is named after Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium (1876–1 ...

, where he was the choice of the public and received 4th prize.

References

*https://www.allmusic.com/album/alkan-grand-sonata-les-quatre-%C3%A2ges-symphonie-for-piano-solo-le-festin-desope-miniatures-mw0001852129 1950 births Living people Musicians from New York City Prize-winners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition Jewish classical pianists 21st-century American classical pianists {{US-keyboardist-stub