Since its 1992 debut, the HIRSCH-PINKAS PIANO DUO has presented one- and two-piano recitals to enthusiastic audiences throughout the world. Sally Pinkas and Evan Hirsch, each an active soloist, bring to their collaborations virtuosity, enthusiasm, and striking warmth (they are married). Dedicated to an exploration of twentieth-century music, their repertoire includes rarely-heard works such as Messiaen’s Visions de l’amen, Milhaud’s La création du monde and Rochberg’s Circles of Fire (which they premiered). Equally at ease with the standard repertoire, the Duo’s offerings range from Byrd to Mozart and Rachmaninoff, and include works especially arranged by Hirsch. Popular with young audiences, the two often present Masterclasses and Performance Workshops in conjunction with their concerts.

Pinkas and Hirsch made their European debut in 1995 at the Officina Musicale dell’Altopiano in Abruzzo, Italy, where they have been performing regularly ever since. In 1998 they were in residence at the Kfar Blum Music Festival in Israel, and in 1999 they toured Nigeria and Russia to critical acclaim. In 2001, following a second highly-acclaimed and extensive tour of Nigeria, the Duo was invited to participate in a conference on Piano Duet Literature at the Rimsky-Korsakov State-Conservatory of Music in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Duo celebrated its 10th anniversary season with performances throughout New England, Israel and Italy, and followed with an extensive concert and teaching tour in Bulgaria. In 2004 they embarked upon their first China visit, playing and teaching at the Xian Conservatory (Xian) and the China Conservatory (Beijing). For the past four years they have participated in the Masters de Pontlevoy Summer Festival in the Loire Valley, France. Other recent engagements include a residency at the Conservatorio di Musica Santa Cecilia in Rome, Italy, and a second extensive tour in Bulgaria. The Hirsch-Pinkas Duo’s recordings of music by George Rochberg, Daniel Pinkham and Thomas Oboe Lee are available on the Gasparo and the Arsis labels. A second disc featuring the work of Daniel Pinkham will be released in 2007.

SALLY PINKAS has concertized widely in the USA, Europe, and Israel. Professor of Music and Artist-in-Residence at Dartmouth College, she is also on the faculty of the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her discography includes works by Fauré, Debussy, Rochberg and Christian Wolff on the Musica Omnia, Centaur, Gasparo and Mode labels. A three-CD set featuring chamber works by Gaubert (with Fenwick Smith) was recently released by Naxos. A native of Israel, Pinkas holds performance degrees from Indiana University and the New England Conservatory of Music, and a PhD in Composition and Theory from Brandeis University.

EVAN HIRSCH, an active recitalist and chamber player, holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from SUNY Purchase and a Master of Music from New England Conservatory. In addition to teaching piano and chamber music at Brandeis University, he has been on the Adult Education faculty at the New England Conservatory, and taught at Dartmouth College as a Visiting Professor in 2001, 2006 and 2007. A dedicated champion of new music, Hirsch has performed with numerous contemporary ensembles throughout New England, and has recorded for New Albion and Gasparo Records. His recording of piano music by George Rochberg was recently released on the Gasparo label.