In anticipation of its 27th season this July, the International Keyboard Institute and Festival (IKIF) offered an exquisite preview with a private recital held at an exclusive Manhattan club. Hosted by renowned philanthropists Barbara Tober and Elizabeth Segerstrom, the evening brought together festival founder and legendary pianist Jerome Rose with the prodigiously gifted Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner for an intimate and inspiring performance.
Curated by the artists themselves, the evening’s repertoire reflected a confluence of generations, artistry, and vision. “This year, we are proud to welcome artists from the United States, Brazil, Germany, Italy, and Spain—the world is represented on our stage,” said Rose. “What’s most inspiring is witnessing the older and younger generations collaborate—working miracles together through music.”
Tober, a longtime supporter of the arts, praised both performers, noting, “Llewellyn and Jerome are not only world-class pianists, they are true stewards of music. Their connection is rooted in mutual passion and dedication—and what they bring to the stage is nothing short of extraordinary.”
One of the evening’s highlights was a four-hand Brahms performance, in which the octogenarian maestro Rose joined Sánchez-Werner—offering not just musical brilliance, but a symbolic gesture of generational passage. As Segerstrom noted in the program, “A deep friendship has evolved into an extraordinary mentorship—Jerome Rose’s devotion to nurturing Llewellyn’s talent is a profound act of legacy. Standing beside Barbara to witness the torch being passed is both a sacred duty and a labor of love.”
JUNE 4: William Ivey Long, Charlie Scheips, HRH Prince Dimitri de Yougoslavie and Marc Rosen attend Barbara Tober and Elizabeth Segerstrom Launch 2025 International Keyboard Institute and Festival at New York on June 4, 2025. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC) *** Local Caption *** William Ivey Long;Charlie Scheips;HRH Prince Dimitri de Yougoslavie;Marc Rosen
The evening drew a distinguished crowd from New York’s cultural, social, and philanthropic circles, including Marina and Herve Aaron, Grimanesa Amoros, Gigi and Harry Benson, Katie Couric, Susan Gutfreund, Dr. William A. Haseltine, Michael Imperioli, Francine LeFrak, Marc Rosen, HRH Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia, and many more.
The International Keyboard Institute and Festival returns July 7–12 to Merkin Hall, offering a weeklong celebration of pianistic excellence. The 2025 program will feature solo recitals by Jerome Rose (July 7), Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner (July 8), Julian Pflugmann, Pablo Rossi, Massimiliano Ferrati, and Martín García—each contributing a distinct voice to the Festival’s storied legacy.
For further information and to reserve tickets, please visit:
https://www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org/mch/series/international-keyboard-institute-festival-2025
