About the Artists
Sandrine Erdely-Sayo
Sandrine Erdely-Sayo, an internationally acclaimed pianist and composer, as well as the Artistic Director of Piano on the Rocks International Festival, and Director of the Anna-Maria Moggio International Piano and Voice Competition, made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2014, a performance that marked a pinnacle in her illustrious career. Born in Perpignan, France, her musical journey began at the age of four, under the tutelage of exceptional mentors like Michèle Puig (Pablo Casals's God Daughter), Denyse Rivière, and Christian Manen. Her early brilliance earned her the French Minister of Culture Prize at the age of thirteen, making her the youngest recipient of this prestigious honor. She later triumphed in international competitions, including first prize at the Scène Française International Piano Competition in Paris and prize winner of the Ibla International Piano Competition in Italy among others. At fourteen she wrote Three Pieces for Chamber Orchestra that were played at the Chatelet Theater in Paris.
After rigorous training in harmony, counterpoint, and fugue at the Paris Superior Conservatory and receiving first prize, Sandrine pursued her master’s degree in piano and composition at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia under the guidance of Susan Starr. Her artistry transcends borders, with performances at globally renowned festivals such as the Festival de Prades in France, Jewish FIlm Festival in Philadelphia, Bach Festival in the United States, Festival de las Hispanidades in Spain, Festival de Piano in Colombia, as well as collaborations with orchestras and chamber ensembles worldwide. She has played in prestigious halls like the Louvre in Paris and Preston Bradley Hall in Chicago, and for radio and television in various countries. In 1991, Sandrine Erdely-Sayo worked with the Chopin Foundation in Argentina who sponsored her first recording of the integral work of Primitivo Lazaro under the Randolfo Label. IShe made the first recording of Poulenc's early Trois Pastorales (discovered by Dr. Schmidt), which she played at Towson in 1995.
Her compositions, including "Platero y Yo" for piano and narrator and "Hymn to Sedona," demonstrate her ability to weave narrative and melody into evocative musical experiences. "Hymn to Sedona" earned a nomination for the American Song-Writing Award. Sandrine's critically acclaimed CD, Majestic Liszt, under Navona Records, showcases her profound interpretations of Franz Liszt's works. Praised for its lyrical breadth and aristocratic authority, the album features pieces such as "Romance in E minor," "Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude," and "Saint François de Paule marchant sur les flots." Reviewers have highlighted her ability to channel her technique into deeply musical expressions, drawing comparisons to legendary pianists like Claudio Arrau and Jorge Bolet. The recording has been celebrated for its emotive depth, solidifying Sandrine's reputation as a masterful Liszt interpreter. She was described by Gary Graffman as “one of the finest pianists with exceptional quality who brings a fresh style which is clearly European in approach
In addition to her artistic pursuits, Sandrine is a member of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry and the Mega Society, organizations committed to fostering intellectual exploration. She was also part of the Artists Painters of the 17th Arrondissement of Paris, a group that celebrates artistic expression and creativity. Her diverse career and unrelenting passion for music continue to inspire audiences across the globe.
She is represented by Port-Royal Pinnacle Productions.
Sandrine Erdely-Sayo is an Official International Steinway Artist
www.erdelysayo.com
Cynthia Raim
Cynthia Raim who was unanimously chosen as the First Prize winner of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, has been acclaimed for her concerto and recital appearances throughout the United States and abroad. In summing up the performance that won Raim the coveted Clara Haskil prize, La Suisse (Geneva) noted that “Miss Raim showed a musical nature that has gone far beyond tech nical mastery. Without affectation, without useless bravado, Cynthia Raim has imprinted herself on us and cannot escape our admiration.” Le Monde (Paris) called her “a new Clara Haskil.” Raim has won the prestigious Pro Musicis Award and, in 1987, was the first recipient of the “Distinguished Artist Award” of The Musical Fund Society of Philadelphia (America’s oldest continuing musical organization), which was given for “outstanding achievement and artistic merit.”
Raim has made numerous recital as well as radio and television appearances. She has appeared as soloist with leading orchestras in major cities such as Detroit, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Prague, Hamburg, Lausanne, and Vienna. She has also participated in many lead ing international music festivals including Marlboro, Ravinia, Tanglewood, Meadow Brook, Grand Teton, Bard, Mostly Mozart, Santa Fe, Luzern, and Montreux. She has recorded for Gallo, Pantheon, and Connoisseur Society. Before graduating in 1977 from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Rudolf Serkin and Mieczyslaw Horszowski, Raim had won the Festorazzi Award for Most Promising Pianist at Curtis, as well as first prizes in the J.S. Bach International and Three Rivers National Piano Competitions. This is her third appearance at the Piano on the Rocks International Festival.
Cynthia Raim in an Official International Steinway Artist
James Palmer
James performs across the United States and abroad as a soloist and chamber musician. His broad musical appetite has led to a diverse performing career, ranging from traditional recital performances to innovative projects featuring new music. Recent appearances include the Scriabin Piano Concerto with Symphony North of Houston and the Art of Piano Residency at Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. Upcoming performances for the ‘25-’26 season include solo recitals in Philadelphia and Houston, including a faculty recital at Rice University, and the Piano on the Rocks International Festival in Sedona, AZ (May 2026).
James is a Lecturer at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where he teaches Master’s-level Piano Literature; he is also a faculty instructor on the Shepherd School Preparatory Program. During the summer, he leads the Summer Piano Intensive at the AFA Texas Summer Music Festival in Houston, TX. During his doctorate, James held a Teaching Fellowship at the Shepherd School of Music.
A passionate performer of new music, James is frequently sought after for premieres and collaborations. He has premiered pieces by Karim al-Zand, Pierre Jalbert, Nicky Sohn, Sam Wu, Bahar Royaee, and many others. From 2021-22, James developed the lecture-recital What is a Piano Prelude?, in which he presented a set of solo piano preludes he commissioned from six award-winning Houston-based composers: Badie Khaleghian, Nicky Sohn, Sam Wu, Olivia Bennett, Alex Berko, and Pierre Jalbert. Listen to these pieces here.
James is the Secretary for the Scriabin Society of America (SSA), a national organization dedicated to promoting the music and legacy of the great Russian composer Alexander Scriabin.
Madeleine Hehn
Madeleine Hehn is a piano student of Jean-Marc Luisada at the École Normale de Musique de Paris, and of Sandrine Erdely-Sayo with whom she also studies musical writing. Madeleine is a two time finalist with the Philadelphia Orchestra Greenfield Competition, and a first prize winner of the Boulder Bach Festival World Bach Competition. She is also a scholarship recipient of the Chopin Foundation’s Young Pianists Scholarship Program, and received an honorable mention from the XII Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, Ct. As a competition winner, Madeleine has performed with the Warminster Symphony Orchestra, the Washington International Piano Festival Young Artist Concert Series, and the Lancaster International Piano Festival. Madeleine has also performed at the Piano on the Rocks International Festival in Sedona, AZ as recipient of the festival’s Young Artist Award.
Ethan Burck
Ethan Burck, originally from Aurora, Illinois, holds degrees from the Yale School of Music, the Curtis Institute of Music and Baldwin Wallace University. In the 2025–2026 season Ethan will join orchestras around the country performing Mozart’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and scenes from Die Fledermaus.
In the 2024–2025 he joined Opera Philadelphia to cover several roles in the U.S. Premiere of Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners. He also spent 3 months in Iowa as a member of the Des Moines Metro Opera’s OPERA Iowa tour, traveling around the state of Iowa performing, giving masterclasses, and advancing opera throughout the state. Following this tour, Ethan was an apprentice artist with Des Moines Metro Opera where he covered the role of Sellem in The Rake’s Progress and performed scenes from Janacek’s Jenufa and Britten’s Billy Budd.
During 2023–2024 season Ethan finished his time at Yale and returned to the role of Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress as well as Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi and one of the Brothers in Die sieben Todsünden. Ethan also performed act one of Massenet’s Werther as the title character.
In the 2022–2023 season Ethan had many opportunities within Yale including his portrayal of the Male Chorus in Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia and his contributions as a member of the Chorus and Coryphée 1 in Le comte Ory and his first performance of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Yale Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, he gained experience by performing scenes from notable operas such as Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles, Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann, and Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin.
During the 2022–2023 season, Ethan also had the opportunity to debut with orchestras across the country, including the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Symphony Orchestra, Symphoria of Syracuse, and the Wichita Symphony. Notably, he also stepped in as the Shepard in Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex during a last-minute performance with Opera Philadelphia, showcasing his adaptability and quick learning abilities.
Ethan was a 2021 Apprentice Artist at The Santa Fe Opera.
Before joining Yale, Ethan pursued his musical studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he had the opportunity to undertake roles such as Tito in Mozart's La clemenza di Tito, Fernando in Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, and Albert Herring in Benjamin Britten's opera of the same name.
Ethan holds a Bachelor of Music from Baldwin Wallace University, where he explored a diverse range of roles, including Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress, Young Jim in Glory Denied, and Paolino in Il matrimonio segreto. Other notable performances include Don José in The Tragedy of Carmen, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, and Fenton in Falstaff.
Elizabeth Peña
Elizabeth Peña, Narrator and Co-Director of the Piano on the Rocks International Festival, is currently the director of the Spanish Language School in Philadelphia. After studying in Cali, Colombia, where she was born, she immigrated to the United States in 1991. Her interest and love for languages took her to a different path. She specialized in the field of languages and became an expert in teaching Spanish as a second language. With a great talent in prose and narrative, Elizabeth Peña received a proposal to work with artist Sandrine Erdely-Sayo. In 2010, she narrated Platero y Yo in New York City for the annual NPR conference, repeating it in 2014 in Carnegie Hall. Since then she has performed it in many different states including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Texas and Arizona.
In 2012 Elizabeth Peña, made the recording of Platero y Yo in Texas with pianist/composer Sandrine Erdely-Sayo followed by a second recording called "Intelligent Series" of The Dove and the Jaguar. With her lyrical voice, she brings words to life and life to words.