School of the Arts Friday Evening Concerts: PIANO CAMELEONS

MATT HERSKOWITZ and JOHN RONEY form an electrifying duoduel of pianists. With two grand pianos facing each other, classical music and jazz merge in a burst of virtuosity! This unique show concept invites the audience to attend a concert where two pianos clash, speak and complete each other in a fusion of classical and jazz music. Undisputed masters of improvisation, these two virtuosos take pleasure in revisiting jazz standards and great classics pieces to bring it in new trails.

In July 2015, they closed the Montreal International Jazz Festival. They launched their first CD in September 2016 and then performed all over Canada, USA and South Korea. MATT HERSKOWITZ Uniquely combining the superlative technique of a classical virtuoso with his prowess in jazz and free improvisation, pianist, composer and arranger Matt Herskowitz has carved out a unique and personal voice in music. A graduate of the Juilliard School in New York and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Matt is originally from Albany, New York, and has made Montreal his adopted home of 14 years. JOHN RONEY Originally from Toronto, pianist John Roney divides his time between composing, teaching and performing on the international jazz scene. Roney studied jazz piano, classical piano and composition at the University of Toronto before relocating to Montreal to complete his master’s degree in jazz piano at McGill University.