Conrad Tao is a pianist and composer acclaimed for his fearless creativity and virtuosic command of the keyboard. Praised by New York Magazine as “the kind of musician who is shaping the future of classical music,” Tao has performed with leading orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Boston Symphony. A recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant and Gilmore Young Artist Award, he was also named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” for his groundbreaking contributions to classical music.

A prodigy since childhood, Tao began playing piano by ear at just 18 months and gave his first public recital at age 4. By 8, he was performing Mozart concertos, and at 9 he moved to New York to study at Juilliard Pre-College. His remarkable compositional talent earned him eight consecutive ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards (2004–2011), the BMI Carlos Surinach Prize at age 10, and recognition as a Davidson Fellow Laureate, all before turning 18.

As a composer, Tao has earned eight consecutive ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards and commissions from major ensembles. His works often blur boundaries between genres, weaving jazz, classical, and contemporary influences into a distinctive voice.

The centerpiece of this program is Flung Out, Tao’s own piano concerto, a bold homage to Gershwin that uses original instrumentation from Rhapsody in Blue (banjo, baritone sax, ropes of saxophones, brass) and features a “really sentimental, lush, romantic theme” embedded in fast, frenetic passages.

“I’m really excited to have a baritone saxophone and a banjo in the mix… using the same instruments Gershwin had for Rhapsody in Blue,” Tao says.

Ben Manis is an American conductor celebrated for his dynamic artistry and collaborative approach across both symphonic and operatic stages. Currently Resident Conductor of the Grand Teton Music Festival and former Associate Conductor of the Utah Symphony, Manis has led performances with major institutions including Houston Grand Opera and San Francisco Opera, where critics praised his “confident, unflagging pace.” His operatic credits include Carmen, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Tosca, and Romeo et Juliette, alongside premieres of contemporary works such as Marian’s Song and The Snowy Day.

A four-time recipient of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award, Manis studied conducting at Rice University’s Shepherd School and trained at the Aspen Conducting Academy. He has assisted renowned maestros including Leonard Slatkin, James Conlon, and Robert Spano, and worked with leading orchestras across the U.S.

Known for his ability to balance precision with expressive depth, Manis brings a fresh, engaging perspective to every performance, making him one of today’s most exciting young conductors.