The New York Times“Mr. Petersen had technique to spare during the dazzling episodes, and plumbed the piece for tenderness and lyricism that many pianists gloss over.”
Washington Post“This sweet sidestep was a fine primer for “Piano Concerto in G Major,” which…pianist Drew Petersen embraced with equal parts intimacy and intensity…Many players can get carried away in the pyrotechnics of the first movement (“Allegramente”), but Petersen brought a wonderfully soft touch and bejeweled articulation that made for enchanting dialogue with harpist Eric Sabatino.”
Cincinnati Business Courier“Making his CSO debut, Petersen was the soloist in Norman’s “Suspend,”… What followed was a subtle, cinematic canvas, with the piano providing a tintinnabulation of repeating notes against softly intoning orchestral colors.”
Sarasota Herald Tribune“Soloist Drew Petersen, another speedily rising talent, delivered a crisply defined yet poetic performance of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37. In the outer movements we enjoyed the musical play between confident bursts of bravado and inwardly questioning asides. Petersen’s sparkling fingerwork was neatly controlled.”
Music Web International“Fearless playing, with recordings to match; this pianist is destined for great things.”
BBC Music Magazine“A really stunning, full-bodied sound makes this disc shine. Petersen showcases American piano works with superb technique and measured voicing. A very palatable selection.” ****
Gramophone“We begin with the headily Impressionistic Fantasy Pieces of Griffes, which are evocatively coloured, with Petersen particularly relishing the Slavic tinges of the third piece. From Ives’s Concord Sonata he excerpts the luscious third movement, ‘The Alcotts’. It’s played with palpable affection, and the way he references Ives’s appropriation of the ‘fate’ motif from Beethoven’s Fifth without overstating it is just one example of the subtlety of his musicianship.”
Fanfare“Drew Peterson’s playing is clean and crisp, avoiding the bathos some pianists have found in ‘The Alcotts’…Elliott Carter’s sonata is the surprise joy of this recital…Peterson not only fills the sonata with warmth but glides through the fugue as if it were child’s play, capturing the almost Bernstein-like rhythms that were in the New York air in 1945.”
All Music“This release marks the recording debut of Drew Peterson, a fast-rising American pianist still in the program at the Juilliard School. His all-American program, which he has performed live in whole or in part many times, is suited to the mission of the Steinway & Sons label, which has done well to sign him to its roster.”
The Republic“Following such a breath-taking tempo and beginning, we were treated to a stellar performance of Gershwin’s “Concerto in F,” which brings together interlacing jazz and classical elements. This piece demands a pianist of the highest technical and interpretive caliber, and we were fortunate to experience such a performance by 24-year-old pianist Drew Petersen. Petersen has all the qualities necessary to capture the grandeur and brilliance of this masterpiece for piano and orchestra. He drew from the piano its last ounces of beauty, strength and precision to end the first half of the concert, receiving an immediate standing ovation. The enthusiasm of the large crowd inspired Petersen to offer two encores of Gershwin songs, the last one a fantastic arrangement of “The Man I Love” by early 20th Century pianist and composer, Earl Wild. Petersen managed the intricacies of this transcription with superior aplomb, again drawing the audience to its feet.”
The Guardian“Three of the six finalists played Rachmaninov, but only one brought anything fresh or arresting to these overfamiliar works. That was 21-year-old American Drew Petersen, who – inexplicably as far as I’m concerned – only placed fourth; his account of Rachmaninov’s First Concerto was the best of the six performances in the final by some distance, and he perfectly captured the music’s youthful ebullience and glitter.”
Terre Haute Tribune Star“…a stellar performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 by a young virtuoso headed for greatness…”
Drew Petersen is an acclaimed New York-area based American pianist celebrated for his compelling and poetic performances across a diverse repertoire, from Bach to Zaimont. Recognized as a sought-after soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, he has earned numerous accolades, including the 2018 Avery Fisher Career Grant, the 2017 American Pianists Awards, and the Christel DeHaan Classical Fellowship.
The 25/26 season includes recitals in series from San Diego, CA to Westfield, NJ with a program ranging from Mozart to Liszt and John Adams, as well as concerto debuts with the Baltimore and Hartford Symphonies. 2018 marked the release of his first solo recording of music by Barber, Carter, and other American composers on the Steinway & Sons label for which BBC Music Magazine acknowledged his presence as a rising star.
A frequent radio contributor, Petersen has performed on platforms such as McGraw-Hill Young Artists Showcase, From the Top, and Performance Today. His performances and profiles have been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, and the award-winning documentary Just Normal by Kim Snyder. An enthusiastic chamber musician, he has appeared on France Musique as part of a Verbier Festival piano trio.
His inclusion in Andrew Solomon’s bestseller Far From the Tree sparked a national dialogue on raising extraordinary and different children. Dedicated to advocating for classical music and the arts, he was awarded the 2006 Davidson Fellows Award for his project, Keeping Classical Music Alive. He has also collaborated with Young Audiences NY to bring performances to New York City’s public schools.
Petersen is also a passionate traveler whose career takes him all over the world, where he explores new cuisines and connects with locals just as eagerly as he performs for fresh audiences. A Harvard graduate, he earned his Bachelor of Liberal Arts in Social Science with honors at just 19 years old. He also completed both his undergraduate and graduate music studies at the prestigious Juilliard School, where he was awarded the renowned Kovner Fellowship. Deeply committed to the role of music in today’s global society, Petersen has gained a unique perspective on how musical performances can uplift and enrich humanity. Through his extensive concert experience, he hopes to share his musical journey with others, inviting audiences to witness the transformative power of the arts firsthand.
SEPTEMBER 2025
