Join us for a special concert, performed by legendary pianist, composer, improviser, recording artist, and Artistic Director of PSIPC, John Bayless. John’s taste, range, and showmanship will shine through classics from Bach, The Beatles, Morricone, Puccini, and more!
Bio:
Artistic Director of PSIPC, John Bayless is an accomplished pianist, composer, improviser, and recording artist. He began playing piano in West Texas at age four, became the youngest church organist in the state by age 13, and, while still a teen, studied at both the Aspen School of Music and Juilliard with the legendary Adele Marcus. John was a composer in the inaugural class of NYU’s Musical Theater Master’s Degree Program, studying with Julie Styne, Arthur Laurents, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and Leonard Bernstein. His relationship with Bernstein proved fruitful, leading to his role as artist in residence for the London Symphony Orchestra’s Leonard Bernstein Festival and a performance for Queen Elizabeth II. He also served as Associate Conductor for the 1981 production of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS at the Kennedy Center.
As a solo and orchestral performer, John has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, Tanglewood, The Hollywood Bowl, and London’s Barbican Center. He’s appeared with such organizations as the Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Pops, San Francisco Symphony, and New York Pops. He’s also been featured on television and radio programs such as NBC’s Today Show and Garrison Keillor’s A Prairie Home Companion.
As composer, John has received commissions from The Newport Music Festival, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and from PBS, where his music can be heard on many series and specials.
A prolific recording artist, John’s numerous CD’s have been at the top of the Classical and Classical Crossover Charts since the mid-80s. His bestselling collections include Bach on Abbey Road (one of the top ten bestselling albums of the 1980s), Bach Meets The Beatles, The Puccini Album (Billboard Magazine’s #1 top selling album for 19 weeks), and West Side Story Variations.
John Bayless is a YAMAHA artist.
Featuring the medalists from the 2025 Junior International Competition and Patrick Evans, Master of Ceremonies!
Latin Grammy Winner Marco Godoy creates a lively performance featuring Bolero music.
The Mission of Palm Springs International Piano Competition (PSIPC) is to discover, promote and inspire promising young classical pianists through triennial public competitions, offering monetary prizes and significant performance and career opportunities, while providing local community educational outreach and engagement.
Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of musical brilliance at the 2025 International Piano Competition, an eagerly awaited event sure to ignite passion and inspire awe.
April 11 - 21, 2025
$10,000
25
Discover extraordinary talent and passion at the 2025 Junior Competition.
