CLIBURN KIDS with Buddy Bray

MEET PIANIST KENNY BROBERG

Meet virtuoso pianist Kenny Broberg in this special episode of Cliburn Kids! Join Buddy to learn what it’s like to be a professional pianist and enjoy some music that sounds like springtime. 
featuring MEDTNER Primavera, op. 39, no. 3

EPISODE ACTIVITIES

Click the links below for supplemental worksheets and class activities. TEKS objectives are listed below each link.

What Do You Hear?
Music: FA.M.1.b.6, FA.M.2.b.6, FA.M.3.b.6, FA.M.4.b.6, FA.M.5.b.6; FA.M.1.b.1, FA.M.2.b.1, FA.M.3.b.1, FA.M.4.b.1, FA.M.5.b.1
Language Arts: 1.7, 2.7, 3.7, 4.7, 5.7

Interview a Composer
Language Arts: 1.13, 2.13, 3.13, 4.13, 5.13; Music: FA.M.1.b.5, FA.M.2.b.5, FA.M.3.b.5, FA.M.4.b.5, FA.M.5.b.5

Composer Biography: Nikolai Medtner

FEATURED ARTISTS

BUDDY BRAY

Buddy Bray is co-author of the Cliburn in the Classroom programs and has been hosting the presentations in schools for over 17 years, and he says it is the most enjoyable work he does.

When he is not in the schools talking about music, Buddy serves as artistic director of the Cliburn at the Modern series and is the principal keyboardist for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. He also hosts the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra’s pre-concert discussion series, where he does much the same thing as in the schools—he tries to make his audience comfortable with the music they will hear, and he does it with a spirit of discovery and fun.

Buddy comes from a family of teachers, and he is glad to be carrying on the family tradition.

KENNY BROBERG

American pianist Kenny Broberg first came to international attention when he captured the silver medal at the 2017 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Since that time, the Minnesota native has traveled throughout the United States, Europe, Japan, and Australia to share his music.

The first musician in his family, Kenny started piano lessons at age 6, when he was first fascinated by his mother’s upright—a wedding gift from her parents. He studied privately for nine years before entering the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in 2016. He currently lives in Parkville, Missouri, continuing his studies with 2001 Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav Ioudenitch at Park University. A hockey and baseball athlete in high school, Kenny still enjoys watching and playing sports, in addition to listening to jazz, composing music, and reading.