Awadagin Pratt, considered one of tomorrow's superstar pianists, will appear for a concert tonight in Spaulding Auditorium at 8 p.m.
For a classical pianist, Pratt is surprisingly high profile, undoubtedly due to his unconventional manner. Every article written about him describes his multicolored T-shirt he wears instead of a tuxedo and his long dreadlocks instead of the typical shaggy mop.
Many writers accuse him of trying too much to please a younger generation, while others praise him for "breaking out of the mold."
Because Pratt's favorite composers include Bach, Brahms and Beethoven, it is not surprising that he plans to play an assortment of their music for tonight's performance.
Interestingly, he will also do a piece by Modest Mussorgsky entitled "Pictures at an Exhibition." This suite is a memorial piece to the painter Victor Hartmann, in which the music is meant to mirror the rich beauty of Hartmann's paintings.
Pratt's debut CD, titled "A Long Way from Normal," is an intriguing conglomeration of Liszt, Franck, Brahms and Bach/Busoni. The album is dynamic but delicate, soothing listeners but keeping them interested at the same time.
The Indianapolis Star described Pratt's music as "rhythmically alert, fresh and interesting." This is right on the mark; "A Long Way" is both vibrant and smooth.
Described by the Chicago Sun-Times as a "man who sounds convinced he can do anything," Pratt started taking piano lessons when he was six. At nine, he started the violin, but neither instrument was a large part of his life.
"I was no prodigy type. I didn't practice that much. Most of my energy was devoted to tennis," Pratt said.
After pondering various educational opportunities, Pratt ended up at the Johns Hopkins University's Peabody Conservatory of Music. In his first year, he won the annual Peabody concerto competition and began studying to be a conductor with Frederick Prausnitz.
He soon became the first student in Peabody history to graduate with a triple major in piano, violin and conducting.
Pratt then matured into the first African-American instrumentalist to win the prestigious Naumburg Competition in 1992 and was described as "an airliner taking off."
Since 1992, Pratt has won the Avery Fisher Career Grant, and has played with the New York Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra and the Chicago Symphony. He has appeared at the White House and on National Public Radio's "Performance Today," "The Today Show," "CBS Sunday Morning," Good Morning America" and "Sesame Street."
He also regularly brings his talents to audiences in Japan, Germany and South Africa. When Pratt is not playing piano, he stays active. He was once ranked as one of the best junior tennis players in the Midwest, loves basketball and is a chess fanatic.
After all of Pratt's credentials though, his critics return to his unique clothing. The lack of the starched tuxedo is considered a welcome change by many, but a lack of professionalism to others.
But almost always, Pratt's performances outweigh the merits of whatever clothing he decides to wear.
