Dear Carolina Ballet Friends and Neighbors,
For the past decade, Carolina Ballet has had the privilege of performing with world-class pianos, thanks to our exclusive piano provider, Ruggero Piano. Each year, these instruments — along with Ruggero Piano’s entire inventory of new and pre-owned pianos — are made available to the public at preferred institutional pricing to support the Ballet.
This year’s benefit sale includes a large selection of pianos, including grands, baby grands, concert grands, uprights, hybrids, digitals, and player pianos from leading brands such as Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Schimmel, Estonia, Clavinova, Steinway, Kawai, and more. Every piano includes free standard local delivery, tuning and technical services by Ruggero Piano, plus four tickets to a Carolina Ballet performance of your choice. Special financing will be available including 0% APR for up to 24 Months. Appointments are available Thursday through Sunday, May 14-17, at Ruggero Piano: 4720-120 Hargrove Road. Raleigh, NC 27616.
We also invite you to join us for upcoming performances of Celebration of America (April 23–26) and Beauty and the Beast (May 14–17). Both performances will be accompanied by live music. Visit carolinaballet.com for more information and tickets.
We are grateful for the opportunity to perform with exceptional pianos and hope you’ll take advantage of this unique opportunity. Your purchase will directly support Carolina Ballet and help sustain our commitment to artistic excellence in our community.
Warmly,
Adam Schiffer | Chief Operating Officer
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Performers
The North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, an Education Partner of the North Carolina Symphony, is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Founded by NC Symphony musicians Elizabeth Beilman and Jimmy Gilmore, NCCMI presents over 40 events with 25+ small ensembles each year including workshops, master classes and concerts. These events enrich the cultural education of young people in the program, ranging in age 8-19. Mentored in the skills of musical performance and public speaking, these young artists share the joy of great chamber music throughout the community. In the past year, NCCMI groups played for over 8000 people throughout Wake County.
Students bond with each other in one small ensemble throughout the year, focusing on great masterworks and mentoring by outstanding teachers in the community. Teachers include members of the North Carolina Symphony and faculty from area colleges and schools. Among our graduating students are outstanding musicians who have gone on to study at major conservatories and universities. In recent years, NCCMI ensembles have advanced to the semifinal round of the elite Fischoff and St. Paul String Quartet Competitions.
NCCMI has a non-discrimination policy and financial aid is provided to over one-third of our students on the basis of need and/or merit. Donations to support scholarships are greatly appreciated and can be made through our website at nccmi.org/donate.
Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert.
Fire, Poetry, Rhapsody
Thomas Pandolfi, Piano
Join internationally acclaimed pianist Thomas Pandolfi for an electrifying evening of Romantic power, lyrical beauty, and dazzling virtuosity.
From the commanding brilliance of Chopin’s “Military” Polonaise and the sweeping grandeur of the “Heroic” Polonaise, to the delicate poetry of Debussy’s Clair de lune and Ponce’s Intermezzo, the program traces a vivid emotional journey through the Romantic and post-Romantic piano tradition.
The evening culminates in Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue (1927 solo piano version), bringing the program to a thrilling and unmistakably American finale.
A concert of intensity, elegance, and imagination—designed for both devoted piano lovers and new audiences alike.
Performer Bio
American pianist Thomas Pandolfi is acclaimed for performances that combine virtuoso brilliance with poetic nuance and an immediate, communicative presence. A compelling interpreter of the Romantic and early modern repertoire, he brings a distinctive blend of tonal refinement, structural clarity, and expressive depth to the concert stage.
Pandolfi’s repertoire centers on the works of Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Ravel, and Gershwin, through which he explores the piano’s full expressive range—from orchestral power to intimate lyricism. His interpretations are noted for their coloristic imagination and a natural sense of musical architecture that lends both coherence and vitality to each performance.
A frequent concerto soloist, Pandolfi has appeared with orchestras across the United States and internationally, including the National Philharmonic, the Augusta Symphony and the George Enescu Philharmonic, with upcoming engagements including the Reading Symphony Orchestra. His performances of major works such as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Gershwin’s Concerto in F are distinguished by both virtuoso command and a refined collaborative sensitivity.
His recordings include orchestral collaborations with the National Symphony Orchestra of London and the Moravian Philharmonic further reflecting his work on the international stage.
In recital, Pandolfi is recognized for thoughtfully curated programs that balance dramatic intensity, lyrical intimacy, and coloristic imagination, creating performances that resonate deeply with both seasoned listeners and new audiences alike.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, Thomas Pandolfi continues to establish himself as a compelling voice in the Romantic tradition—an artist whose performances unite intellectual insight with genuine expressive immediacy.
Masterclass details coming soon!
Performer Bio
American pianist Thomas Pandolfi is acclaimed for performances that combine virtuoso brilliance with poetic nuance and an immediate, communicative presence. A compelling interpreter of the Romantic and early modern repertoire, he brings a distinctive blend of tonal refinement, structural clarity, and expressive depth to the concert stage.
Pandolfi’s repertoire centers on the works of Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Ravel, and Gershwin, through which he explores the piano’s full expressive range—from orchestral power to intimate lyricism. His interpretations are noted for their coloristic imagination and a natural sense of musical architecture that lends both coherence and vitality to each performance.
A frequent concerto soloist, Pandolfi has appeared with orchestras across the United States and internationally, including the National Philharmonic, the Augusta Symphony and the George Enescu Philharmonic, with upcoming engagements including the Reading Symphony Orchestra. His performances of major works such as Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and Gershwin’s Concerto in F are distinguished by both virtuoso command and a refined collaborative sensitivity.
His recordings include orchestral collaborations with the National Symphony Orchestra of London and the Moravian Philharmonic further reflecting his work on the international stage.
In recital, Pandolfi is recognized for thoughtfully curated programs that balance dramatic intensity, lyrical intimacy, and coloristic imagination, creating performances that resonate deeply with both seasoned listeners and new audiences alike.
A graduate of The Juilliard School, Thomas Pandolfi continues to establish himself as a compelling voice in the Romantic tradition—an artist whose performances unite intellectual insight with genuine expressive immediacy.
