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Performers
The Community Music School (CMS) was founded in 1994 to provide access to high quality music instruction. Since their founding, CMS has provided $1 weekly music lessons. 1 on 1 private music lessons in both contemporary and classical music are offered in all instruments, including piano, guitar, percussion, violin, cello, woodwinds, harp, voice and more, and instruments are provided at no charge. Their mission is to enrich and inspire children and youth through access to and delivery of high-quality music instruction.
Korean-American pianist Anthony C. Lee was a Fulbright recipient at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary in 2021 and a grand prize winner at the 2018 Chicago International Music Competition. Dr. Lee’s research was centered around the history of the Liszt Academy and its rich lineage of Hungarian musicians. After returning to the US, he gave a series of lecture recitals across many US institutions including at Indiana University for the American Liszt Society Festival. In his talk titled, “An American in Budapest,” Anthony shares his research and experiences of the city and the institution’s cultural vibrancy alongside a unique musical program of Hungarian composers. Anthony’s newest project is “The Classical Concerts” (2025), aiming to bring curated programs to wide audiences in North Carolina. Lee holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and the University of Kansas (DMA, Steven Spooner).
Pianist Bridget O’Leary maintains a vibrant career as a solo performer, collaborative musician, composer, and educator. A versatile artist, she was recently honored as the 2025 featured commissioned composer for the Charlotte House Series, which premiered her solo work Orphaned Heart. Her 2026 season features new recording projects, while her upcoming concert highlights include duo recitals with cellist Sam Magill and trio performances with the Melete Trio. Her recording portfolio includes the 2025 release of re:awakening, a video series featuring new works for viola and piano. A multi-year recipient of the United Arts Council Artist Support Grant, Bridget has also recorded solo works by Florence Price, Chen Yi, and Denis Gougeon. Her 2026 releases will continue this momentum, focusing on new commissions and various collaborative works. Bridget currently serves as President of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and actively serves on committees and adjudication panels nationwide. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance and has received grants from the RPTA and NCMTA to support her ongoing work as a composer-educator. bridgetoleary.com.
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.
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
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.
