“Steinway pianos provide performing artists with the ability to fully communicate to their audiences with the utmost creativity. The sensitive touch characteristic of Steinway pianos allows me to freely and most accurately express my musical interpretations. Always consistent and trustworthy, Steinway's unparalleled craftsmanship is why it has always been my first and only choice of piano.”
Joseph Irrera
Cited by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle as a “local prodigy,” American born pianist Joseph Irrera has concertized across the globe with appearances at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Spivey Hall, and Eastman’s Kodak and Kilbourn Halls. At the age of 18 he made his debut with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra performing Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto. Additional concerto performances include appearances with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, the Penfield Symphony, the Genesee Symphony Orchestra, and the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. He has collaborated with conductors Christopher Seaman, Leonard Slatkin, Delta David Gier, and Raffaele Ponti. Internationally he has performed throughout Germany, Bulgaria, Italy, France, and Costa Rica.
In addition to his solo piano concert engagements, Joseph is also very active as a chamber musician appearing with his brother, violinist John. The internationally acclaimed Irrera Brothers Piano & Violin Duo has appeared throughout the United States, Europe, and Central America. They made their Carnegie Hall Debut in 2009, and were invited back in 2012 and again in 2013. The Irrera Brothers are on the artist roster of New York City management firm, Parker Artists.
As a recording artist, Joseph can be heard on albums featuring the Irrera Brothers Duo including “Beethoven & Prokofiev” (2012), “Vitali” (2014), and most recently “Complete Works for Violin and Piano by Robert Morris”, released in 2019 on the Centaur Records label. Joseph has also recorded solo piano works of Scarlatti, Schumann, and Chopin with Steinway & Sons (2015).
Joseph is laureate of many national and international piano competitions including the Guthman International Piano Competition in Atlanta, Georgia, the Young Artists International Piano Competition in Washington, D.C., the Eastman Young Artists International Piano Competition, and the American Protégé International Piano Competition in New York City.
Joseph received his diploma in Piano with Honors from the Eastman School of Music’s Community Education Division in 2000. He remained at the Eastman School where he completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Performance with Distinction in 2005. After his degrees at Eastman, Joseph was accepted to the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University where he earned his Masters Degree in Piano Performance in 2007. He went on to complete the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in 2014, at the Eastman School of Music in Piano Performance and Literature, with a minor in Pedagogy.
Joseph resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where he also has a private piano studio. To learn more about his teaching activities please visit www.irrerapianostudio.com