Kalamazoo’s own The Gilmore is the largest supporter of pianists in the world. In addition to awarding $600,000 to two top pianists every four years, The Gilmore also presents the largest piano festival in North America. Those lucky enough to be in Southwest Michigan from April 30 to May 10 should attend one (or all!) of the 75-plus events happening at the 2026 Gilmore Piano Festival. From free concerts for children and a unique film series to traditional piano recitals in proscenium theaters and smokin’ hot jazz concerts in a brewery, this year’s festival can sate every musical appetite. Here are five must-see festival events:
Sullivan Fortner
April 30 and May 10
Opening and closing this year’s festival will be two truly unique and powerful celebrations of the most American art form — jazz. What better way to kick-start the festival than on April 30, which is International Jazz Appreciation Day? Grammy Award-winning pianist Sullivan Fortner, the inaugural recipient of The Gilmore’s Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award, will perform a solo concert in the Kalamazoo Civic’s Parish Theatre, preceded by a dinner honoring Kalamazoo businessman Larry J. Bell, past president of The Gilmore’s Board of Trustees and provider of some of the most generous financial support to the musical arts and to the city of Kalamazoo. Returning for the festival’s final night, May 10, Fortner will lead his incredible trio — himself, famed vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant and trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire — in a performance at Chenery Auditorium.
Alexandre Kantorow
May 1 and 2
Celebrating his Gilmore Festival debut is acclaimed pianist and 2024 Gilmore Artist winner Alexandre Kantorow. Hailed as a “young czar of the piano (The New York Times),” Kantorow is known for playing impeccably and flawlessly with a lucid, pearly touch. We are lucky to have two opportunities to hear him live at Chenery Auditorium: On May 1 he will perform Tchaikovsky’s breathtaking Piano Concerto No. 2, and on May 2 he will play Beethoven’s final sonatas and the U.S. premiere of a new work by Swedish composer Anders Hillborg.
ARTEMIS
May 8
Voted DownBeat Magazine’s Jazz Group of the Year for three consecutive years (2023–2025), this powerhouse all-female group is renowned for its high-energy performances. The group will play in the Dalton Center Recital Hall on the Western Michigan University campus. ARTEMIS is named for the Greek goddess of hunting and unites five instrumental virtuosos in jazz: Renee Rosnes (piano), Ingrid Jensen (trumpet), Nicoel Glover (tenor saxophone), Noriko Ueda (bass) and Allison Miller (drums). According to NPR, this is a “killer lineup of players, composers and performers … who converge on an extremely cosmopolitan, sleek, rhythm-forward, modern sound.”
Family Events
May 2 and 3
As the father of four, I’d also recommend checking out our two family-friendly concerts — they’re genuinely engaging for kids and enjoyable for the adults who come with them. Right in the Eye, on May 2 at Chenery Auditorium, will be a feast for the senses, combining 12 short silent films by pioneering French filmmaker Georges Méliès with live music, lighting design and theatrical flair. Three musicians will perform on more than 50 instruments, including rare and unexpected ones, to create all the sound effects and music live onstage to accompany the films. This concert is imaginative, surprising and ideal for children ages 5 and up.
Baby Grands, on May 3 at First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, will offer a different kind of magic, with no stage, no seats and no need to sit still. Kids of all ages are invited to move freely during an interactive musical story time featuring organist Kory Heitzig and narrator Garret Jones. The program includes Rex: The King of Instruments, by Daniel Burton, followed by an OrgelKids workshop where children help assemble a real working organ. Plus, there will be snacks and, for grownups, coffee.
Four Hands: Brad Mehldau + Kirill Girstein
May 4
Two of today’s top pianists unite in a musical dialogue spanning styles and genres. Grammy Award-winning pianist Brad Mehldau has long bridged musical worlds, shaping modern jazz. 2010 Gilmore Artist Kirill Gerstein is equally at home in classical and jazz traditions. These two greats join forces on the Dalton Center Recital Hall stage for a mash-up of jazz improvisations and classical works. Expect the unexpected!
