Evaluating the Influence of the Shapiro Position
In a significant move for the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, David Kaplan, the inaugural holder of the Shapiro Family Chair in Piano Performance, has announced plans to establish an annual summer piano festival. The event aims to bring in guest artists, recruit aspiring high school pianists from across California and the broader region, and elevate the school's profile.
The Shapiro Family Chair in Piano Performance was established in 2025 through a generous $1 million donation from Shirley and Ralph Shapiro. The chair primarily supports a faculty member in the school and students in piano performance. Part of the funds from the chair have been used to purchase a Bösendorfer grand piano for the use of UCLA students and faculty.
The Bösendorfer grand piano, renowned for its unique sound and nineteenth-century aesthetic, offers a warm tone, clarity, and a range that allows players to create heartfelt music. Aiden Tang, a sophomore piano performance major, appreciates the Bösendorfer for its versatility, while Terry Hsu, a sophomore studying piano performance, notes that it doesn't allow players to hide their mistakes.
The presence of a Bösendorfer grand piano can be rare in schools of music, as many institutions accept sponsorships with only one piano manufacturing company. This means that students often only experience a single brand of performance instrument during their education. The inclusion of the Bösendorfer at UCLA offers students a unique opportunity to engage with a different instrument.
While the summer festival is a significant part of David Kaplan's plans for the Shapiro chair, he also has broader ambitions. These plans have not yet been revealed, but Kaplan is committed to making a lasting impact on the school and the wider music community.
The summer piano festival is expected to serve as a great recruiting tool, providing opportunities for UCLA students to meet professionals in the field and mentor younger players. Over the next decade, hundreds of students will have the opportunity to play on the Bösendorfer grand piano, with around 2 dozen students in the school's piano studios having the opportunity to do so each year.
The gift from Shirley and Ralph Shapiro has also provided funds for instrument purchases and brought prominent pianists to UCLA for masterclasses. As Kaplan continues to develop his plans for the Shapiro chair, the real benefits and glory of the chair are still in the future, but the Bösendorfer grand piano and the planned summer festival are exciting steps towards a brighter future for the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music.
The annual summer piano festival, initiated by David Kaplan and funded in part by the Shapiro Family Chair in Piano Performance, will offer landing opportunities for UCLA students to interact with professionals in the music industry and mentor rising pianists. This event, along with the utilization of the Bosendorfer grand piano, purchased with the chair's funds, will aid in the students' comprehensive learning experience beyond online-education and entertainment, promoting education-and-self-development in music. Furthermore, the prospective broader ambitions of Kaplan are anticipated to contribute to the elevation of the school's profile and the wider music community, extending beyond simple piano performance.
