Christian International Concert Pianists?

[pianowelsh]

Hi guys was just wondering if you knew of any concert pianists on the international circuit who are openly Christian? I was told there are some in the states?! Are there some in europe and the far East too? would be really interesting to know who they are! oh and if you are a christian pianist on this forum feel free to stick your own name on here somewhere! Have a nice day folks!

[pianowelsh]

I see Daniel Martyn-Lewis the australian pianist seems to be a christian from his biog. Do people know of any others?

[pianistimo]

i think there's a tendency to 'tell all' about oneself, but lately, i realize the advantage of just being a quiet, personable, person, too.  for those that don't agree with your religion, you can convince with your music. 

personally, when i'm good enough, i want to make a cd of some christian music that's jazzed up (arranged by myself)

a classical cd

and a cd with myself and husband (he sings) doing music we've performed over the years together.

ps i don't really know the answer to your question.  but, i often wonder about many concert pianists because some have such an open child-like manner.  what i mean is, friendly and personable.  that's what i notice at first. 

[tds]

tds is a christian. he wants to be known as one, too!

[BoliverAllmon]

I myself am one. I don't tour though.

[Alde]

The Canadian pianist Joel Hastings is Christian.

www.joelhastings.com

[pianistimo]

thanks for sharing.  he's 'hot' for God.  that's the best kind.

[brewtality]

Hi guys was just wondering if you knew of any concert pianists on the international circuit who are openly Christian? I was told there are some in the states?! Are there some in europe and the far East too? would be really interesting to know who they are! oh and if you are a christian pianist on this forum feel free to stick your own name on here somewhere! Have a nice day folks!

Would you attend their concert just because they are christian? I don't see how religion is relevant.

[sharon_f]

What the heck is "openly Christian"? And what is your point? Are you speaking of Evangelical Christians or "born-again" or whatever? I assume that unless they are Jewish, Buddhists, Moslems or atheists the majority of people out there believe in Christ.
Most Italians and Poles, unless they are Jewish, are Catholics so its probably safe to assume most Italian and Polish pianists are Catholics=Christians unless they are Jewish.
What's the deal? I'm just curious as to why you are curious.

[pianistimo]

i think openly christian refers to someone who is quite 'open' about their beliefs.  but, as you mention, there are many people who are christian, so it's a matter of 'what kind' not so much as simply 'christian.'  to me, christian means doing what the bible says and not just repeating words.  so - it's much harder than it looks.  especially when around other musicians who do not share your views.  it's isolating.  just as in playing the piano.  you have to practice.  and, not everyone agrees on your interpretation.

some people make it their life goal to use music to praise God.  everything that they play is devoted to Him.  i haven't always thought that way, but am striving to do it.   music makes you think of very many different things, but the most satisfying things to me are not 'physical.'  i would say, the spiritual element gives us a feel for 'eternity.'  that's a very difficult concept to feel in other discplines, but in music - there's some string to God.  especially when we read in the bible that king david was the one that composed all the psalms.  they each had a melody to go with them...and he played on the harp (forerunner of piano).

back then, people also used music to repeat history - and so, david would speak of God's deeds in the past - and david's wish to see God continue showing his deeds in his own life.  sometimes what we can't speak, we can play in music, too.  there's some pieces that express our inner peace or turmoil at the time.  it's psychologically relieving to be able to express (whether christian or non-christian) yourself.  when God made music, he was thinking of our needs (our psyche's need it).

[bernhard]

Another “coming out of the closet” thread.

[chopintod]

Another “coming out of the closet” thread.

 

cracking up in my seat

btw im catholic

Terry

[Dazzer]

Russell peters -

Indian parents find out their sons gay. The mum goes "We must find him a nice boy. One from a good family.... and with a big closet."

(no offense)

[ramseytheii]

This thread brings to mind a quote by Horowitz (as close as I can recall):

"There are only three types of pianists: Jewish pianists, homosexual pianists, and bad pianists."

Walter Ramsey

[lagin]

I'm lazy so I'm not going to use the quote function, but this is in reply to the general question about the definition of a Christian.  I could bore you with Bible references and when the term was first applied and who it was applied to, but I'll just give it in a nutshell instead.  Christian does not mean merely one who believes in Christ or God or whatever for even Satan believes that they exist.  It means someone who has confessed that they are a sinner, believes Jesus died to pay for those sins, asks Jesus to forgive them and come into their heart as not only Savior (This is not just fire insurance!), but also Lord of their lives. 

The term "born-again," (once again in a nut shell), comes from the fact that if you trully do this you ARE NOT THE SAME!  And if you are, then you're not letting Jesus be Lord in your life.  Literally, you do not think the same as you used to.  The things I watched on t.v. and used to find entertaining are not anymore.  The things I used to find repulsive, I love, and visa versa. 

When this change occurs it's no longer a matter of "I HAVE to do what the Bible says."  You just do and actually, amazingly enjoy doing it.  No, it's not instant.  The Christain life is a growing experience.  Christians are not perfect!  We are forgiven, though, since we accepted Jesus' gift. 

When I first became a Christian I was really shy about my faith, but the more I grow in Christ, the more I live it out, and the more I live it out the more I change on the inside, and the more I change, the more peace I have, ect. ect...

In the Bible it says you know a tree by what fruit comes from it.  So is someone a Christian?  Look at their fruit.  Is there change?  Is there a difference?  (A good way to tell, is if everyone picks on them because the world hates something different from it.)  If not, yet they claim to be, I'd say they are "religious" (following the so called rules), not Christian in the true, original definition of the word.

Christian=born again=change

Christians are not better than anyone else, btw!  We are all just humans.  But Christians have asked Jesus into their hearts and lives, and He makes all the difference!  You'ld have to try it and see for yourselves though, because I know I can't convince you

EDIT:  I just read Jeremyjchilds' post in the "you guys love JC too much thread."  It's really good, and I agree.  I only typed the above to clear up misconceptions on the "definiton of Christianity."  I'm not going to argue about it.  You can post, if you want, in regards to what I typed, but I'm not debating over it because it just goes no where, and I'd rather go somewhere than no where any day!

[ramseytheii]

In the Bible it says you know a tree by what fruit comes from it.  So is someone a Christian?  Look at their fruit.  Is there change?  Is there a difference?  (A good way to tell, is if everyone picks on them because the world hates something different from it.)  If not, yet they claim to be, I'd say they are "religious" (following the so called rules), not Christian in the true, original definition of the word.

The bible says to judge a tree by its fruit; and also does Jesus say that "good seeds can fall on bad ground."  To fully live the Christian life we have to follow the commandments as Jesus gave them.  So this so-called Christian, in America, Pat Robertson, is erring on the side of sin when he publicly calls for the death of another man, because it is written to not resist evil (if this other man is evil) with force.  Let's not forget that when we try and make our definition.

Walter Ramsey

[lagin]

You're right Walter, I didn't mean to say that following the Bible was a bad thing that only non-Christian, "religious" people do.    What I meant to convey was that following the Bible without asking Jesus to be your Lord and Saviour means you're being a "good person," but not a "Christian."  It's one of those things where one without the other (Bible without Jesus, or visa versa), is not the complete package, if you know what I mean.

P.S. I'm not from America and I haven't heard of Pat Robertson, so I'm not going to comment there. :

[BoliverAllmon]

The bible says to judge a tree by its fruit; and also does Jesus say that "good seeds can fall on bad ground."  To fully live the Christian life we have to follow the commandments as Jesus gave them.  So this so-called Christian, in America, Pat Robertson, is erring on the side of sin when he publicly calls for the death of another man, because it is written to not resist evil (if this other man is evil) with force.  Let's not forget that when we try and make our definition.

Walter Ramsey

Pat Robertson can give us a really bad name. Alot of Christians are not like him. We actually care for people.

boliver