Brittani Washington has not only toured as a keyboard player with the international star Beyoncé for over six years, but also works with many top-class musicians such as Jay-Z, Kanye West and CeeLo Green (Gnarls Barkley). Alongside her job as a professional musician, Brittani is also committed to supporting homeless musicians and abused women in her home state of Texas (USA).
- MUSIC UNITES PEOPLE
Brittani first came into contact with CASIO and the Privia digital pianos during a cooperation with the Modern Music School chain of music schools. She toured numerous european cities, sharing her love of playing music with hundreds of children and young people. On this tour, she always used the digital pianos, the sound and design of which impressed Brittani right from the start.
Since then Brittani performed in numerous concerts, music videos and joint projects with CASIO. Since 2019 Brittani Washington became the official Privia brand ambassador of CASIO Music.
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"She is a revolutionary with a brilliant technique, someone who goes against the grain; no punk of the classical scene but not entirely refined either, an artist who tells stories with her hands", MDR declared when Kateryna Titova’s debut recording of works by Rachmaninoff was released by Sony Classical in 2009.
- A VIRTUOSO MAGICIAN
Kateryna was born in Ukraine in 1983 and grew up in Russia. She began playing the piano when she was five years old and has studied in Kharkov and Moscow, Münster and Dresden, Manchester and Bologna. Following many performances and extended stays all over the world, Kateryna eventually settled in Germany where she now lives with her family.
Kateryna Titova has won first or second prize at twenty international piano competitions, including the 2002 Alicia de Larrocha Competition in Andorra, the 2004 International Russian Music Piano Competition in San José, California, the 2005 International Anton Rubinstein Competition in Dresden, the 2008 James Mottram International Piano Competition in Manchester and the 2013 Spanish Composers International Piano Competition in Madrid.
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- SOLOIST AND CHAMBER MUSICIAN
Titova says: "Fantasy — it is only given to human beings: the ability to create images in the mind which do not exist in reality."
Both as a soloist and as a chamber recitalist, Kateryna Titova has performed throughout Europe, Russia, Ukraine and in the USA with orchestras such as the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra, the Moscow Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the "Philharmonie der Nationen" symphony orchestra and—under the direction of Maxim Vengerov—the Prague Philharmonic. Recitals have taken her to the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, the Bad Kissingen Summer Festival, the International Music Festival in Viana do Castello in Portugal, the Dresden State Opera, the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg, the Vienna Konzerthaus, Lesinsky Hall in Zagreb and Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
Irene Veneziano, born in Italy in 1985, is one of the most talented pianists of her generation. She has thrilled audiences worldwide with performances at highly prestigious venues such as the "Teatro Alla Scala" in Milan, the "Chinese Theater" in Los Angeles and the "Tata Theater" in Mumbai.
- VIRTUOSO WITH AN INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION
Thanks to her outstanding talent, she has received a number of awards such as the "G.Sinopoli" prize in Italy, the honorary title of "Visitante Distinguida" (honoured guest) in Peru and honorary membership in the "Beijing Bravoce Music Club" in China. She is a recipient of the national cultural award "Toyp 2017" and was included in the "Donne. Mujeres italianas que han cambiado la historia" exhibition in Spain, which featured Italian women who've had a significant impact on history.
Irene Veneziano has won over 30 piano competitions, was a semi-finalist in the prominent "F. Chopin" competition in Warsaw and even shone as a finalist in the "International German Piano Award" in Frankfurt am Main.
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- ADEPT COLLABORATOR
The list of musicians that Irene has already had the opportunity to work with includes celebrated artists such as W. Bennett, A. Griminelli and M. Caroli, as well as composers such as Y. Bashmet, S. Kochanovsky and R. Seehafer. Since 2016, Irene Veneziano has been the official brand ambassador of the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid series.
- DARK HUMOR
Cheeky, fast-paced, a little obscene and by no means politically correct. Kay Ray's on-stage performances cross the line in a humanistically motivated attack on social norms and discriminatory taboos.
- PRIVIA
Kay Ray's programmes are full of black humour, showcased in the tales that he shares from his own life or about people he has encountered or knows.
along with occasional interludes on his new Privia piano, which he uses both on stage and in rehearsals.
Debby Smith belongs to a rare group of musicians who have the whole package: She is not only eye-catching on the stage, but she is also a "true" musician who started at an early age. Debby was already playing the piano at age six, and just a little later she was energetically collecting choir and band experience. She wrote her first songs at 14 years old and by then the young musician had chosen her path.
- FIRST ENGAGEMENTS AT 15
After seven years as an established member of the Living Water gospel choir in Hamburg, Debby Smith stepped into the spotlight and took her first tentative steps as a solo singer in bars and at events, for which she was booked because of her special repertoire of cover songs and original compositions.
Studio engagements for backing vocals and adverts followed when Debby was still just 15, and eventually she started working hard on her own material with help from producers and professional musicians.
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- A MIX INSPIRED BY POP, SOUL AND JAZZ
But what does Debby's music sound like now? Take a blender, throw in some pop and soul and finish it all off with a pinch of jazz. Featuring personal and honest lyrics by a woman in her mid-twenties, her music offers a pleasure that entertains and inspires both musically and linguistically. Debby's star has only just begun to rise into the musical heavens, yet she already has the knowledge of a professional.
- A NOTEWORTHY NEWCOMER
Whether as a front woman of various band projects, on stage in Malaysia, Chile or the USA, or in the studio with musical giants like producer Frank Peterson (who has worked with the likes of Sarah Brightman), the attention from the music world for this promising and fresh newcomer is growing steadily. Let's finish with perhaps her most personable fact: Debby does not rely on her success — quite the opposite in fact. She remains down to earth and hardworking, as since 2011 she has been studying for her bachelor's degree at the HfMT University of Music and Theatre in Hamburg. Her major, of course, as in life is singing.
Concert pianist, composer and arranger Natalia Posnova transforms well-known rock songs into virtuoso piano compositions. Natalia was influenced by the music of Rachmaninoff, her mother's love for classical music and her father's obsession with rock and roll. Today she is an exceptional crossover artist who impresses with outstanding interpretations of both classic and contemporary music.
- WITH A WORLD-FAMOUS FAN: BRIAN MAY
Queen guitarist Brian May went into raptures the first time he heard Natalia's classical adaptation of "Flash": "I have just 'discovered' Natalia Posnova. She is an amazing pianist and interpreter of songs. And I do not use this term lightly... I have seriously, in all these years, never seen or heard anything like this.
To see this amount of beauty, talent, innovation and pure bravura in one shot is astounding. You all have to see her interpretation of FLASH… but for now...enjoy...and marvel!"
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- TRAINING AT THE BEST SCHOOLS
As a child, Natalia attended the Rimsky-Korsakoff St. Petersburg State Conservatory and learned under the watchful eye of renowned piano teacher Asya Rubina. She also studied under the esteemed Professor Leonid Sinstev. It was also here that Natalia performed a breath-taking, award-worthy interpretation of Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3. Her performance was so phenomenal that the highly respected Professor Arkádi Zenziper invited her to continue her studies under his direction at the "Carl Maria von Weber" College of Music in Dresden.
LENNA is formed of Alenna Rose (vocals, keyboard), Tammo Reckeweg (guitar, vocals), Juri Reckeweg (drums, vocals) and Florian Mitz (bass, vocals). Founded in 2013 in Stuhr near Bremen, the band's first EP "1000 Farben" (1000 colours) was released in 2015 with the single "Alles ist anders" (Everything is different).
- POWER POP
The band's easy-going sound combines elements from the experimental "Neue Deutsche Welle" genre of the 80s, stadium rock songs with catchy hooks and playful yet thoughtful singer/songwriter poetry.
On stage or in rehearsals, LENNA relies on Privia models to cover the range of different genres in its music, creating the simple, easy-going and light-hearted sound that typifies the band.
- SONGS
LENNA has a fabulous talent for effortlessly transporting all types of emotion and imagery without losing any depth—whether it's heart-breaking, reflective or refreshing.
Thanks to his considerable musical flair and astonishing virtuosity, Plat has enjoyed a great deal of success — both for his free interpretations as well as his own compositions based on the works of well-known composers.
- A VIRTUOSO ON THE KEYS
Born in 1980, Pierre-Yves Plat began taking piano lessons from Marie-Claude Legrand at the age of five before going on to study classical piano.
After the release of his first ragtime album in 1996, Plat began playing several concerts in Paris, Versailles and all over France, whilst also regularly playing the jazz and blues festival scene. His talent for reinventing the classical form appeals to a wide audience.
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- A FUSION OF CLASSICAL AND JAZZ
Influenced by jazz, ragtime, boogie woogie, salsa and pop music, Plat combines classical structures with rhythmic breakaways towards other musical styles. Fusing classical music with rhythms inspired by other musical styles gives his work a unique touch thanks to his ability to reinterpret famous works from the classical repertoire into what is effectively a jazz arrangement. Whether it's a new interpretation of a well-known classic by Bach, Chopin or Mozart — with his exceptional musical flair and astonishing virtuosity, he can take you on a musical journey like no other.
- DARING TO BE DIFFERENT
Most people would think that reworking classical favourites would leave purist classical fans "seeing red". Pierre-Yves Plat, however, invites this reaction by wearing his red braces with pride and by customising his CELVIANO Grand Hybrid GP-300 and having it delivered in red.
Plat, who leaves an impression on his audience thanks to his outstanding musical flair, personality and ingenuity, has been an official brand ambassador for CELVIANO Grand Hybrid since 2007.
Be enchanted by the extraordinary pianist Wilhem Latchoumia, who will take you on a breath-taking journey through unique musical moments, ranging from his own interpretations to contemporary piano music.
- AN ARTIST THROUGH AND THROUGH
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- MULTI-FACETED CAREER
Wilhem Latchoumia is a talented and versatile artist. Made famous by his interpretation of the works of John Cage and Iannis Xenakis, Wilhem Latchoumia also shines when playing a more classical repertoire. His abilities have allowed him to have a multi-faceted career, making appearances all over the world as a soloist, a concert artist and a chamber musician. His outstanding talent has already earned him several awards, including prizes at international piano competitions.
Born on 17 January 2003 in Budapest (Hungary), Enrico Noel Czmorek's versatile musical talent was already obvious even in his early childhood. Enrico Noel was just four years old when he started to acquire his musical knowledge with the greatest enthusiasm.
- AN AWARD WINNER WITH A PERFECT SCORE
In the numerous major national and international competitions that he has taken part in since 2011, he has always taken first place, often achieving a perfect score. His awards include:
- CASIO Talent Days piano competition
- César Franck International Piano Competition
- International ClaviCologne piano competition, Aachen
- Euregio Piano Award international piano competition
- Ferenc Liszt International Piano Competition
- Bitburg International Piano Competition
- International Piano Competition Maria Herrero
- Jugend Musiziert music competition (on multiple occasions)
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- MASTER CLASS AND CONCERT DEBUT
In November 2014, around one year before Enrico Noel made his concert debut, he was given a very special training opportunity: He was one of just 12 children around the world to be invited to an exclusive week-long master class with renowned pianist Lang Lang at the "Allianz Junior Music Camp 2014" in Barcelona. The following year, on 13 October 2015, he eventually performed his first solo piano recital at Forum Daun near the Eifel mountain range in Germany.
- STUDENT AND BRAND AMBASSADOR
Since 2016, he has attended the Cologne University of Music and Dance, and studies under Professor Andreas Frölich as a young student at the Pre-College Cologne. Enrico has been a part of the CASIO Artist Pool since July 2016, when he was just 13 years old. He is the youngest artist and brand ambassador for the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid, which he enjoys using for both practice and composition.
Kristian Terzic is an award-winning pianist and keyboard player, session musician, arranger and composer from Croatia. He has already been named Best Keyboard Player several times with his receipt of the Status award.
- AN EXPERIENCED ALL-ROUNDER
He gained his musical experience performing in Europe, the Middle East and the USA, both as a band member and as the frontman of his own jazz fusion band. Kristian plays on various live TV programmes and for popular pop/rock artists. As an arranger with experience in different music styles, he has also worked on music projects for Bollywood films.
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- HIS OWN ALBUM WITH AN ALL-STAR LINE-UP
In 2012, Kristian released his first self-titled instrumental jazz-fusion album, which was very well received and received three nominations for the Porin music award (the Croatian Grammy). Kristian is currently working on his second album, with Simon Phillips (Toto, Jeff Back, Mick Jagger) on the drums, Mike Miller (Chick Corea, Gino Vanelli) on guitar and Hadrien Feraud (Chick Corea, Zawinul Legacy Band) on bass. The album was recorded at the Phantom Recording Studios in Los Angeles and will be released in 2018.
- RELIES ON CASIO INSTRUMENTS
Kristian often uses CASIO instruments and relies on the PRIVIA-Pro PX5S and PX-560M stage pianos, the XW-P1 synthesiser, the MZ-X500 keyboard and the Grand Hybrid GP-500 digital piano.
CASIO Music Community
Musicians around the world play, compose, arrange and practise on digital pianos and keyboards from CASIO. Artists differ from one another through their individual careers – they develop their own preferences, and thus a distinctive style. With this in mind, CASIO's range of high-quality electronic and digital keyboard instruments has also been constantly developed and refined. After all, the differentiated choice of CASIO musical instruments aims to meet the musical requirements of a wide variety of artists in the best possible way.
CASIO Music artist promotion
Whether CASIO Music Talentdays, CASIO Masterclasses, CASIO Grand Hybrid experience or support for music schools – for many years CASIO MUSIC has been involved in the music world by promoting and organising events for young musical talents. The interest of young talent in these CASIO Music competitions and events remains high and the "results", i.e. impressive performances and successful career starts are there to be seen, or better, heard.
The CASIO Music Community currently includes almost a dozen young and renowned artists. They have been supported in various ways by CASIO Music. Some are now also CASIO brand ambassadors and have taken their first steps on stage with CASIO Music digital pianos or keyboards, or still use CASIO musical instruments as a matter of course for performances and compositions, for writing pieces, for sampling or for spontaneous jam sessions.
Many musicians in the CASIO Music Community focus on classical music, i.e. from early music such as baroque music to Viennese classical music and music from the Romantic period. However, much more modern styles and performing art forms are also part of the repertoire of artists in the CASIO Music Community, including jazz, hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B, pop and even cabaret. To help you get to know the CASIO Music Community a little better we have created detailed artist portraits for you. Almost every one of them is supplemented by high-quality videos with wonderful samples from concerts and exclusive performances.
Top acts in the CASIO Music artist pool
Since 2016, Hungarian Enrico Noel Czmorek has enriched the CASIO Music Community. He is also brand ambassador for the CASIO CELVIANO Grand Hybrid, which was developed in collaboration with C. Bechstein. Playing the piano has been an integral part of his life since he was three years old. The exceptional student studies with Frölich at the Academy of Music and Dance Cologne/Aachen. To date he has participated in eight master classes, for example with Lang Lang in Barcelona and Benjamin Grosvenor in Berlin, and has won twenty major national and international competitions.
You can get to know the French pianist Wilhem Latchoumia not only here in the CASIO Music Community, but also in concerts and chamber music concerts and at festivals, or through the albums that he has released. His playing, which has received several international awards, is characterised by outstanding versatility in the field of classical and contemporary music. Latchoumia composes, works with choreographers, and also has a degree in musicology.
"Alles ist anders" ("Everything is different") — when LENNA, a pop/rock band from northern Germany wrote this title in the rehearsal room, it was with the accompaniment of one of our CASIO Privia digital pianos. The power pop artists came onto the music scene in 2013 and since then have created an impression with their good-humoured, hand-made sound with a pinch of melancholy and creative hooks that simply stick. An irresistible combination and the best basis for remaining musically successful.
Inventive, indescribably entertaining and a touch eccentric — pianist Pierre-Yves Plat is nothing less than a piano virtuoso. The Frenchman mixes and transforms classical music and ragtime, jazz, boogie, salsa and disco with bravura and in a breathtakingly casual way – with unique musical sensitivity and full of esprit. Thanks to his exceptional skills, he is an exemplary brand ambassador for the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid line from CASIO.
Concert pianist Natalia Posnova was influenced by a home where classical music and rock and roll were equally loved, and was educated at the best music schools. She grew up to become an exceptional artist who can not only play the piano breathtakingly well, but also compose and arrange. She plays on a CASIO CELVIANO Grand Hybrid and interprets rock titles in a classical fashion and classical pieces as rock, and does so in such an outstanding crossover that even Queen guitarist Brian May became a fan.
Entertainment always wins through music: Of course, the successful German entertainer and cabaret artist Kay Ray knows this too. With him on stage or at rehearsals – his CASIO Privia digital piano. Kay Ray's musical repertoire includes hits, chansons and golden oldies which he sometimes accompanies himself with virtuosity on the keys – artfully presented with wry, dark humour that skilfully whistles at social conventions and political correctness.
A fantastic voice and excellent piano playing, her own lyrics and songs, Debby Smith has everything that makes a "real" musician. Debby was already playing the piano at the age of six. At 12 she started song writing and singing as a soloist in a gospel choir. Many years of piano lessons, A-levels and studies at the University of Music in Hamburg followed, and she now has her own album "Peace of Mind", with lyrics and chords by Debby Smith of course.
A musician in the CASIO Music Community relies on instrumental support from our range in several ways: Kristian Terzic uses CASIO's PRIVIA-Pro PX5S and PX-560M digital pianos, the XW-P1 synthesiser, the MZ-X500 keyboard and the CELVIANO Grand Hybrid GP-500 digital piano on stage. After all, someone who has won so many awards, is an accomplished piano and keyboard player, is in demand as a band and studio musician, arranger and composer, and has already released his own album, simply needs a lot of sound impressions.
To be a twenty-time award winner in categories 1 and 2 is something that can only be achieved by someone who has sat at a keyboard instrument from an early age – like Kateryna Titova. The Ukrainian, who now lives in Germany, has been playing the piano since she was five years old. Her outstanding talent and career, with study visits to Russia, Germany, England and Italy, led to an international career as a soloist and chamber musician with celebrated performances together with world-renowned symphony orchestras on prestigious stages.
The official CASIO Music brand ambassador for the CASIO CELVIANO Grand Hybrid series is Irene Veneziano. She is considered one of the world's finest pianists and regularly performs in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Irene Veniziano has won over 30 piano competitions and also works as a musical consultant. Listen to and watch Irene here in the CASIO Music Community Portrait with her brilliant performance of the Allegro de Concierto OP.46 by the Spanish composer Enrique Granados.
Being so good that global stars like Beyoncé or successful musicians like CeeLo Green and Kanye West want to work with you is something that not everyone is able to write in their biography. Brittani Washington can. She is a first-class keyboardist from the USA with a fabulous voice, and in 2019 became the official PRIVIA brand ambassador for CASIO Music. Brittani uses the power that she draws from music to work on various charitable projects such as the musical education of children and young people in collaboration with CASIO.