NEW YORK (BMG Classics) - With one of the most appealing Classical music stories of recent times, The 5 Browns, an extraordinary quintet of Classical pianists, who are brothers and sisters, have just completed recording their debut self titled album for RCA Red Seal/BMG Classics. The enhanced CD will present Classical favorites newly arranged for five pianos and will also include solo and duo piano works. The recording, produced by Grammy Award winning producer Jay
David Saks, is scheduled for release on February 8th, 2005, and will be accompanied by a U.S. concert tour and music video.
Raised in Utah and home-schooled by their parents Keith and Lisa, The 5 Browns, ranging in age from 19 to early 20's, are a handsome, charming, and close-knit family of unassuming musical virtuosos. The entire family and all five grand pianos moved to New York where Desirae, Deondra, Gregory, Melody and Ryan studied together for five consecutive years at the prestigious Juilliard School. It is the first time in history that the school has accepted five members of the same family. Collectively, they have performed in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York, Philadelphia's Academy of Music, Chicago's Symphony Center, West Palm Beach's Kravis Center and Houston's Wortham Center. They also performed at the 2002 Winter Olympics Celebrations.
The 5 Browns were discovered by multi-platinum record producer Joel Diamond, who some years ago saw the youngest, Ryan, on a PBS Television special. He contacted the Brown family, only to find out there were four more at home! Diamond, now Manager and Executive Producer, knew immediately that with their youth, appealing looks, down to earth personalities, lack of pretension and above all, their extraordinary talent, they were truly going to be an American phenomenon.
Their drive and ambition is only equaled by their mutual love and affection for each other and their profound devotion to Mormon family life. They have already been seen on 60 Minutes II and Oprah as well as featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, The Los Angeles Times and The Sunday London Telegraph. Upon release of "The 5 Browns," their debut album, they will perform live on Good Morning America and will be featured on 60 Minutes.
The 5 Browns' dedication to their music has resulted in their unequaled artistic achievements. The siblings' teachers at Juilliard praise their talent and promise, not only for their extraordinary teamwork but also for their distinctive, evolving personalities as individual artists: "...Desirae and Deondra are a fabulous team, they play like they read each other's minds. Gregory is a real bravura type performer, Melody is sweet and easy going and it comes through in her playing and Ryan is a storyteller and has a great imagination."
In a Chicago performance that featured Gregory, Melody and Ryan playing for Three Pianos, and Desirae and Deondra performing for Two Pianos, the Chicago Tribune hailed their combined artistry.
The younger Browns displayed "seamless teamwork ... poise and sparkle ... effervescent grace," while showing "discipline and a grasp of the music's elegant appeal." Desirae and Deondra had not only "the tricky technique and constant double layering down pat, but they also exuded playfulness as conspirators-in-fun."
In addition to continuing their studies The 5 Browns are currently rehearsing for their debut 2005 U.S. Tour.
