Frank Wiens is a pianist known for his strong emotional commitment and virtuosity. His meticulous attention to detail and seemingly effortless control bring out even the most subtle musical elements. Dedicated to bringing his love of the classical piano repertoire to audiences of all levels of concert-going experience, his “nobility of conception” (Los Angeles Times) and command of “tone color” (Fresno Bee) coupled with a “formidable technique” (Sacramento Union) have thrilled audiences on three continents. His ability to establish rapport with an audience with the spoken word is matched by the obvious sincerity with which he communicates the emotional content of each work.  

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With a performing career that has taken him to Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, and throughout most of the United States, Frank Wiens has maintained an active concert career for more than four decades. Possessing a concerto repertoire of over 35 works, he has been a frequent soloist with symphony orchestras in this country and abroad. His recitals have taken him to major cities such as London, Warsaw, Vienna, Seoul, New York and Los Angeles, as well as to many venues where classical recitals are rarely heard. Believing that the gifts that one has been given carry social responsibility, he has devoted a significant part of his career to benefit recitals for the homeless and most recently for victims of the northern California fires.

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Frank Wiens gave his New York debut at Carnegie Recital Hall in 1984. His London recital debut took place in May of 1986. He made his European continental debut in Vienna, Austria in May of 1987 at the Brahms-Saal of the Musikverein. Other international performances have included a concert tour of the Soviet Union, two such tours of South Korea, and engagements in Romania and Poland. In the 1990-91 season Frank Wiens returned to New York with a recital in celebration of Prokofiev’s 100th birth anniversary. Frank Wiens was invited to tour the Soviet Union in April of 1991 in numerous solo and orchestral engagements as part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary in Prokofiev's native land.

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In the fall of 1994 Frank Wiens travelled to Bratislava, Slovakia, to record a compact disc including the Rachmaninoff Third Concerto with the Slovakia National Orchestra and the Rachmaninoff Sonata No. 1. The CD was released internationally in 1995 on the Fanfare-Intersound label.

 

Late in 2006, Frank Wiens appeared as soloist with the Orchestra “Dinu Lipatti” in Romania, and  gave a pair of recitals devoted to the music of Chopin at the Chopin Academy and at the Lazienki Palace on Water in Warsaw, Poland.

 

Frank Wiens won first prize in the North American Young Artists Competition and the Southwest Pianists Foundation Competition. He has performed as soloist with the Atlanta, Denver and Detroit Symphonies, and has been a touring artist with the Iowa Arts Council and the California Arts Council.

 

In addition to his active performance schedule, Frank Wiens has established a strong reputation as a trusted teacher and mentor of younger talent, and served as an adjudicator in many important competitions including the Gina Bachauer International Competition. He was on the piano faculty at Drake University, and since 1976 has been at the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music, where he received the Research-Lecturer Award and Distinguished Faculty Award.

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In 2009 he was the recipient of the Stockton Arts Commission’s award for Outstanding Achievement in Music.

 

A native of New Haven, Connecticut, Frank Wiens lives in Stockton, California with his wife, mezzo-soprano Lynelle Frankforter Wiens. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf and trying his hand at gourmet cooking.