Duo Terra
“Pianists Sarai Buchanan and Olga Ridgway appeared as Duo Terra at PianoForte Studios for the first time on February 22, 2019. Although we knew both pianists separately, we hadn't heard them as a duo team. As soon as they started playing together it seemed that they were of one mind and had been a duo forever. Although the program included solo sections, it was the Rachmaninoff op.11 and Piazzola Libertango that left the biggest impression. They are both dynamic energetic pianists with plenty of technique and gave the enthusiastic audience a very expressive and passionate presentation of the music. We hope that they will perform here again soon.”
~ T. Zoells, Executive Director, PianoForte Foundation
Hailed as “dynamic and energetic pianists” who offer an “expressive and passionate presentation of the music,” by Thomas Zoells (PianoForte Foundation), Duo Terra is a classical piano duet consisting of two world-class classical musicians presenting their exciting and engaging program as "one mind" (T. Zoells). Formed in 2017 by the two critically acclaimed classical pianists Sarai Buchanan and Olga Ridgway, Duo Terra plays your favorite compositions by the pen of renowned classical composers (Rachmaninoff, Piazzola, Saint-Saens, Kapustin) while breathing new life into the piano duo genre with their world-class pianism, engaging programming, and clever introductions of each piece that speak to listener's ears, hearts and minds. Every concert by this captivating classical duet is fit for classical music fans and novices alike - the "enthusiastic audiences" (T. Zoells) will love listening to their favorite classical pieces while engaging with these masterful piano players and storytellers, working as one to create an engaging world-class concert experience your patrons will never forget!
About Sarai Buchanan: Known for her “great sensitivity” and “plenty of technique” (Alison Deane, CUNY piano professor, winner of the Leeds Piano Competition, and T.Zoells) pianist Sarai Buchanan has performed around the world as a soloist and collaborative artist. She is a graduate of both City College of New York, and the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a soloist and collaborative artist, Sarai has appeared at several international music festivals including the International Music Academies in Italy and Germany (2011), and the Orfeo Music Festival in Italy (2012-13) and American Fine Arts Festival in the Republic of Georgia. In 2016 she formed Duo Raíz with Mexican-born guitarist Andrea Salcedo, and held their debut recital at Pianoforte Salon in Chicago. Sarai has performed in notable venues such as Merkin Hall and Shephard Recital Hall in New York, and Sala di Maffei in Cremona, Italy. In 2022 and 2023, Sarai toured in Mexico and the U.S., sharing her art through a cultural exchange sponsored by the Guanajuato State Cultural Institute, where she performed alongside notable Mexican classical artists.
About Olga Ridgway: Pianist Olga Rikova Ridgway has delighted audiences internationally with depth of musicality and technical brilliance. She is a graduate of Tashkent State Conservatory, the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp, Belgium and the Chicago College of Performing Arts,. Olga also holds her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Northwestern University. Olga was awarded numerous prizes and awards including first prize at the Union League Competition, she was a prizewinner at the Thaviu-Issak Piano competition, Ibla Grand Prize International Piano Competition, Musician Club of Women Piano Competition (Farewell Award) and Central Asian Piano Competition. Olga has performed as recitalist, chamber player and orchestral soloist in Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy and throughout the United States. Most recent appearances include performances at the Chicago Cultural Center, Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Merkin Hall in New York City and Carnegie (Weill) recital hall.
Videos
Past Performances
Members of Duo Terra have performed together and individually in renown venues such as:
Carnegie Hall
Kennedy Center
Merkin Hall
The Chicago Cultural Center
Sala Maffei di Cremona (Cremona, Italy)
CUNY Shephard Hall
Kaufman Center’s Anne Goodman Recital Hall