KAYDEN KELLY
P I A N I S T
R E V I E W S
“Kelly performed [Liszt Piano Concerto No.1] with musicality and technique far beyond his years. He also impressed with his poise and his clear joy of performing. He tossed off technical feats confidently, whether leaping through octaves, trills or sweeping arpeggios. One of the highlights was his lightness of touch in the duo with triangle in the scherzo section. He’s already performed around the world and starred on NPR’s show, “From the Top.” A young artist with great promise, Kelly is someone to watch."
— Cincinnati Business Courier (October 2023)
A B O U T K A Y D E N
Kayden Kelly is the first place Senior Division winner of the inaugural Nina Simon Competition and a 2023 Junior Cliburn Festival Artist and a 2025 YoungArts Winner for classical piano. He began playing piano at age five and made his recital debut at age 11 at the National Theater of Costa Rica for the Costa Rican Vice President. Kayden has performed three times at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe, and played with orchestras at the Cincinnati Music Hall, Vanemuise Concert Hall in Estonia, and the Berlin Admiralspalast in Germany. Kayden has performed in over 21 public performances in the US, Europe, and Latin America including solo piano programs recently for the New Mexico Museum Foundation Donors Circle and at the Salon de Virtuosi in New York.
Kayden has been part of the Mozartium International “Young Excellence” Academy, Curtis Summerfest, PianoTexas, Amalfi Coast Festival, Algarve Music Series, Piano Academy Eppan, Perugia MusicFest, and Aspen Music Festival.
On local, national and international radio stations, Kayden has been interviewed and performed including NPR From the Top and Young Artists Showcase on New York's classical radio station WQXR.
Originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico, Kayden is currently studying piano performance and composition at the Pre-college Academy of The Colburn School in Los Angeles.