The Gershwin Legacy Project

KEVIN COLE

“America’s Pianist” Kevin Cole has delighted audiences with a repertoire that includes the best of American Music. Cole’s performances have prompted accolades from some of the foremost critics in America. “A piano genius…he reveals an understanding of harmony, rhythmic complexity and pure show biz virtuosity that would have had Vladimir Horowitz smiling with envy,” wrote critic Andrew Patner, Chicago Sun-Times. On Cole’s affinity for Gershwin: “When Cole sits down at the piano, you would swear Gershwin himself was at work… Cole stands as the best Gershwin pianist in America today,” Howard Reich, arts critic for the Chicago Tribune.

Gershwin scholar and biographer Edward Jablonski said, “The best Gershwin pianist since Gershwin himself. No one can touch him.”

Cole has performed as concert pianist with over 100 orchestras worldwide including: sold-out performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl; BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall; National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall.

An award-winning musical director, arranger, composer, vocalist, archivist and producer he garnered the praises of some of America’s greatest songwriters; Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg, Hugh Martin, Burton Lane, Marvin Hamlisch, Stephen Sondheim and members of the Jerome Kern and Gershwin

families.

His discography includes, You Are Tomorrow, unpublished songs of Harold Arlen and Martin Charnin with Grammy Award vocalist Sylvia McNair, Grammophone Record of the Year(1995) Gershwin’s OH, KAY! with

Nancy Ross is the founder and President of the Gershwin Legacy Project, Inc. (GLP). She
is a cousin in the Gershwin family. Her mother, Frankie Wolpin Ross is first cousin to
George and Ira Gershwin. Nancy comes from a life of art and culture with gallery recognition
as a fine artist and award winning jewelry designer and historian. Nancy gives courses at
NY Chautauqua on “George Gershwin: More Than Music”, “The Gershwin Effect”, and
“Professional Panache” and this year she will be giving two presentations: “How Artists Rise
Above the Odds in Turbulent Times” and “Express Yourself Authentically with Intention and
Impact". Spending most of her career in marketing and education, she is currently an
Associate Professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology/SUNY, in the Career and
Internship Department.

Peggy Winters is the Creative Director of the Gershwin Legacy Project, Inc. (GLP). She is
an educator, author and creative branding professional who joined the GLP team to help
craft their story in the mini-documentary: “George Gershwin: More than Music”. She is on the
GLP Board of Directors, helping create and execute their mission to perpetuate the
Gershwin Spirit. She comes from a career in advertising and marketing which she brought
to her students as a professor in the Marketing Communications Department at The Fashion
Institute of Technology/SUNY, and as the founding director of the college-wide FIT
Internship Department. She is also the founding partner of the consulting firm: TFI
Geomarketing, with international clients and programs in Europe, Asia, So. America, Russia,
and the Middle East.