The Knoxville-based Evelyn Miller Young Pianist Series attracts some of the world's brightest, most talented young pianists. Past performers have either already won prestigious keyboard competitions, while others have gone on to earn those accolades.
Evelyn Miller was a pianist, teacher, and visionary who established this concert series in 1980, with the dream of giving pianists under the age of 35 the opportunity to share their music with a Knoxville audience. Past performers include Jeffrey Biegel, The 5 Browns, and Jonathan Biss to name just a few.
Dr. Dario Martin is the first pianist to perform as part of the 2026 season. His recital is on Sunday, February 1st at 2pm and will be given in the Powell Recital Hall in the Natalie L. Haslam Music Center on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. On the program are three short keyboard sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, Mozart's Sonata in D Major, K. 284, three intermezzi (from Op. 117) by Johannes Brahms, Paráfrasis del himno bayamés by Dutch-Cuban composer, Hubert de Blanck, and Body of Your Dreams by Dutch composer, Jacob TV.
Born in Havana, Cuba, Dario Martin earned a Master of Music degree and Performer's Certificate from Southern Methodist University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Indiana University-Bloomington. He has recently joined the piano faculty at the University of Tennessee, beginning in the Fall of 2025. Dr. Martin previously taught at the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 2023 to 2025, where he instructed Functional Piano, Class Piano, and Music Fundamentals. During this time, he collaborated with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, the Northern Lights String Orchestra, and both faculty and guest artists. Since 2022, he has served as music director, conductor, and collaborative pianist at the Austrian-American Mozart Academy in Salzburg.
A prize-winning artist, Dr. Martin has earned first prizes in prestigious piano competitions in Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, and the United States. Additionally, he has performed extensively across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. A native of Cuba, Martin specializes in performing piano music from Latin America.
Tickets for this performance may be purchased at the door. Student admission is free. Additional information can be found at: https://youngpianistseries.com/2026-pianists/dr-dario-martin/
