BIO

​

Sisters Kimberly & Michelle Cann, “darlings of duo pianists,” are consummate musicians passionate about performing a wide range of multi-cultural repertoire throughout the US and to fostering increased appreciation for the arts in their local communities.

​

Though Kimberly is six years older, they have been studying and performing together ever since Michelle began lessons. They both made their orchestral debuts around age thirteen (Kimberly performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto and Michelle, Schumann’s Concerto in A minor).  Growing up, they accompanied one another and often won the same competitions and played with the same orchestras and artists.  Kimberly received her Masters Degree from the Eastman School of Music (studying with Barry Snyder), and in 2006, she accepted the positions of visiting Professor of Music and Artist-in-Residence at Northern Caribbean University (JA). Her students excelled and received national awards for their work.  Meanwhile, Michelle received both her BM and MM from The Cleveland Institute (studying with Paul Schenly and Daniel Shapiro) and went on to study at the Curtis Institute (studying with Robert McDonald), receiving an Artists Diploma in 2013.

 

Currently, the sisters both reside within the Eastern U.S. Kimberly is married to fellow Eastman musician, double bassist Aaron Brown, and the two live in Asheville, NC, with their preschoolers, Isabella and Magnus.  Kimberly is the Founding Director of Piano Lab & Music Lab Studios, whose faculty contain fellow concert artists committed to providing a unique, well-rounded music education for all. As an active leader in her community, she has served in various capacities as a VP of the Asheville Symphony and as President of the Asheville Piano Forum. She is also the founding director of Keys for Kidz, a program that provides group piano lessons to under-served children in the area and partners with local universities to mentor young teachers.  She performs as both a soloist and chamber musician, in addition to her commitments as a wife & mother, director, & clinician.

​

Michelle resides in Philadelphia, PA and maintains a very active schedule, performing in solo and chamber recitals throughout the US, China, and South Korea (including the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing and the Kennedy Center). She has frequently been featured on both WRTI 90.1 and WHYY TV in Philadelphia on such shows as Onstage at Curtis and Philadelphia Music Makers. A champion of the music of Florence Price, Ms. Cann performed the New York City premiere of the composer’s Concerto in One Movement with The Dream Unfinished Orchestra in July 2016 and the Philadelphia premiere with The Philadelphia Orchestra and Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin in February 2021, which the Philadelphia Inquirer called “exquisite.” She has also performed Price’s works for solo piano and chamber ensemble for the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Detroit, and the New World Symphony, among other presenters. Michelle served as a collaborative staff pianist at the Curtis Institute of Music for several years, and in 2020, she joined the faculty as the inaugural Eleanor Sokoloff Chair in Piano Studies. 

​

Kimberly and Michelle began performing professionally as The Cann Duo in 2010 and since then, they have toured extensively throughout the US.  Their electrifying performances & engaging outreach programs and presentations are all the more meaningful due to the unmistakable sound of their lifelong hereditary connection.  After a brief hiatus the past few years, the sisters are actively working on several new projects in 2021-2022...so, stay tuned!

​