“Joining two hearts and four hands at two grand pianos, the Naughton sisters created an electrifying and moving musical performance.” That’s the opinion of a critic who saw the twins, Christina and Michelle, perform in Asia. Indeed, they have captivated audiences around the world with the unity created by their mystical musical communication. The Washington Post said, “They have to be heard to be believed.”
Born in Princeton, New Jersey to parents of European and Chinese descent, Christina and Michelle are graduates of Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. They are Steinway Artists and currently reside in New York City. The Naughtons have appeared at some of the world’s greatest concert halls, including Lincoln Center, The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Walt Disney Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
In February 2016, the Naughtons released the album Visions, featuring the music of Messiaen, Bach and Adams. Visions was chosen as “Editor’s Choice” in Gramophone Magazine and received much critical acclaim, with The Washington Post hailing them as one of the “greatest piano duos of our time."
The twin sisters pay tribute to their homeland with the album American Postcard. It offers music by four US composers: John Adams (his “Roll Over Beethoven,” a work the Naughtons premiered in 2016), Aaron Copland, Conlan Nancarrow and Paul Schoenfield. As the sisters explain, “These pieces show the diversity and variety of American music. But one thing that ties them together is an exuberance that, to us, feels deeply American.”
In March 2019, the Naughtons were awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant, designed to give professional assistance and recognition to talented instrumentalists believed to have great potential for major careers.
To learn more, visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Christina and Michelle Naughton make their debut with the Cape Symphony in Perfectly Paired on April 4 and 5, 2020.
