Pianist Gayle Martin achieved international prominence as the sole American laureate of the sixth International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. The Washington Post called her...

Pianist Gayle Martin achieved international prominence as the sole American laureate of the sixth International Tchaikovsky Piano Competition in Moscow. The Washington Post called her performance "a tour de force" and praised her artistry for its 'intense passion and deep-seated emotional response to the music." A native of Texas, Gayle was a student of Madame Rosina Lhévinne at The Julliard School, where she was awarded the coveted Josef Lhévinne Price. Gayle's vivid response to literature, sacred writings, ballet and opera inspired this Ravello release To Keep the Dark Away, which pairs the emotional fervor, lyrical eloquence and narrative power of contemporary composer Judith Shatin with those same qualities in composers themselves.