Kyle P. Walker is a critically-acclaimed pianist and the 2021 recipient of the Chamber Music America “Ensemble Forward” career grant. Walker is one half of Dara + Kyle, an innovative piano/cello duo committed to bringing excellence and respect to all under-represented composers in the canon. Walker also performs with The Harlem Chamber Players, a diverse collective of professional musicians dedicated to bringing high-caliber, affordable and accessible, live classical music to the people of Harlem and beyond.
Walker’s musical journey began at the age of three, sitting at church with his parents. As he watched the church pianist play hymns each week, his lifelong passion for understanding the magic of music and its profound impact was born. His college experiences with broadcast journalism and local news reporting unveiled a disheartening lack of awareness about global and community issues, making him realize how crucial communication is in bridging gaps and fostering understanding. Walker now has a passion for addressing social issues through music. He is on a mission to unite traditional Western repertoire and the work of neglected composers from around the world.
As an advocate of social justice, Walker is a founding member and chamber musician of The Dream Unfinished, an activism-centered orchestra which uses concerts and presentations to support NYC-based civil rights and community organizations. As a teaching artist and educator, Walker has co-presented at the Human Rights Center, the New York Society for Ethical Culture, and the Brooklyn Public Library.
Walker has been featured on broadcasts including The Greene Space at WNYC, WQXR’s McGraw-Hill Financial Young Artists Showcase, NPR, CNN, and PBS. He has performed in prestigious New York theaters and museums, such as Carnegie Hall, Apollo Theater, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as several concert halls and museums across the country; many of which he performed as a featured soloist with various orchestras. He has also performed overseas at international festivals and landmarks, such as Switzerland’s Tibor Varga Music Festival and Australia’s Tantanoola Caves. In a pivotal moment that made waves in the music industry, Walker performed at the 2023 SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, marking the debut of classical piano music at the festival.
Walker serves on the piano faculty at New York University (NYU), the faculty of the Lucy Moses School at the Kaufman Music Center, and the chamber music faculty of The Artist Program at Suzuki on the Island. He has performed recitals, worked in residencies, and conducted masterclasses at many institutions. He has also co-presented extensive workshops alongside The Dream Unfinished including the Carnegie Hall Music Educator Workshop, speaking about arts activism and building diverse curricula that include composers who reflect the communities in which they serve. Walker holds degrees from Mannes College, The New School for Music, East Carolina University, and from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Walker resides in a suburb of New York City with his wife, violinist Katherine Dennis, and their daughter Khloe. He is currently touring with a solo performance project entitled Bach to BlackNotes, which features the works of J.S. Bach juxtaposed with the music of neglected composers who speak to issues of oppression and inequality. See and hear more of Kyle Walker’s musicianship on Instagram @klassicalkyle and at his website.