Classical piano repertoire performed with commanding elegance.

15 MP3 Songs
CLASSICAL: Contemporary, CLASSICAL: Classical era

Details:
Marie Alatalo has appeared in concerts throughout the United States and Japan. She has captured attention with a repertoire embracing both classical and contemporary literature. She has been heard in such popular venues as Pick Staiger Concert Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center, WFMT radio, the Music Institute of Chicago, the Peopleâs Music School and the Cliff Dwellers Club of Chicago.

Ms. Alatalo has performed as guest artist at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, playing George Crumbâs âFive Pieces for Pianoâ. As a long-time faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago, she presented a program of Bolcom, Bernstein and Crumb as part of the Music Instituteâs âFrom Sea to Shining Seaâ series of concerts celebrating the work of American composers and performed in the Instituteâs âGeorge Crumb Projectâ. As Artist in Residence she appeared on numerous occasions at the prestigious Cliff Dwellers Club of Chicago. She has been soloist with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, performing Michael Torkeâs âRustâ and has played the Liszt âTotentanzâ with various orchestras. Ms. Alatalo has collaborated in duo and chamber recitals both in Chicago and at the Interlochen Arts Camp, and was pianist for âOperaFavesâ, an ensemble of singers from the Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus which presented semi-staged operatic scenes. She has been the pianist for the Eastman School of Music Musica Nova Ensemble and the Eastman Wind Ensemble, with whom she can be heard on the Sony release âLive in Osakaâ. She is currently the pianist for the Lake Effect Piano Quartet.

Marie Alatalo has extended her performing career beyond the concert hall and diversified her playing into a unique style of crossover, performing in art galleries and theater. At the Cliff Dwellers gallery, she presented a program of compositions by 20th century women composers in collaboration with a well-known Chicago artist. In the theater, she designed and performed music for the AKA Rachel Production of the female monologue comedy revue, âThe Bridesmaidsâ.

Ms. Alatalo has received numerous awards and competition prizes, including two Community Arts Assistance Program Grants (Chicago), and fellowships to the Eastman School of Music and the Chautauqua Institution. She is listed in âTwo Thousand Notable American Womenâ, and in the âWorldâs Whoâs Who of Womenâ. Her professional development activities include attending the Teachers Program of the Van Cliburn Institute, held in conjunction with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and receiving a Certificate of Completion from the Twentieth Annual Symposium of Medical Problems of Musicians and Dances in Aspen, Colorado, sponsored by the Performing Arts Medicine Association.

In addition to performing, Ms. Alatalo has produced concerts in Chicago and the surrounding areas. She co-founded and held the position of Artistic Director of the performing arts series Batavia Classics, which presented and promoted both established and emerging artists.

As an educator, Ms. Alatalo lectures, writes, and teaches. She was the Music Lecturer on board the âRiver Countessâ, a river boat which sailed from Budapest to Amsterdam. Her article âSummer Projects for Studentsâ was published by âClavierâ magazine. Ms. Alatalo frequently adjudicates piano competitions and festivals. She teaches at her studio in Evanston and is a former faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago and the Interlochen Arts Camp. Ms. Alatalo holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Rebecca Penneys.

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