bio
Pianist JACOB GREENBERG's work as a soloist and chamber musician shows a deep engagement with music old and new. Mr. Greenberg's recent concerto appearances include Messiaen's Sept Haďkaď at Oberlin College and Bartók's Concerto #1 at Northwestern University, and his solo recitals in recent seasons have centered on Ives, Busoni, and the late sonatas of Schubert. He has worked with composers as diverse as George Crumb, György Kurtág, Harrison Birtwistle, and Tan Dun, and frequently plays his own works in recital.
Mr. Greenberg has been a member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) since 2002. Through his work as the group's Director of Education, he introduces young people to new music in the city schools of New York and Chicago. He has also taught at the State University of New York at Buffalo. Other ensemble performances include MusicNOW, with members of the Chicago Symphony, and Contempo at the University of Chicago. As an orchestral player, he has also appeared with the Israel Philharmonic and the New World Symphony.
Jacob Greenberg is a graduate of Oberlin College, where he earned bachelor's degrees in music and religion, and he completed his master's and doctoral degrees at Northwestern University, where he studied with Ursula Oppens.
Mr. Greenberg has recorded for the Bridge, Naxos, Centaur, Tzadik, and New Amsterdam labels, and live performances have been heard on WQXR New York, WFMT Chicago and Radio Netherlands. His critically acclaimed solo disc, Solitary, was released in early 2010 on New Focus Recordings. Other recent CDs include solo and chamber music of George Crumb with ICE (Bridge 9261).
A leading pianist of modern song, Mr. Greenberg has toured extensively with soprano Tony Arnold. Other highlights of recent seasons include a guest performance of works of György Kurtág at the International Summer Courses in Darmstadt, Germany; a recital tour with flutist Claire Chase; Messiaen's Harawi at the Library of Congress; and appearances at Columbia University's Miller Theatre and Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art with ICE. In August 2010, Mr. Greenberg will be a featured soloist at Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival, performing Harrison Birtwistle's Slow Frieze with ICE. He curates and performs in the solo piano series Music at Close Range in Brooklyn, NY. www.jacobgreenberg.net.
