Rebecca Penneys

Biography

Artist’s Diploma, Indiana University (1972). Studied with Gyorgy Sebok and Menahem Pressler; earlier study with Aube Tzerko and Rosina Lhevinne; composition with Leonard Stein. Founding member, New Arts Trio (1974-). Winner, Naumburg Chamber Music Award (1980, 1982). Winner, unprecedented Special Critics’ Prize, Seventh International Chopin Piano Competition, Warsaw (1965); Most Outstanding Musician Prize, Vianna Da Motta International Piano Competition, Portugal (1970); Top Prize, Paloma O’Shea International Piano Competition (1975). USIA State Department tours, 1970, 1985, 1987. New York City debut, Tully Hall, 1972; other NYC appearances at 92nd St. “Y”, Merken Hall, Carnegie Hall; Library of Congress (1972-). Between 20-40 recitals and master classes annually in the U.S., South America, Europe, East Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Canada. Special Sound/Color recitals (1993-). Toured as soloist with Milwaukee Symphony and Rochester Philharmonic; appearances with Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony, Redlands Symphony, Connecticut Symphony and Eastman orchestras. Recent keynote speaker and guest artist at music, and music and medicine conventions (1995-). More than 30 recent collaborations and performances at summer festivals that include: International Music Institute, Santander, Spain; Marlboro Music Festival; International Music Festival, England; Festival Tibor Varga, Switzerland; Shawnigan Festival of the Arts; Birch Creek Festival, WI; Sitka Festival, AL; Music Mountain Festival, CT; Woodstock Festival, NY; Vermont Mozart Festival; Chautauqua Music Festival, NY; Tel Hai International Summer Festival, Israel; Roycroft Music Festival, NY. Co-founder/pianist: Chautauqua Society for Chamber Music (1985) and Academy Concerts, Rochester (1997). Approximately 16 dedications/commissions of new works for piano/piano trio (1980-). Adjudication includes Johana Hodges, Stravinsky, Rubinstein, Vianna Da Motta, and Fischoff competitions (1986-). Co-author with Dr. Ray Gottlieb, The Fundamentals of Flow in Learning Music (1993). Guest editor and author for Seminars in Neurology (1989). Articles for Clavier (1992, 1994). PBS special: The Piano and Its Moods (1989). Recordings for CBC Records, CBS-Sony, Centaur, Orion, Pantheon, and Society for Chamber Music, Rochester. Solo CDs: The Voice of the Piano (1993); The Complete Chopin Etudes (1994); All Brahms (2000); Recital Gems from Chautauqua (2002); Music of the Dance (2005); An Eastman Recital (2005); Rebecca Penneys and Steinway (2005). New Arts Trio CDs: Arensky Trios (1997); Beethoven’s Arrangements for Piano Trio (1999); New Arts Trio in Recital at Chautauqua (2003). Current annual summer seminars: “Motion & Emotion” at Eastman (1985-); Chautauqua Piano (1985-); New Arts Trio Chamber Music, Chautauqua Institution (1976-). Faculty member, North Carolina School of the Arts (1972-74), Wisconsin Conservatory of Music (1974-81); artist faculty, Chautauqua Institution (1978-); Chautauqua Piano Dept. Chair (1985-); Eastman (1980-)

Click here for more complete biographical information.