Blair McMillen

Piano

Blair McMillen has established himself as one of the most versatile and sought-after young pianists today. The New York Times has described his playing as "riveting,” “brilliant,” and "prodigiously accomplished and exciting." Recent performance venues include the Moscow Conservatory, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Miller Theatre, Harvard University, Concerten Tot un Met (Amsterdam), the Minsk (Belarus) Conservatory, and concerto appearances with American Ballet Theatre in New York City. His solo playing has been broadcast on CBS' "Sunday Morning," WQXR, WNYC, Fuji-TV (Japan), and National Public Radio.

Known for his imaginative and daring programming, Mr. McMillen’s repertoire spans from late-medieval keyboard manuscripts to the 21st century. He has given concerto appearances at Lincoln Center and was chosen soloist on a tour of Japan with the Juilliard Orchestra. Recent recitals include Miller Theatre’s 15th-anniversary “Piano Revolution” series, Caramoor, CalArts, the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton NJ, and the Musica Antica e Nuova series at Columbia University. A solo CD “Soundings,” featuring music of Debussy, Scriabin, Liszt, and Bolcom, was released in 2004. During the 2005-2006 season, Mr. McMillen makes his Carnegie Zankel Hall debut as soloist under the baton of David Robertson.

An avid chamber musician, Mr. McMillen has given collaborative concerts across the country and abroad. He has performed with tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, soprano Lucy Shelton, cellist Fred Sherry, the New York Woodwind Quintet, the Locrian Chamber Players, Amelia Piano Trio/East Meets West, and the Eos Ensemble, among others. Festival appearances include Aspen, Music Academy of the West, Maverick Concerts, the Moscow Forum, St. Petersburg’s “Sound Ways”, La Jolla, Taos, Cape and Islands, Green Lake, and Summergarden.

Dedicated to new and groundbreaking projects, Blair McMillen is intensely committed to performing the music of today. He recently gave the U.S. premieres of Frederic Rzewski’s “Dust” and Giacinto Scelsi’s “Un Adieu” on solo recitals, and he continuously works with young composers in commissioning new works for the piano. He is a founding member of the performer/composer collective counter)induction, ensemble-in-residence at Columbia University and featured ensemble at the 2004 “Music at the Anthology” Festival. Mr. McMillen is pianist for the Naumburg Award-winning Da Capo Chamber Players: in addition to its busy New York concert season, Da Capo has toured Russia several times since 2003. He also performs frequently with the downtown New York-based Avian Orchestra, and was a member of the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble for three seasons. An active improviser and self-taught jazz pianist, he is frequently involved in improvisation projects ranging from the straight-ahead to the avant-garde.

Raised in San Francisco and Charlotte, NC, Blair McMillen holds degrees from Oberlin College, the Manhattan School of Music, and the Juilliard School. A past winner of the National Young Artists Competition and the Aspen Music Festival’s Time-Warner Prize, he won the Gina Bachauer Competition and the Sony ES Grant for Musical Excellence while a student at Juilliard. Mr. McMillen resides in New York City and teaches at Bard College. For more information, please visit www.blairmcmillen.com.