ANTHONY de MARE’s virtuosic performances of contemporary music have earned him superlative critical acclaim, as well as a loyal following in the U.S. and abroad. From traditional solo concerts to his pioneering achievements in concert theater, he has revolutionized the genre and transformed the recital format creating projects that arouse attention. Supporting new work by composers of all generations and styles has been central to de Mare’s career, and he has commissioned and collaborated with many of the world’s most esteemed musical artists. As evidence of his inspiring effect on composers, he has been honored with a number of text-based and/or multi-media works created especially for him (Frederic Rzewski’s “De Profundis” and Jerome Kitzke’s “Sunflower Sutra”, among many others). This year marks the launch of Mr. de Mare’s most ambitious project to date, the much anticipated Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano to premiere in the 2010-11 season as part of Sondheim’s 80th birthday celebration. As creative director and performer of this landmark three-concert series, the project will feature the work of 30 commissioned composers creating solo piano pieces based on the music of Stephen Sondheim. Currently in development, the project includes distinguished artists ranging from Milton Babbitt and William Bolcom to Steve Reich and Daniel Bernard Roumain.

This season he will continue to tour Missing Peace, premiered in 2007 at The Rubin Museum of Art in NYC – an eclectic series of old and new works, inspired by the exhibition The Missing Peace: Artists Consider the Dalai Lama. He will also continue his national tour of The American Piano with pianist Steven Mayer -- upcoming residencies for this project include Haverford College, UM Ann Arbor, and the Mondavi Center at UC Davis. In addition, the two pianists will premiere JAMMIN’ TIGERS in celebration of Art Tatum’s centenary (2009) and Frederic Rzewski’s 70th birthday (2008) at the 2008 Portland Piano International festival. In 2009, he will also be the featured pianist with the Lark Quartet at Merkin Hall premiering a new work by David Rakowski.

Also in the coming season, Mr. de Mare will record once again for the KOCH Entertainment label -- Pianos and Voices II: The Speaking Pianist, to be released in 2009,will be the first disc devoted completely to the speaking/singing pianist genre he created 20 years ago; it will feature works by Frederic Rzewski, Jerome Kitzke, Meredith Monk, Laurie Anderson, Derek Bermel and Rodney Sharman. Currently on the roster of Yamaha Artists, Mr. de Mare has nearly twenty recordings in his discography. Of his Koch Entertainment release, Out of My Hands, short listed for a 2005 Grammy Award, American Record Guide raved that “his exquisite touch and impassioned beauty of utterance imbue this program of vignettes by David del Tredici and Aaron Jay Kernis with artistry of the highest order.” American Record Guide also named Wizards and Wildmen: Piano Music of Charles Ives, Henry Cowell and Lou Harrison (CRI /New World) as one of 2000’s Ten Best Releases. Other acclaimed recordings include: Pianos and Voices: Music by John Cage and Meredith Monk, (Koch), Frederic Rzewski - Anthony de Mare (O.O. Discs), and Oblivion, recorded with cellist Maya Beiser (Koch).

Mr. de Mare's performances span four continents, allowing him to develop a growing fan base that extends far beyond the traditional contemporary music audience. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2005 at Zankel Hall, and his breakthrough one-man-show, Playing With MySelf of 2001, enjoyed a sold-out run in NYC, where he was praised for his “muscularly virtuosic, remarkably uninhibited performance [and] impressive talents” (Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times). Before debuting under the auspices of Young Concert Artists, he was awarded First Prize and Audience Prize at the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition (The Netherlands) and The International Competition of Contemporary Piano Music (France). Currently on the faculties of Manhattan School of Music and New York University, his commitment to education is evidenced by his residency work at universities across North America, in which he has inspired a whole new generation of pianists and contemporary music advocates. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.