Biography

Praised by critics for her virtuosity and musicianship, Carol Lian has performed extensively in the United States and Europe, in recital and as soloist with orchestra. Her New York debut recital at Alice Tully Hall was warmly received by audiences and critics alike.

A native New Yorker, Ms. Lian is a graduate of the School of Performing Arts and Queens College of the City University of New York. During this period she received numerous awards and prizes including the Eleanor Stanley White scholarship, the Grand Street Boys Award, a Gold Medal from the Brooklyn Philharmonia piano competition and first place in the concerto competition at Queens College.

After graduation, Carol Lian was Artist-in-Residence in Molde, Norway, touring for the Norwegian government performing solo and chamber recitals. Later she returned to Scandinavia to give lecture-recitals on American keyboard music at the invitation of the American Embassy in Oslo, and appeared as recitalist in the prestigious concert series at the Munch Museum. A recent tour of Italy included performances at the Salla Bassi, in Bologna and the San Fidele Arts Center in Milan.
In addition to traditional classical concerts, Ms. Lian frequently performs programs that include contemporary improvisations, at times combining her talents with guest artists. Her dynamic collaborations with percussionist Ronnie Bedford, called Moments was recorded on the Unichrom label. Neptune, a second recording with Mr. Bedford, was also released on Unichrom.

Ms. Lian's debut recording for the Unichrom label included works by Ravel, Scarlatti, Gershwin, Jack Reilly, and Ralph Briggs, and was followed by an all-Chopin disc. Her latest albums ON FREEDOM and SOARING include works by Chopin and Robert Schumann as well as her own improvisations.


Carol Lian has been featured on the WQXR-FM radio program Piano Personalities and the KCAW-FM radio program Women in Music, from Sitka, Alaska. She was interviewed on the Dennis Boyer Show on WBUR public radio in Boston, and was an invited panelist on the WUFT-FM program, New Record Shelf in Gainesville, Florida. She has been included in Who's Who in American Music and in American Keyboard Artists.

ABOUT THE ARTIST AS EDUCATOR:

• Teacher of piano, private study and classes --1966 to the present.
  
• Former faculty, Turtle Bay Music School, NYC
  
• Former faculty, The New School University, NYC
  
• Director, All Boys' Chorus, St. Francis Xavier Military Academy, NYC
  
• Music teacher, K through 8th grade, St. Francis Xavier Grammar School and St. Charles Borromeo School, NYC
  
• Curriculum Devleopment: Developed and implemented music curriculum for the schools in Molde, Norway and all adjacent districts
  
• Conducted Music Laboratory for Children in Aosta, Italy
  
• Lecture presentations on Music Education for children to University faculties in Trondheim, Boda and Tromso, Norway -- sponsored by the American Embassy in Oslo
  
• Master Classes at Eastern Montana College, for students of Dorothea Cromley

-- Studied piano with Gertrude Kramer*, Volya Cossack and Grete Sultan; distinguished pedagogues who were all pupils of eminent pianists in the Leschetitzky tradition.

-- Studied composition with Hugo Weisgall

-- Form and Analysis with Felix Salzer

-- Additional studies with George Perle and Charles Burkhart

*Note: Gertrude Kramer was a student of Harold Bauer; Volya Cossack studied with Isador Phillipp and Richard Buhlig; Grete Sultan studied with Edwin Fischer and Richard Buhlig.