“The pianist showed formidable technique with subtle musicality” – The Times Herald-Record
The steadily growing reputation of the American pianist Gregg Michalak as an exciting and seasoned performer has attracted many listeners to his unique art. He has appeared at many important venues and halls including Bruno Walter Hall NYC and has collaborated with many prominent artists and orchestras both as a soloist and in chamber music. His playing was also featured in the 2014 Broadway play “The Portrait” as well as the 2017 production of “The Dressmaker’s Secret”.
Among the artists of which Mr. Michalak has collaborated with include violist Danielle Farina of the Lark Quartet, cellist Yosef Feigelson, sopranos Christine Howlett and Courtenay Budd, Sarah Simon-Levine. Others include violinist Ihor Shablovsky, violist Deirdre DeStefano as well as prominent baritone Robert Osborne and composer David Alpher. Mr. Michalak has appeared with such conductors as Pamela Gearhart, Edward Murray, Angelo Pagano, Woomyung Choe, Hilarie Clark-Moore and Karen Pinoci. Orchestral appearances have included the Ithaca College Orchestra, Ithaca Chamber Orchestra, the Highlands Symphony, the Orange County Community Orchestra, the Bergen Symphony and the New Sussex Symphony.
Mr. Michalak has been invited to many colleges and universities throughout the United States where he has conducted master classes and appeared as a recitalist. Local appearances have included the Croton-On-Hudson Public Library, The Puffin Foundation, Mount Saint Mary College, Sullivan County Community College, Orange County Community College, Ulster Community College as well as Vassar College, Hartwick College among others. Concert series have included the Grand Montgomery Chamber Music Series, the Town of Lumberland Concert Series and the Hudson Valley Bachfest concerts. He has appeared throughout the northeast on television and radio as well as England and Austria. In 2006 Mr. Michalak recorded Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 3 and 4 with the Aeolian Symphony for the Archive Classics Label.
The pianist competed in many important International competitions including the World Keyboard Competition(formerly AMSA) the Five Towns Competition as well as a Division winner and state finalist in the New York State MTNA. Mr. Michalak’s repertoire is as varied as his background extending from the Renaissance masters through such contemporary composers as Lukas Foss, David Alpher and John Musto and Lowell Liebermann. As a collaborative artist, his repertoire explores the full range of chamber music as well as vocal music including lieder and operatic scores. As a proponent of modern music, Mr. Michalak tends to choose music he feels deeply about and connects with.
Mr. Michalak earned a Master’s in Music from Ithaca College where he was a scholarship student. While there, his primary teachers were Mary Ann Covert, a student of Silvio Scionti and Phiroze Mehta. Later studies were with Solomon Mikowsky of the Manhattan School of music as well as additional instruction with such noted artists as Ruth Laredo, Martino Tirimo, Lukas Foss and Augustin Anievas. He also studied composition with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Karel Husa. Mr. Michalak has served on the staff and faculties of Ulster County Community College and Vassar College where he presently teaches. In addition to being an experienced collaborative pianist in chamber music and lieder, Mr. Michalak has a passion for the piano as an instrument and has studied piano technology for the past 30 years becoming a master rebuilder. He has also taught many prize-winning students who have gone on to enjoy important careers. He maintains a small private studio in the Hudson Valley area.