Jonathan Hannau, piano

$10 Suggested Donation

Jonathan Hannau performs solo piano works featuring new commissions as part of the Rocking Chair Series.

Program:
A Table of Chords: Dante Thelestam
Contrast (#6): Jonathan Hannau
Chiaroscuro: Jordan Jenkins
Untitled: Shawn Lucas

Intermission

In a Landscape: John Cage
Shadow: Rebecca Saunders

Bio:
Jonathan Hannau is a Chicago-based composer who hails from New England. Starting his musical career as a classically-trained pianist, his exposure to experimental and avant-garde music as an undergraduate sparked an interest in composition. In 2014, he was the winner of the Kleinman Composition Competition for his chamber piece Petite Counterpoint.
Quirky, eclectic, and colorful, his compositions have been performed by Ursa Ensemble, Disquiet Music Ensemble, 20+ New Music Ensemble, Lakeshore Rush, and Opera on Tap. His new solo bass work Restructured Possibilities was premiered in part of a collaboration project with Access Contemporary Music and the Architecture Foundation of Chicago at the Nichols Tower during the Open House Chicago event in October 2015. Other collaboration projects involve a series of songs for New Brew at Opera on Tap.
An avid pianist and performer of new music, he currently plays in two Chicago-based groups: Ursa Ensemble and Disquiet Music Ensemble, both of which perform contemporary and classical music during their concert seasons. His new solo project titled the Rocking Chair Series involves commissions of short solo piano works to be presented alongside an interview with the composer. This is done in an effort to create an inviting atmosphere for the audience as they listen to a wide variety of musical styles and expose them to the ideas that composers think about while writing.
Jonathan completed his graduate studies at Roosevelt University and undergraduate studies at DePaul University where he studied composition with Stacy Garrop, Kyong Mee Choi, Kurt Westerberg, Christopher Jones, Seung-Won Oh and piano with Jelena Dirks. While at DePaul he was the recipient of the George & Rita Flynn Endowed Scholarship in composition. Additionally, while at Roosevelt, he served as a teaching assistant in music theory specializing in 20th century techniques. Jonathan maintains the position of music director for the Ravenswood Fellowship United Methodist church and liturgy pianist for the St. Vincent DePaul Catholic church. He also serves as piano teacher at Access Contemporary Music.