2012 Competition Judges
Biography of Ursula Oppens, Piano
A co-founder of Speculum Musicae, Ursula Oppens has an extensive recording catalogue and has received three Grammy nominations: for “Oppens plays Carter”, in celebration of Elliot Carter’s 100th birthday in 2008, for her Vanguard recording of Frederic Rzewski’s “The People United Will Never Be Defeated” and for “American Piano Music of Our Time” a classic compilation of piano works by 20th century American composers for the Music & Arts label. She is one of the very first artists to grasp the importance of programming traditional and contemporary works in equal measure. Recent highlights include appearances with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, recitals for the Van Cliburn Foundation, Music Toronto, and Baylor University. Ursula Oppens performed at Symphony Space in programs of Messiaen, Beethoven and John Corgliano. She toured with the Mark Morris Dance Group for “Mozart Dances” appearing in Toronto, New Zealand and at the Kennedy center. Other featured appearances include the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony Orchestra’s American Composers Festival, Tanglewood, Merkin Hall, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society , Columbia University, Zankel Hall, the Mannes College of Music and many more.
Ms Oppens studied piano with her mother, the late Edith Oppens, as well as with Leonard Shure and Guido Agosti. She received her master’s degree at the Juilliard School. For fourteen years she was the John Evens Distinguished Professor of Music at Northwestern University. She is now a Distinguished Professor on the faculty of Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music and CUNY Graduate Center.
