Piano teacher Santa Monica, California Anders Martinson updated
Anders Martinson first began studying piano at the age of six. He made his national television debut in 1988 at the age of fifteen as a pianist performing on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show. By eighteen, he was concertizing throughout the United States and abroad. He made his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut under Esa-Pekka Salonen in 1991, and his New York recital debut at Carnegie’s Weill Hall the following year where he received a rave New York Times review. European debuts in Rome and London soon followed.
Anders has won numerous competitions and garnered multiple awards. In 1991, he placed 2nd in the prestigious Robert Casadesus International Piano Competition, and 1st in both the solo and concerto categories of the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, in each case as the youngest competitor. In 1992, again as the youngest competitor, he won 1st place in the international D’Angelo Young Artist Competition. Anders received the United States Presidential Scholar Award in 1991, and the Gilmore Foundation Young Artist Award in 1992, which recognized him as an outstanding young American pianist.
In early 1992, Anders’ concert career was cut short by focal dystonia in his right hand and he was forced to cancel all solo engagements. Subsequently, Anders attended Yale University, where he turned his attention to conducting. Anders took over as Music Director of the Berkeley Orchestra at Yale in 1994. During his final two years there, he guided the orchestra to a new level, drawing full crowds to the performances, and building the 45-piece chamber orchestra into a 75-piece orchestra capable of performing standard orchestral literature. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in Music in 1996 and accepted one of the top awards bestowed on graduates at Commencement, the David Everett Chantler Award. He also received the New Prize for his work as the director of the Berkeley Orchestra.
Having taught on an occasional basis for the last several years, Anders recently decided to focus entirely on teaching and to build his own piano studio. Presently he teaches privately out of his home in Santa Monica to students of all ages and levels.
EDUCATION
B.A. in Music from Yale University
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Made New York debut at Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall to critical acclaim Soloed with Los Angeles Philharmonic under Esa-Pekka Salonen Concertized in Rome, London, and throughout the United States
1st PLACE AWARDS
International and National 1. International D’Angelo Young Artist Competition (1992) 2. Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition: Solo Category (1991) 3. Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition: Concerto Category (1991) 4. National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts: ARTS Level 1 Awardee (1991) 5. Santa Barbara Symphony/Esperia Foundation Young Artists’ Competition (1990) 6. Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition: Solo, Intermediate Division (1989) 7. Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition: Concerto, Intermediate Division (1989) 8. International Piano Recording Competition, High School Division Grand Prize (1988) 9. International Piano Recording Competition, Intermediate C-D Division First Prize (1984)
Statewide and Regional 10. Marina del Rey-Westchester Symphony Concerto Competition, Senior Division (1992) 11. Young Artists Concerto Competition of the South Coast Symphony (1991) 12. Marina del Rey-Westchester Symphony Concerto Competition, Intermediate Division (1991) 13. Christine Piper Plumb Award of the Music Teachers Association of California (1990) 14. Los Angeles Philharmonic Bronislaw Kaper Award (1990) 15. Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award (1990) 16. Concerto Competition of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (1990) 17. Young Artist Competition of the Pasadena Symphony (1990) 18. Downey Symphony Young Artist Competition (1990) 19. Young Pianist Competition of the Southwest Youth Music Festival (1986) 20. Artists of Tomorrow Competition of the Brentwood-Westwood Symphony Orchestra (1986)
HONORS AND SCHOLARSHIPS
United States Presidential Scholar Award David Everett Chantler Award (Yale University) New Prize (Yale University) Robert Casadesus Competition Yamaha Prize Gilmore Young Artist Award Palm Springs Friends of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Scholarship Young Musicians Foundation Scholarship
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
“Martinson…manages hair-raising technical difficulties with easy assurance; he has a good ear for proportion, tempo and linear movement, and he demonstrates a precocious confidence in his own interpretive ideas.” New York Times, May 1992
“Martinson gave casual and easy utterance to even the most involved passage work. The big, sweeping tunes reached their peaks naturally…and along the way he found room for sensitive, pointed shading….crisply emphasizing melody in scampering virtuoso formulations. In short, a pianist with fingers and a personality.” Los Angeles Times, February 1992
“Sparkling, penetrating, passionate, poised, his pleasure in playing was palpable, and his poetry endless.” Le Monde (Paris), August 1991
“Amusing and capricious…passionate, pungent, always supremely musical.” Corriere Della Sera (Rome), June 1992
“Brilliantly sensitive….aristocratic, refined, elegantly lyrical. Expressive and nuanced in all the touchingly personal passages, empirical, tidy, never too emphatic….capable of tremendous pianistic feats of strength.” Santa Barbara News-Press, November 1990
“Crystal-clear articulation, a sense of structure and absolute technical accuracy.” Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 1991
“I could hardly believe his performance….perfect grace, ease and pianistic style.” Desert Weekly, March 1989
“A cool breeze of artistic relief….a blazing display of skill….coupled with passion and insight.” Ventura County Star, August 1987
“Martinson…created such powerfully intense moments from even the most fragmentary of phrases, one could hear the tortured, angst-riddled thoughts and feelings of ….Rachmaninov.”
“A virtuosic tour de force that did not ignore the …pensive, lushly lyrical portions…which he infused with a longing melancholy and even a delicate wistfulness.” Irvine World News, February 1992
“Martinson’s …light, fine touch and impressive technique…were enhanced by his strong lyrical style.” Williamsburg Gazette, April 1992
“Masterful…cannot be improved upon.” Santa Monica Outlook, March 1991
LESSON INFORMATION & MISSION STATEMENT
As a trained classical pianist, I focus on teaching reading skills, technique, and interpretive skills, all of which serve as tools in performing the music of the renowned composers. I teach students of all levels and ages. Each student comes to me with unique needs. I tailor my teaching to fit these needs. I want each student to develop the tools necessary to express themselves through music. I am committed to instilling in each student a desire to progress and improve. A different approach for each student is vital in guiding them to fulfill their musical aspirations.
RATE
$75/hour. Weekly hour lessons are held in my home. I give one introductory lesson at no cost. Feel free to e-mail me or call me. Cell: (310)871-8813, Home: (310)828-1474.
