Pianist Emily Bear has only been playing piano for two years, but at just seven years old, her accomplishments are inspiring and her talent is breathtaking. Classical, jazz and boogie come naturally to her. She performs a large list of classics and standards, and also composes her own magical songs.

Emily was the youngest solo performer in the history of the Ravinia Festival, has performed with many well known musicians, appeared on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in October and November 2007 and January 2008. She also performed a 30 minute concert at the White House.






Biography

Emily Bear is seven years old and began her piano studies with Emilio delRosario of the Music Institute of Chicago (MIC). She currently studies piano with Mary Sauer of The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and jazz improvisation with Alan Swain. Additional mentors include Veda Kaplinski of Juilliard. She is equally comfortable playing jazz, classical and her own compositions as is shown by her diverse and extensive concert repertoire.

Emily received national attention when she was a featured guest on The Ellen Degeneres Show. She appeared on 3 episodes in three and a half months: October 3rd and November 23, 2007 and January 8th, 2008. She was asked back for a 4th episode, which aired November 17, 2008.

Emily made her professional debut performing a solo concert at the Ravinia Music Festival in July, 2007 when she was 5 years old. She played a solo 40 minute program mixing classical, jazz and her own compositions. She is the youngest performer in Ravinia’s more than 100 year history. She performed there again on September 7, 2008 and has been asked to return for a third time in July,2009.

On March 24th, 2008, Emily was invited to perform at The White House for The Easter Egg Roll breakfast for President and Mrs. Bush. She performed a 30 minute solo concert mixing jazz and original compositions, followed by 2 songs played especially for President and The First Lady.

Emily was a recipient of a 2008 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Competition award for her original song, “Northern Lights”. She was one of 9 winners in the 18 year old and younger category out of a field of almost 600 applicants. She was asked to be one of two pianists to perform at the awards ceremony. This December she was asked to perform her winning song at Lincoln Center at an ASCAP award ceremony concert.

Emily will be featured on the premiere episode of All You Need Is Music, a new children's television series for PBS.

In January 2008, Emily was asked by Steinway and Sons to perform a solo concert at the Chicago film premier of the new documentary film "Note by Note: the Making of Steinway L1037". She performed the concert on the actual piano built in the movie.

Emily opened for Ramsey Lewis and his Trio on October 17th, 2007, playing a 30 minute solo piano concert. Emily also appeared at The Raue Center for the Arts this December 9th in a featured solo concert. She opened The 2007 McDonald’s Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade (which was televised nationally on WGN) performing her original song “Waterlights”. Emily and her original music will be featured again in this year's 2008 Parade.

Emily made her orchestral debut in front of a capacity audience of 2500 people performing her original song, “The Love in Us” with members of The Orlando Symphony Orchestra at a private corporate event in April, 2008.
Emily also performed at the 2007 MIC Gala where she played a jazz set at the Celebrity Piano Bar along with renowned musicians Ramsey Lewis, Corky Segal and Wez Kaufman. This May she was asked to play on the main stage as a featured performer at the 2008 MIC Gala.

Upcoming concerts include performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto, no.23, k488 in March, 2009 with The Rockford Symphony Orchestra and in April, 2009 with The Champagne-Urbana Symphony. Emily will perform a concert in February, 2009 at the Music in the Loft Concert Series.

Emily recorded her first CD, Five Years Wise, in July of 2007. The CD is a mixture of jazz standards and original songs. A second CD, The Love In Us, featuring 10 original songs (including the 3 that she debuted on The Ellen Degeneres Show), was released in April 2008. Her third CD, Once Upon A Wish , will be released November 2008. She is a member of ASCAP and AFTRA.

Past Performances
November 17, 2008: The Ellen Degeneres Show
November 16, 2008: Lang Lang Master Class at The Chicago Symphony
September 7, 2008: Ravinia

2008 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Competition Awards Ceremony, performed "Northern Lights"

April 13,2008: McDonald's 2008 World Convention with members of The Orlando Symphony Orchestra

March 24, 2008: The White House Easter Egg Roll Breakfast

January 18, 2007: Concert at Chicago Premiere of documentary film "Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L1037"

January 8, 2007: The Ellen Degeneres Show
December 9, 2007: Raue Center for the Arts concert
November 23, 2007: The Ellen Degeneres Show
November 22, 2007 Opened The Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade
October 17, 2007: Opening act for Ramsey Lewis at The Coronado Theatre
October 3, 2007: The Ellen Degeneres Show
September 9, 2007: Music Institute of Chicago, Young People's Concert
September 1, 2007: On The Waterfront
July 1, 2007: Ravinia, professional debut
May 2, 2007: Music Institute of Chicago Gala - Celebrity Piano Bar

Original Compositions:
Ellen’s Song
Thanks…
The Love In Us
Spinata
Rosario Sings
Northern Lights
Snowdance
Sunday Morning
Journey To My Heart
Silent Option
Waterlights
Pharoah’s Sorrow
Piano In the Sky
Freestyle
Little Angels
The Way Back to Love
Caicos Melody
Dangerous Heart
Lillian’s Love
Ode the the Presidency