Schumann, Dr. Michelle

Apr 27, 2019
Tag = Piano: Schumann, Dr. Michelle
Nationality: Canadian

Schumann, Dr. Michelle

A native Canadian, Dr. Michelle Schumann is a highly sought after solo pianist and collaborative artist both in her hometown of Austin, Texas and throughout the US, Canada and Europe. Her performances have been described as "smart, irresistible, and utterly captivating" and have been included among the years' top ten art events by the Austin American Statesman. In 2009, Schumann won the award for best instrumentalist by the Austin Critics' Table and in 2006, 2007, and 2008 won the award for Best Chamber Music Performance. In 2006, she was the top prize winner in the 2006 Janice K. Hodges Competition for Contemporary Piano Music and most recently, her performance of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue was named the #1 Classical Arts Event of 2008 by the Austin Chronicle.

Michelle is the Artistic Director of the Austin Chamber Music Center where she leads the season programs, Austin Summer Chamber Music Festival, and all educational programs. Following her ground- breaking first season with the Austin Chamber Music Center, she won multiple awards from the Austin Critics' Table for Best Chamber Music Performance and Best Body of Work/Season. She has performed at international festivals including the Edinburg Fringe Festival, Fayetteville Chamber Music Festival, Tanglewood, Round Top, Long Beach Opera Festival, Fou de Basson Festival in Angoulême, France, Bang on a Can Summer Festival at the Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art, Banff Festival of Music and Sound, International Institute of Music in Munich, Germany, Victoria Bach Festival, and the Snake River Chamber Music Festival. Michelle has collaborated with leading ensembles throughout the US including the Carpe Diem Quartet, Chiara Quartet, Meridian Arts Ensemble, Austin Lyric Opera, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Ballet Austin, and Long Beach Opera. Her solo and chamber music performances have been heard on CBC Radio, KMFA and Austin's NPR affiliate, KUT. A committed teacher, Dr. Schumann serves as Associate Professor of Music and Artist in Residence at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor where she is the founder and Artistic Director of the Hillman Visiting Artists Series. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from The University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Anton Nel and Gregory Allen. Additionally she holds a Young Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Performance Diploma from the Vienna Conservatory.