Bonnie Anderson and Donna Gross Javel have
been performing as a piano duo since June 2004. After several
years of playing solo repertoire for each other in a monthly
piano group, they sat down on a whim to sight read four-hand
piano music. Pleasantly surprised by the well-matched tone and
technique of their four hands, they began exploring the piano
duo repertoire. Ever since their debut in Danvers, Massachusetts
they have been performing to enthusiastic audiences around New
England. Because so many venues have only one piano, they have
focused on the repertoire for four hands at one piano. Bonnie
Anderson and Donna Gross Javel have been performing as a piano
duo since June 2004. After several years of playing solo repertoire
for each other in a monthly piano group, they sat down on a
whim to sight read four-hand piano music. Pleasantly surprised
by the well-matched tone and technique of their four hands,
they began exploring the piano duo repertoire. Ever since their
debut in Danvers, Massachusetts they have been performing to
enthusiastic audiences around New England. Because so many venues
have only one piano, they have focused on the repertoire for
four hands at one piano.
Bonnie Anderson made her debut with the Boston
Symphony Orchestra at age fourteen, first as flute soloist and
several months later as piano soloist in the Grieg Piano Concerto.
She has performed on both instruments in the United States,
France, Germany and South America. A frequent soloist, she has
appeared with the Boston Pops, Peoria Symphony, Bach Society
Orchestra of Harvard University, Northern Illinois Philharmonic
and the Bach Festival Orchestra.
Ms. Anderson’s honors include the Young Pianist Award
at Tanglewood, top prizes at the Young Keyboard Artists Association
International Competition and the San Antonio International
Keyboard Competition, as well as competitor in the Van Cliburn
International Piano Competition. As chamber pianist, she has
performed in Alice Tully Hall, Jordan Hall, Austrian Embassy
in Washington, D.C. and numerous universities around the country.
She has collaborated with such artists as Joseph Silverstein,
Harry Ellis Dickson and Benjamin Zander, as well as members
of the Boston Symphony, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles
Philharmonic. Recent collaborations include chamber recitals
with Peter Stumpf, principal cellist of the Orpheus Chamber
Orchestra, and Marguerite Krull, soprano.
Ms. Anderson is Adjunct Professor of Piano and Chair of the
Keyboard Department at University of Massachusetts Lowell. Ms.
Anderson’s debut recording features solo piano music by
Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Debussy, Ravel and Ned Rorem.
Donna Gross Javel was a teenager when she was selected
by the Leschetisky Association to perform at Carnegie Recital
Hall under its auspices. Subsequent performances of solo and
chamber music have occurred in such diverse venues as the Esterhazy
Palace in Austria, the Frank Lloyd Wright Zimmerman House in
New Hampshire and Ventfort Hall in Lenox, Massachusetts. A frequent
Boston area performer, Donna Gross Javel has appeared on many
local concert series such as the Brookline Library Recital Series,
the First Sundays Concert Series in Chelmsford, and the Classical
Piano Concert Series at the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford.
Her performance on "Morning Pro Musica" was broadcast
live from WGBH radio in Boston and hosted by Robert J. Lurtsema.
She has also performed on piano and celeste with the Boston
University and Indiana University percussion ensembles.
Having received an M.M in piano performance from Indiana University,
Donna is also strongly committed to sharing her broad experiences
with her students. She has served on the faculty of the Dana
Hall Music School and the Brookline Music School where she was
awarded the special status of "gifted teacher" by
the school's memorable director, Larry Zukof. The school additionally
supported her efforts by awarding her two faculty enrichment
grants, one of which enabled her to study at the Moscow Conservatory
Summer Piano Institute. Other achievements in the area of music
education include co-founding and directing the Summer Chamber
Music Program in West Chester, Pennsylvania, a program which
evolved into the Community Music Program; a cooperative effort
between West Chester University and the community. She also
served as Assistant to the Director of the Young Artists Piano
Program at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Donna
Gross Javel serves as an adjudicator for local piano competitions
and festivals and maintains a private piano studio in Waltham,
MA.
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