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Historical Piano Concerts Series
About the Musicians

Gail Olszewski

Gail Olszewski has been heard in solo and chamber recitals on piano, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium, celesta and synthesizer throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America and Australia.  Performances include an appearance as piano soloist in the Clara Schumann‘s Piano Concerto with the Minneapolis Philharmonic (Minnesota) in April 2002 and as harpsichord soloist in J. S. Bach’s Concerto in C Major for Three Harpsichords with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) in March 2003.  She presented a recital of solo fortepiano music by English women composers of the late 18th century at the Southeast Historical Keyboard Society meeting at Durham, North Carolina in March 2004 and performed a solo recital in November 2004 at Wesley Music Centre in Canberra, Australia to favorable reviews.  Gail has lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota area since 1987 and she has played with numerous groups there, including the Minnesota Orchestra and the Phipps Oratorio Society (Hudson, Wisconsin).  She has served as music director, rehearsal and show pianist for Ordway Productions, Nautilus Music Theater, Minnesota Opera and Northstar Opera.  She is a founding member of The WolfGang, an authentic-instrument chamber group and of “womenperformhers”, showcasing works of women composers.  Gail has written musical reviews for the International Alliance of Women in Music and has presented lecture/recitals for many schools and professional organizations in the United States.  In September 2004 she presented a lecture/recital at the Australian National University in Canberra on Viennese Classic sonatas, and in October 2002 she presented a lecture/recital on the 19th-century French composer Louise Farrenc at a symposium on women in the arts at Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of New Hampshire, a Master of Music from Boston University and the degree Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Minnesota.  Her instructors have included Margo Garrett and Karl Paulnack for modern piano; Penelope Crawford, David Breitman, Geoffrey Lancaster and Jacques Ogg for fortepiano; and Jacques Ogg, Arthur Haas, Layton James and Lynda Copeland for harpsichord.  Gail is on the faculty of MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis where she teaches piano, harpsichord, chamber music and musical theater.