The Transcontinental Duo met in the summer of 1990, as faculty members of the Adamant Music School in Adamant, Vermont. Their friendship and musical rapport soon led to formation of the geographically-challenged Arizona/Vermont duo. In answer to their most frequently asked question -- "How do you rehearse? -- Elaine and Jan respond, "intensely!" They program two or three new works each time they perform, and typically have less than a week to rehearse together for most performances. This presents many musical, mental, and physical challenges, none of which have yet compromised their friendship or enjoyment of the process.

We are pleased to note that this is the Transcontinental Duo’s third performance on the Historical Piano Concerts Series, and Ms. Greenfield’s seventh.  The present performance is associated with a recording session here, of this repertoire, on this piano, by the Duo.

Elaine Greenfield is a widely acclaimed pianist, noted for her sensitive musical imagination, compelling artistry, and effortless technique.  In a distinguished career as soloist/lecture recitalist, and collaborative artist,  Ms. Greenfield has performed nationwide, with noted appearances at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Steinway Hall, Washington DC’s Phillips Collection, Boston’s Gardner Museum, and innumerable concert venues coast to coast.  A CLAVIER magazine review lauded Ms. Greenfield's 2004 CD release on Centaur Records, "Debussy Preludes, Books 1 & 2", calling her performances "impeccable"..."how this music was meant to sound".   CLASSICS TODAY praised her "sensitivity and control", "alluring pedal effects"...."meeting technical challenges with no effort".  The recording featured The Frederick Collection’s 1907 piano by Blüthner of Leipzig.

Ms. Greenfield has been broadcast over international radio & TV, including the BBC, NPR, WGBH (Morning Pro Musica), & WNYC.  THE NEW YORK TIMES praised her "crystalline clarity, tonal warmth, graceful airiness, and rhythmically strong” playing, with  “.. a formidable technique...".  Elaine invites you to visit her website, www.elainegreenfield.com, to read about her extensive background, activities, credits, & reviews, and to sample her 7 album discography.
Ms. Greenfield began her professional study at the Crane School of Music.  Graduate study took her to Peabody Conservatory and N.Y., to work with teachers Julio Esteban, Lorin Hollander, Walter Hautzig, Leon Fleischer, Dorothy Taubman and Edwine Behre. An  independent musician and MTNA  Master Teacher with national profile, Ms. Greenfield maintains a private studio in South Burlington, VT, where she resides.  A faculty member of the Adamant Music School and the Crane School of Music Summer Piano program (SUNY, Potsdam),  she is founder of Greenfield Piano Associates and a founding performer of the Vt. Contemporary Music Ensemble.  She serves as Artistic Director and Coordinator of Concert Events for St. Paul's Cathedral Arts, Burlington.  Most recently, her collaboration with pianist Janice Meyer Thompson has resulted in two CD recordings, and recitals in locations listed below.

Janice Meyer Thompson has enjoyed a diverse career as a soloist, collaborative artist, lecture-recitalist, and master teacher.  Chamber music, duo piano performances, and master classes have taken her across North America, Europe, Russia and Asia.  As pianist with The Kent Camerata, Ms. Thompson recently toured China, presenting recitals and master classes in the premier conservatories of Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin.  In November 2004 she and colleague Baruch Meir presented master classes in leading South Korean universities as part of their joint study of Korean piano performance and pedagogy.  Her collaboration with pianist Elaine Greenfield has resulted in recent recitals of The Transcontinental Piano Duo in North Carolina, South Carolina, Arizona, California, Ohio, Wisconsin, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Jan Thompson is recorded on compact disc in performances with The Kent Camerata (Kent Camerata Favorites), with singers Mary Sue Hyatt and Jane Dressler (Song Upon Song, TimeGrabber Digital), with bassoonist David DeBolt (A Musical Painting Comes to Life, Crystal CD 841), and with Transcontinental Duo partner Elaine Greenfield, (two CDs: "Piano 4-Hands" and "Concert Favorites"). Her playing has been acclaimed for its beautiful sound, easy versatility of style, and remarkable sensitivity to phrasing and nuance.

Dr. Thompson is nationally recognized for her leadership in the field of piano pedagogy and for her accomplishments as Professor of Piano at the Arizona State University School of Music in Tempe. She is founding director of the ASU Piano Prep and Conservatory Programs and coordinator of piano pedagogy offerings at ASU. Ms. Thompson holds the Doctor of Music degree in Performance-Chamber Music from Northwestern University, where her principal teachers were Gui Mombaerts and Donald Isaak.