Jonathan Biss

Jonathan Biss (b. Bloomington, c. 1980 - ) – Pianist. The son of two professional violinists, Biss grew up in Bloomington and studied with Evelyne Brancart. He then moved on to the Curtis Institute of Music, where his private teacher was Leon Fleisher. Since 2010, he has been a faculty member at his alma mater. In 2000, he made his New York City debut and has resided there ever since. Beginning with a European tour in 2002, he established himself as an international sensation in orchestral, chamber, and solo settings. Through the Coursera program, he created a free video course on playing Beethoven’s piano sonatas and has attracted over 150,000 students. Not only is Biss a master of 18th and 19th century repertoire, he also plays modern music and has accepted commissions from such composers as Leon Kirchner, Bernard Rands, William Bolcom, and David Ludwig. In August of 2018, he became co-artistic director of the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont.