Filtering by: Musician: Susan Merdinger

Adam Wolff Trio, jazz
Mar
11
12:00 PM12:00

Adam Wolff Trio, jazz

Monday, March 11, 2024
12 PM

Adam Wolff has been playing the piano for most of his life. Starting at the age of 8, he spent ten years studying classical piano performance, music theory, and creative music expression. Raised in New York and Chicago, he returned to New York City in the 80s and spent many years playing music full-time in Manhattan. While living in New York, Wolff studied with several great pianists: Barry Harris (Keeper of the Bebop Flame), Mike Longo (Musical Director for Dizzy Gillespie), and Kenny Werner (Author of Effortless Mastery and a global music legend). He also performed/recorded with many great jazz players including Victor Lewis, Calvin Hill, Rebecca Franks, and others. He was fortunate to record with two of Ahmad Jamal’s drummers: Vernel Fournier and Frank Gant. (Vernel Fournier is credited with developing the iconic drumbeat used in Jamal’s recording of “Poinciana” in the 1950s.) During this time, Wolff also taught music at the Johnny Colon School of Music in East Harlem, as well as playing in clubs, restaurants, cafes, and private engagements throughout the New York City region. In 1987, he was approached by Long Island University in Brooklyn and offered a full music scholarship. He received a degree with honors in 1990.

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Susan Merdinger, piano
Nov
21
12:00 PM12:00

Susan Merdinger, piano

Monday, November 21, 2022
12 PM

The daughter of a talented pianist/painter, Susan first heard strains of classical piano music before she was even born. Inheriting her mother's artistic sensibilities and her father's mathematical mind and enormous hands, playing the piano came very naturally, but it was her passion, hard work, and dedication to music that contributed to her prodigious ability. First lessons with her Mother by age two and formal lessons started at age six. By age seven, Susan knew she wanted to be a pianist and a composer. Quoting from her hand-penned diary at the time: "I always want to be a famous pianist and a composer". She has never wavered from her commitment to being a concert pianist, but has always focused more on being the best musician she can be, even if not necessarily "famous."

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