Country

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United States of America

Birth

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February 2, 1944 in New York City, NY

Period

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Contemporary

Genre

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Keyboard

 

Ursula Oppens is a renowned classical pianist who has made a significant contribution to the world of music. Born on February 2, 1944, in New York City, Oppens grew up in a family of musicians. Her father, Ely Oppens, was a violinist, and her mother, Edith Oppens, was a pianist. Her parents were her first music teachers, and she began playing the piano at the age of four. Oppens attended the High School of Music and Art in New York City, where she studied with Leonard Shure. She then went on to study at Radcliffe College and the Juilliard School, where she studied with Rosina Lhévinne. She also studied with Guido Agosti in Italy and with Alfred Brendel in Austria. Oppens made her debut with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 1969, playing the Piano Concerto No. 1 by Johannes Brahms. She has since performed with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Orchestra, the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. Oppens is known for her performances of contemporary music, and she has premiered many works by leading composers, including John Adams, Elliott Carter, William Bolcom, and Tobias Picker. She has also recorded many of these works, including the complete piano music of Carter and Bolcom. Oppens has received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1976, she was awarded the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in classical music. She was also awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1985 and a MacArthur Fellowship in 1988. In 2019, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts by President Donald Trump. Oppens has also been a dedicated teacher, and she has taught at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and the Manhattan School of Music. She has also given masterclasses around the world, and many of her former students have gone on to successful careers in music. In addition to her performances and recordings, Oppens has been an advocate for contemporary music and has worked to promote the works of living composers. She has served on the boards of many music organizations, including the American Music Center, the American Composers Orchestra, and the International Society for Contemporary Music. Oppens continues to perform and record, and she remains an important figure in the world of classical music. Her dedication to contemporary music and her commitment to teaching have made her a beloved and respected figure in the music community.

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