Oakland-based pianist Anne Rainwater is a dexterous musician known for her vibrant interpretations of works from J.S. Bach to John Zorn. Recognized for her “boldly assertive rhetoric” (San Francisco Examiner) and “bright golden honeycomb for a brain” (Roy Doughty, poet), she appears as a soloist, chamber musician, and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory and a Master of Music in Contemporary Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where she received the Kraeuter Musical Foundation Award for “excellence in chamber music performance.” Anne has performed in venues and festivals throughout the US and Europe, including the Donau Festival in Krems, Austria, the Kennedy Center, Princeton University, and Kampnagel in Hamburg, Germany, among others. Recent solo performances include shows at the Center for New Music, Maybeck Studio, CNMAT, and the Old First Series. Highlights of the 2018/2019 season include a tour of South Carolina and Georgia with trombonist William Lang, the release of her Goldberg Variations CD in December 2018, and collaborations with mezzo soprano Melinda Becker and percussionist/composer Jude Traxler.

Feature 2

Emily Tian is a Bay Area pianist and educator. She is known for her fine playing and diverse repertory.  Emily was raised in a musical family. Beginning at the age of six, she received awards for piano, vocals, and dancing. At age 12, The Affiliated High School of Gui Zhou Music & Arts in China made an early admission for Emily’s professional piano study. Later on, she went on to Gui Zhou University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in 2005. She received the “Best Musician Award” every year at both high school and university. Recognizing her talent, the Gui Zhou Province Symphony invited her to be a lifetime piano soloist. Emily earned her advanced study diploma at Stuttgart Music Conservatory under the direction of Ms. Huang Wan Ying. The following year she entered the music performance program at California State East Bay University, where she completed her master’s degree and became employed as a vocal/instrumental coach. Emily collaborates regularly with emerging and established composers and musicians such as Jack Van Geem, Leslie La Barre, Nick Vasallo, Anne Rainwater etc. She was also the pianist and music director for Savage Jazz Dance Company “Sketches of Oakland” dance and contemporary music concert, all while maintaining a full-time position as the piano program director at Oakland School for the Arts.