Pianist Philip Amalong is known for his critically acclaimed recordings, his many musical collaborations as a performer, composer, and producer, and his broad range music technology and industry experience. From his affinity for traditional piano repertoire to his warm embrace of much contemporary music, he navigates a broad range of styles with conviction and grace. Musicweb International, in a review of his solo recording Storia declared him “a virtuoso of the first order.” Recent performances include the Newport Music Festival, Duke University, and tours with Conundrum.
His 2009 recording Touch: The Toccata Project, Volume I: American Composers released on Albany Records has succeeded in captivating listeners worldwide. Called “a devilishly clever idea!” “technically assured and joyous…” this first in a series of post-1900 toccata recordings has earned countless accolades in press both in the U.S. and Europe. The world premiere recording of piano toccatas by Lee Hoiby, George Antheil, Vincent Persichetti and others, Touch is an exploration of the variety and character twentieth century composers contributed to the genre. Other recordings include a solo disc titled Storia on the Eroica Classical label, Twentieth Century Romantic on Titanic Records, and American Souvenir on Albany Records. The project was awarded a Recording Grant from the Aaron Copland Foundation, and will continue with further volumes exploring composers of other continents as well as newly composed toccatas created for the project.
Mr. Amalong is a founding member of Conundrum, a chamber ensemble that has been the featured at the
Fresno New Music Festival, the Society of Composers Inc. Conference, and on chamber music series throughout the U.S. The group has commissioned and premiered many new works that highlight its unusual makeup—soprano, flute, clarinet and piano. Described by one presenter: “…rich, beautiful musical colors that were at once curious and sensuous to the ear. Their effortless performance of very challenging repertoire was matched only by their engaging and informative dialogue with the audience between pieces. An exceptional contribution to our chamber music series."
His collaborative career has included recital performances with violinist Xiang Gao, cellist Terry King, Mark Gould (Principal Trumpet, Metropolitan Opera), William Ver Meulen (Principal Horn, Houston), Richard Hawley (Principal Clarinet, Cincinnati), David Anderson (Principal Bass, Louisiana) and soprano Yana Eminova. He has also played and recorded with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, the Fort Wayne Symphony, and the Dayton Philharmonic. Performances have taken him throughout the U.S. and Europe and include the Dame Myra Hess Series, the Cincinnati Symphony Chamber Players, and the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Ibla Festival in the UK.
Another aspect of Mr. Amalong’s musical work is his composing, both of concert music and of commercial scores for television and film. For television, he has composed or collaborated on underscores and featured songs for daytime dramas including Guiding Light, All My Children, The Young and the Restless and many others. His music has been heard as background to the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe awards, hundred of commercials, television and film productions worldwide.
His musical training started at age five and he was first prizewinner of the Drexel Keyboard Award, twice winner of the Tri-County Concerts Association Competition and is a Distinguished Laureate of the IBLA Grand Prize International Piano Competition. As a child, Amalong developed his love for chamber music, performing with a piano trio coached by Metta Watts and Orlando Cole at The New School of Music and Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music after winning a Van Cliburn Scholarship, studying with Frank Weinstock and later with the celebrated collaborative pianist, Sandra Rivers. He played in masterclasses of Gary Graffman, Cecile Ousset, and Samuel Sanders and his chamber music coaches included Peter Oundjian and Yehuda Hanani.
A dedicated educator, masterclass presenter, and chamber music coach, he has taught at Xavier University and served on the music faculty of the Department of Music at the College of Mount St. Joseph from 1998-2010 where he also chaired the department and led the initiative to the college becoming an All-Steinway School. He has published articles in Clavier Magazine, and is the recipient of numerous grants including the Aaron Copland Fund Recording Grant. He is a Grammy® voting member of The Recording Academy and active in numerous musical organizations including MTNA, Chamber Music America, and BMI.
As Vice President of Community and Content at Zenph Inc in Durham, NC; he is co-founder of the ZOEN, a community of students and teachers engaged in live online music lessons. His active performing and recording career continues with upcoming performances in the 2012-2013 season and recording projects throughout the year.
His 2009 recording Touch: The Toccata Project, Volume I: American Composers released on Albany Records has succeeded in captivating listeners worldwide. Called “a devilishly clever idea!” “technically assured and joyous…” this first in a series of post-1900 toccata recordings has earned countless accolades in press both in the U.S. and Europe. The world premiere recording of piano toccatas by Lee Hoiby, George Antheil, Vincent Persichetti and others, Touch is an exploration of the variety and character twentieth century composers contributed to the genre. Other recordings include a solo disc titled Storia on the Eroica Classical label, Twentieth Century Romantic on Titanic Records, and American Souvenir on Albany Records. The project was awarded a Recording Grant from the Aaron Copland Foundation, and will continue with further volumes exploring composers of other continents as well as newly composed toccatas created for the project.
Mr. Amalong is a founding member of Conundrum, a chamber ensemble that has been the featured at the
Fresno New Music Festival, the Society of Composers Inc. Conference, and on chamber music series throughout the U.S. The group has commissioned and premiered many new works that highlight its unusual makeup—soprano, flute, clarinet and piano. Described by one presenter: “…rich, beautiful musical colors that were at once curious and sensuous to the ear. Their effortless performance of very challenging repertoire was matched only by their engaging and informative dialogue with the audience between pieces. An exceptional contribution to our chamber music series."
His collaborative career has included recital performances with violinist Xiang Gao, cellist Terry King, Mark Gould (Principal Trumpet, Metropolitan Opera), William Ver Meulen (Principal Horn, Houston), Richard Hawley (Principal Clarinet, Cincinnati), David Anderson (Principal Bass, Louisiana) and soprano Yana Eminova. He has also played and recorded with the Cincinnati Symphony and Pops, the Fort Wayne Symphony, and the Dayton Philharmonic. Performances have taken him throughout the U.S. and Europe and include the Dame Myra Hess Series, the Cincinnati Symphony Chamber Players, and the Newcastle-Upon-Tyne Ibla Festival in the UK.
Another aspect of Mr. Amalong’s musical work is his composing, both of concert music and of commercial scores for television and film. For television, he has composed or collaborated on underscores and featured songs for daytime dramas including Guiding Light, All My Children, The Young and the Restless and many others. His music has been heard as background to the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe awards, hundred of commercials, television and film productions worldwide.
His musical training started at age five and he was first prizewinner of the Drexel Keyboard Award, twice winner of the Tri-County Concerts Association Competition and is a Distinguished Laureate of the IBLA Grand Prize International Piano Competition. As a child, Amalong developed his love for chamber music, performing with a piano trio coached by Metta Watts and Orlando Cole at The New School of Music and Curtis Institute in Philadelphia. He attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music after winning a Van Cliburn Scholarship, studying with Frank Weinstock and later with the celebrated collaborative pianist, Sandra Rivers. He played in masterclasses of Gary Graffman, Cecile Ousset, and Samuel Sanders and his chamber music coaches included Peter Oundjian and Yehuda Hanani.
A dedicated educator, masterclass presenter, and chamber music coach, he has taught at Xavier University and served on the music faculty of the Department of Music at the College of Mount St. Joseph from 1998-2010 where he also chaired the department and led the initiative to the college becoming an All-Steinway School. He has published articles in Clavier Magazine, and is the recipient of numerous grants including the Aaron Copland Fund Recording Grant. He is a Grammy® voting member of The Recording Academy and active in numerous musical organizations including MTNA, Chamber Music America, and BMI.
As Vice President of Community and Content at Zenph Inc in Durham, NC; he is co-founder of the ZOEN, a community of students and teachers engaged in live online music lessons. His active performing and recording career continues with upcoming performances in the 2012-2013 season and recording projects throughout the year.
"...extroverted, engaging and stylistically sympathetic performances...a fascinating project, and I look forward to further volumes."
- Jed Distler
[ClassicToday.com]
"...Amalong's performances are consistently impressive...more than enough wit and dexterity to keep you amused and amazed..."
- Jonathan Valin
[The Absolute Sound]
"Philip Amalong, the Cincinnati-based pianist who has developed this ongoing project, has said that he likes to play toccatas because he likes the way they feel in his hands and in his ears. It shows. His playing is both technically assured and joyous. This is a very-well-produced survey of American piano music, as heard through the filter of a particular form."
- Peter Burwasser
[Fanfare Magazine]
"5 Stars! What a Devilishly Clever Idea!
...Pianist Philip Amalong has scored a coup...One must say a word not only about
the cleverness of Philip Amalong's programming, but his invigorating playing on
this disc. I'd not known of him before but am definitely signing up for any
further discs he decides to make."
- J Scott Morrison
[Amazon.com]
"...There is not enough space to discuss every
piece, but each one has its particular personality and contributes to the
iridescent colorfulness which makes this CD special. The moods may be diverse,
but one thing is true for all pieces on the recording: they require considerable
pianistic dexterity, and pianist Philip Amalong masters not only the technical
challenges with sovereignty, but also offers interpretations of the more complex
pieces by Rorem and Harris that are convincing and captivating. This CD will
broaden everyone’s mind about the toccata; and considering the struggles the
composers had to overcome to create such variety within a genre that is often
considered a playground for pure mechanical ostentation, the well known proverb
gains a new meaning: Necessity begets ingenuity."
-Albert Muhlbock
[American Record Guide]
- Jed Distler
[ClassicToday.com]
"...Amalong's performances are consistently impressive...more than enough wit and dexterity to keep you amused and amazed..."
- Jonathan Valin
[The Absolute Sound]
"Philip Amalong, the Cincinnati-based pianist who has developed this ongoing project, has said that he likes to play toccatas because he likes the way they feel in his hands and in his ears. It shows. His playing is both technically assured and joyous. This is a very-well-produced survey of American piano music, as heard through the filter of a particular form."
- Peter Burwasser
[Fanfare Magazine]
"5 Stars! What a Devilishly Clever Idea!
...Pianist Philip Amalong has scored a coup...One must say a word not only about
the cleverness of Philip Amalong's programming, but his invigorating playing on
this disc. I'd not known of him before but am definitely signing up for any
further discs he decides to make."
- J Scott Morrison
[Amazon.com]
"...There is not enough space to discuss every
piece, but each one has its particular personality and contributes to the
iridescent colorfulness which makes this CD special. The moods may be diverse,
but one thing is true for all pieces on the recording: they require considerable
pianistic dexterity, and pianist Philip Amalong masters not only the technical
challenges with sovereignty, but also offers interpretations of the more complex
pieces by Rorem and Harris that are convincing and captivating. This CD will
broaden everyone’s mind about the toccata; and considering the struggles the
composers had to overcome to create such variety within a genre that is often
considered a playground for pure mechanical ostentation, the well known proverb
gains a new meaning: Necessity begets ingenuity."
-Albert Muhlbock
[American Record Guide]