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Theodore Edel
Music

Professor Emeritus

Theodore Edel

tedel@uic.edu

312-996-2977

Courses Taught

  • MUS 180: Applied Piano

Education

Doctorate of Musical Arts, Manhattan School of Music
Master of Music, Julliard
Bachelor of Music, Julliard

About

Pianist Theodore Edel’s tours in the United States, Europe, and the Far East, as recitalist and soloist with orchestra, have brought him much critical applause. Describing his Liszt Years of Pilgrimage, the New York Times said: “Mr. Edel has the heroic technique these works demand. His interpretations were passionate, yet tempered by intellect, and he made the music convincing.” The Washington Post called him a “superb lyricist” and found his performances “filled with drama.”

A native of New York City, Theodore Edel holds Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from the Juilliard School, where he studied with Jacob Lateiner. He earned his doctorate and the Harold Bauer Award at the Manhattan School of Music under Constance Keene. A Fulbright Grant sent him to Rome for a year, during which he concertized throughout Italy and played before the Italian Parliament. At his London debut in Wigmore Hall, the Daily Telegraph called him “clearly one of a new breed of serious artists.” His subsequent New York debut was launched by an Artists International Management Award at Carnegie Recital Hall. Dr. Edel has performed throughout the United States on recital series, in radio broadcasts, and as a concerto soloist with orchestras—including the Chicago Symphony. He has appeared often in chamber music concerts with members of the Chicago Symphony. His all-Liszt CD has been released on the Cadenza label.

In recent seasons Theodore Edel has given solo recitals in Israel, Austria, Hungary, Germany, France, Korea, Taiwan and Russia. He is also an author: his book Piano Music for One Hand (Indiana University Press) was the first study of its kind and he is often invited to perform and discuss music for the left hand alone. Theodore Edel has given piano master classes at the major conservatories of Israel, Russia, Taiwan, Austria, as well as many American universities. In the United States, his students have been first-prize winners at dozens of competitions.