Natalie Tenenbaum
Natalie Tenenbaum
Natalie Tenenbaum’s musical journey began in Israel, at age 6, when she started playing piano and percussion. At 13, her studies broadened into composition and music theory with Dr. Alexander Cornhandler.
After additional musical training, Tenenbaum moved to New York in 2003 to further her study of composition, ear training, theory and piano, receiving a scholarship to the Juilliard school.
In 2011, she continued her education pursuing a masters degree in music composition at the Conservatory of Brooklyn college (CUNY) under distinguished professor Tania León. A recipient of scholarships from the America-Israel cultural foundation and the Ronen Foundation, Tenenbaum has also received the Harrington Award (BMI, 2012) and the Jean Banks award (BMI, 2013). In 2013, she was awarded membership to the BMI Lehmanengle Advanced Workshop. Her catalogue of works is represented through ASCAP.
An active musician in the new music scene, Tenenbaum has served as pianist for EMP since its establishment in 2011; Her performance of Jason Eckardt’s piano concerto, ‘Trespass’, was reviewed by Allan Kozinn of the New York Times as “sparkling… consistently invigorating”.
Tenenbaum has been an active improviser with the group since it’s establishment. Her piece, ‘four’, was commissioned by the ensemble and by Auditivokkal Dresden and was performed on tour in Germany and the US in 2015. Her score for the staged adaptation of Benjamin Button (in collaboration with librettist and lyricist Brett Boles) has been performed in 2013 as part of the Fundamental Theater Project and was subsequently optioned by the York Theater Company in New York for a full production, in the 2017-2018 season.
In october 2015, Tenenbaum has created and performed the original score for John Quare’s new play, ‘More Stars Than There are in Heaven, at the Tennessee Williams festival in Provincetown, MA.
Tenenbaum has premiered her own compositions and realtime composition/improvisations in concert at le Poisson Rouge, Salmagundi Art Club, Weill Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University and the Harvard Club, Merkin Hall, the National Arts Gallery (New York), Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Galapagos Art Space, Spectrum, Madison Square Garden, The Blue Note, Thelonius Monk Jazz Club (Seuol, Korea), Apollo Theater (New York), Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and Rose Hall/Jazz at Lincoln Center, Something Jazz Club, Riva del Garda music festival main stage (italy), the Palais de L’europe (Menton, France), Utica University, Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory, Princeton, Long Island University.
She premiered her piece for two pianos, ‘Ra’ash’ in New York with fellow pianist and composer Julian Pollack, and has performed it at the Mendocino music festival in July 2014. other works have received premieres by JP Jofre, cellist Wendy Law, clarinetist Vasko Dukovsky.
In 2014 and 2016, Tenenbaum has been commissioned by Park Avenue Synagogue in New York to create new music for liturgical texts, featured on record and performed live at the congregation every Friday night.
In march 2016, her original score to the children’s book, ‘The Lion Who Loved Strawberry’, has been premiered in New York by Musictalks ensemble.
Based in New York, Tenenbaum focuses on creating acoustic and electro-acoustic concert music for a wide scope of ensembles, soloists and organizations as well as collaborating across artistic disciplines, be it dance, theater, visual art, film and fashion. she has released an EP of her concert works in late 2016 and is a founding member of the Performance Ensemble, FTN. An active orchestrater as well, Tenenbaum has orchestrated for the Hasty Pudding gala @harvard, Lincoln Center, Holland America lines and more; Her orchestrations have been performed in the US, Israel and Asia. Tenenbaum has also created music internationally licensed for use by Walmart.
Recent projects include the full length productions of ‘Little Black Dress’, ‘The Worst People We Know’ and ‘Juliet & Juliet’ as well as a collaboration with choreographer Idan Sharabi (Israel).
Natalie Tenenbaum frequently performs as a multigenre concert pianist in recitals, with orchestras and with various chamber music ensembles. Natalie has appeared across Israel, Europe, Asia and the US, performing in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Korea’s National Theater, Jerusalem Music Center, the Kennedy Center, Berlin’s Konzerthaus, the Aldeburgh festival. An avid performer of new music, Tenenbaum premiered Tomer Addadi’s piano concerto No. 1 in 2012 with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, as well as the US premiere of the piece. Natalie has also been one of the featured pianists for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
In 2014, Natalie formed a piano duo with concert pianist and composer Julian Pollack, with the shared goal of revolutionizing the concert experience by incorporating classical concert repertoire, new music and improvisation. since its establishment in 2011, Natalie has been pianist for EMP, where she has premiered new works and has been the featured soloist for Jason Eckardt’s piano concerto, ‘Trespass’, delivering an “invigorating… sparkling performance.”
Graduate of the Juilliard school, Natalie is a recipient of scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation as well as the Ronen Foundation. In addition to concertizing and performing works of the traditional classical repertoire, Natalie regularly incorporates improvisation and her own original compositions into her recitals and concert appearances. Natalie has premiered her own compositions and realtime composition/improvisations in concert at Salmagundi Art Club, Weill Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University and the Harvard Club, Merkin Hall, the National Arts Gallery (New York), Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Galapagos art Space, Spectrum, Madison Square Garden, The Blue Note, Thelonius Monk Jazz Club (Seuol, Korea), Apollo Theater (New York), Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and Rose Hall/Jazz at Lincoln Center, Something Jazz Club, Riva del Garda music festival main stage (Italy), the Palais de L’europe (Menton, France), Utica University, Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory, Princeton, Long Island University.
