PIANIST STEPHEN WILBER has been hailed for the “freshness and refinement” of his playing and for his “force, imagination, feelings, and lyricism” (Editia de Arad, Romania).

In 1999, Mr. Wilber won first prize in the Pro Mozart competition and second prize in the American Liszt Society competition; he was a semifinalist in the Concert Artist Guild auditions. He made his orchestral debut with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in the same year, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 26 in D major (Coronation). Recent appearances have included recitals and solo performances with orchestras in Saratov, Russia; Arad, Romania; Tallinn, Estonia; Leysin, Switzerland; as well as Honolulu, Atlanta and New York City (Merkin Hall). He has been a guest artist in the Music Festival of the Hamptons; Music at Grey Towers, Milford, PA; and the Shandelee Music Festival in New York City. A recent showcase recital for the Embassy Concerts in Washington, DC, resulted in the following review: “It was a thrilling experience to hear Stephen Wilber in recital…His thoroughly engaging artistry is dynamic, passionate and absorbing…He has a superb articulation and pianistic touch that lends much coloring to his playing. His communication with the audience is truly enchanting.”

His debut recording, Overture, has been praised for its “purity of style, deeply internalized concepts and sense of drama.” An enthusiastic review of a recent recital in Tallinn, Estonia, read: “BRAVO to American pianist Stephen Wilber for a performance of Beethoven sonatas, Schumann and Chopin that was inspirational, full of poetry and flexibility and psychologically dynamic…an amazing sense of sound.”

Mr. Wilber’s appearances in 2004 included Leysin and Flims in Switzerland, Tallinn, Estonia and Rome. He ended the year performing with the Festival Orchestra of Zurich, Switzerland, under the baton of conductor Vincent de Kort. He received the following reviews: "Stephen Wilber … captivated with his playing of the Beethoven 2nd Piano Concerto with an outstanding interpretation of the work…Wilber dazzled with subtle yet forceful and refreshing playing. The audience was enthusiastic and was treated to an encore of a virtuoso playing of the Liszt Rhapsody … (Arena Flims) Another review noted: "BRILLIANT GALA CONCERT - The soloist was AMERICAN STEPHEN WILBER who is known for his ‘freshness and refinement of playing’ which he fully lived up to … His interpretation of the Beethoven work landed him thunderous applause and shouts of bravo to which he responded with a sparkling solo encore of the Liszt Rhapsody. (Bundner Taglatt)

Mr. Wilber's appearances in 2005 will include performances in cities throughout Switzerland, Germany and the United States.

A graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Mr. Wilber also studied at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. He holds a master’s degree from the Peabody Institute and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland. Teachers have included Larissa Dedova, Gregory Sioles, Robert Weirich, Frances Walker, Miles Mauney and Charles Beno.

Stephen Wilber has managed to combine a successful career as a classical pianist with achievements in competitive sports, playing wide receiver for the Washington Chiefs, a semi-professional football team, in 1998-99.

He lives and teaches in Rockville, MD, and has given master classes in Honolulu, at the Saratov Pedagogical Institute and Conservatory, and at the American School in Leysin.

Most recent and future performances

2005 Recitals in Flims, Bad Ragaz, Zurich, Baden Music Society- Switzerland.
Munich and Atlanta
2003/2004 Soloist with the Zurich Symphonic Orchestra in Flims, Switzerland
Beethoven Piano Concerto no.2 in B flat Major
Leysin American School, Switzerland
Cran Montana, Switzerland
Concerti del Tempieto, Festival of the Nations; Rome, Italy
Maison de Jardin, Palm Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
The Winston, Atlanta, GA
Merkin Hall, Cziffra Society, New York City
Shandelee Music Festival, New York City
Showcase Recital for the Embassy Series, Washington, DC
Russian Philharmonic Society, Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn Conservatory of Music, Estonia
Kuklos, La Berneuse, Leysin, Switzerland
Town Hall, Leysin, Switzerland
Academy of Art and Music, Honolulu, HI
Music Festival of the Hamptons, Bridgehampton, NY
Grey Towers Music Festival, Milford, PA
Musicians Resource Council, McClean, VA
Atlanta Women’s Club, Atlanta, GA
Montgomery College, Rockville, MD
Banner Elk Music Festival, NC

Education
DMA University of Maryland, 2004
Diploma, Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria, 1999
MM, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, 1991
BM, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, 1989

Teachers
Larissa Dedova, Gregory Sioles, Donald Currier, Robert Weirich, Frances Walker,
Miles Mauney, Charles Beno

Master Classes
Sergey Dorensky, Bernd Glemser, Ruth Laredo, Claude Frank, Valerie Kastelsky,
Susan Starr, Paul Pollei, Faina Luschtak

Honors and Awards
First Prize, Pro Mozart Competition, 1999
Second Prize, American Liszt Competition, 1999
Semifinalist, Concert Artist Guild auditions, 1999

Performances
Soloist, Saratov Conservatory Great Hall and the Pedagogical Institute,
Saratov, Russia, 2001
Guest Artist, Gina Bachauer Foundation (series),
Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah, 2001
Featured Soloist for Celebrate the Arts Music Festival, directed by Charles Wadsworth,
Atlanta, GA, 2000
Soloist with the Arad Philharmonica, Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 3,
Arad, Romania, 2000
Solo Recitalist, Cultural Palais, Arad, Romania, 2000
United Peachtree Methodist Church Recital Series, Atlanta, GA, 2000
Soloist with members of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra,
Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 26, Robert First Center, 1999
Guest Recitalist for the American Liszt Society, Catholic University of America,
Washington, DC, 1999

Teaching Experience
North Potomac School of Music, 2001 – present, Piano and Theory
Saratov Conservatory and Pedagogical Institute, Master Classes, Russia, 2001
Montgomery County Community College, 2000 – 2003, Piano
Leysin American School, Master Classes, Leysin, Switzerland, 2003
Hawaii Teachers’ Association, Master Classes, Honolulu, HI, 2003