Gail Olszewski

Gail Olszewski has lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area since 1987. Her career includes performing as a soloist as well as with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Phipps Oratorio Society (Hudson WI). She has served as music director and rehearsal/show pianist for Ordway Productions, Nautilus Music Theater, Illusion Theater, Minnesota Opera, Northstar Opera and Opera Twin Cities. In addition she is a teacher, a musical reviewer and a lecturer.

Ms. Olszewski has been heard in solo and chamber recitals on piano, fortepiano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium, celesta and synthesizer throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Central America and Australia. Recent performances include an appearance as piano soloist in the Piano Concerto of Clara Schumann with the Minneapolis Philharmonic in April 2002 and as harpsichord soloist in J.S. Bach’s Concerto in C Major for Three Harpsichords with the St. Paul  Chamber Orchestra in March 2003. She presented a recital of solo fortepiano music by English women composers of the late 18th century at the Southeast Historical Keyboard Society meeting in Durham (NC) in March 2004 andn performed a solo recital in November 2004 at Wesley Music Centre in Canberra, Australia to favorable reviews.

Gail is a founding member of “womenperformhers” showcasing works of women composers. She has written musical reviews for the International Alliance of Women in Music and has presented lectures/recitals on such subjects as music of women composers and history of the piano and harpsichord for many schools and professional organizations in the U.S. In October 2002 Gail presented a lecture/recital on the 19th century French composer Louise Farrenc at a symposium on women in the arts at Millsaps College in Jackson (MS). In September 2004 she presented a lecture/recital at the Australian National University in Canberra on Viennese Classic sonatas.

Ms. Olszewski holds a B.A. degree in Spanish and Music History/Harpsichord from the University of New Hampshire, a M.M. in Piano Performance from Boston University, and a D.M.A. in Accompanying/Coaching from the University of Minnesota. Her instructors include Margo Garrett and Karl Paulnack for modern piano; Penelope Crawford, David Breitman and Jacques Ogg for fortepiano; and Jacques Ogg, Arthur Haas, Layton James and Lynda Copeland for harpsichord. Gail is on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin/River Falls and MacPhail Center for Music where she teaches private and group piano, piano ensemble, harpsichord, chamber music and accompanying. She has a private studio where she teaches piano, harpsichord and coaches singers.