| Joseph Stefanits started playing piano by ear at age 7.His earliest compositions were written at age 12.
His early studies were with Helen Zarling (assistant to Josef Lhevinne) and with internationally revered keyboardist Edward Mondello at the University of Chicago. He graduated with honors from Roosevelt University’s Chicago Musical College where he studied with Pawel Checinski. For thirteen years he performed weekly before thousands at the world renowned Walnut Room in downtown Chicago. He has performed as soloist with the Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra on several occasions. When The South Shore Cultural Center of Chicago launched their piano series it was Stefanits who was asked to give the inaugural concert. In 1995 he was invited to perform in the prestigious Michigan Bach Festival. |
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| Thomas Manshardt, the great pianist/composer said of Stefanits ” What superb vitality!” Samuel Lesner of The Hyde Park Herald felt that Stefanits “startled me into recalling a recital by Horowitz.” Vernon Jarrett of The Chicago Tribune said of Stefanits: “sensitive, talented.”
Mr. Stefanits is a prominent concert artist in the Chicago area. As well as an inspired interpreter of Chopin, he is an authority on the piano literature of South America. His background as a music historian and researcher is extensive, and he is a highly regarded authority on the life and recordings of the twentieth century pianist Alfred Cortot. A much sought after teacher, Mr. Stefanits is in demand both as an instructor of enthusiasts as well as professional musicians. To date he has written over 40 pieces (mainly for piano) of which some can be heard on his CD entitled PIECES OF MYSELF. He has also released another CD; KEYBOARD WORKS, which contains works by Chopin, Villa-Lobos, Scarlatti, Guarnieri, Falla and others. |
| email: joraru@sbcglobal.net |