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Bios (docx)

Abbreviated Bio

Pianist Laura Dahl is an active international performer and educator, appearing in venues including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall and Stern Grove Festival, Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University, the Carmel Bach Festival, and the Henley Festival in Great Britain. A specialist in collaborative performance and chamber music, Dahl is the founder and artistic director of Music by the Mountain, a chamber music festival in northern California, and the A. Jess Shenson Recital Series at Stanford University. Dahl is a member of the music faculty at Stanford University, where she teaches collaborative and solo piano, chamber music, art song interpretation, and diction. The first musician to be named a German Chancellor’s Scholar of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (Germany), Dahl holds degrees from the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan School of Music. She was born and raised in the western states of Colorado and Montana.

Standard Bio

Pianist Laura Dahl is an active international performer and educator, appearing in venues including Carnegie Hall, the Berlin Philharmonic, San Francisco's Davies Symphony Hall and Stern Grove Festival, Bing Concert Hall at Stanford University, the Carmel Bach Festival, and the Henley Festival in Great Britain. A specialist in collaborative performance and chamber music, Dahl is the founder and artistic director of Music by the Mountain, a chamber music festival in northern California, and the A. Jess Shenson Recital Series at Stanford University. Dahl is a member of the music faculty at Stanford University, where she teaches collaborative and solo piano, chamber music, art song interpretation, and diction. She has also taught at the New National Theatre Young Artists Training Program in Tokyo, Japan.

Dahl's education featured training on both coasts of the US and in Germany. She was the first musician to be named a German Chancellor's Scholar of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She lived two years in Germany, studying under pianist Phillip Moll, baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, and pianist and composer Aribert Reimann. Dahl holds degrees from the University of Michigan School of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music, where she was a student of Martin Katz, Eckart Sellheim, and Margo Garrett. A graduate of San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, Dahl served as Assistant Conductor for Western Opera Theater and was Associate Director of the San Francisco Boys Chorus. She has been a coach at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan Opera Theater. She was an invited fellow at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center for two years, in addition to studies at the Banff Academy of Singing (Canada) and the Music Academy of the West (Santa Barbara). Dahl was born and raised in the western states of Colorado and Montana.

Shenson Recital Series

Extraordinary singers and pianists in an intimate setting

The A. Jess Shenson Recital Series has brought extraordinary singers, pianists, and other collaborative partners to Stanford University since its first season in 2005. This recital series offers Bay Area audiences the opportunity to experience live vocal performances in the intimate setting of the recital hall, conveniently located in the heart of Stanford campus. In conjunction with their performances, the visiting artists lead masterclasses for Stanford students, enabling personal student and artist interaction. The series is generously funded by the Ben and A. Jess Shenson Funds at Stanford University.

All Shenson recitals and masterclasses take place in Campbell Recital Hall. Advance tickets are available at Stanford Ticket Office.

Upcoming performance information

Music by the Mountain

Dahl is founder and artistic director of Music by the Mountain, a non-profit organization committed to bringing extraordinary classical music performances to rural communities in northern California, including educational outreach for children and students of all ages.

In recognition of its education outreach programs, Music by the Mountain has been awarded grants by the California Arts Council (Artists in Schools), the Siskiyou Arts Council, and the Shasta Regional Foundation.

For more information, please visit the Music by the Mountain website.

Courses Taught

MUSIC 170

Collaborative Piano

This course is designed to explore the art of collaboration with musical partners from singers to instrumentalists. Students confront the practical aspects of one-on-one musical collaboration with different musical partners every week, exploring subtleties in rhythm, phrasing, balance, dynamics, and colors. This fast-paced course offers a general overview of highly varied repertoire, addressing performance practice ranging from songs and arias to instrumental sonatas and concertos.

MUSIC 182

Diction for Singers

This course is designed to teach the basics of diction as used by singers on the concert or operatic stage. Students learn the symbols and associated sounds of the International Phonetic Alphabet and their application to the sung languages of German, French, and Italian. Consistent and accurate use of IPA enables singers to pronounce many languages with clarity and finesse; thereby more effectively communicating sung text with their audience.

MUSIC 183A/B

German/French Art Song Interpretation

Taught in alternate years

This course is designed for advanced singers and pianists to work together as collaborative duos, interpreting and performing masterpieces from German and French art song literature. Students continue to hone the many skills needed for successful and satisfying collaboration with different musical partners. Matters of facility, rhythm, phrasing (textual and musical), balance, dynamics, colors, and diction are addressed in the context of interpretation and performance. Recommended prerequisite courses are Music 182 Diction for Singers and Music 170 Collaborative Piano.

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Recordings