Member
Contact Information
Location
Cedarville, Ohio
Early Music Skills & Interests
Fortepiano, Harpsichord, Other Keyboard
Early Music Affiliations
Educator, Performer, Writer
Biography
Harpsichordist and pianist John Mortensen is a leader in the international revival of historic improvisation. Appearing frequently as concert artist and masterclass teacher at colleges and universities in America and Europe, he is noted for his ability to improvise entire concerts in historic styles, including complex compositions such as Baroque fugues. His most recent book, Improvising Fugue, is forthcoming in 2022 with Oxford University Press. His previous volume, The Pianist’s Guide to Historic Improvisation (Oxford University Press, 2020), the world’s best-selling book in the field of historic keyboard improvisation, is now in use as a course text at many leading conservatories.
He is a Steinway Artist and an Ohio Artist on Tour. In 2017 he was selected as a Fulbright Specialist by the US Department of State to serve as an international artistic ambassador on behalf of the American people.
In 2018 he toured Europe for three months, performing and teaching improvised music at conservatories across the continent.
A recent Fulbright award funded four international tours through Canada, the United Kingdom, Denmark, and the Baltic states.
He is the creator of Improv Planet, an online school of historic improvisation, where his students include concert artists and conservatory faculty from across the world.
He serves as professor of piano at Cedarville University in Ohio. In 2016 he was named Faculty Scholar of the Year, that institution’s highest award.
Visit his website at www.johnmortensen.com and Improv Planet at http://improvplanet.thinkific.com.
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