Rick Ferguson - Piano, Artistic Director
Rick "The Philosopher"
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“As a teacher, I focus on the process of learning to think musically – I want my students to become musically literate, yes, and just as important, to find their musicality, their individual voice as young musicians. I co-founded The Musical Offering as a place for teachers who value music education as the process of bringing a work to life and sharing your personal joy in that process with students.”
Rick "The Teacher"
I have a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Houston where I studied with world-renown concert artist Abbey Simon and a Bachelor of Music Degree in piano performance from Birmingham-Southern College (magna cum Laude).
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My musical education has taken me to the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA and Northwestern University, where I undertook post-graduate study. I then taught on the faculties of the Houston Conservatory of Music and the Musikschule Kassel in Kassel, Germany.
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Other teachers and mentors include Daniel Ericourt, Deborah Sobol, Roy McAllister, Hans Jensen, Delores Hodgens Howard and Jorg Demus.
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I'm a member of Phi Kappa Lambda music honor society and a certified teacher through the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada.
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I'm currently also the piano instructor at the Chicago Academy for the Arts, where I help shape the next generation of pianists.
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Rick "The Artistic Director"
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As the co-founder and Artistic Director of The Musical Offering, I see my role as a facilitator of musical partnerships, and new performance and learning opportunities, not just for our students and our faculty, but for all Evanstonians who are open to getting to know all that music has to offer.
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Rick "The Performer"
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A frequent guest at the Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago’s WFMT radio station’s live broadcasts and in other venues around Chicagoland and beyond.
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Rick has been featured on Chicago’s WFMT, WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight”, the Chicago Latino Music Festival and has collaborated with Chicago-based Latino composers Elbio Barilari and Gustavo Leone and Vienna-based composer Miguel Kertsman.
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Chamber and orchestral engagements, both in the U.S. and Europe. Concerto performances include Mozart’s K. 450, Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto and the Grieg Concerto.
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Recital partner of Dr Juliet White-Smith and Wagner Campos.
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Curates and performs on the Music On Madison Series at The Musical Offering
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Winner of the Obelisk Award for excellence in the performing arts (Alabama)
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Inaugural winner of the Brazos Valley Young Artists Competition (Texas)
Rick "The Recording Artist"
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“Romantic Songs for Clarinet and Piano” on the Southport label with clarinetist Wagner Campos
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Recording of "Retrado VI" by Costa Rican composer Eddie Mora Bernudez with the Chicago Clarinet Trio (Larry Combs, Julie Deroche and Wagner Campos)
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Rick "The Composer"
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I have a special love of composing works for educational settings, especially those involving elementary, middle and high school ensembles.
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Recent projects include "Graduation Rag" (Chiaravalle Montessori School). "Concerto Grosso on Dystopian Themes (Chute Middle School Honors Orchestra and Chorus), "Equity Suite" (Chute Middle School Honors Band) and "Prelude, Toccata and Fugue" for piano and percussion (Evanston Township High School).
To learn more about Rick, visit him at:
rickfergusonmusic.com