Biography
Justin Kolb’s recitals include lively commentary that is always interesting and sometimes humorous. He enjoys programming music of Franz Liszt with music composed by living Americans.
Kolb began his piano studies at age four and soon became a student of Francis Clark and Lillian Whitaker DeCamp. He made his concert debut at the age of ten in solo performances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Gary Symphony.
At DePaul University, Kolb studied with Herman Shapiro, Alexander Tcherepnine, and Paul Stacevich. While serving in the Army, Kolb was named a cultural ambassador by the State Department and toured throughout Europe and the Middle East.
He has studied with Rolf Beyer in Germany, and with Gui Mombaerts, Martin Canin, and German Diez. Justin cites German Diez (once a teaching assistant of Claudio Arrau) as his most important musical influence. The master pedagogue is Justin's close friend, mentor, teacher of 20 years and artistic advisor.
Kolb received the Distinguished Alumni Award from DePaul University, his alma mater. He serves on the Board of Directors of the American Liszt Society and is an Honorary Director of the Belleayre Music Festival in Highmount, New York. He is the artist-in-residence for Kids in the Kaatskills, a charitable foundation.
Kolb is married to prize-winning mosaic artist Barbara Mellon Kolb; they make their home in New York’s Catskill Mountains.
Courtesy of Photography Students of Margaretville Central
School, NY
Concerts
“A recital program with a difference.” — Alex Ross, New York Times
- Repertory ranging from Galuppi to Barber with special programs of Beethoven, Liszt, Debussy and Ravel
- Championing new music and music by living American composers, with a repertory that routinely includes Victoria Bond, Kyle Gann, Tania Leon, Alfredo Diez Nieto, Robert Cucinotta, Joseph Hudson, and Peter Schickele
- Particular focus on Robert Starer, Willian Ferris, John Downey, and Paul Alan Levi, all of whom have dedicated works to Kolb
Recordings—Albany Records
“Justin Kolb, decisive and persuasive at the keyboard, played the early Prelude at the start of a sequence of piano pieces that covered more than half a century and again proved Mr. Starer's stability of style.” — Paul Griffiths, New York Times
- Robert Starer, Solo Piano Music 1946-1996
- William Ferris, Solo Piano Music 1962 - 1999
- To All, To Each, part songs from America and Britain, with the William Ferris Chorale
- Justin Kolb Live (Mellon Music Label)
Special Performances
“Music Crusader” — Clavier Magazine, cover story 2006
- Collaboration with actor David Aston-Reese: Enoch Arden by Tennyson, music by Richard Strauss
- Collaboration with performance artist, Mikhail Horowitz: Songs of Innocence and of Experience by Blake, music by William Bolcom
- Collaboration with psychiatrist François Martin Mai: Diagnosing Genius: The Life and Death of Beethoven
- Elementary schools: enrichment sessions
- High schools: motivational clinics for music students
- Universities and music schools: how-to presentations on music as a profession
Orchestras
- The Chicago Symphony Orchestra
- Hamburg Philharmonic (Germany)
- Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra
- Gary Indiana Symphony
- Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchestra (Ohio)
- Suncoast Symphony (St. Petersburg, Florida)
- United States Military Concert Band at West Point
- Northshore Concert Band (Chicago)
- Westmoreland Symphonic Winds (Pittsburgh)
- Kalamazoo Concert Band (Michigan)
- The William Ferris Chorale (Chicago)
- Ars Choralis (Woodstock, NY)
- Columbia Pro Cantare (Columbia, MD)
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