Emily Bear is not your typical six-year-old.  When most her age are learning the usual childhood songs, Emily studies classical piano at the Music Institute of Chicago with Emilio DelRosario, studies jazz improvisation with Alan Swain, performs in concert before audiences of thousands, and has a score of television appearances to her credit.  In a word, Emily is a prodigy.   

                            
                                                        
 
With not much more than a year of piano lessons to her credit, Emily is already composing her own music and recently played a 40-minute solo recital at the Ravinia Music Festival in Chicago, where she was the youngest performer in the festival’s 100-year history.  She has also played with pianists Ramsey Lewis and Corky Segal, when she was invited to perform at the Music Institute of Chicago’s 2007 Gala, and she was the opening performer at KIDSTOCK Music Festival. On television, she has been featured on ABC Chicago, NBC Chicago, WTTW (Chicago Tonight Show) and WTVO - ABC/Fox News.  Emily has also been a featured guest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show (three episodes so far!), where she thrills Ellen's audiences and the star herself, who once said,  "It's impossible to watch Emily Bear and not have your heart melt!" 


                                                      

Last year, in support of their daughter's amazing talent, Emily's parents purchased a Mason & Hamlin Model AA piano equipped with PianoDisc's Opus7 system, from Randee's Music Center in Rockford, IL.  (See Emily's AA in photos 6-10 at  http://www.emilybear.com/galleries/scrapbook/eb_scrapbook.html.)  The new piano is very big part of Emily's musical life---a partner in practice, performing and composing. 

Emily will soon add PianoDisc Artist to her list of credits, with the filming of her first PianoVideo.  "Emily's adorable personality and incredible talent will make her PianoVideo very special indeed," remarked PianoDisc's Director of Music, Jan Glazier.  "It will be entertaining, of course, and also inspirational, I think, for pianists of all ages."

Although making music is her favorite pastime, Emily also loves to ice skate, play tennis, swim and do crafts.  More about this wonderful young performer can be found at her website, www.emilybear.com.   

To watch Emily in action you can view her video.