ABOUT > BIO
Born and raised in Fresno, California, pianist and composer Jared
Eben has become a fixture in the music community of California's Central Valley, appearing in upwards of sixty performances a year in a variety of music settings ranging from solo, instrumental chamber music, voice recitals, and musical theater. He currently lives in Turlock and Clovis, California where he teaches private piano lessons. Jared will be heading back to school in the fall of 2017 to obtain a Doctorate in Collaborative Piano.
Mr. Eben began his musical journey at the age of 11 while attending
Mountain View Elementary School. He started playing the trumpet in sixth grade band class, and learned the fundamentals of reading music under
the tutelage of Joe Lennigan. It wasn't until a few months later that Mr. Eben discovered his passion for the piano while taking a math exam. His teacher played recordings of classical music during exam time, and upon hearing Beethoven's Fur Elise a spark ignited that led him to study the piano. Another few months later and with the help of his grandma, Mr. Eben performed Fur Elise in front of his entire school at the end of the year talent show.
In Jr. High School, Mr. Eben continued with band classes. His interest in the trumpet subsided and a new love for
keyboard percussion surfaced. Under constant mentorship from Tammy van der Paardt, Mr. Eben tirelessly worked on his sight reading and musicianship skills everyday afterschool. He also began formal piano lessons with Kevin Memley. This special combination of teachers caused Mr. Eben to excel at a rapid pace. He performed in every musical ensemble while attending Reyburn Intermediate and Clovis East High School and earned the Outstanding 7th Grade, 8th Grade, Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Musician Awards. He also earned a Command Performance at California State University Fresno's Solo Ensemble Festival for his performance of Mozart's Piano Concert No. 12 in A Major. After his success through school, Mr. Eben knew he wanted to pursue a higher education in Piano Performance.
Mr. Eben went on to attend Chapman University where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. Under the
direction of Karen Knecht, he was the South Section Winner of the Music Teachers’ Association of California 2009 Piano Competition. He also began studying composition under Dr. Jeffrey Holmes and Dr. Vera Ivanova and earned the Music Theory Award. Mr. Eben began studying collaborative piano with Louise Thomas, and Chamber Music with Grace Fong. At the completion of his studies at Chapman University, he earned the Outstanding Keyboard Award.
Mr. Eben also holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from New York University, where he earned the Steinhardt
Scholarship and studied under Eduardus Halim. While attending New York University, Mr. Eben served as adjunct instructor, teaching keyboard harmony and group piano classes, as well as elective private piano lessons.
As a composer, Mr. Eben’s works have been premiered by a variety of Central Valley solo artists and ensembles.
Recently completed works include Preludes for People, a collection of preludes written for solo piano dedicated to people who had an impact on his life, An Die Musik an adaptation of Schubert’s beloved setting for SATB choir, Vocalise for Megan, a choral piece for SSAA voices, and Meatballs, and When Pigs Fly, two pieces for elementary school choirs.
Chamber music is a very active part of Mr. Eben's performing schedule and he has performed with several prominent
central valley musicians. He has recently performed in recitals with Soprano Sandra Bengochea, Baritone Joseph Wiggett, Flautist Jeanine Dennis, Hornist Elisha Wilson, Violinist Matt Mazzei, and Pianist Sarah Chan. He was a former member of the Adjunct Faculty at California State University Stanislaus where he taught class piano, and also performed with many talented music students while serving as the department staff accompanist.
Equally at home with choral work, Mr. Eben has collaborated with numerous regional choral ensembles and has served
as accompanist for the Modesto Symphony Chorus, the California State University Stanislaus Concert Chorale, and the CSUS Chamber Singers. Other choirs with which he has worked include the Soli Deo Gloria Women’s Chorus, the Case High School Choirs, as well as Clovis North High School, Granite Ridge Intermediate School, Cole, Dry Creek, Liberty, and Pinedale Elementary Schools.
His musical theater credits include the Good Company Players, Stageworks Fresno, Centerstage Clovis, Children’s
Musical Theatre Works, and the Clovis Unified School District in performances of Spring Awakening, Paint Your Wagon, Grey Gardens, Les Misérables, A Little Night Music, Next to Normal, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beauty and the Beast, and Damn Yankees.
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