Hey Everybody, we photographed Muriel Balzer at her home in Appling, Georgia,  yesterday with her beautiful Steinway piano. At the end, Muriel played the piano for Maddie and I. I loved this photo session, and I love that piano! Here’s a little bio about Muriel.

Muriel Bennett Balzer

Accompanist

Muriel Bennett Balzer, piano,received a Master’s Degree in piano performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, Johns Hopkins University where she studied with pianist Ann Schein. She received a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Howard University studying with pianist Raymond Jackson. Her early studies were in Turkey with pianist Ayesha Ekshi from the Turkish National Conservatory of Music. She has coached opera and art song at The Teilart Center for Singing Synthesis with its Director, Dr. Veronica Tyler.

Ms. Balzer has done extensive solo, chamber, and accompanying work throughout the United States. Most notably, for many years, she was the accompanist for international opera star, Miss Veronica Tyler. Ms. Balzer has been heard in concert halls in New York, California, Florida, Colorado, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., with numerous performances in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, the Kennedy Center Atrium Theatre, Constitution Hall, the Baltimore Lyric Opera House/Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Barns at Wolf Trap, the Aspen Music Festival, and a National tour with the Clarion Shadow Theatre. 

 Ms. Balzer has taught piano and music theory at the Johns Hopkins University, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Preparatory Department. She has been published in the Journal of Music Theory and has served as the Music Director of the Maryland Opera Society and pianist for the Washington Opera Educational Outreach Program. Ms. Balzer is the Founder of and Artistic Director for Music Amongst Friends, a small classical ensemble dedicated to the high vocal arts.