Biography

Jacob Ertl has performed across the United States and abroad in France, Spain, Israel and Canada:  receiving critical acclaim for his “passion and poise” on stage and his “fiery and nuanced” interpretations*.  Mr. Ertl's performance highlights include Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, and Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center in New York City, concerto performances with the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra and the Fox Valley Symphony. He has given solo recitals on Wisconsin Public Radio's “Live from the Elvehjem” series, and Chicago radio's “Live from WFMT” series.  He was invited to give a recital at the Steinway Gallery of Milwaukee on the Vladimir Horowitz and Van Cliburn legendary piano tour. Other performances include the 10th Anniversary Concert of the Yamaha Music Program, the Seattle Convention Center, the Harry Houdini Historical Museum, guest recital at Lawrence University, and at the Fox Cities Stadium.  He has also appeared on television on WLUK Fox 11 and WBAY-TV.  

As the Artist-in-Residence for the PianoArts organization in February 2007, March 2008, Feb/March 2009, Feb/March 2010, Jacob gave numerous recitals in Milwaukee, WI at venues such as the Wisonsin Conservatory of Music Helen Bader Recital Hall, Joyce Parker Productions Theater, Calvary Baptist Concert Series, Hepatha Church, and the Congregation, New Castle, Catholic Home, and Chai Point retirement homes. He also performed in over 20 Milwaukee public schools where he used innovative and interactive programming to communicate with young audiences. This year also included a college tour where he performed at Lawrence University, UW-Oshkosh, and Mount Mary College.

Successful in numerous competitions, Jacob recently won 1st prize in the 2009 American Protege International Piano Competition, 3rd prize at the 2008 Young Artists International Piano Competition in DC. He has won numerous scholarships from the Mu Phi Epsilon National Foundation including the 2008 'Helen Haupt Piano Scholarship' and 2009 'Summer Study Scholarship', the Weiler/Frame Piano Scholarship, and the Bernstein/Crosman Scholarship. He was also a top prize winner at the 2005 MTNA/Steinway National Young Artist Competition and the 1st prize winner in the 2006 Tuesday Musical Association Competition. He also captured 2nd prize and the Wisconsin contestant prize at the 2002 PianoArts National Piano Competition and has been a winner in the Neale-Silva Music Competition, Missouri Western National Competition, and the Kingsville, Lennox, and Oberlin International Competitions. 

During his summers, he has performed in solo and chamber music recitals at many music festivals including the Tel-Hai International Piano Master Classes in Israel, Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain, Nice International Summer Music Academy, TCU/Van Cliburn Piano Institute, Banff International Keyboard Institute, Bowdoin International Music Festival (where he was accepted into the prestigious class of Arie Vardi), ARIA International Music Academy, International School for Musical Arts in Niagara, and the Heifetz International Music Institute. He performed many chamber music concerts as a Piano Intern for The Quartet Program, directed by world renowned violinist, Charles Castleman.   He has also participated in master classes given by eminent pianists Richard Goode, Russell Sherman, Ruth Laredo, Vladimir Krainev, Pascal Roge, Christopher Elton, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Julian Martin, Emanuel Krasovsky, Marc Durand, Marcello Abbado, and Jania Aubikarova.

An avid supporter of music of our time, Jacob has performed with the Eastman Broadband Contemporary Music Ensemble on tour in NYC. He has also performed at the Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music in Bowdoin, ME. He has worked with composers such as Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Carlos Sanchez-Gutierrez, Juan Trigos, and David Crumb. He has given the NYC premier of Pusacion y Resonances by Juan Trigos, a piano and percussion duo, at the Americas Society.

Mr. Ertl is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Eastman School of Music as a scholarship student and teaching assistant of Prof. Nelita True.  He completed his Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music where he won a 2008 Professional Development Grant. Mr. Ertl earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music studying with Prof. Robert Shannon. While at Oberlin, he was the recipient of the Dean’s Talent Scholarship, Bryan Scholarship, Nell M. Menn Music Scholarship, and was selected to perform in the Commencement Concert. A native of Appleton, WI, Mr. Ertl studied piano with Prof. Michael Kim (Lawrence University) and chamber music with Carol Leybourn (Lawrence Academy of Music) before entering college. He is currently on the piano faculty of the Hochstein School of Music and Dance in Rochester, NY.

*Taken from a concert review in The Post-Crescent