Bio(s)

Praised for his "adventurousness and muscular skill" (The New York Times), Grammy-nominated artist Adam Tendler is "currently the hottest pianist on the American contemporary classical scene" (Minneapolis Star Tribune), “relentlessly adventurous” (Washington Post), a "remarkable and insightful musician" (LA Times), an "intrepid... maverick pianist" (The New Yorker), and "one of contemporary classical music's most intentional and daring pianists" (Seven Days). A pioneer of DIY culture in classical music, at age 23 Tendler performed solo recitals in all fifty United States as part of a grassroots tour called America 88x50, the subject of his acclaimed coming-out memoir, 88x50. He has gone on to become one of today’s most recognized and celebrated performers in classical-contemporary music, receiving Lincoln Center's Emerging Artist Award and the Yvar Mikhashoff Prize, and appearing as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, LA Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, as well as on the main-stages of Carnegie Hall, the Barbican Centre, Sydney Opera House, BAM, Roy Thomson Hall, Milan Fashion Week, and leading series and stages worldwide. 
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Tendler's recordings include his much-anticipated Inheritances, featuring 16 new works commissioned using the entire inheritance left to him by his father after his unexpected death, from composers including Laurie Anderson, Nico Muhly, Devonté Hynes and Missy Mazzoli. Inheritances was a New York Times Critic Pick, which wrote, "You will be moved, profoundly and intensely," describing the project as "not only a display of contemporary compositional force... but a true show...emotionally involving...with a sense of true dramatic stakes." 
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Tendler was also featured as soloist on Wild Up's Grammy-nominated album of works by Julius Eastman, If You're So Smart, Why Aren't You Rich?, and has released solo albums of music by Robert Palmer, Franz Liszt, and his own music. Tendler recently published his second book, tidepools, and as Green-wood Cemetery's Artist-In-Residence created a site-specific installation, Exit Strategy in 2024. Adam Tendler is a Yamaha Artist, and serves on the piano faculty of NYU.