Biography
Joining the historic Steinway Artist roster in 2019, American solo/collaborative pianist, Dr. Leann Osterkamp He, is a master educator and presenter. She has performed at The Library of Congress, Caramoor, the Kennedy Center, The Baryshnikov Center, Carnegie’s Weill Hall, Steinway Hall, Bellco Theater, Merkin Hall, and as a featured soloist with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra in Boettcher Concert Hall. The NY Times has described her as bringing “descriptive color” to her performances. The LA Times describes her as a “strong” collaborator with “the desired flashiness.”
Her work with Steinway began with her acceptance to the Young Steinway Artist roster in 2010. A recording artist, she has recorded for Steinway Spirio and her recordings of Ravel were featured by David Dubal on WQXR. Her solo album The Complete Works of Leonard Bernstein for Solo Piano and her recording of John Musto’s Improvisation & Fugue on a second album are released under the Steinway and Sons Label. Her featured album release concert at Steinway Hall was heralded as “breathtaking” and “one for the history books” by New York Music Daily. Her recordings were featured on Alex Ross’ (critic for The New Yorker) “Nightafternight” playlist. The Santa Fe New Mexican states, “she infuses her interpretations with vigor, wit, sonic color, and a variegated touch, drawing effectively on the broad expressive range of her instrument.” She has also been interviewed and featured by BBC Music Magazine and in a PBS Documentary.
She has garnered numerous accolades, in both performance and academia, starting with her first competitive win at age 8. She was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar of the Arts through the United States Department of Education under President Obama. A recognized chamber artist in NY, she was the first pianist to ever be welcomed into the New York Festival of Song residencies, performing at Caramoor and collaborating with artists such as John Musto, Michael Barrett, Steve Blier, William Bolcom, and Bright Sheng. Leann has appeared as a guest masterclass presenter with Chamber Music Associates. As a vocal coach, she received prestigious scholarships/fellowships to study vocal coaching at Songfest@Colburn and Middlebury College.
Having been a featured archival guest lecturer at The Library of Congress, Leann is a sought after presenter for her archival research and clinics on pedagogy and DEIA advocacy. Leann’s archival research was awarded the Baisley Powell Elebash Dissertation Award and the Knickerbocker Award for Archival Research in American Studies. She has lectured on this research at prestigious universities such as Brooklyn College, The Juilliard School, and The Graduate Center CUNY as well as the Early Research Initiative Conference. She served as guest editor for the 2019 American Music Review Journal. She frequently lectures and presents masterclasses for local and national teacher associations/competitions, recently including MTNA, WSMTA, Steinway and Sons, Piano League, CMEA, CSMTA, PPMTA, SSMTA, BMTA, and was chosen to serve as the MTNA Colorado Competition chair for 2020-2022. Leann is currently a member of the Seattle Music Teachers Association, Washington State Music Teachers Association and Music Teacher's National Association and serves as the Administrative Coordinator for SMTA.
Leann collaborates with ToneBase Piano as a guest artist. She recorded a full curriculum series she created for beginner to intermediate students. Previously, Leann had recorded lessons on Mendelssohn and other intermediate works for the platform. She frequently collaborates on ToneBase Live and crash course seminars with ToneBase.
Leann is a former Faculty member at The Juilliard School, having taught for over five years in every area of the Keyboard Studies Department, including undergraduate and graduate courses in sight-reading, figured bass, score reading, and keyboard theory, in addition to multiple fellowships teaching piano literature and group piano. Finding a passion for working with students in the transition from secondary school to undergraduate, Leann served on the faculty of Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado for four years, where she served as Instrumental Director, Director of Band, Director of Orchestra, Director of Advanced Piano, Drumline Director, Musical Theater/Pit Band Director, and Mens Choirs Director. She also taught courses in history/theory, piano, guitar, and vocal coaching.
She received her BM and MM from The Juilliard School and her DMA from The Graduate Center CUNY.
In 2021, Leann founded her WA-state licensed company, RioPiano, a platform that specializes in adult music education. As owner and educator, Leann teaches beginning to advanced adult musicians internationally.
In 2024, Leann founded the Mozart & Mutts classical concert series that benefits Saving Great Animals, a 501c(3) organization aimed at rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding the right home for dogs. 100% of proceeds from the events go towards saving the lives of rescue dogs. The events provide diverse world-class Classical music in fun unexpected environments, suited for people and their dogs to enjoy together.
Leann lives in Seattle with her amazing husband, son, and three rescue dogs.
If you are here to check out Mozart & Mutts, click here!