Praised by Gramophone magazine (UK) for his “keyboard brilliance,” pianist Ian Gindes is an award-winning recording artist, producer, performer, and American service member whose music is complemented by his service to his country as a member of the Army National Guard.As a recording artist, Gindes’ music has captivated listeners both nationally and internationally. His recordings have received much radio and streaming airplay, including but not limited to SiriusXM Radio Symphony Hall, American Veterans’ Radio, WFMT (Chicago), and Jed Distler’s Between The Keys on WWFM (New Jersey). His 2023 recording, Rachmaninoff, presented a curated selection of the composer’s solo piano works and received acclaim from The WholeNote (Canada). His 2016 recording, American Visions, celebrated the American musical tradition with music from Copland, Gershwin, and contemporary composers. It received acclaim from Gramophone magazine (UK), The WholeNote (Canada), New York Concert Review, and Fanfare.
His current project, Letters From The Front, is a collaboration with composer Patrick Zimmerli and librettist Mirabelle Ordinaire of the Metropolitan Opera of New York. As executive producer and pianist, he commissioned this new work for four voices and piano, which will be recorded in January 2026. The work honors veterans, military families, and 250 years of American history by bringing to life the words of service members and their loved ones from The American Revolution to the Gulf War through song. This project empowers Ian to bring his experience of service to both country and community to his artistry. Gindes has been a member of the Illinois Army National Guard for more than 20 years, and currently holds the rank of Major. His service includes having been part of the leadership of the HHD 65th Troop Command. In this capacity, he managed personnel during the emergencies of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest in Chicago, ensuring that local first responders had the resources they needed to serve the public. His service has also included assisting the leadership of the Illinois Army National Guard Band. Gindes’ background has been highlighted both by CBS 2 Chicago’s segment “Chicago’s Hidden Gems,” as well as on many other media outlets.
As a performing artist, Mr. Gindes has toured around the United States giving solo recitals, including at Carnegie Hall in New York and in the greater St. Louis area. He was a featured artist with the St. Louis Philharmonic and the Belleville Philharmonic, received an invitation to perform at the 2014 Bradshaw and Buono Festival of Music, and was awarded first prize in the 2011 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition. He has performed live on WFMT in Chicago and has been continuing to build up a presence on YouTube.
Gindes’ inspiration for pursuing a career in music was his father, who had studied piano in his youth with Ania Dorfmann and Mishel Piastro. Ian’s teachers included two protégées of Rosina Lhévinne, Bonnie Farrer and Errol Haun. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Illinois in 2011 under Professor Ian Hobson. He and his wife reside in Chicago.
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