Gillian Berkowitz

Biography

An in demand New York pianist and music director, Gillian Berkowitz has performed piano, keyboard, accordion, and vocals in over 50 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. Currently performing in Hamilton and Some Like It Hot.

She has partnered with Krug Champagne creating music for Krug Echo tastings in New York. Working with Kevin Duda Productions , Gillian collaborated with the team creating a new show for the high seas of Regent Cruise Lines. Stay tuned! Recently she was featured in the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra's Duo Pianist Gala as both performer and arranger.

Gillian was the Pianist in The Lehman Trilogy(Director Sam Mendes) at the Nederlander Theatre, as well as onstage pump organist in the acclaimed Broadway play To Kill A Mockingbird (adapted by Aaron Sorkin,directed by Barlett Sher).Past engagements include Music Director for Everyone Comes To Elaine's workshop (Jeff Calhoun director). She also served as Associate Conductor of Avenue Q. Previous credits include Pianist for the British productions of The Lehman Trilogy: both at the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End and for the US Premiere at The Park Avenue Armory. (www.armoryonpark.org)

Some favorite past shows have included Billy Elliot, Wicked, Head Over Heels, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying(Daniel Radcliffe), Summer, Rocky, A Bronx Tale, Mamma Mia!, School Of Rock, and Jersey Boys.

Gillian has music directed dozens of new works throughout her career and has been on the creative team at the O’Neil Theatre Conference, NYMF, NAMT, Playwrights Horizons, Human Race Theatre, and Goodspeed. She is a regular contributing music director at 92nd Street Y, NYU’s Musical Theatre Composition program, TACT, and Lincoln Center's Songbook Series, and has served on faculty for Italy's Music Academy International: Trentino Music Festival Per Mezzano Romantica.

She has been featured as both a soloist and collaborator playing jazz, pop, classical, contemporary, and theatre music in venues across New York City including The Rainbow Room, 54 Below, Jazz At Lincoln Center, Green Room 42, Park Avenue Armory, Town Hall, The Harvard Club, Birdland, Merkin Hall, City Winery, Le Poisson Rouge, and both the Consulate General of Hungary and the Australian Consulate.

Her two trios: City Swing Trio and The Whitetail Trio perform for corporate and private events across New York and New England. She has also performs with the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra. Gillian has conducted When You’re In Love, the Whole World is Jewish in collaboration with Jason Alexander and music directed productions of Vanishing Point: A New Musical www.vanishingpointthemusical.com/Home.html She composes and performs with The Sheba Ensemble, promoting Jewish music with a unique contemporary twist (www.theshebaensemble.com) and is a pianist for Scarlett Entertainment and Honeydew Artists. Gillian is also an adjunct faculty member at Pace University.
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She holds a double Bachelors of Music in Performance and Music Education from Ithaca College, and a Master of Music degree in Jazz and Commercial Music and Composition from NYU.