Terry Klinefelter

Dr. Terry Klinefelter is a versatile artist, at home in jazz clubs as well as the classical concert stage. She has performed at the Kimmel Center, the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Chadds Ford Winery Jazz Festival, Jazz at the Springs, Endless Mountain Music Festival, and the Arcady Festival (Bar Harbor, Maine).

Known for her lyrical style and beautiful sound, she has also performed on the Philadelphia Orchestra Chamber Music Series (three appearances) and abroad in Mexico (Escuela Superior, Monterrey) and Italy (Rome Festival). She has also collaborated with dance companies, serving as pianist with the Pennsylvania Ballet in the early nineties, and more recently with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (Mozart's "Twinkle" Variations, and Saint-Saëns' Carnival of the Animals).

Terry has given premieres of the music of composers Manny Album (viola sonata with Manny Vardi), Haskell Small, and David Bennett Thomas (Tarry Not, written for her in 2011).

Past engagements include Chester County Pops (four performances of Rhapsody in Blue in 2011) and the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra (Carnival of the Animals, 2012), where she currently serves as keyboardist. Highlights of the 2013-14 Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra season include Strauss' Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme and Jennifer Higdon's Concerto for Percussion.

Past collaborations include George Shearing (opening of Bally's Grand, Atlantic City), crossover violinist Diane Monroe, renowned early music soprano Julianne Baird (several tours of "The Songs of Jane Austen"), Ronan Tynan ("Irish Tenors"), Denis DiBlasio, Clarice Assad, and Bill Goodwin.

Dr. Klinefelter is Assistant Professor of Piano and Jazz Studies at West Chester University, where she enjoys helping pianists reach their highest artistic potential. She is in high demand as an adjudicator for area competitions, masterclasses, and festivals. Her own students, both collegiate and private, are a diverse group who have performed in all kinds of settings, including recitals, concerto competitions and masterclasses with Ann Schein and Fred Hersch. Past students have gone on to careers as respected music educators, church musicians, accompanists, and even touring musicians performing worldwide with Rihanna.

As a recording artist, Terry has performed as a sideman, and also on her own debut trio CD, Simple Gifts (described by the Philadelphia Inquirer as "on the cosmic cusp where Mozart might meet Mingus"). Her 2013 release, Zingaro, features original jazz compositions and standards, as well as several new songs based on the works of renowned poet Dana Gioia. It reached #30 on the national jazz radio charts, and was featured on Radio WRTI's "Hot 11" Countdown for several months.

An alumna of West Chester University, Terry was fortunate to work with Benjamin Whitten, completing her undergraduate degree in three years summa cum laude. She holds degrees from Temple University and Catholic University of America, and is a certified yoga instructor, a discipline that informs both her teaching and performing. She has also done work in the Taubman method with Robert Durso of the Golandsky Institute.

Dr. Klinefelter is a Steinway Artist. Show less