Amy Aberg McLelland is an award-winning pianist whose playing has been described as "ravishing ....with a wonderful variety of tone colors and nuance of interpretation."
Performing in both solo and collaborative recitals, she has appeared on Public Television and Public Radio. as a soloist with symphonies and other large chamber groups. In demand as a piano accompanist, McLelland has served as an official MTNA accompanist and as accompanist for music majors and music professors at numerous institutions such as the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey College, Mississippi College, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, Alabama School of Fine Arts, choral festivals, symphony auditions, and other special events.
McLelland holds bachelor and master degrees in piano performance from Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, she graduated from Randolph School and also studied at North Carolina School of the Performing Arts. Certified in the healthy and ergonomically correct Taubman Approach to piano playing, McLelland has coached extensively with Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield in New York City. Her piano scholarships in college and graduate school involved accompanying music majors and professors as well as providing piano music for receptions and special events, playing in ensembles, jazz band, orchestras, accompanying vocal literature classes, auditions, and more. Other awards and scholarships include winner, MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition (state, and runner-up to national), winner HSO Young Artist Competition, AMTA State Winners Circle, recipient of the Louise McAllister Scholarship, the Luke A. and Mary M. Wood Scholarship, the Hindman Foundation Fellowship, and a MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grant.
As a composer, McLelland enjoys creating music in a wide range of musical styles. She has composed music for movies, musicals, piano trio, jazz ensembles, piano solo, vocal ensembles, solo voice and chamber choirs, piano and violin, woodwinds, percussion, sacred choral anthems, harpsichord, and pipe organ. Her graded-level piano method for younger students, 88 Keys to Mastering the Piano is unique in its focus on healthy, ergonomic technic and the Taubman Approach. Below are some excerpts from live performance as well a recent concert of McLelland performing her own compositions:
Chamber - Collaborative Pianist - Live Performances
Original Compositions - Live Performances
Solo Piano Performances
Cocktail Pianist - Background Music for Parties, Clubs, Events, Weddings
Performing in both solo and collaborative recitals, she has appeared on Public Television and Public Radio. as a soloist with symphonies and other large chamber groups. In demand as a piano accompanist, McLelland has served as an official MTNA accompanist and as accompanist for music majors and music professors at numerous institutions such as the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, University of Southern Mississippi, William Carey College, Mississippi College, Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, Alabama School of Fine Arts, choral festivals, symphony auditions, and other special events.
McLelland holds bachelor and master degrees in piano performance from Gordon College, Wenham, Massachusetts, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. A native of Huntsville, Alabama, she graduated from Randolph School and also studied at North Carolina School of the Performing Arts. Certified in the healthy and ergonomically correct Taubman Approach to piano playing, McLelland has coached extensively with Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield in New York City. Her piano scholarships in college and graduate school involved accompanying music majors and professors as well as providing piano music for receptions and special events, playing in ensembles, jazz band, orchestras, accompanying vocal literature classes, auditions, and more. Other awards and scholarships include winner, MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition (state, and runner-up to national), winner HSO Young Artist Competition, AMTA State Winners Circle, recipient of the Louise McAllister Scholarship, the Luke A. and Mary M. Wood Scholarship, the Hindman Foundation Fellowship, and a MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grant.
As a composer, McLelland enjoys creating music in a wide range of musical styles. She has composed music for movies, musicals, piano trio, jazz ensembles, piano solo, vocal ensembles, solo voice and chamber choirs, piano and violin, woodwinds, percussion, sacred choral anthems, harpsichord, and pipe organ. Her graded-level piano method for younger students, 88 Keys to Mastering the Piano is unique in its focus on healthy, ergonomic technic and the Taubman Approach. Below are some excerpts from live performance as well a recent concert of McLelland performing her own compositions:
Chamber - Collaborative Pianist - Live Performances
Original Compositions - Live Performances
Solo Piano Performances
Cocktail Pianist - Background Music for Parties, Clubs, Events, Weddings
Rachmaninoff Prelude in G# Minor, Op. 32, No. 12 - Pianist, Amy Aberg McLelland
Selections from Prokofiev's Visions Fugitives and Beethoven Op. 54 - pianist, Amy McLelland
Original Compositions:
"Postcards" by Amy Aberg McLelland for piano trio
1-Novaturient
2-Saudade (3'28")
3-Resfeber (6'12")
4-Yoko Meshi (8'24")
5-Fernweh (10'17")
6-Trouvaille (13'09")
7-Livnsjutare (16'07")
8-Solivigant (18'50")
9-Numinous (23'24")
10-Quaquaversal (27'07")
1-Novaturient
2-Saudade (3'28")
3-Resfeber (6'12")
4-Yoko Meshi (8'24")
5-Fernweh (10'17")
6-Trouvaille (13'09")
7-Livnsjutare (16'07")
8-Solivigant (18'50")
9-Numinous (23'24")
10-Quaquaversal (27'07")
"She Could Teach a Rock to Read" - A tribute to educators who lost their lives during the pandemic (Amy McLelland, composer/pianist):
24 Hours - original composition for piano solo and soprano - music by Amy McLelland; IV lyrics from Amanda Gorman's inaugural poem "The Hill We Climb" (pianist, A. McLelland; soprano, Emily Herring).
Reflections on covid 19 pandemic. 4 movements: I. Darkness II. Day III. Noonday IV. Night
This is a short work for piano solo in 4 mvts based upon Psalm 91, titled “24 Hours”, reflecting the 24-hour protection that God gives us as well as the speed at which everything is changing every 24 hours. Yet “there is no threat, whether seen or unseen, anticipated or unexpected, which can catch God unaware and unable to protect us.”
The Hebrew day had four equal parts, and this verse reveals that each one is under God’s protection. (Psalm 91:5-6) “Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that layeth waste at noonday.” (NIV) “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.”
I. Movement - Darkness (Midnight – 6AM)
This movement describes the “noisome pestilence that walketh in darkness.” Pestilence can be any virulent or fatal contagious disease, or anything that endangers morals and welfare of society. Some interpretations use the word “plague” which, of course, is anything that afflicts or causes troubles or calamity, which could be a contagious or deadly pandemic virus like Covid 19, locusts, or perhaps poverty, or crippling fear and worry.
II. Movement - Day (6AM – Noon)
The focus for this movement is on Psalm 91:4, inspired by the image of God’s protection as portrayed by a mother bird, who safely tucks her young under her wings where they are secure. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge... His faithfulness will be your shield and your armor." Throughout the movement, a tribute is paid in the video to a few of the many brave souls who so generously gave their lives helping their patients, students, and fellow human beings.
III. “Noonday” (Noon – 6PM)
This movement reflects on "the destruction that layeth waste at noonday” (Psalm 91:6) If the Sars Cov 2 Virus were to be personified in music perhaps it would sound something like this. With ease, this seemingly mellow yet maniacal menace oozes its way effortlessly across our planet as we witness these tiny submicroscopic particles, too small to even be seen under a normal microscope, invade and destroy our cells.
IV. Movement - “Night” (6PM – Midnight)
"Terrors of the night". Terrors can be obvious (a Tsunami, or a fierce tiger) or as subtle as a deadly virus. This pandemic has challenged us all to the point where a simple, innocent folk song, like the one many of us have sung while washing our hands heard at the beginning of the movement, into a battle song. Yet, we find comfort through the words in Psalm 91 that "We shall not be afraid of the terror by night, for He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." And, with the close of the movement, we also find comfort and strength through the words of poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman: "That even as we grieved, we grew. That even as we hurt, we hoped. That even as we tired, we tried."
God provides constant protection, twenty-four hours a day (Isa. 43:2).
Reflections on covid 19 pandemic. 4 movements: I. Darkness II. Day III. Noonday IV. Night
This is a short work for piano solo in 4 mvts based upon Psalm 91, titled “24 Hours”, reflecting the 24-hour protection that God gives us as well as the speed at which everything is changing every 24 hours. Yet “there is no threat, whether seen or unseen, anticipated or unexpected, which can catch God unaware and unable to protect us.”
The Hebrew day had four equal parts, and this verse reveals that each one is under God’s protection. (Psalm 91:5-6) “Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that layeth waste at noonday.” (NIV) “You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.”
I. Movement - Darkness (Midnight – 6AM)
This movement describes the “noisome pestilence that walketh in darkness.” Pestilence can be any virulent or fatal contagious disease, or anything that endangers morals and welfare of society. Some interpretations use the word “plague” which, of course, is anything that afflicts or causes troubles or calamity, which could be a contagious or deadly pandemic virus like Covid 19, locusts, or perhaps poverty, or crippling fear and worry.
II. Movement - Day (6AM – Noon)
The focus for this movement is on Psalm 91:4, inspired by the image of God’s protection as portrayed by a mother bird, who safely tucks her young under her wings where they are secure. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge... His faithfulness will be your shield and your armor." Throughout the movement, a tribute is paid in the video to a few of the many brave souls who so generously gave their lives helping their patients, students, and fellow human beings.
III. “Noonday” (Noon – 6PM)
This movement reflects on "the destruction that layeth waste at noonday” (Psalm 91:6) If the Sars Cov 2 Virus were to be personified in music perhaps it would sound something like this. With ease, this seemingly mellow yet maniacal menace oozes its way effortlessly across our planet as we witness these tiny submicroscopic particles, too small to even be seen under a normal microscope, invade and destroy our cells.
IV. Movement - “Night” (6PM – Midnight)
"Terrors of the night". Terrors can be obvious (a Tsunami, or a fierce tiger) or as subtle as a deadly virus. This pandemic has challenged us all to the point where a simple, innocent folk song, like the one many of us have sung while washing our hands heard at the beginning of the movement, into a battle song. Yet, we find comfort through the words in Psalm 91 that "We shall not be afraid of the terror by night, for He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways." And, with the close of the movement, we also find comfort and strength through the words of poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman: "That even as we grieved, we grew. That even as we hurt, we hoped. That even as we tired, we tried."
God provides constant protection, twenty-four hours a day (Isa. 43:2).
A Prayer for These Challenging Times (music, Amy McLelland; text, Rev. Stuart Dunnan) - An original composition for piano trio and vocal ensemble (A. McLelland, piano; D. Szasz, violin; W. Samples, cello; Emily Herring, Beth Middleton, Janet Ort, sopranos; Nick Mathes, tenor)
And, again, I say Rejoice! - Original composition for piano trio and vocal ensemble by Amy McLelland - Tribute to Andre Crouch (A. McLelland, piano; D. Szasz, violin; W. Samples, cello; Emily Herring, Beth Middleton, Janet Ort, sopranos; Nick Mathes, tenor)
2'53" - original composition for piano solo by Amy Aberg McLelland reflecting upon the death of George Floyd, social unrest, and a prayer for peace in our nation.
Blue Boy Project (composition: Blue Boy; commissioned poem "Triple Clef" by Elinor Ann Walker; composition: "Layers" by Amy McLelland) for vocal ensemble; piano trio
"Mowing"
Acronym Pieces for solo piano:
SMS (Amy McLelland, composer/pianist):
SMS (Amy McLelland, composer/pianist):
CDC (Amy McLelland, composer/pianist):
LIVE CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERTS:
Live Performance - Beethoven Piano Trio Op. 1, No. 1 (Szasz, Liu, McLelland):
Live Performance - Haydn Piano Trio in E Minor Hob. XV, No. 12 (excerpts) Masri, Liu, McLelland:
Live Performance - Rachmaninoff Concert Etude for Violin and Piano (Rafferty, McLelland):
Live Performance - Brahms G Major Violin Sonata
Cocktail Piano - Background piano for Parties, Receptions, Weddings, etc.
More live performances, compositions . . .