Profiles

Arthur Topilow: Doctor by Day, Pianist by Passion


Art Topilow, Doctor and AirTurn PianistArthur Topilow, M.D., is the living definition of a true polymath and renaissance man. Director of Hematology/Medical Oncology at the Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in Neptune, New Jersey by day, Arthur is also an ardent jazz pianist at night, having worked with such such notables as Ken Peplowski, Ed Polcer, Randy Sanke, and James Chirillo, and Dick Hyman, with whom he frequently performs in duo piano concerts. Arthur is pictured here at a recent recital at Steinway Hall in New York City, using his new AirTurn page turning system and a Lenovo Tablet PC to read his music digitally.

Arthur has participated in the 92nd Street Y’s jazz piano Master Class in 1998, 1999 and again in 2001 as part of the “Jazz in July” series with Dick Hyman and Derek Smith. In July of 2003, he performed at the 92nd Street Y in their regular “Jazz In July” concert series.

Arthur has appeared on many occasions with his clarinetist/conductor brother, Carl, at events in New Jersey, Ohio, and Colorado, including several times with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra (CPO) under the baton of brother Carl Topilow. His first CD, "Come In From The Cold," was recorded with his brother in December 2001 in Cleveland. A second CD, “A View From The Top,” was recorded with Carl and a group of musicians from the CPO. Arthur and Carl’s third CD, recorded in 2006, is called “Music Of America.” In 2004, the brothers performed in Como and Florence, Italy while on a concert tour. In 2007 the brothers performed in L’Aquilea and Castle Franco in the Rome area. In March 2008 Arthur played for Bernadette Peters in a concert in Cleveland and also for Steve Lippia, who sang the Sinatra Songbook. Arthur played for Joe Piscopo in June 2008 who also sang the Sinatra Songbook. In 2009 Art has performed a number of concerts at the JCC. In October he performed with Dick Hyman and the Deal, New Jersey JCC. In November he did a concert in Sandusky, Ohio with brother Carl Topilow. In December he played for the Sinatra bash at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey and on New Year’s Eve he played with the Cleveland Pops. Arthur is presently working on a fourth CD that will feature his piano playing. He is often seen in local Jersey Shore clubs and events with bassist Gary Mazzaroppi and guitarist Vinnie Correo.

Back to the medical and polymath side of this amazing man: Dr. Topilow is a Fellow of the American College Of Physicians. A Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey, he is a member of the American Society of Hematology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In private practice with Atlantic Hematology Oncology, he also directs a clinical research section at JSUMC and a summer research program for college students. He has written and co-authored more than thirty medical articles and abstracts. In addition to racing his sailboat and cruising in Europe and the East Coast of North America, he has published numerous articles on sailing, radar navigation, frog hunting, and jungle exploration.

Here's what Arthur has to say about his AirTurn experience:

I enjoyed working with AirTurn. While there is a definite learning curve, I was able to use it in a concert within two weeks of its arrival at my home. By my third concert, I was quite confident and had no problems with at least fifty page turns, setting up playlists, and managing page repeats. I would strongly recommend AirTurn. I have no plans to go back to playing from paper music at future concerts. At a recent recital the AirTurn got more attention than my pieces! I had to demonstrate it to everyone after the performance!

Arthur Topilow explains his AirTurn system to onlookers

Arthur Topilow explains and demonstrates his AirTurn music reading and page turning system to onlookers at his Steinway Hall recital.

300_IMG_3980_2

Last updated (Thursday, 28 January 2010 10:51)

 

Featured AirTurn Artist: Frederick Moyer, Master Pianist and Techie


Pianist Frederick MoyerDuring more than 25 years as a full-time concert pianist, Frederick Moyer has established a vital musical career that has taken him to forty-one countries and to such distant venues as Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Sydney Opera House, Windsor Castle, Carnegie Recital Hall, Tanglewood, and the Kennedy Center. He has appeared as piano soloist with world renowned orchestras including the Cleveland, Philadelphia and Minnesota Orchestras, the St. Louis, Dallas, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Houston, Boston, Singapore, Netherlands Radio, Latvian, Iceland and London Symphony Orchestras, the Buffalo, Hong Kong and Japan Philharmonic Symphony Orchestras, the National Symphony Orchestra of Brazil, and the major orchestras of Australia.

His wide-ranging interests have led him to undertake many unique and ground-breaking projects. In addition to his 22 recordings on the Biddulph, GM and JRI labels, he was the first to make a commercial recording using the Bosendorfer 290 SE Recording Piano. He has written many software programs to aid with practicing, analyzing, recording and performing music. Currently he is working on a recording of piano concerti where the orchestra is created with a computer using "sampling" techniques. He is a member of the Jazz Arts Trio, (piano, bass and drums) which plays note-for-note transcriptions of improvisations by the great jazz piano trios of Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Erroll Garner and others.

Here's what Frederick has to say about his new AirTurn page turner:

"I have been delighted with the AirTurn. It is simple and problem-free. It took me about 10 minutes to incorporate it into my own software that I use for practicing and performing. I have always wanted a wireless foot pedal. Thank you for providing it!"
 

Ray Chen, Violinist and Winner of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition


Ray Chen, Violinist (photo credit: Andrew Chiciak)

"In preparing the commissioned piece for the Queen Elisabeth competition ("V..." for violin and piano (2008) by Claude Ledoux ), MusicReader and AirTurn were great tools, enabling me to read from the full score, and helping me to stay aware of everything that was happening around me musically."

Violinist Ray Chen is storming the international stage with a dazzling succession of competition wins, including First Prize of the 2009 Queen Elisabeth Competition, as well as winning the 2008-09 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and the 2008 International Yehudi Menuhin Violin Competition in Cardiff, CA.

Ray Chen began violin studies at the age of four in Australia and made his solo orchestral debut with the Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of eight.  In 2004, he was accepted to The Curtis Institute of Music, where he works with Aaron Rosand.  He has also studied with David Cerone, Pamela Frank, and Joseph Silverstein, as well as with Antje Weithaas at the 2005 Beethoven Festival in Bonn.  Ray Chen is playing a 1721 Antonio Stradivarius violin known as "The Macmillan," which is on loan to him through Young Concert Artists.


Last updated (Sunday, 07 June 2009 08:13)