people

Biography

Widely acclaimed for his artistic versatility and sensitivity, encyclopedic repertoire, and superlative

technique, American pianist Adam Neiman has cultivated a unique interdisciplinary career spanning

the fields of music performance, composition, recording production, arts leadership, education, and

kinesiology.

Neiman’s professional trajectory commenced at an early age with numerous local, regional, national,

and international competition victories under the tutelage of Trula Whelan, Hans Boepple, Dame

Fanny Waterman, DBE, and Julian White. During his formative years, Neiman established himself as

a concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, gaining industry recognition of his talents

through prestigious awards such as the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Gilmore Young Artist Award, and

a Grammy Award nomination. At age 17, Neiman entered The Juilliard School – studying with

Herbert Stessin, Jacob Lateiner, and György Sandor – where he twice won the school’s Gina

Bachauer Piano Competition and was awarded the Artur Rubinstein Award upon his graduation with

a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance.

Neiman won the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and was subsequently signed by

major commercial management firms and record labels. He made debuts with many important

ensembles – including the symphony orchestras of Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston,

Indianapolis, Minnesota, Saint Louis, San Francisco, and the National Symphony Orchestra of

Washington D.C – working under the batons of such renowned conductors as Jiri Belohlavek,

Giancarlo Guerrero, Carlos Kalmer, Yoël Levi, Andrew Litton, Peter Oundjian, Leonard Slatkin,

Osmo Vänska, and Emmanuel Villaume. Neiman performed solo recitals throughout North America,

Europe, and Asia, meanwhile accruing an extensive discography on high-profile labels such as

Naxos, VAI, Sono Luminus, and Onyx.

Original composition is intrinsic to Neiman’s creative identity, and he frequently programs his own

solo piano works alongside those of other composers. Neiman’s compositions for piano, chamber

ensembles, and orchestra have been performed by prominent artists and ensembles in Belgium,

Germany, Mexico, and the United States, and he also composed original music featured in a

documentary film by Emmy Award-winning producer, Helen Whitney.

Neiman is the founder and CEO of Aeolian Classics, LLC; and in 2016, he established the annual

Aeolian Classics Emerging Artist Competition in partnership with Roosevelt University, which

promotes the careers of talented young artists through an internationally distributed debut album on

Aeolian Classics. In addition to its mission of promoting the next generation of exceptional talent,

Aeolian Classics distributes recordings by established artists, and Neiman himself has released

several albums featuring works by Liszt, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Brahms.

From 2017–2023, Neiman served as Artistic Director of the Manchester Music Festival, where he

curated innovative and diverse concert programming headlined by renowned performers and top-tier

conservatory students for its mainstage concert series and young artist chamber music program.

Neiman’s tenure was distinguished by successful fundraising that substantially augmented the

festival’s endowment and facilitated the expansion of its digital footprint through the creation of the

Manchester Music Festival Digital Concert Hall streaming platform.

A sought-after educator, Neiman has attained the rank of tenured Professor of Piano at Roosevelt

University, where he concurrently serves as department chair of the Music Conservatory. Neiman has

a consistent track record of matriculating students who ultimately earn doctoral degrees and initiate

successful careers as competition winners, concert performers, pedagogues, and scholars.

Neiman’s own scholarship has undergone a unique evolution by bridging the interrelated fields of

music and athletic training. Neiman earned a Master of Science degree in Applied Exercise Science

at Concordia University Chicago upon completion of his master’s thesis entitled “Efficacy of

Resistance Training in Reducing Injury Risk and Managing Performance-Related Musculoskeletal

Disorders (PRMDs) in Instrumental Musicians: A Narrative Review.” He was subsequently certified

by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as a Certified Strength and Conditioning

Specialist®, and he works privately with high-profile musicians as a personal strength and

conditioning coach well-attuned to the particular considerations of musicians. With the intention of

engaging in future clinical research, Neiman is currently pursuing a PhD in Kinesiology at Concordia

University Saint Paul, with a specialization in Exercise Physiology.