Magnus Villanueva
Chicago native Magnus Villanueva has performed all over North America, Europe, and Asia from notable concert halls and radio stations to hospitals and nursing homes. His recent festival appearances include solo and chamber music performances at the Cortona Sessions, Atlantic Music Festival, Orford Music Festival, Gijón International Piano Festival, and Festival Pablo Casals de Prades. Passionate about chamber music and collaboration, he has worked with members of the Guarneri, Spektral, JACK, and Brentano quartets, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Alarm Will Sound. Magnus earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Peabody Conservatory under the tutelage of Marian Hahn. Previously, he studied with Emilio del Rosario and Ralph Neiweem at the Music Institute of Chicago. An enthusiastic pedagogue, he currently serves on the faculty of Great Neck Music Conservatory on Long Island, New York and has previously been on the faculty of the Gasse School of Music and Chicago Music Lessons. In addition to teaching, he is a dedicated ballet pianist and has worked for New York City’s Ballet Arts and Chicago’s Hyde Park School of Dance.
“The study of music is not simply about being able to read notes or produce a beautiful sound on an instrument. As my mentors have taught me, studying music is a way to engage with the natural world and humanity. Playing our instruments lets us communicate in a universal language and allows us a range of expression that is unmatched by another art form. Learning music is a life-long process, and the ability to share music is something to cherish. It is my pleasure to teach piano lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. Each student comes with their own strengths and it is my mission to guide them towards achieving whatever their musical goals may be.”