Marie Alatalo has appeared in concerts throughout the United States and Japan. She has captured attention with a repertoire embracing both classical and contemporary literature. Ms. Alatalo has performed as guest artist at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, playing George Crumb’s “Five Pieces for Piano.” As a long-time faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago, she presented a program of Bolcom, Bernstein and Crumb as part of the Music Institute’s “From Sea to Shining Sea” series of concerts celebrating the work of American composers. She performed “Five Pieces for Piano” and “Eleven Echoes of Autumn” in the Institute’s “George Crumb Project.” As Artist in Residence she appeared on numerous occasions at the prestigious Cliff Dwellers Club of Chicago. She has been soloist with the Eastman Wind Ensemble, performing Michael Torke’s “Rust” and has played the Liszt “Totentanz” with various orchestras. Ms. Alatalo collaborates frequently in duo and chamber music recitals. She performs as part of a two-piano team with pianist Susan Osborn and is pianist for the L’aquarelle Piano Quartet. She performed with “OperaFaves,” an ensemble of singers from the Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus that presented semi-staged operatic scenes. She has been the pianist for the Eastman School of Music Musica Nova Ensemble, and the Eastman Wind Ensemble, with whom she can be heard on the Sony release “Live in Osaka.” Marie Alatalo has extended her performing career beyond the concert hall and diversified her playing into a unique style of crossover, performing in art galleries and theaters. At the Cliff Dwellers gallery, she presented a program of compositions by 20th century women composers in collaboration with a well-known Chicago artist. In the theater, she designed and performed music for the AKA Rachel Production of the female monologue comedy revue, “The Bridesmaids.” Ms. Alatalo has received numerous awards and competition prizes, including Two Community Arts Assistance Program Grants (Chicago), and fellowships to the Eastman School of Music and the Chautauqua Institution. She is listed in “Two Thousand Notable American Women”, and in the “World’s Who’s Who of Women.” Her professional development activities include attending the Teachers Program of the Van Cliburn Institute, held in conjunction with Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas, and receiving a Certificate of Completion from the Twentieth Annual Symposium of Medical Problems of Musicians and Dancers in Aspen, Colorado, sponsored by the Performing Arts Medicine Association. In addition to performing, Ms. Alatalo has produced concerts in Chicago and the surrounding areas. She co-founded and held the position of Artistic Director of the performing arts series Batavia Classics, which presented and promoted both established and emerging artists. As an educator, Ms. Alatalo lectures, writes, and teaches. She was the Music Lecturer on board the “River Countess,” a riverboat that sailed from Budapest to Amsterdam. Her article “Summer Projects for Students” is published by “Clavier” magazine. Ms. Alatalo frequently adjudicates piano competitions and festivals. She teaches at her studio in Evanston and is a former faculty member of the Music Institute of Chicago and the Interlochen Arts Camp. Ms. Alatalo holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Rebecca Penneys.