NATALIE TENENBAUM (@NatalieTenenbaum) is a critically acclaimed composer, pianist, music producer/director and singer-songwriter. Graduate of the Juilliard School, Natalie has appeared as soloist and with orchestras in Israel, Europe, Asia, and the US, performing in venues such as the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Korea's National Theater, Jerusalem Music Center, Berlin's Konzerthaus, Madison Square Garden and Apollo theater; Natalie has premiered her original compositions at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University, Merkin Hall, The National Arts Gallery (NY), and Juilliard's Paul Hall.
Based in New York, Tenenbaum focuses on creating acoustic and electro-acoustic concert music for a wide scope of ensembles, soloists, and organizations as well as collaborating across artistic disciplines. Tenenbaum has created arrangements and orchestrations that have been performed by major orchestras across the US, Israel, and Asia. In 2022, Natalie created original arrangements and orchestrations for Lang Lang's most recent album release with the London Royal Philharmonic (Universal Media Group/Deustche Grammophon/Disney) and created an original arrangement for Lang Lang & The Pentatonix.
On Broadway, Natalie has created arrangements for Tina Fey's musical, MEAN GIRLS. She has also worked with David Byrne on AMERICAN UTOPIA.
An active musician in the new music scene, Tenenbaum has performed as a soloist and collaborator with various musicians and ensembles; her performance of Jason Eckhardt’s piano concerto, Trespass, was reviewed by Allan Kozinn of the New York Times as "sparkling... consistently invigorating". Her piece, Four, was commissioned by AUDITIVOKKAL DRESDEN and was performed on tour in Germany and the US in 2015. Tenenbaum's score for the staged adaptation of BENJAMIN BUTTON (in collaboration with librettist and lyricist Brett Boles) has been performed in 2013 as part of the Fundamental Theater Project and was subsequently optioned by the York Theater Company in New York for a full production, in the 2017-2018 season. The show has also been workshopped in London in 2019 at the Southwark Playhouse.
In October 2015, Tenenbaum created and performed the original score for John Guare's new play, MORE STARS THAN THERE ARE IN HEAVEN, at the Tennessee Williams festival in Provincetown, MA. Natalie has co-written the score for theatrical pieces BENJAMIN BUTTON (York Theater in NYC, "From Page To Stage" Festival- London, 2018), JULIET & JULIET (York Theater, NY), LITTLE BLACK DRESS (US & Canada Tour, 2018-2020.
Tenenbaum has premiered her own compositions and real-time composition/improvisations in concert at Le Poisson Rouge, Salmagundi Art Club, Weill Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, Harvard University and The Harvard Club, Merkin Hall, The National Arts Gallery (New York), Tel Aviv Museum Of Art, Galapagos Art Space, Spectrum, Madison Square Garden, The Blue Note, Thelonious Monk Jazz Club (Seoul, Korea), Apollo Theater (New York), Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center and Rose Hall/Jazz At Lincoln Center, Something Jazz Club, Riva Del Garda Music Festival Main Stage (Italy), The Palais De l'Europe (Menton, France), Utica University, Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory, Princeton, Long Island University.
She premiered her piece for two pianos, Ra'ash in New York with fellow pianist and composer Julian Pollack, and will perform it at the Mendocino Music Festival in July 2014. Other works have received premieres by JP Jofre, cellist Wendy Law, clarinetist Vasko Dukovsky. In 2014 and 2016, Tenenbaum has been commissioned by Park Avenue Synagogue in New York to create new music for liturgical texts, featured on record and performed live at the congregation every Friday night. In March 2016, her original score to the children's book, THE LION WHO LOVED STRAWBERRY, premiered in New York by MusicTalks ensemble. Natalie has also created recorded arrangements and original music for the Steinway Spirio R piano catalogue. Tenenbaum has also created music internationally licensed for use by Walmart.
Natalie Tenenbaum’s musical journey began at age 6, when she started playing piano and percussion. At 13, her studies broadened into composition and music theory with Dr. Alexander Cornhandler. After additional musical training, Tenenbaum moved to New York to further her study of composition, ear training, theory and piano, receiving a scholarship to The Juilliard School. In 2011, she continued her education pursuing a master’s degree in music composition at the Conservatory of Brooklyn College (CUNY) under distinguished Professor Tania León. A recipient of scholarships from the America-¬Israel Cultural Foundation and the Ronén Foundation, Tenenbaum has also received the Harrington Award (BMI, 2012) and the Jean Banks Award (BMI, 2013). In 2013, she was awarded membership to the BMI Lehman¬-Engle Advanced Workshop. Her catalogue of works is represented through ASCAP.
Other collaborations include a piano duo Eitan Kenner (upcoming album, Duets/Solos to be released August 2023 on La Reserve Records), a duo with Julian "J3PO" Pollack, music direction for Titus Burgess, Lea Michele, The 8-Bit Big Band, Tori Kelly (2020 Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center) & more. Natalie is a Nord Artist and a Yamaha Artist. She has been featured in NBC's MAYA & MARTY as associate Music Director, performing with Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Emma Stone, Kenan Thompson, Nick Jonas and more.
