Stephen
Chicago native Stephen Uhl completed his Artist Diploma in Piano Performance in the Spring of 2017 at Chicago College of the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where he studied with Adam Neiman. Prior to earning his Artist Diploma, he received his M.M. from the Chicago College of the Performing Arts, studying under Kuang-Hao Huang. His playing has received critical acclaim from The Reporter as well as John von Rhein of the Chicago Tribune. In the Spring of 2017, he formed the Ostrega Uhl Project with violinist Brian Ostrega. The duo performs a wide range of repertoire, provides a platform for other young musicians, and strives to both educate and entertain their audiences. In Feburary of 2020, the duo released their first album, “50/50.” They are anticipating their second commercial release in the near future.
Before moving back to Chicago, Stephen earned his undergraduate degree at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he studied piano with Du Huang and collaborative piano with Jessica Paul. Stephen has appeared in masterclasses with Emanuel Ax, Christopher Taylor, Martin Katz, and Christopher Harding. Composers whose work Stephen has premiered and championed include Jake Runestad, the late Stephen Paulus, Jonathan Hannau, Heidi Joosten, Daniel Kallman, and Kurt Heinecke. Stephen frequently enjoys collaborating with singers, instrumentalists, and composers as well as performing a wide variety of improvised music. As pianist, organist, and chorister, Stephen has been heard on WFMT on multiple occasions. His improvisational journeys have taken him to places as diverse as the Curitiba Opera House, Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, in addition to multiple Chicago jazz venues. He has had the privilege of collaborating with improvisers including Mark Colby, Pharez Whitted, and Ben Dillinger.
Stephen is the Collaborative Artist at Elmhurst University. He enjoys working with Sarah Catt and Emma Castaldi in conjunction with the many choirs at Elmhurst.
An avid scholar of liturgical music, Stephen is the Organist at Baker United Methodist Church in St. Charles, where he collaborates with Jeff Hunt. As a complement to his interest in music for the church, Stephen was selected to participate in the WFMT Bach Organ Works Project, where he performed several of the composer’s works at Alice Millar Chapel. In September of 2018, Stephen played, and was on the discussion panel at the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Midwest Regional Conference.
Stephen is the Collaborative Keyboard Artist for the Music Department at Glenbard East High School in Lombard, Illinois as the Collaborative Keyboard Artist. He enjoys working with the three curricular choirs, two chamber choirs, and vocal jazz ensemble. Additionally, he coaches vocalists and instrumentalists, and is always happy to assist with any music theory homework. Stephen coordinates the instrumentalists who join the choirs for their performances. When not practicing, rehearsing, or performing, Stephen enjoys cooking, lifting weights, strong coffee, reading, and reflecting. He strives to embody God’s redeeming purpose for this world.
