The #1 Recommended Chicago Pianist

What do Nordstrom's, Oprah, and The American Medical Association have in common? They all have had versatile full-time professional pianist RICHARD SLADEK perform at their events! Available for corporate/private events & weddings since 1984. Portable piano, flute, strings, jazz trio also available... Former lead pianist of Nordstrom's/Von Maur from 1991-2000!... Also regularly performed at the Oak Brook Hills Hotel for 14 years. ABOUT THE ARTIST: A Chicago native, Mr. Sladek began playing piano at age seven with inspiration from his parents, later studying with John Calderone and Lydia Smutny Sterba. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University under the tutelage of Saul Dorfman and Felix Ganz. Other teachers have included concert pianists Dmitri Paperno ( DePaul University), Robert Vanderschaaf, Donald Walker ( Northern Illinois University ), Pawel Chechinski, and Joseph Cisar. He has also participated in master classes with University of Michigan piano professor Theodore Lettvin, and has studied jazz piano with Skip Green. His private theory and composition studies were with Ralph Dodds and the renowned composer William Russo. Mr. Sladek has been the recipient of several awards including those from the Chicago Musical Arts Club and the Grace Welsh National Piano Competition.

Professionally, he has served as staff accompanist for Columbia College and the Second City National Touring Company. He has also accompanied for ballet companies such as the Salt Creek Ballet, and The Academy of Movement and Music, as well as played for ballet master classes with the renowned Maria Tallchief, Violette Verde and Ken Von Heidecke.

He was a featured artist at the Oak Brook Nordstrom and at Von Maur at Yorktown Center, Lombard. In 1994 Von Maur commissioned him to record "Christmas Favorites" (now available online at cdbabydotcom) to celebrate the first holiday season of the company in the Chicago area. It has also been featured on Wisconsin Public Radio.



Mr. Sladek has received a New York Film Festivals award for Outstanding Achievement for his Original Music for Video with the nationally acclaimed education theater troupe, Wavelength. As musical director/composer for 16 years, he performed for over 100,000 educators in North America and the Netherlands. He has played in numerous musical theater productions, most notably for the Shubert, Marriott Lincolnshire, Theater at the Center, Apple Tree and Circle Theaters, and the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse.

He has also recorded two other CDs, "Piano Celebration" and "Ragtime Classics". Listen to more demos at chicagopianistdotcom.

• CLASSICAL COMPOSERS: - Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, Rachmaninoff
• JAZZ STANDARDS: - Gershwin, Ellington, Basie, Porter, Arlen, Berlin, Jobim, Waller, Joplin
• POPULAR SINGERS: - The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Elton John, Billy Joel, Jimmy Buffett
• MUSICALS/MOVIE THEMES: - Rodgers & Hart, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, Frank Loesser, Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Marvin Hamlisch, John Williams
• DISNEY FILM MUSIC
• NEW AGE COMPOSERS: - Yianni, John Tesh, Enya, Mannheim Steamroller, David Benoit, David Lanz

Anniversaries, Awards Nights, Baby Showers, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Celebrations, Christenings, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Events, Family Reunions, Fund Raisers, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Hotels, New Year's Eve Parties, Private Parties, Restaurants, Reunions, Studio Session, Weddings, Wedding Ceremonies, Wedding Cocktail Hours, Wedding Receptions...and more.

• Richard Sladek was amazing. He was professional and accommodating from the first conversation to the last. He followed up on all conversations, returned all calls and emails promptly and was happy to discuss every detail of the event. Not to mention, my guests absolutely loved him and his music selection and style. I would highly recommend Richard to anyone who needs a pianist. -- Leslie D, Northbrook, IL, 8/20/2011
• A very versatile and talented artist. Good follow-up. My guests loved him. -- Fred N, Saint Charles, IL, 9/8/2007
• Richard contributed to an overall atmosphere that many said was the best wedding shower they have ever been to. He played all the songs that we requested beforehand and even played requests during the event. I found people sitting back and just listening to the music during dinner. It even brought a few people to tears (in a good way). I was impressed with his musical skills and after listening to several pianists play, there was no doubt that Richard would play for our event. His professionalism and talent were second to none. I will not hesitate to refer Richard to anyone wanting a great musical experience for their event. -- Ron B, Lemont, IL, 7/29/2007
• Richard did a fantastic job! Much to my surprise many of my guests requested classical music specific to their country (for example, the lawyer from Spain asked for some classical music written by Spanish composers). Richard was not only able to play nearly all of their requests, but seemed to have the music with him for just about everything. His playing was consistently good. He was completely at ease with the guests and all in all was a terrific asset to the party. -- Joseph M, Wilmette, IL, 4/27/2007
• Great performance, very pleasant gentlemen. So glad we found him!!! -- Sylvia K, Olympia Fields, IL, 12/14/2011
• he was great -- Kirk B, Chicago, IL, 12/15/2011

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