Martin Katz (pianist)

Martin Katz (born November 27, 1944) is an American pianist, educator and conductor, primarily known for his work as an accompanist.

Katz was trained as a collaborative pianist by Gwendolyn Koldofsky at the Thornton School of Music, part of the University of Southern California; where he was a member of the USC's music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is also an alumnus of the Music Academy of the West. From 1966 to 1969, he served in the U.S. Army as a member of the United States Army Band (Pershing's Own) in Washington, DC and as a piano soloist and accompanist with the United States Army Chorus. When he returned to civilian life, he embarked upon a thirty year career that saw him collaborating with many of the most acclaimed classical singers of the day, including Marilyn Horne, Cecilia Bartoli, Kathleen Battle, Kiri Te Kanawa, Sylvia McNair, Frederica von Stade, Karita Mattila, David Daniels, José Carreras, Samuel Ramey, and Piotr Beczała. He also worked as a conductor, and prepared editions of baroque and bel canto operas that were performed at the Metropolitan Opera, the Houston Grand Opera and Opera Lyra Ottawa.

Musical America's "Accompanist of the Year" in 1998, Katz currently teaches collaborative piano at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. He is the author of the book, The Complete Collaborator: The Pianist as Partner.

Select discography

 * Frederica von Stade: Song Recital, Columbia, 1978
 * Frederica von Stade: Shéhérazade, Columbia, 1981
 * Frederica von Stade Live!, Columbia, 1982
 * Marilyn Horne: Divas in Song, RCA Victor Red Seal, 1994
 * Frederica von Stade: Voyage à Paris , RCA Victor Red Seal, 1995