Magnus Villanueva (piano)

Chicago native Magnus Villanueva, began piano lessons at age 5. He studied at the Music Institute of Chicago with the late Emilio del Rosario and Ralph Neiweem. In 2010, he moved to Baltimore to further his studies with Marian Hahn at the Peabody Conservatory where he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. Magnus has performed all over North America, Europe, and Asia from notable concert halls and radio stations to hospitals and nursing homes. His many festival appearances include the Cortona Sessions, Atlantic Music Festival, Orford Music Festival, Art of the Piano, Gijón International Piano Festival in Spain, Pitten International Festival in Austria, and Festival Pablo Casals de Prades in France.

Passionate about chamber music and collaboration, Magnus has worked with with artists including Peter Frankl, Robert McDonald, Michael Kannen, Seth Knopp and members of the Guarneri, Spektral, JACK, and Brentano quartets, International Contemporary Ensemble, and Alarm Will Sound.

In addition to a solo piano career, Magnus has worked in audio production, recording, improvisation, and new music. An enthusiastic pedagogue, he has been on the faculty of both the Gasse School of Music and Chicago Music Lessons. In addition to teaching, he is a dedicated ballet pianist: he currently plays for New York City’s Ballet Arts and previously held the position of company accompanist at the Hyde Park School of Dance.