Related Links: About MVNU | MVNU Lecture Artist Series

Deanna Witkowski is a pianist, composer, and vocalist. Her ability to work with ease between multiple languages and cultures distinguishes her as an artist in jazz performance. Praised for her compelling piano playing and her imagination, she was the winner of the "Great American Jazz Piano Competition" in 2002 and has appeared on Marian Portland's "Piano Jazz."

Witkowski has released four recordings including "Having to Ask" (2000), "Wide Open Window" (2003), and "Length of Days" (2005). Each showcases a fusion of jazz, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban music. Her latest, "From This Place" (2009), demonstrated a marriage between ancient and modern sacred texts and jazz music. Featuring musicians John Patitucci and Donny McCaslin, this work showcased a variety of genres, gaining Witkowski a whole new fan base.

Witkowski daringly explores the realms of many different cultures in music, from Brazilian music to jazz, sacred, and classical music and holds an M.A. in jazz piano performance from the City College of New York and a B.M. in classical piano performance from Wheaton College.

For more information about this or other Lecture/Artist events, visit www.mvnu.edu/lectureartist or call (740) 397-9000, ext. 4130.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students and working adults. U.S. News & World Report ranks MVNU in the top 50 Regional Colleges (Midwest) for the eighth year in a row. With a 400-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, and several convenient Graduate and Professional Studies locations throughout the state, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education to more than 2,600 students from 26 states and seven countries and U.S. territories.