"Martin Katz must surely be considered the dean of collaborative pianists," said the Los Angeles Times, and Musical America was similarly convinced, creating a new award expressly for him: Accompanist of the Year. One of the world's busiest collaborators, he has been in constant demand by the world's most celebrated vocal soloists for more than thirty-five years. He is pleased to regularly partner Frederica von Stade, David Daniels, Denyce Graves, Karita Mattila, Kiri te Kanawa, Kathleen Battle, Sylvia McNair, Isabel Bayrakdarian, and Jose Correras, to name a few. Season after season, the world's musical capitals figure prominently in his schedule. Throughout his long career, he has been fortunate to collaborate with some of the world's most esteemed voices. Marilyn Horne, Renata Tebaldi, Cesare Siepi, Evelyn Lear, Katia Ricciarelli, Tatiana Troyanos, Nicolai Gedda, Regine Crespin, Grace Bumbry, Monteserrat Cavalle and many others have invited him to share the stage in recitals on five continents. Mr. Katz is a native of Los Angeles, where he began piano studies at the age of five. He studied at the University of Southern California as a scholarship student and studied the specialized field of accompanying with its pioneer teacher, Gwendolyn Koldofsky. While yet a student, he was given the unique opportunity of accompanying the masterclasses and lessons of such luminaries as Lotte Lehmann, Jascha Heifetz, Pierre Bernac, and Gregor Piatigorsky. Following his formal education, he held the position of pianist for the US Army Chorus in Washington DC for three years, before moving to New York where his busy international career began in earnest in 1969. In the last ten years, Mr. Katz also added conducting to his skills, and has been pleased to accompany his soloist on the podium for Houston, Washington DC, Tokyo, Miami, and New Haven orchestras as well as BBC in London. His ever-increasing repertoire as an opera conductor has been demonstrated at the Music Academy of the West, and the Opera Theater at the University of Michigan. Drawing on his experience with baroque and bel canto repertoire as an accompanist and coach, he has prepared editions of operas by Handel and Rossini, which have been presented by the Metropolitan Houston Grand Opera and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. Finally, the professional profile of Martin Katz is completed with his commitment to teaching. Since 1983, Ann Arbor has been his home, where he chairs the School of Music's programs in accompanying and chamber music, and where he takes an active part in operatic productions. He has been a pivotal figure in the training of countless young artists, both singers and pianists, who are working all over the world. The University has recognized this important work, making him the first Arthur Schnabel Professor of Music. Mr. Katz is also in constant demand as a guest teacher in such important venues as the Merola Program of San Francisco Opera, the Stearns Institute at Ravinia Festival, Tanglewood Music Center, and the National Opera Center in Tokyo. He has been an active participant in Songfest since its inception in 1996.