Jonathan Hannau is a Chicago-based composer and pianist devoted to the surreal, minimal, abstract, and colorful possibilities of music. He actively embraces eclecticism and explores concepts of narrative, drama, and stark expression by evoking a kaleidoscopic range of timbres.
As a pianist he has been praised for his delicate, refined touch, his capable handling of the extremes of dynamic shape, and his uncanny knack for navigating complex polyrhythms. His multi-style performance history has helped foster a unique approach to piano performance, pushing the limits of what is possible on the instrument.
He has released 2 full length piano albums of original music as part of his ongoing “Seasons” project: Pieces I Wrote on a Cold Winter Night (2021), which was written in residence at the BANFF Centre for the Arts, and The Cottage at the End of the Forest (2023), which was written in residence at Avaloch Farms. Pieces I Wrote on a Cold Winter Night also received a grant from the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in 2021. While his background as an artist is steeped in classical and the avant-garde, he also has a love for Neo-classical, minimalist, and ambient music. In 2022 he released a neoclassical EP Reminiscence Vol. 1 with Enjou Records.
A regular collaborator, he has performed with Ensemble Dal Niente, ~Nois Saxophone quartet, Quijote Duo, Ursa Ensemble, Fulcrum Point New Music Project, Chicago Wind Symphony, Tradewinds Ensemble, 5th Wave Collective, and numerous artists throughout the city of Chicago and abroad. In early 2024 he made his Chicago classical music radio debut on WFMT (98.7) where he performed works by Janacek and Bacewicz with violinist Hannah Christiansen. He is one half of the piano percussion duo, “Flannau Duo”, which was awarded a Chicago DCASE grant for 2023-2024. He is also now the pianist in the newly formed chamber ensemble “Mycelium New Music” which made its premiere performance in November 2024. In 2023 he joined the administration of Chicago Composers Orchestra and is now the Artistic Director.
He is actively engaged with the new music community of Chicago, consistently putting on performances of contemporary music in many genres that regularly include world premieres from an eclectic background of composers. In June 2023 he was involved with the Cortona Sessions for New Music in Italy where he was awarded the Fellowship Position in Piano.
His compositions have been performed by the Ensemble Dal Niente, Nois~, Chicago Composers Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Ursa Ensemble, Ostrega-Uhl Project, Origin Brass Quintet, Disquiet Music Ensemble, 20+ New Music Ensemble at DePaul University, Lakeshore Rush, Lake Effect Quartet, the CCMP players of Boston Conservatory, and numerous soloists. His music has also been featured on radios and podcasts most notably on Classical WSMR’s “Modern Notebook” with Tyler Kline, “It Takes a Village” with Rhea March, and “Relevant Tones” with Access Contemporary Music.
His past project titled the Rocking Chair Series involved commissions of solo piano works presented alongside an interview with the composer; creating an inviting atmosphere for the audience as they listened to a wide variety of musical styles and insights regarding the compositional process.
Press:
“He transcended all expectations and might be considered one of the first composers to actually put the creative strategies of Andre Breton and Marcel Duchamp to effective use in music.”
-Erich Barganier, Obscure Frequencies
“In the world of contemporary piano, where there are endless possibilities of timbre, Jonathan Hannau’s command of controlled chaos is extraordinary.”
-Heidi Joosten, composer
His playing has been described as “Heroically accurate” by composer Wynton Guess.
My families dogs (Left to Right) Hildegard, Macy, and Pepper
