About Me
Several biographical formats are available here, including a short bio and prepared introductions.
BILL PROTZMANN - life-long pianist, professional speaker, composer, lyricist, and entertainer; warm and humorous storyteller; Bachelor of Arts in English composition from Principia College, Bachelor of Music in piano performance from the University of California, Irvine, with emphasis in theater arts.
Bill Protzmann began the study of the piano at the age of three. By the time he graduated high school, he had won top honors in a number of juried competitions. In addition to classical recitals, Protzmann performed as a concerto soloist with the Palo Alto Youth Symphony, played in Dixieland and jazz bands, and performed in musicals and melodramas and as a solo entertainer. At the university level, he studied classical performance piano with Marie Garritson at Principia College, Elsah, Illinois, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing in 1982. Following college, he gave several formal recitals of two-piano and four-hand works, as well as maintaining a schedule of various solo engagements.
Protzmannâs first recording work was done in 1993, and included an album of popular songs from movies and musicals, as well as a spontaneously-composed CD of original piano music, released under the title Serenity. Protzmannâs improvisational style blends melodic elements of Chopin and Rachmaninoff with modern New Age sensibility, and is lyrical and satisfying.
In 1994, Protzmann was asked to present a performance of piano music, storytelling, and entertainment at The Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Westcliffe, Colorado. That performance marked the occasion of the premiere of his one-man show For The Love of Music.
In 1999, Protzmann completed a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of California, Irvine. In addition to studying piano performance and repertoire with Nina Scolnik, his interdisciplinary degree program also included work and study in theater and playwriting.
Protzmann has a passion for communication, so he talks about the songs, composers, and the art of playing the piano during his performance. He often gets up from the piano to share a humorous anecdote about his own life, or a moving story about the music, creating a warm, genuine connection with the audience.
Protzmann says: "The experience of performing needs active listeners to participate in it - to act with willing freedom to experience all the emotions music conveys." For The Love of Music is part of his ongoing dedication to bringing the experience of music to life.
Please help me welcome pianist and entertainer Bill Protzmann.
Executive, entrepreneur, entertainer, poet, playwright and project manager, composer, lyricist, and chief financial officer, an author and a gentleman....Bill Protzmann truly speaks from a wealth of experience.
He is the founder and principal consultant of TetraDym (teh'-tra-dime) Inc, a telecommunications management firm, specializing in high-end communications services and software-based voice and data network management. Protzmann has worked with Fortune 500 telecom and data managers for upwards of 15 years, providing expert-user advice, training, and management skills in a highly technical field. His technical writing has been published in industry trade magazines; he is co-author of an industry white paper, and he has written several thousand pages of client-specific user manuals.
Protzmann holds magna cum laude degrees in creative writing and piano performance. He has given solo and duet classical piano recitals and performed as concerto soloist, played piano in jazz bands, melodramas and musicals, and tours with his one-man show which he created to bring his love of music to life. He has recorded an album of original New Age piano music, released under the title Serenity, and available at the sales desk in the back of the hall or directly from Amazon.com. Protzmann's arrangement of several gospel melodies, including Amazing Grace, was the number one download on the mp3.com rhythm and blues hit list in July of 2000.
Protzmann has a passion for excellence in communication, both through music and speech. As a pianist, he learned early on that piano recitals are for the most part pretty monotonous, so he began to talk with his audiences to help break up the boredom. This gradually evolved into three different versions of his stage show, For The Love of Music. Protzmann has written a play called "A Muse Me" that juxtaposes the classical piano with a humorous staged debate on the true meaning of music. "A Muse Me" was given its first staged reading in the summer of 2000 at the Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts in Westcliffe, Colorado, where Protzmann also gave the formal premiere of For The Love of Music in 1994.
Protzmann has given technical seminars and presentations, addressed community and civic organizations, and has spoken on topics ranging from inspirational and motivational to current issues and events. He has received both formal and informal training in public speaking and acting, and has a gift for humor and storytelling. His passion and purpose for being here with us is releasing creativity.
When I asked Protzmann how he finds time for everything he does, he just smiled and handed me his business card. Protzmann's only title is "servant." Speaking on the topic "Give Yourself What You've Always Wanted," please help me welcome your servant: Bill Protzmann.
A Muse Me, Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Westcliffe CO - 2000
For the Love of Music: A Class Act, Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Westcliffe CO - 2000
For the Love of Music: A Class Act, Seminars in Bible Studies and Christian Healing, Pacific Grove, CA - 2000
For the Love of Music: A Class Act, Keyboard Concert Club, Laguna Woods, CA - 2000
Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, University of California, Irvine CA - 1999
Senior Recital, including works of all major periods by Bach, Schumann, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Ginastera - professor Nina Scolnik, University of California, Irvine CA - 1999
Published recording (CD) of original compositions "Serenity" - 1999
For the Love of Music: A Class Act, Casa de las Campanas, San Diego CA - 1999
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, Keyboard Concert Club, Laguna Woods, CA - 1999
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, University of California, Irvine CA - 1999
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, Keyboard Concert Club, Laguna Woods, CA - 1998
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, Principia College, Elsah IL - 1998
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Westcliffe CO - 1998
Accompanist for Susan Asbjornson and Emma Sabean performing a Monteverdi madrigal (continuo), University of California, Irvine - professors Nina Gilbert and Rae Linda Brown - 1998
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, Cabrillo Playhouse, San Clemente CA - 1997
For the Love of Music: America at the Turn of the Century, Mission Theater, Fallbrook CA - 1997
For the Love of Music: A Musical Life, Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Westcliffe CO - 1996
For the Love of Music: A Musical Life, Cabrillo Playhouse, San Clemente CA - 1996
For the Love of Music: A Musical Life, Camino Real Playhouse, San Juan Capistrano CA - 1994, 1995
Pianist, "Drug Abuse is Life Abuse," Orange County CA - 1994-1996
For the Love of Music: World Premiere, Crystal Mountain Center for the Performing Arts, Westcliffe CO - 1994
Published recording (tape) "When You Wish Upon A Star" - 1992
Public elementary school music enrichment program (Fallbrook and Saddleback CA school districts) - 1990-1997
Regular and substitute Nordstrom pianist, Santa Ana, CA - 1986-1995
Substitute church organist - 1983-1994
Arranger and rehearsal pianist for Ellen Breiten, cabaret singer - 1989-1990
Annual combined solo, duet (two-piano) and four-hand recitals with Candice Clarke - 1983-1986
Accompanist for piano concerto (Gershwin) - professor Nina Scolnik - 1986
Adjudication and subsequent recital performance with Candice Clarke, Young Artists' Peninsula Music Festival, Rene Golabeck, coach - 1983
Study of pipe organ repertoire and technique - professor Jeremy Carper - 1982
Piano duet (4-hands and duo) performance with Candice Clarke (MFA USC 1984) - works of Bizet, Milhaud, Mozart, Poulenc, Ravel, Gershwin - professor Marie Garittson - 1982-1983
Concerto soloist (Beethoven 3rd) - professor Marie Garittson - 1982
Accompanist for Senior Recital of vocal art songs for Becky Stevens, including works of all major periods by Handel, Hasse, Purcell, Schubert, FaurŽ, Brahms, Wolf, Floyd, Debussy, Berlioz, Rachmaninoff, and Ives - professors Marie Garittson and Sarah Rockabrand - 1981
Substitute church organist - 1975-1979
Rehearsal and show pianist/keyboardist for the high school production of "Godspell" - 1979
Jazz choir pianist - 1979
Grand Prize Winner (soloist) and Second Prize Winner (as accompanist), Fallbrook High School talent show - 1978
Rehearsal and show pianist/soloist, Fallbrook High School production of "Hilites" - 1979
Jazz ensemble pianist/keyboardist - 1979
Pianist, wind ensemble - 1979
Saxophone assistant section leader, marching band - 1978-1979
Saxophone assistant section leader, wind ensemble - 1978-1979
Principal typanist and assistant percussionist with Palo Alto Youth Symphony - 1978
Cofounder, and manager with The Louisiana Purchase Dixeland Jazz Band - 1977-1979
Choir accompanist, Valley Christian High School - 1977
Saxophone section leader, marching band - 1975-1976
Studied French horn, clarinet, saxophone, and percussion under Capt Melio Mayo, USN Ret - 1971-1977
Completed study of "Applied Harmony - Book 1 (Diatonic)" (George A Wedge) under Capt Melio Mayo, USN Ret - 1971-1977
Music Teachers' Association Certificate of Merit theory and musicianship (advanced level) - 1976-1978
Rehearsal and show pianist for the amateur melodrama "Under the Gaslight" performed by the Palo Alto Elks Lodge - 1977
Arranger, rehearsal and show pianist for the high school production of "Anything Goes" - 1978
Concerto soloist with Palo Alto Youth Symphony - 1978
Participant in Music Teachers' Association Certificate of Merit adjudication (advanced level) and subsequent recitals - 1976-1978
Winner, Los Altos Junior Women's Club competition - 1975
Participant in UNICEF adjudication and subsequent recital - 1974, 1976
Email: Info@BillProtzmann.com
PO Box 189 Idyllwild CA 92549-0189 - USA
Represented by TetraDym Inc - Email: Info@BillProtzmann.com
Phone: 800.785.8596 - Fax: 800.997.2268
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