The Andrew Jackson Pianoforte is an outgrowth
of two lifetimes of active musical performance coupled with
the academic background and experience of working with students
in the public schools. It is these artists’ belief that learning
to enjoy and appreciate all forms of music should be “fun”.
Mr. Launer and Mr. Widner have a wide variety of communicative
skills that demonstrate high technical proficiency, discipline,
commitment, and teamwork. Rather than intimidating young audiences
with these “values”, these artists have related to young audiences
in a warm and caring manner.
Regular public performances have been given
monthly at the Columbus City Center in the Grand Mall on week-end
afternoons where families with young children are often in the
audience. Concert performances have been given at several locations
in the Columbus area as well as out of state, primarily as fund
raisers for various charities.
Steinway
& Sons have listed The Andrew Jackson Pianoforte in their
current Musical America Directory as STEINWAY
ARTISTS. In 1997, they were designated KAWAI DIGITAL PIANO
CLINICIANS and have been performing throughout the U.S. and
Canada on behalf of KAWAI.
WOSU-TV, the Columbus affiliate of the PBS
network, produced a 45 minute special on this duo with a live
audience which has been aired several times.
Both artists are members of the American Federation
of Musicians, and Mr. Widner is a member of the music honorary
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Both have taught in the public schools with
appropriate degrees and teaching certificates. In addition,
Mr. Launer has had considerable background in teaching privately
to children as well as being a musical director of a family
camp. Mr. Widner has also spent summers as a YMCA camp counselor.
These artists have ongoing commitments for performances at community
sites, libraries, and senior citizens’ centers.
EDUCATIONAL DATA--Mr. Launer has a Bachelor
of Music in Education from Ohio Wesleyan University and has
taught vocal and instrumental music in elementary through high
school. He continues to operate a business that rebuilds and
services pianos. Mr. Widner has both a Bachelor’s and Master’s
Degrees from Indiana University and attended at the time Stan
Kenton started his jazz workshop for students in 1958.
Creative versatility is one way to describe
the magic that is demonstrated by these two seasoned musicians
who joined forces in 1989 in Columbus, Ohio. The Andrew Jackson
Pianoforte presents music by George Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart,
Cole Porter, Leonard Bernstein, and Duke Ellington as well as
several original compositions and arrangements. Performing either
on 9 foot concert grand pianos or state of the art digital electronic
instruments, these performers demonstrate that established popular
American music can still be presented in a fresh exciting manner.
The AJP has recorded four album projects. HOLLYWOOD
CLASSICS features highlights from 17 classic movies from
the 1930’s into the 1990’s. PORTFOLIO
is an album of 20 original creations by the performers with
many styles including jazz, classical, Latin, and ragtime. Both
albums are available in CD or cassette format. AJP
LIVE! is their most recent project, recorded in a stone
church to a standing room only crowd in Newark, Ohio in April,
1999. It is available in CD format. HOLIDAY
CLASSICS is a year-end special holiday album available in
cassette form only. All albums can be ordered
through this site via major credit cards.
