Steve Saari, pianist, began his musical training at age 4 in his northern Wisconsin hometown. Upon first hearing a recording of “Greensleeves” on the radio, Steve sat down at the piano and figured out how to plunk the melody. Thus began Steve’s love affair with his favorite instrument.  Inspired by popular variety show performers of the day, including Liberace and JoAnn Castle, Steve’s formal childhood musical training included both classical and popular pieces.

 

Steve went on to earn Bachelor and Master’s degrees

in music and performance from the University of Wisconsin at Madison and Belmont University in Nashville. Upon being accepted for an advanced degree at the prestigious Juilliard School, Steve moved to New York City to complete his training under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Abramson.

 

In New York, Steve soon found himself playing in the

pit orchestras of Broadway shows, including Martin Short’s Fame Becomes Me and The Radio City Music

Hall Christmas Spectacular starring the world famous Rockettes, as well as national tours such as Tommy Tune’s Doctor Dolittle.

 

As an onstage performer, Steve played the piano for

the long-running off-Broadway and national touring companies of I Love, You’re Perfect, Now Change, as

well as the New York production of Forbidden Broadway.

He debuted his solo show I Love a Piano at the Duplex Cabaret, and has played other cabaret venues including Merkin Hall and The Metropolitan Room.  Steve played his childhood inspiration, “Liberace”, in Mister Fabulous, an original show he conceived and co-wrote with Broadway lyricist Bill Russell.

 

Steve has performed alongside stars including Vince Gill, Sandi Patti, and Cindy Crawford. With The Continental Orchestra, Steve toured the United States, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czech Republic, The Netherlands, South Korea, and Thailand.  He has performed both his solo show and with orchestras worldwide onboard Princess Cruise Line and Azamara Club Cruises.

 

When not performing, Steve has an accomplished life

as a composer, musical director, and arranger. As a resident composer for The Brooklyn Children’s Theater, Steve has created 15 shows, many of which will soon be licensed by theater companies across the country. He has arranged and music directed performances with

The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. Steve music directed the premiere of Cheri Steinkellner and Georgia Stitt’s Hello My Baby at Goodspeed Musicals and is

a vocal director for Royal Caribbean International, including their Broadway production of Chicago.

 

Steve’s debut solo recording Variations On a Theme was produced by Waddell Productions/Soapbox Records and is available for purchase online.