Bethany Pickens is an award winning pianist and composer. Born in Chicago, she began her musical training under the watchful tutelage of her father Willie Pickens, world-class Jazz pianist. She also was impacted deeply by the 9 years she spent as a member of the Chicago Children's Choir during her formative years. Since graduating from the American Conservatory of Music, Bethany has had the opportunity to perform, record, and conduct clinics with such artist as Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Bobby Watson, Von Freeman, Steve Turre, Ray Brown, Ed Thigpen, Willie Pickens, Susan Anton, Lizz Wright and Grammy award winners Dee Dee Bridgewater, Roy Hargrove and Branford Marsalis, Rascal Flats, Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle and Usher.Ms. Pickens is an Illinois State Board Certified Instrumental Music Teacher. She has taught PreK-12 for the Chicago Public School System for over 20 years. She currently is the Piano Instructor at Kenwood Academy High School, her Alma Mater!Additionally, Bethany has worked as an Artist-in-Residence with the Jazz Institute of Chicago, Chicago Public Schools All-City Elementary Jazz Ensemble, and an Instructor with the Ravinia Jazz Scholars Program. She has also served as an Adjudicator for The CPS City-Wide Jazz Festival.Bethany and her Father have Performed Duo Concerts at Chicago Symphony Center, Ravinia, The Steinway Society, and the International Jazz Educators Convention and most recently NPR's Jazz Piano Christmas Series at John F. Kennedy Center of the Performing Arts in Washington DC, 2016."Steeped in tradition, committed to creativity" is how Bethany describes her Performances, "a musical menu—something for everyone."
