Timothy De Prey, pianist, is excited to join the Rocky Ridge Music team. He has been a piano instructor at the faculty of MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis Minnesota since 1997. MacPhail is the largest community music school in the United States.
Timothy’s students participate in MacPhail’s Crescendo for Piano Program and throughout his teaching career his students have won many competitions including the Junior Honor’s Competition, the Honor’s Competition and the prestigious Concerto and Aria Competition. Timothy enjoys working with students of all ages and levels, but specifically enjoys students who are interested in a variety of repertoire and technical challenges. Although he teaches through traditional methods, Timothy incorporates pop and jazz genres if the students are interested. Nearly half of his students are beginning adults or adults who have returned to music. He incorporates technology into his teaching with video tutorials and YouTube samples. He also has students who take lessons exclusively OnLine. This year, (2024) Timothy was awarded the James Ericksen Professional Development Grant administered through MacPhail. The grant financially supports his new project of composing teaching repertoire for his students from age 5 – 75.
Timothy is an active performer in the Twin Cities and has performed on six MacPhail Faculty Spotlight Performances including “By George” – the music of George Gershwin, “Flirting with Sondheim” and most recently “It Takes Two” – a review of Broadway’s most celebrated duets. In addition to his work at MacPhail, Timothy has been the principal accompanist for the well-respected Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus since 1991. As pianist for the chorus Timothy has had the opportunity to work with Michael Feinstein, Ann Hampton Callaway, Holly Near and Harvey Fierstein. Timothy can be heard on all 16 of TCGMC’s CD’s, on “Proud and Peaceful”- a CD of solo piano music from the pianists within GALA (Gay and Lesbian Choruses of America) and on his own CD’s, “in the evening air” – a collection of nocturnes, lullabies and night songs and “I Love a Piano” – a recording commemorating his 20th year accompanying the Twin Cities’ Gay Men’s Chorus and “this is the wonder” a holiday CD celebrating his 25th anniversary with the chorus.
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges proclaimed December 5, 2015 as Timothy De Prey Day in the City of Minneapolis honoring his work with MacPhail Center for Music and the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Timothy has a Bachelor of Arts degree in music therapy from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Minnesota.