Lisa Bergman
Lisa's Bio
Having performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Pacific Rim, Pacific Northwest native and accomplished musician Lisa Bergman has been a vital part of Classical KING since her Explore Music series back in 2012. A passionate promoter of classical music, Lisa is also founder and Artistic Director of the Mostly Nordic Chamber Music Series presented at the Nordic Heritage Museum in Seattle as well as Executive Director of NOISE (Northwest Opera in Schools, Etcetera). She also currently serves as Classical Music Program Advisor of the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts in Leavenworth, Washington, where she was a classical music host on KOHO FM for 10 years.
As a concert pianist specializing in the fields of collaborative piano and chamber music, Lisa is a graduate of The Juilliard School, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and the University of Washington, cum laude. For 10 years she served as an Artist in Residence and faculty member at the University of Washington School of Music (1989-1999) and is a member of the Hall of Fame for the Washington State Music Teachers Association for “extraordinary service, outstanding musicianship, dedication and leadership”.
Despite her long list of achievements in music, Lisa is best known around the Classical KING studios for her quick wit, warm sense of humor, and for bringing the joy and surprise of classical music to listeners. “If I get goosebumps from listening to a certain piece of music, I would like my listeners to get them, too!”
Get to know Lisa
Q&A with Lisa
KING: Let’s say you have a free day to spend somewhere beautiful. Are you heading to the beach or the mountains? In the Pacific Northwest, of course, we have easy access to both.
Lisa: 50/50. What makes a difference is the weather. Partly cloudy in either case is best. But if it’s tending toward rain — the beach. If it’s tending toward all sun — the mountains.
KING: Favorite type of food?
Lisa: My ancestry is half Swedish and half Hungarian — so for special occasions I’m happy with authentic dishes from either side. But there IS a fabulous blend of the two — it’s POLISH cooking!
KING: It’s game night! Are you hoping for a board/tabletop game, a video game, or a sporting event?
Lisa: Tabletop for me — and my all-time favs are Scrabble (quiet and intense) and Pictionary (rambunctious and loud)!
KING: Beatles or Rolling Stones? (Or Bach or Beethoven?)
Lisa: The Eagles and ABBA
KING: What music might people be surprised to learn you listen to — when you’re not listening to KING, that is?
Lisa: Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea and Ray Charles
KING: What classical composers, living or dead, haven’t gotten their fair dose of attention — which composers aren’t “household names” but should be?
Lisa: Johan Svendsen (Norwegian); Lars-Erik Larsson (Swedish); William Bolcom (American); Kenneth Benshoof (American)
KING: If your classical music collection was entirely vinyl records, which of those records would be nearly worn-out from being played dozens of times? In other words, what music do you come back to, over and over again?
Lisa: Brahms Horn Trio, La boheme, Rachmaninoff Paganini Variations; Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor
KING: What pieces of music do you turn to when you need comfort, solace, or relaxation?
Lisa: ANYTHING played by violinist Janine Jansen or sung by baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau.
KING: Let’s say you’re hosting a musical dinner party or cocktail party, and you can invite three composers or performers, living or dead. Whom do you invite?
Lisa: Fritz Kreisler, Victor Borge and Margaret Bonds.