Jazz pianist Chris White performs March 8 at North Central College’s Madden Theatre

Acclaimed pianist and North Central College jazz faculty member Chris White performs March 8 in the College’s Madden Theatre.

“An Evening with Jazz Pianist Chris White” begins at 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, in the College’s Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $20/adults and $15/students and seniors.

White will be joined onstage by fellow members of North Central College’s jazz faculty, including bassist Jim Cox, drummer Jack Mouse and vocalist Janice Borla.

A native of Toronto, Canada, White has performed at such Chicago-area venues as The Jazz Showcase, Andy’s, House of Blues, Navy Pier, The Peninsula Hotel, The Drake Hotel and many more.

After obtaining a bachelor of arts in English from the University of Toronto, White decided to focus his studies entirely on music. He attended Indiana University’s prestigious Jacobs School of Music and pursued a master’s degree in jazz studies, graduating with a Pi Kappa Lambda award (National Music Honors Society). Gaining valuable experience in Indianapolis, he performed with The Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, David Baker, Jamey Aebersold and Oliver Nelson Jr.

White has studied piano with Luke Gillespie, Lynne Arriale, Joanne Brackeen, Barry Harris and Andy LaVerne and was invited to perform at the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia hosted by James Moody, Rufus Reid and David Baker. In 2010 he completed his doctoral of musical arts in jazz performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Currently White is an instructor of jazz piano and theory at Lake Forest College, North Park University and North Central College. He is also a combo and theory instructor at Midwest Young Artists in Highwood. He is a member of the Paul Marinaro Trio and his two CDs “Young at Heart” and “Tributaries” are available through his website, chriswhitepiano.com.

Navistar is underwriting sponsor of North Central College’s 2012-2013 Fine and Performing Arts Season. The season is partially supported by USG Corporation and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and National Endowment of the Arts.