Edelmar Obenza

Edelmar Obenza, a Seattle native, has been playing the piano since the age of 13. Though he was steeped in formal musical training from a much earlier age, studying vocal, aural, and sight-singing training with the Northwest Boychoir, his piano work was completely organic and nearly all self-taught, a natural extension of his musical sensibilities. This comes across every time he plays. People often remark that he was just born to do this.

His vocal teachers, Joseph Crnko and Jacob Winkler, have had a great influence on his whole musical life. Besides introducing him to the works of the great classical masters, Edelmar has been known to take a very “vocal” approach to piano music, giving his playing an intangible singing quality.

At age 15, he started accompanying church choirs, reading contemporary sheet music and tablature. Just a few years later at Western Washington University, he accompanied vocal students in the music department, continuing to refine his skills, as well as playing for Assumption and Sacred Heart church in Bellingham.

Since his move back to Seattle, Edelmar has serves as an accompanist for a number of churches, provide evening ambience for a variety of events and continues to collaborate with many local Seattle artists.