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Dear friends,
It is with deep sadness that I inform you of the passing of our colleague, long-time piano faculty member Abraham Stokman. Abe, known for his improvisation mastery, skillful playing, and love of new music was 87. He died at home peacefully with the love of his life, MIC faculty member Arlene Stokman.
With three pianos in their home, Abe and Arlene lived a life filled with music and happiness. Side by side, they performed, cooked, and gardened, and together, they enjoyed their home and neighborhood in Rogers Park for 50 years.
At MIC, he founded The Music Institute of Chicago’s contemporary music series, Music for a While, the annual Four Score Festival, which also highlighted contemporary music, and the Generation Next Young Composer’s Competition. More recently, Abe coached chamber music and taught piano improvisation at the Academy.
Abe was an extraordinary talent and a valued member of our musical community. He had hoped to perform his final concert in Nichols Concert Hall in May—so aptly titled, “A reflection of life performed by pianist Abraham Stokman.” We will honor Abe’s legacy at MIC with a memorial concert later in the fall.
We will share additional information when it becomes available.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Sue Polutnik and the MIC Team
Master's Degree, The Julliard School, New York
Bachelor's Degree in Music, The Julliard School, New York
Significant teachers and mentors:
One of Mr. Stokman's most significant teachers/mentors was the instructor he had while he was attending Julliard- Edward Steuermann.
Awards and achievements:
After graduating from Julliard, Mr. Stokman served as a vocal coach in Julliard's opera department for five years until proceeding to give solo and chamber concerts in the United States and Canada. He then moved to Chicago and became the artist-in-residence and assistant professor at the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University, while also serving as chairman of the piano department at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago.
Abraham has had countless successes in solo recitals at the Alice Tully Hall, the Town Hall in New York City, the Gardner Museum in Boston, the Phillips Gallery in Washington, and Mandel Hall in Chicago. He was also featured as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Stokman has recorded Ramon Zupko's music for CRI, as well as a CD of twentieth century American piano music for Centaur records.
He also recorded "Hyperbolea" on a CD of Music by Shulamit Ran.
Over the years, Mr. Stokman has also participated in a series of chamber music concerts with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, given throughout the Chicagoland area.
Mr. Stokman was a member of the Contemporary Chamber Players with Ralph Shapey for many years, and has played for CUBE through the years as well.
He is currently teaching piano and improvisation at the Music Institute of Chicago, where he has also founded the contemporary music series, "Music for a While". In the past ten years, this series has featured contemporary composers and their music, presented in a format that made their music more accessible to the audience.