Seattle Symphony Orchestra pianist Kimberly Russ has performed with musicians of the nation’s finest orchestras as well as with many other world-renowned artists.

Continually in demand as a collaborative pianist, she appears frequently in concert throughout the Puget Sound region in recitals, festivals and master classes. She can be heard on several television, radio and film recordings as well as video game soundtracks.

On Saturday, Feb. 7, Russ will perform during the Port Angeles Symphony’s "Beethoven’s Seventh" concert.

After moving to Seattle from New York, Russ performed with the Seattle Opera Orchestra, the Bellevue Philharmonic, the Seattle Choral Company and Choral Arts Northwest. She’s been invited to perform for the Ladies Musical Club, the Belle Arte, Barry and Friends and the Sherman Clay Music for Lunch Series.

Russ is the rehearsal pianist for both the Seattle Choral Company and the Seattle Symphony Chorale, Seattle’s premiere orchestral choirs.

At the Seattle Symphony, Russ particularly enjoys assisting the conductors and soloists in preparation of their performances with the orchestra. She also collaborates with many members of the orchestra in various chamber music concerts.

While performing with the orchestra, Russ plays a variety of keyboard instruments including piano, celesta, harpsichord, synthesizer and occasionally, organ.

While a student at The Juilliard School, Russ played for many instrumental and voice lessons, master classes, recitals, performance juries and admission auditions as a staff pianist. She was invited to continue as a staff pianist for The Juilliard School after graduation. She assisted with The Juilliard Pre-College Chorus and coached the Pre-College voice students weekly along with maintaining her schedule for the college division.

She also performed at many institutions in New York and New Jersey including Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School of Music, Rutgers University Mason Gross School of Music, Stony Brook School of Music and SUNY Purchase College School of Music. In addition, she was the rehearsal pianist for the Cantabile Chamber Chorale in New Jersey.

A native Floridian, Russ appeared as soloist, orchestral pianist and chamber musician with the former Florida Symphony Orchestra, Central Florida Community Orchestra, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Orlando Opera Orchestra and the Central Florida Percussion Ensemble. Russ was the rehearsal pianist for the Camerata Chorus of the Orlando Opera Company.

She taught at the Engel School of Music, Valencia Community College, St. Luke’s School of the Arts, and the University of Central Florida College and Pre-College divisions.

Russ is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Washington State Music Teachers Association, Seattle Music Teachers Association and maintains a select private teaching studio at her Shoreline home where she resides with her husband, Christopher Olka, (principal tuba, Seattle Symphony) son James and their cat Berlioz.