On the verge of presenting his Woodside Piano Studio students in recital at the Opera America Center, on February 25, virtuoso pianist, composer, and teacher Jean-Pierre Lemarié, born in Paris, France, passed away unexpectedly in New York City on the morning February 23, according to an email that night from his student Hilen Shyu and later confirmed by Jean-Pierre’s partner Eugéne Du Plessis. Shyu wrote that the recital would proceed as scheduled and be dedicated “to our beloved piano teacher.”
Jean-Pierre’s passionate playing was well-known to music lovers in Cherry Grove and in New York City, where he played music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frédéric Chopin, and Debussy, and by gay composers, sometimes at the keyboard with his colleague Jacqueline Jonée.
Condolences on this untimely loss go to Eugéne, the students at Woodside Piano Studio, Jacqueline, and to Fidel, Andrew, Lucy, Mona Lisa, young Prince, and others in Cherry Grove that he had shared his life with. We will dearly miss Jean-Pierre, consummate musician and colorful, charismatic figure.