Bio

Eli Baumgarten is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles, known for his dynamic versatility across classical, jazz, and contemporary music. He has performed and music-directed in diverse settings—from intimate jazz venues to full-scale theatrical productions. Most recently, he serves as music director and pianist for An Evening with Eartha Kitt: Live Tribute, a cabaret show starring Broadway actress Thomasina Gross.

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Eli’s compositions blend the harmonic sophistication of jazz with the emotional depth of orchestral writing. His work has been performed in sold-out concerts, including at Denver’s renowned Dazzle Jazz Club. As a composer, he was accepted into the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, one of the nation’s leading programs for emerging musical theatre writers.

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Originally from Colorado, Eli began composing classical works as a child before discovering jazz, which opened a lifelong fascination with improvisation and storytelling through sound. He earned his degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Colorado Boulder, studying under Brad Goode, Victor Mestas, Jeff Jenkins, and Andrew Cooperstock. His studies continued abroad at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he focused on jazz performance and film scoring.

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Now, Eli devotes his career to creating music that connects deeply with both listeners and students. As an educator, he blends technical mastery with creativity, helping pianists develop not only skill but individuality—equipping them to play, create, and express themselves freely across any genre.