Margie Balter

Balter's CD Music From My Heart: Solo Piano Pieces by Margie Balter has received critical acclaim from respected artists such as Taj Mahal and Thomas Newman. Numerous accolades include winning “Piano Album of the Year” at the 2008 L.A. Music Awards, and "Best Piano Performance" at the 2009 L.A. Music Awards. Track #3 ‘Bluesie’ from her CD (titled ‘Why Me?” in the film) is featured in “Date Night” starring Tina Fey and Steve Carell.

Chuck Crisafulli from Hollywood Reporter/Billboard/GRAMMYmagazine wrote: “One might turn to Margie Balter's 'Music From My Heart' for a master class in the artful subtleties of piano performance, but what grabs a listener is not simply brilliant technique but the emotional power of the works. Balter's beautifully, often hauntingly understated compositions put feeling and melody forward, with results that are soothing, moving, and inspiring. Wonderful music to begin or end a day with.”

Balter has been supporting her release with a series of concerts around the United States, including Steinway Hall, NYC, and The Grove, Los Angeles.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pa., Margie Balter began ballet and tap at age 3 and piano by age 4. The flute and violin, as well as acting and singing, all followed in quick succession and are still part of her life today             

She studied theater at Northwestern University and earned a Cum Laude Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Washington in Seattle in ethnomusicology. She performed in many ensembles ranging from jazz to funk and reggae, and for five years was a member of the Seattle –based African music band “Dumi and the Minanzi Marimba Ensemble,” where she played marimba, rattle and drums and was a featured dancer. The group’s widespread popularity found them on the stage almost every night with performances at The Kennedy Center and opening for artists such as Taj Mahal, Grover Washington, The Neville Brothers, and John McLaughlin.            

Margie moved to Los Angeles to expand her career in show business, began teaching piano, and became known as “Piano Teacher to the Stars.             

Balter’s film coaching career took off when she coached Holly Hunter for the film ‘The Piano’. Hunter earned an Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance.  Following the success of ‘The Piano’, Balter went on to coach Tom Cruise for ‘Interview With A Vampire’, Scarlett Johansson for ‘The Man Who Wasn’t There’, Sandra Bullock for ‘The Net’, Greg Kinnear for ‘The Last Song’, Barbara Hershey for ‘Portrait Of A Lady’, Sanaa Lathan for HBO’s ‘Disappearing Acts’, Kevin Spacey for ‘Beyond The Sea’, and many more.                   

Balter has six credits in the film ‘Beauty Shop’, in which she coached Paige Hurd and Djimon Honsou. She also composed a piece featured prominently in Hurd’s piano recital scene, and played and arranged solo piano segments for the film.            

Other composing credits include US Olympic Committee film ‘City Of Gold’ and the entire score for the Sci-Fi Thriller ‘Lightspeed’, starring David Carradine and Karen Black.

Margie has acted in numerous films, television shows and theater pieces, was in an improv comedy troupe for 10 years and still performs a one-woman show. At the piano she has performed for countless audiences, including performances for Dustin Hoffman, James Garner, Michael Keaton, Michelle Pfeiffer and David E. Kelly.