Late pianist continues to inspire through scholarship contest
Three high school seniors won scholarships at the second Dorothy Olson Pauletti Piano Scholarship Contest at the Chicago Federation of Musicians May 20.
Dorothy Olson Pauletti, who entertained millions throughout the North Shore and in Chicago over her 84-year career, was 102 years old when she received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Federation of Musicians for 70 years of membership in its union.
Billed as Dorothy Olson during her long career, she played piano in a who's who of classic rooms before officially retiring at 97, after her last gigs at Hackney's restaurant in Glenview and a since-closed Hackney's in Wheeling.
Before Olson Pauletti's death in 2020, daughter Susan Nelson promised she would set up a scholarship fund to help keep piano performance alive.
The Chicago Federation of Musicians and Illinois Wesleyan University, the school Olson Pauletti often credited for her musical education, partnered for the second straight year to help present the May 20 scholarship event.
Five high school seniors competed, each playing a classical and a nonclassical piece.
The audience was treated to the classical works of Haydn, Chopin, and Gershwin, as well as to jazz, show tunes and movie themes. "Taking a Chance on Love," arranged by Hazel Scott; the original transcription of George Gershwin's "I Got Rhythm"; and "Sparkle," from the movie "Your Name," were a few of the selections.
Judging the performances were Craig Nelson, Dorothy's grandson and a graduate of the University of Illinois' School of Music in Piano Performance; jazz pianist Joseph Clifton, a graduate of the Music School of North Park University; and Dean Rolando, jazz pianist and graduate of Northeastern Illinois University.
After an hour's deliberation they reached a decision on the scholarship award winners.
Lemont High School's Annabelle Zogby, who played Mendelssohn's Rondo Capriccioso Op 14 followed by Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah," which included her own vocal accompaniment, earned the grand-prize scholarship of $1,000.
Daniel Lee of Hinsdale Central High School earned the second-place scholarship. Kevin Xu of Neuqua Valley High School placed third. Others selected to play were home-schooled Trinity Bryant, and Imran Husain also of Hinsdale Central.
Enlisted to play in the Empire Room of the Palmer House Hilton from 1977-1985, Olson Pauletti was the last person hired by Merriel Abbott, founder of the Abbott Dancers and the entertainment director of all Hilton Hotels, Nelson said.
Olson Pauletti had played the Cypress Inn in Northbrook, The Drake, Italian Village, Sherman House, Mayfair Regent, the Hyatt, Bismarck, Sheraton, LaSalle and Congress hotels, and more.
She also volunteered as an entertainer at nursing homes and hospitals, Nelson recalled. Around Christmas, she'd even play the calliope at Sunset Foods in Northbrook.
"If it had keys on it, she could play it, "Nelson said.
By the time Olson Pauletti died, she had played the piano for 100 years. She had a repertoire of more than 2,000 songs she could still play from memory.