PianoPinnacle_2

Piano Pinnacle
Canadian Piano Duo Ensemble, Piano Pinnacle (comprised of pianists
Deborah Grimmett and Iman Habibi) has established itself as a
leading new piano duo ensemble.
Its performances have been hailed as a “true tour de force[…], ” and
“an absolute delight” (Musetta Stone). Piano Pinnacle won First Prize
at the United States International Duo Piano Competition (USIDPC –
2014), and Second Prize at the International Northwest Piano
Ensemble Competition (NWIPEC), and has twice attained the
Audience Choice award at the latter. The duo’s performances have
been heard across Europe and North America, in cities such as Paris,
Chicago, Toronto, Seattle, Oslo, Colorado Springs, and Vancouver.
Piano Pinnacle is dedicated to rejuvenating the piano duo genre, by presenting an eclectic mix of old and
new repertoire with “a passion that could only be achieved by years of patience[…]” (The Other Press).
The ensemble aspires to promote and nurture the development of new music, and was the inspiration
and dedicatees of over 80 new works for piano duo, of which 15 were selected for performance in New
York City. Piano Pinnacle has thus far premiered over two dozen new works for piano duo and two
pianos with various ensemble combinations.
The Duo divides its time between Vancouver, BC, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, where Iman is currently
completing his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Michigan.
Described as “electric” and “absolutely breathtaking” (CiTR Radio), pianist Deborah Grimmett’s
performances have been heard throughout North America and Europe in major concert halls such as
Auditorium Santa Croce (Italy), Norges Musikkhøgskole (Norway), Espace Carpeaux (France), Ganz Hall,
and Sherman Clay Steinway Hall (US), and The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (Canada). She has
been presented in concert by Müzewest Concerts, Gallery 345, and Douglas College Arts at One, and has
collaborated with Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, NOVO Ensemble, percussionists Martin Fisk and Brian
Nesselroad, vocalists Kirsten MacKinnon, Madeline Lucy Smith and Jeremy Bowes, and Vancouver
Symphony Orchestra’s principal cellist, Ariel Barnes, among others.
Ms. Grimmett enjoys a versatile performing career as soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral
musician, and is noted for her performances with prize-­‐winning piano duo ensemble, Piano Pinnacle, of
which she is a co-­‐founder. In addition, Ms. Grimmett’s playing has been featured on soundtracks for a
few commercials and films, including Lost and Found, directed by Elad Tzadok. Ms. Grimmett holds a
Master of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Toronto, and a Bachelor of Music
Degree from the University of British Columbia. Her principal teachers include Jane Coop, Marietta
Orlov, Kenneth Broadway, Ralph Markham, and Sara Davis Buechner.
Iman Habibi has successfully established his career as a composer as well as a pianist. He is recognized
by critics as a “confident player,” (Prince George Citizen) and a “giant in talent” (The Penticton Herald).
His compositions have been programmed by many prestigious concert organizations such as The New
York Festival of Song, The Marilyn Horne Foundation, and Vox Novus (New York), The Canadian Opera
Company and Tapestry New Opera (Toronto), Atlantic Music Festival (Maine), the BCScene Festival
(Ottawa), The Sonic Boom Festival, and the Powell Street Festival (Vancouver). He has received

numerous awards including the International Composers’ Award at the Esoterics’ POLYPHONOS
competition (2012), the First Prize at SOCAN Foundations Awards for Young AV Composers (for three
years), the Mayor’s Arts Awards as well as others. His music and interviews are broadcast regularly on
radios across North America such as CBC radio one, CBC radio two (Canada), and WQXR (New York),
Radio Javan. Iman has had the privilege of performing with a number of great musicians and ensembles
such as the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, the Atlantic Music Festival Orchestra, and UBC Symphonic
Wind Ensemble. In February 2010, He appeared as the piano soloist with the Prince George Symphony
Orchestra to premiere his own piano concerto.