Ellen’s favorite Rockford pianist will be watching her on Idol

September 14th, 2009 at 11:47am Georgette Braun

Emily Bear, 8, doesn’t watch much TV, especially considering all her gigs with celebrities and local on-stage appearances, not to mention schoolwork.

But the cheery and charming piano player and composer will make time to watch “American Idol,” now that Ellen DeGeneres is a judge, Emily’s mom, Andrea Bear, told me today. Andrea said Emily is expected to make her sixth appearance in two years on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” this fall some time.

By the way, another show about talented Americans, “America’s Got Talent,” which announces this season’s winner on Wednesday, twice came calling for Emily, but the family declined the offers, Andrea said. She said producers of the show had asked Emily to audition. “We were just not sure it was the right thing at the right time,” Andrea said.

(KATY MULL | ROCKFORD REGISTER STAR
Pianist Emily Bear of Rockford holds her pet Winston, a miniature golden labradoodle, Aug. 18 at Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center in Rockford, where she’ll perform Nov. 19.)

Emily’s schedule is full these days anyway. In the next few months, she’ll:

* Record her fourth CD tomorrow. It is expected to be released in about a month and includes classical and jazz pieces as well as love songs.

* Perform as one of five musical acts at the Oct. 18 first Noble Awards in Los Angeles. (It won’t be televised.) The star-studded event will recognize charities and the celebrities who support them.

* Perform at 7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, 415 N. Church St., Rockford. Cost is $15. Emily will play piano before or after the screening of the film, “Note By Note,” a documentary that follows the creation of a Steinway concert grand piano.

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