Annette S Chesky

Annette was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 16, 1944. She went to high school in Lynbrook, NY, then attended the New England Conservatory of Music (a piano major) and received a graduate degree in piano from the University of Miami.

She met her husband Jeffrey at a holiday party in December, 1968. She had just performed the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 with a regional orchestra in a concert where Jeffrey had been in attendance. At the holiday party, he walked over to her, introduced himself, said she was a terrific pianist, had great musical intuition and a fantastic technique, but added “However, next time, pick a better piece.” She looked at him with a glare (one that she perfected over the next 58 years) suggesting he was crazy, but they started talking about other piano concerti for her to perform – the beginning of a romance that lasted the rest of her life. (The ones she eventually chose were J. S. Bach’s keyboard concerto in d minor, Mozart Piano Concerto # 20, Chopin Concerto # 2, and Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 2. Her favorite recital piece was Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2.)

She became an artist-in-residence at a college in Miami and moved to Springfield in 1977. She was an adjunct faculty member in music at Sangamon State University/UIS, a former principal pianist of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra and taught piano privately. She and her husband wrote annotations for classical music recordings. She loved travelling, especially to visit botanical gardens and art museums.

She is survived by her husband Jeffrey, son Barry (wife Lisa) and grandson Matthew of Rockville, MD, brother-in law David (wife Patricia) of New York City, brother-in-law Norman of Miami FL, nephew Lucca Chesky, and nieces Paloma Chesky and Elana Chesky. Private Funeral Services were held at Oak Ridge Cemetery on May 24th, 2026.

Arrangements were in the care of Bisch and Son Funeral Home.