Harold O'Neal

Innovative Pianist, Composer & Narrative Designer; Acclaimed Jazz Artist; Creative Expert for Pixar's "Soul"

New York, NY, USA
Live Event: $30,000 - $50,000 Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info
Black Heritage, Creativity, Entertainment, Martial Arts, Music, Performing Arts, Storytelling
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Harold O'Neal Biography

Harold O'Neal is an American pianist, composer, producer, and interdisciplinary storyteller known for his contributions to jazz, music composition, and narrative design. O'Neal is recognized for his association with the lineage of modern jazz pianists and his work across music, narrative design, and strategic advisory roles. He is noted for developing a signature style of solo piano that fuses early 20th-century composition with modern music, demonstrating versatility across multiple disciplines.

O'Neal has been profiled in publications and programs including Forbes, NPR's All Things Considered, Fortune, Studio 360, and 92Y, with The New York Times comparing him to Duke Ellington, Kenny Kirkland, and Maurice Ravel.

O'Neal's formal training began with studies in composition at Berklee College of Music, followed by attendance at Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Kenny Barron and apprenticed under Andrew Hill. Following Hill's advice, O'Neal left Manhattan School of Music to join the Greg Osby 4, replacing pianist Jason Moran and making his major-label debut recording for Blue Note Records at age 21. O'Neal has released several albums, including "Charlie's Suite," a compilation reflecting his family's legacy, and "Whirling Mantis" with a jazz quartet. His solo piano album "Marvelous Fantasy" received critical acclaim, with The New York Times describing it as sitting "somewhere between Ravel's 'Miroirs' and Duke Ellington's great 1953 album Piano Reflections."

O'Neal's work extends into film, television, and global events. He released the album "Man on the Street" featuring a jazz quartet and solo piano for BluRoc, an incarnation of Rocafella Records distributed by Def Jam Records. He composed for featurettes and documentaries related to the Disney film "Tomorrowland," produced by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Anthony Giacchino. On the recommendation of Pixar co-founder Ed Catmull, O'Neal contributed as a creative expert to the development of Pixar's "Soul," collaborating with filmmakers Pete Docter, Dana Murray, and Kemp Powers. He served as music director for the inaugural Albie Awards, hosted by John Oliver and featuring presenters such as Michelle Obama, Julia Roberts, and Meryl Streep. O'Neal also appeared as an actor in Jay Z's music video for "Young Forever" from the album "The Blueprint 3."

O'Neal's honors include performing as a guest star at a ceremony honoring Herbie Hancock with the Benjamin Franklin Medal, musically representing Hancock's acoustic legacy. He was inducted into the Royal Society of the Arts. O'Neal was also featured at 92Y as part of its 7 Days of Genius series. In addition to his musical career, he holds a black belt in martial arts and is an accomplished dancer.

As a keynote speaker and social entrepreneur, O'Neal brings the principles of jazz improvisation and creative mastery to organizations such as Google, The World Economic Forum, TEDx, TIME, C2 Montréal, and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His collaborators include U2, Pixar, George Clooney, NASA, Jay Z, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. O'Neal's work bridges the worlds of art, innovation, and human connection, making an impact across the music industry, creative leadership, and interdisciplinary storytelling.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/01/2026.

Harold O'Neal Speaking Topics

  • The Path To Mastery

    The path to mastery is a lone journey spanning decades of committed effort and work. What is the path like? What are the insights that reveal themselves along the way? What is it like to actually devote thousands upon thousands of hours into one highly developed skill? What happens when you apply this to multiple disciplines? How can these insights affect of our lives and the people around us?

    With over 30 years of experience, Harold shares his gifts and insights of becoming a master concert pianist. With him, you will discover the key to unlock the path to mastery within yourself.

    Take Aways:

    • A glimpse into the insights of mastery.
    • A connection to the internal process of self awareness through discipline.
    • Have an understanding of the meaning of “practice makes perfect”, and how to apply it.

  • Connecting Through Creativity And Improvisation

    How many people have ever wanted to create something unique, but have not taken the leap? We all know that improvisation is a natural order to our existence, but how deep does that really go? Is it something that we can learn to do? Is it something that people are just born with, or both?

    Working with Harold, you will find the answers to these questions and more, through his creative process and the revelations of what you already possess inside. With his methods and techniques, he will reveal the great improviser within you.

    Take Aways:

    • Have an understanding of tools to unlock your creativity.
    • Experience first-hand the behind-the-scenes process of one of this generation’s greatest composers.
    • Have a new picture of the future of your creative voice.

Harold O'Neal Videos

GLR | Why is creativity so important? | with Harold O'Neal

GLR | Why is creativity so important? | with Harold O'Neal

What is Creativity? with Harold O’Neal

What is Creativity? with Harold O’Neal

Using improvisation to stay connected : Harold O'Neil at TEDxMontreal

Using improvisation to stay connected : Harold O'Neil at TEDxMontreal

See All Videos »

  • How do I book Harold O'Neal to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Harold O'Neal for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Harold O'Neal, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Harold O'Neal or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Harold O'Neal

    Speaking fees for Harold O'Neal, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Harold O'Neal are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Harold O'Neal, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Harold O'Neal speak about?

    Harold O'Neal is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Black Heritage, Creativity, Entertainment, Martial Arts, Music, Performing Arts, Storytelling

  • Where does Harold O'Neal travel from?

    Harold O'Neal generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Harold O'Neal’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Harold O'Neal for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Harold O'Neal for your next private or corporate function.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Harold O'Neal or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

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Harold O'Neal is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Path To Mastery and Connecting Through Creativity And Improvisation. The estimated speaking fee range to book Harold O'Neal for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Harold O'Neal generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are AyseDeniz Gokcin, Stefon Harris, Nnenna Freelon, Kris Bowers and Stefano Bollani. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Harold O'Neal for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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