Mark Stevens

Biography

Dr. Mark Stevens serves as Assistant Professor of Piano and Director of Keyboard Studies at South Dakota State University. Dr. Stevens’ experience as a pianist ranges from traditional piano repertoire to contemporary music, including living composers. As an advocate for 20th and 21st century music, he performs a diverse range of repertoire, with a special affinity for American composers. In recital, he engages audiences through thematic programming, juxtapositions of unique repertoire, and colorful insights about music, composers, and cultural context. An active collaborative pianist, he routinely coaches and performs with both vocalists and instrumentalists. His passion for chamber music leads him to blend chamber and solo repertoire to create concert programs of unusual variety and depth.

An active and passionate teacher for two decades, Dr. Stevens has repeatedly been awarded for the quality of his instruction. His students have won more than 20 prizes in competitions including the Seattle Young Artists Music Festival, the Washington State Music Teachers Association’s State Recitalist Competition, and the Northwest Bach, Viennese Classical, Romantic, and Contemporary Piano Festivals. He is regularly invited to adjudicate and teach throughout the Pacific Northwest. He has recently adjudicated for the MTNA, WSMTA, OMTA, WMEA, and NFMC. He has given masterclasses and workshops for universities, professional music teaching organizations, private studios, and music academies. As a graduate student, he received the University of Oregon’s 2017 award as the Outstanding Graduate Performer in Piano Pedagogy as well as MTNA recognition for his teaching excellence while earning a Masters of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His academic teaching experience includes piano literature, piano pedagogy, music theory, aural skills, opera coaching, recreational class piano, and keyboard skills.