Dr. Justin Bird

Justin Bird is an acclaimed pianist, teacher, arranger, tuner, and collaborator whose fresh interpretations include an affinity for underrated repertoire. He has performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, amongst many other orchestras. During his studies in the US he won concerto competitions awarding performances with both Florida State University Philharmonia and the Indiana University Orchestra. As a young pianist Justin studied in Auckland, NZ with Rae de Lisle, then Bryan Sayer. Continuing his studies in the USA with Read Gainsford at Ithaca College and Florida State University, he then moved to Peabody Institute studying with Marian Hahn, then to Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music to complete a Doctorate in Music studying with André Watts.

 

Justin has been sharing his love for music since the nineties, always maintaining a private studio as well as teaching piano in different colleges and schools. After his Associate Instructorship at Indiana University, he taught at Vincennes University as Adjunct Faculty, and was then appointed as Artist Faculty at Omaha Conservatory of Music in Nebraska. Now living again in NZ, Justin teaches piano at Waikato University and at his Auckland studio, performs viola with various orchestras and ensembles, adjudicates regional competitions, and tunes pianos. Recent concerto appearances have been with Orchestra Auckland, and Wairua Sinfonietta performing Bruch's Double Piano Concerto.