|
The American pianist, Robert Hjelmstad, received his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University (2007-2011), on a Presidential Medallion Scholarship, the institution’s highest academic award. He earned his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Georgia on a full graduate assistantship (2011-2013). While there he earned recognition both for his performance of new music and his teaching acumen, receiving both the Franz Liszt Award and the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award, a student-nominated honor. He earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder in the studio of David Korevaar (2015-2018). During the degree, his primary research interests were the music of Maurice Ravel and strategies for memory enhancement in piano teaching. In his capacity as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, he taught class piano and accompanies in various instrumental and vocal studios.
Robert Hjelmstad is a pianist of many interests. He is equally adept in his roles as soloist, chamber musician and piano teacher. A musician of many interests, he is equally adept in his various roles as solo pianist, collaborative pianist, church musician and piano teacher. As a pianist, his interests span a wide variety of repertoire, from the ancient keyboard music of J.S. Bach, to new music off the beaten path. He has performed around the USA, from his home state of Michigan, to Georgia and South Carolina, and most recently, Colorado. In 2014, he gave his international debut, performing solo and chamber music at the Federal University of Brasilia in Brazil. After his Masters graduation, he divided his time in Georgia between accompanying vocal and instrumental recitals and lessons at the University of Georgia, teaching a private piano studio in the Athens area, and creating worship music as the pianist at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Athens, a post he held for three years (September 2012-July 2015) before relocating in 2015.
In addition to performing, Robert Hjelmstad's keen interest in teaching has led to several presentations on teaching topics in regional and national conferences, including Music Teacher’s National Association convention and the College Music Society’s national conference. He is a piano instructor at Dana V Music in Louisville, Colorado since August 2017.
His non-musical interests include distance running, stand-up comedy, biking in beautiful scenery and watching basketball and occasional Netflix binges. Hae currently lives in Longmont, Colorado. |
