08/20/2026
We are so excited to welcome Dr. Joshua Pifer to the Armstrong Campus. Dr. Pifer will be performing on our Piano in the Art series on August 27, 7:30 p.m. at the Fine Arts Auditorium!
Dr. Joshua Pifer is Associate Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Head at Valdosta State University. During the summer months, he serves as piano faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Festival, and Artist Pedagogue Headliner at the International Piano Festival “Encuentro de Pianistas Hernan Teruel” in Honduras. Prior to VSU, he served at Auburn University and Florida State University as well as President for the Alabama Music Teachers Association. Joshua currently serves in the role of Vice President for Programs for the Georgia Music Teachers Association serving as the conference coordinator. Praised for his “sensitivity,” “color,” and “depth” in performance, Joshua has appeared in concerts on three continents as well as 27 U.S. states. His two CDs: “Alexander Tcherepnin My Favorite Piano Works” & “Plains2: Love Songs and Lyric Dance” released with Puros Records and co-produced with Chandler Bridges, a Grammy winning recording engineer, were praised as “full of intensity and commitment” and “brilliant and original.” Joshua is the founding member of several chamber ensembles: Plains2 with Dr. Matthew Wood, trombone; The Duo Echo with Jennifer Pifer, oboe; and the Palm Trio with Dr. Peter Geldrich, clarinet & Dr. Shannon Lowe, bassoon. Joshua enjoys giving masterclasses that are “filled with innovative substance and the joy of discovery”. Joshua also regularly presents lectures, clinics, and performances at professional conferences and Music Teachers Associations. He is a strong advocate for increasing professional music opportunities for collegiate students. Dr. Pifer’s former students include successful musicians who are music professors and professional collaborative pianists, composers, small business owners of independent music studios, and church musicians. As a pedagogue and performer, Joshua believes that music is a tool for inspiration. When not performing or teaching, Joshua can be found playing tennis or practicing culinary arts with his family.
