Teaching Artist Statement

My goal is to inspire students to become lifelong musical learners and to encourage each student’s curiosity so that he or she becomes a well-rounded musician in addition to being a skilled pianist.  The study of music can teach us many valuable things, such as how be self-disciplined, how to be part of a team, and how to get in touch with our own creative side. These benefits of studying music are made richer and more meaningful by discovering the context of the music we create, by listening to others perform music, by learning music history and theory, by learning about music composition, and by learning how to play music in an ensemble.

While my primary instrument is the piano, my teaching incorporates elements gleaned from my eclectic musical background. I am a composer, and I also spent many years as a trombonist, a handbell ringer, a marching band member, and a jazz band member.  These experiences have taught me how to relate to all types of musicians and to approach music performance and instruction from many different angles.  From this varied background, I aim to give each student a highly individualized approach to learning the piano and to encourage them to live a life full of music.

Teaching Bio

Steven’s wide-ranging musical background has allowed for him to work with musicians of all ages.  For the past 10 years, Steven has been active as an accompanist and coach for instrumentalists, singers, and choirs.  Additionally, he has taught lessons, led sectionals, and helped other musicians cultivate their talents in a variety of settings, including his work as the trombone section leader of the University of Washington’s Husky Marching Band and as pianist for the French Chorale of the Alliance Française de Seattle. Steven received a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from the University of British Columbia and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music and Norwegian Language from the University of Washington. 

Performance Bio

Steven is a frequent performer of solo piano music, art song, and chamber music, and a supporter of creating new music. He is currently a teaching artist at Seattle Opera, the accompanist for the Norwegian Male Chorus of Seattle, and the Staff Accompanist at Music Center of the Northwest. He previously worked as an accompanist at Shoreline Community College and for the French Chorale of the Alliance Française de Seattle. Steven is Founder and Artistic Director of the Saltwater Music Series in Des Moines, WA, and serves as Composer-in-Residence for the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society. When not performing his own compositions, he prefers to play pieces by composers whose works are not often heard, especially those by Scandinavian composers and women composers.