John McKay (pianist)
Encyclopedia
John McKay is an American pianist
and music educator of Canadian birth. He has performed in concerts, recitals, and on radio and television broadcasts throughout North America and Europe. His programs often include works by contemporary American Canadian composers, and he has performed the world premieres of works by Mortimer Barron, Clermont Pépin
and Harry Somers
among other composers. He has also performed extensively as a chamber musician and accompianist, including in performances with his wife, contralto Sara Hayden. In 1989 he co-founded the Minnesota Valley Sommarfest.
, McKay studied the piano with Lubka Kolessa
in his native city as a boy. He graduated from the Schulich School of Music
at McGill University
with a Bachelor of Music
in 1961. In 1962 he won the Prix d'Europe
which enabled him to pursue studies in Vienna and Cologne with Bruno Seidlhofer and in Brussels with Stefan Askenase
. In 1969 he joined the music faculties of both the University of Toronto
and The Royal Conservatory of Music. He taught concurrently at those institutions until 1972 when was appointed head of the piano department at Dalhousie University
. In 1971 he co-founded NOVA MUSIC, a Halifax based organization dedicated to presenting new or seldom-performed music.
In 1974 McKay emigrated to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music
at the University of Rochester
. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts
from the school in 1979 after completing a doctoral thesis on notational practices in piano works by 20th-century composers. While pursuing these studies he began teaching on the music faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College
in St. Peter, Minnesota
in 1976, remaining there until 2004. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1985.
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and music educator of Canadian birth. He has performed in concerts, recitals, and on radio and television broadcasts throughout North America and Europe. His programs often include works by contemporary American Canadian composers, and he has performed the world premieres of works by Mortimer Barron, Clermont Pépin
Clermont Pépin
Clermont Pépin, was a Canadian pianist, composer and teacher.He was born Jean Joseph Clermont Pépin in Saint-Georges, Quebec in 1926. Pépin studied with influential Canadian composers Claude Champagne and Arnold Walter , and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia from 1941 to 1944 with...
and Harry Somers
Harry Somers
Harry Stewart Somers, CC was the foremost English-Canadian composer of his period.He was born in middle-class Toronto in 1925 but did not become interested in music until his early teenage years, when he met a doctor and his wife, both pianists, who introduced him to classical music...
among other composers. He has also performed extensively as a chamber musician and accompianist, including in performances with his wife, contralto Sara Hayden. In 1989 he co-founded the Minnesota Valley Sommarfest.
Life and career
Born in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, McKay studied the piano with Lubka Kolessa
Lubka Kolessa
Lubka Kolessa was a classical pianist and professor of piano.- Education :...
in his native city as a boy. He graduated from the Schulich School of Music
Schulich School of Music
The Schulich School of Music is one of the constituent faculties of McGill University in Montréal, Canada. The faculty was named after benefactor Seymour Schulich.-History:Music at McGill – The Beginning...
at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
with a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in 1961. In 1962 he won the Prix d'Europe
Prix d'Europe
The Prix d'Europe is a prestigious Canadian study grant that is funded by the Ministère des Affaires culturelles du Québec of the Government of Quebec. Established in 1911, the award has been distributed annually to a single individual through competition with the exception of 1960-1973 and 2009...
which enabled him to pursue studies in Vienna and Cologne with Bruno Seidlhofer and in Brussels with Stefan Askenase
Stefan Askenase
Stefan Askenase was a Polish-born Belgian classical pianist and pedagogue.-Biography:Askenase was born in Lemberg. He studied with Theodor Pollak, a professor and director of the Ludwik Marek School of Music in Lemberg. Then with Emil von Sauer, a pupil of Liszt, at the Vienna Academy of Music...
. In 1969 he joined the music faculties of both the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
and The Royal Conservatory of Music. He taught concurrently at those institutions until 1972 when was appointed head of the piano department at Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie University is a public research university located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The university comprises eleven faculties including Schulich School of Law and Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine. It also includes the faculties of architecture, planning and engineering located at...
. In 1971 he co-founded NOVA MUSIC, a Halifax based organization dedicated to presenting new or seldom-performed music.
In 1974 McKay emigrated to the United States to pursue graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music
Eastman School of Music
The Eastman School of Music is a music conservatory located in Rochester, New York. The Eastman School is a professional school within the University of Rochester...
at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts
Doctor of Musical Arts
The Doctor of Musical Arts degree is a doctoral academic degree in music. The D.M.A. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy. The D.M.A...
from the school in 1979 after completing a doctoral thesis on notational practices in piano works by 20th-century composers. While pursuing these studies he began teaching on the music faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College
Gustavus Adolphus College is a private liberal arts college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in St. Peter, Minnesota, United States. A coeducational, four-year, residential institution, it was founded in 1862 by Swedish Americans. To this day the school is firmly...
in St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter, Minnesota
St. Peter is a city in Nicollet County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 11,196 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Nicollet County.St...
in 1976, remaining there until 2004. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1985.