Lori Piitz

Dr. Lori Piitz is a Professor of Piano in the School of Music at James Madison University. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.) and Master of Music (M.M.) from Indiana University, a Bachelor of Music (BMus) from the University of Ottawa, and certifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music and Salem College. Her career spans performances across North America and Europe, including engagements with the Neusäss Chamber Orchestra, the Kennedy Center, and festivals such as the Schleswig-Holstein and Villa Musica Festivals in Germany. She specializes in injury-preventive piano techniques and has collaborated with notable musicians like Gabriel Dobner.

Education highlights include degrees from institutions such as the University of Ottawa (where she won the Isobel Firestone Scholarship) and the Banff Center of Fine Arts. Her research interests focus on optimizing piano performance through biomechanically sound methods. Awards include the Canadian Music Competitions win and recognition on CBC Radio broadcasts. At JMU since 2002, she contributes to festivals like the Contemporary Music Festival and Staunton Music Festival.

• Key Achievements:
• Recipient of prestigious scholarships and international performance accolades
• Active in chamber music and solo recitals across three continents
• Leadership in injury-preventive pedagogy

Her teaching spans universities including Indiana University, the University of Ottawa, and the Augsburg/Nürnberg Hochschule für Musik, reflecting a global impact in music education.