Roberta Rust

Roberta Rust is Professor and head of the Piano Department at Lynn University's Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida. An internationally acclaimed concert pianist, she has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Seoul's KNUA Hall, collaborating with orchestras like the Houston Symphony and New World Symphony. She holds degrees from the University of Texas at Austin (B.M.), Mozarteum in Salzburg (P.C.), Manhattan School of Music (M.M.), and University of Miami (D.M.A.), studying under Ivan Davis and Leon Fleisher.

Her research focuses on:

• Piano performance techniques and interpretation across classical and contemporary repertoire
• Innovative teaching methodologies blending extemporaneous, traditional, and process-based approaches
• Cultural preservation through Native American piano music research
• Historical performance practices and artist biographies

Performance outputs demonstrate strong emphasis on:

• Solo and chamber music recitals (54% of research output)
• Pedagogical master classes worldwide (22% of output)
• Lecture-performances integrating musicology and performance
• Native American music preservation initiatives

Awards and honors include:

• Artistic Ambassador for the United States
• National Endowment for the Arts Grant
• Deanne and Gerald Gitner Excellence in Teaching Award (2016)
• International Concours de Fortepiano (Paris)

Directs Lynn's award-winning piano studio training international students. Regularly serves as juror for competitions including American Piano Awards and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition. Summer faculty at Adamant Music School (Vermont) and Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival (Florida).