John Mayhood

John Mayhood is a Lecturer in Piano at the University of Virginia, where he serves as head of the piano faculty. A versatile pianist, he maintains an active performance schedule across North America and Europe, focusing on solo and chamber music from the English virginalists to contemporary composers. His concerts often explore complete works by single composers, including Poulenc, Hindemith, Feldman, and Schubert, alongside premieres of new works.

As a scholar, Mayhood investigates transformational theory and theory-performance intersections, presenting at institutions like the University of Chicago and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Musiktheorie. His primary intellectual focus lies in the philosophy of music, particularly meaning in abstract music and philosophy of performance.

Mayhood earned his Master of Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign under Ian Hobson, with additional studies under Caio Pagano and Jean-Paul Sévilla. He has previously taught piano at the University of Illinois and philosophy at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design.

His recordings appear on Ravello Records and the EcoSono label, and his performances are regularly broadcast on NPR, CBC, and SRC radio. Recent premieres include works by Matthew Burtner, Daniel Kessner, James Sochinski, and Bruce Mather’s Doisy Daëne III (US premiere).