Phone: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3590
Email: jclifft@apu.edu
Joel Clifft, DMA
Director of Keyboard Studies; Assistant Professor of Music
School of Music
Profile
Joel Clifft earned his Doctorate from the University of Southern California while studying with Dr. Alan Smith and Bernadene Blaha. Dr. Clifft’s primary area of study was keyboard collaborative arts, with minor fields in solo piano, music theory, and composition. He graduated Pi Kappa Lambda and was chosen as the “Most Outstanding Graduate” at both the Masters and Doctoral levels. Dr. Clifft attended USC on a full scholarship and in addition, was a recipient of the Gwendolyn Koldofsky scholarship.
As an active collaborative pianist, he has performed in concert with such world-class musicians as violinist, Midori, and erhu player, Ma Xiaohui. He also has performed with the Foothill Philharmonic Society, the Debut Orchestra, the Brand Library Concert Series, the Lake Avenue Chamber Orchestra, and the Idyllwild Faculty Concert. He is sought after by many singers and instrumentalists and gives about fifty concerts per year of new repertoire. Dr. Clifft has also been engaged for many master classes, including those given by the Jascha Heifitz society, Alice and Eleanor Schoenfeld, Martin Katz, and Midori.
Dr. Clifft is the Director of Keyboard Studies at Azusa Pacific University, where he oversees the entire keyboard department, including all piano and organ majors. In addition, he teaches music theory and ear training courses. Dr. Clifft is also an adjunct faculty member at USC where he teaches collaborative piano to all undergraduate piano majors.
In addition, he has extensive international performance experience, touring through Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Korea, China and Singapore. He was recently invited to perform at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
As an active collaborative pianist, he has performed in concert with such world-class musicians as violinist, Midori, and erhu player, Ma Xiaohui. He also has performed with the Foothill Philharmonic Society, the Debut Orchestra, the Brand Library Concert Series, the Lake Avenue Chamber Orchestra, and the Idyllwild Faculty Concert. He is sought after by many singers and instrumentalists and gives about fifty concerts per year of new repertoire. Dr. Clifft has also been engaged for many master classes, including those given by the Jascha Heifitz society, Alice and Eleanor Schoenfeld, Martin Katz, and Midori.
Dr. Clifft is the Director of Keyboard Studies at Azusa Pacific University, where he oversees the entire keyboard department, including all piano and organ majors. In addition, he teaches music theory and ear training courses. Dr. Clifft is also an adjunct faculty member at USC where he teaches collaborative piano to all undergraduate piano majors.
In addition, he has extensive international performance experience, touring through Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Korea, China and Singapore. He was recently invited to perform at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Education
D.M.A. - Keyboard Collaborative Arts, University of Southern California, 2007
M.M. - Keyboard Collaborative Arts, University of Southern California, 2002
B.M. with honors - Piano Performance, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education, Azusa Pacific University
M.M. - Keyboard Collaborative Arts, University of Southern California, 2002
B.M. with honors - Piano Performance, Music Theory/Composition, Music Education, Azusa Pacific University
Professional Involvement and Accomplishments
Outstanding Graduate, Class of 2002, Keyboard Collaborative Arts program, USC
Gwendolyn Koldofsky Scholarship recipient
Gwendolyn Koldofsky Scholarship recipient
Expertise
Music Fundamentals
Piano
Practical Musicianship
Note: This information is current for the 2008-09 academic year. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
