Joshua Tan
Joshua Tan hails from St. Paul, Minnesota, and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Southern California, where he was recognized as the 2020 Outstanding Music Graduate of the Year. At USC, he served as a lecturer and graduate teaching assistant in the Keyboard Studies Department under the guidance of Professors Bernadene Blaha and Kevin Fitz-Gerald. Dr. Tan currently serves on the faculty at Fullerton College and collaborates regularly with the Los Angeles Children’s Chorus. He is a board member of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers.
Dr. Tan has been a participant and performer at several prominent music festivals, including Chautauqua, Round Top, New Orleans Piano Institute, and the Texas State International Piano Festival. The recipient of many awards, he won first prizes in the MTNA Young Artist Competition for Texas, the Mika Hasler Foundation Competition, and the James Ramos International Video Competition. Dr. Tan is also a frequent presenter at state and national music conferences. In 2015, he represented the University of Arizona as a touring soloist and master class clinician in the southwestern United States and in Mexico.
Praised for his sensitive playing and facility in a wide range of musical styles, Dr. Tan enjoys collaborating with living composers, vocalists, and choral ensembles. Being a singer and composer himself, he has toured and competed throughout the United States and Europe as a baritone in various choral ensembles. Several of his choral compositions have been premiered in recent years by members of these groups. Dr. Tan’s background as a multi-disciplinary musician has greatly influenced his approach to the keyboard, from tone production and voicing to stylistic understanding. It also enables him to connect with a diverse range of students.
Dr. Tan holds a dual Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance and music education with a K-12 teaching credential from the University of Houston, where he studied with Professor Nancy Weems. He completed his Master of Music degree in piano performance with Dr. John Milbauer at the University of Arizona and was honored as the “Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistant” by the Fine Arts Department. In addition to performing and teaching, Dr. Tan is an avid backpacker, outdoor enthusiast, and amateur horticulturalist. He believes in a holistic approach to music learning that encourages students of all ages to make authentic connections between their own interests, life experiences, and musical studies.