Rebecca McCord

Rebecca McCord is a multi-faceted pianist, having performed as solo recitalist, chamber musician, duo pianist, and soloist with orchestra in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Making her debut at the age of nine, Dr. McCord has made guest artist appearances with over thirty orchestras including Dallas, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Houston, Eastman Philharmonic, Rome Festival and Tanglewood. As a young pianist, she was prizewinner in over twenty competitions, including the Naumburg, Bloch Young Artist, Masters Young Artist, and Naftzger Young Artist. She has premiered many new works, including several written expressly for her. Dr. McCord received her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Oklahoma City University, where she studied with Ernestine Scott, was named a Presidential Scholar, and was the recipient of a full scholarship. She also studied piano with Adele Marcus at the Juilliard School of Music in New York and with Rudolf Serkin at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She earned the Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Piano Performance and Literature, as well as the prestigious Performer's Certificate, from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied with Barry Snyder and was named a Leopold Schepp Scholar and Outstanding Graduate Student. For 28 years, Dr. McCord was Professor of Piano at Sweet Briar College. In 2012, the main music hall at Sweet Briar was renovated and named in her honor. Dr. McCord was recipient of Sweet Briar's Faculty Fellowship and the first-ever post-doctorate fellowship at the Eastman School of Music. She has three times been named Artist-in-Residence at La Cité des Arts in Paris. In 2013, she was named Professor Emerita of Music at Sweet Briar College. Her 2014-15 engagements will include performances and master classes in Hong Kong, China, eight European countries, and across America. Dr. McCord’s students are known for their very fine playing and have been recipients of scholarships to some of the country’s best music schools. She regularly serves as an international clinician, master class teacher, and adjudicator.