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Dr. Joshua Pifer is Associate Professor of Piano and Keyboard Area Head at Valdosta State University.  During the summer months, he serves as piano faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Festival.  Prior coming to Valdosta State University, Joshua served as Senior Lecturer in Piano at Auburn University, Visiting Assistant Professor at Florida State University, Adjunct Faculty at Wittenberg University, and Artist Faculty at Orfeo Music Festival in Vipiteno, Italy.  Joshua’s major teachers were Antoinette Perry, Robert Thomas, and Robert Howat.  Dr. Pifer received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-med Biology and Music from Wittenberg University, his Master of Music degree from Miami University, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California.  

Praised for his “sensitivity,” “color,” and “depth” in performance, Joshua has appeared in concert as a soloist and chamber musician on three continents, as well as having nationally toured for concerts in 27 U.S. states.  Joshua has premiered works by 21st Century American composers including Andre Cormier, Justin Aftab, Gary Shields, Patrick Townsend, Elizabeth Goode, and Andrea Clearfield.  In addition, Joshua is an advocate for the piano music of Alexander Tcherepnin.  His first CD, “Alexander Tcherepnin My Favorite Piano Works” (released by Puros Records and co-produced with Chandler Bridges, a Grammy award winning recording engineer) was praised as “full of intensity and commitment” and “brilliant and original.”  His second CD, “Plains2: Love Songs and Lyric Dance” was recently released by Puros Records in August of 2022 and includes several transcriptions and arrangements done by him.  Joshua is the founding member of several chamber music ensembles: Plains2 with Matthew Wood, trombone; The Duo Echo with Jennifer Pifer, oboe; The Palm Trio with Peter Geldrich, clarinet, and Shannon Lowe, bassoon; and The Oto Trio with Eleanor Pifer, violin, and Chikuen Kato, Japanese artist, who explore the inner connection between art and music.

Joshua enjoys giving masterclasses that are “filled with innovative substance and the joy of discovery”, and his “enthusiastic and compelling” pedagogical insights are in demand as an adjudicator at festivals and competitions.  As a pedagogue and performer, Dr. Pifer believes that music is a tool for inspiration.  Joshua also regularly presents lectures, clinics, and performances at professional conferences and Music Teachers Associations.  As a clinician, his favorite presentations include “The Piano Music of Alexander Tcherepnin,” “Arm Usage and Injury Prevention in Piano Playing,” and “Teaching Improvisation, It’s Not That Scary.” 

Joshua has served as President for the Alabama Music Teachers Association and has always been a strong advocate for increasing professional music opportunities for collegiate students.  Starting in November 2024, Joshua will step into the role of Vice President for Programs for the Georgia Music Teachers Association serving as the conference coordinator.  The achievements of Dr. Pifer’s students include a National Finalist for MTNA Young Artist Composition Competition, multiple Finalists for AMTA and MTAC State Piano and Composition Competitions, presenters at conferences, and acceptance for further musical study at universities and conservatories.   Dr. Pifer’s former students include successful musicians who are music professors and professional collaborative pianists at universities, successful performer/composers, small business owners of independent music studios, and professional church musicians.  When not performing or teaching, Joshua can be found playing tennis or practicing culinary arts with his family.