Justin Bird is an acclaimed pianist and pedagogue from Aotearoa, whose fresh interpretations have garnered attention – being named the New Zealand Young Performer of the Year and winning the Kapiti Coast National Piano Competition. His impressive musicianship has also led him to become a finalist in several notable competitions, including the New Zealand Young Musician of the Year Competition, the MTNA National Young Artist Competition in the United States, and the Kowhai Australasian Piano Concerto Competition.

Justin has performed with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia, some performances to audiences of over 250,000 in the Auckland domain. In the U.S. he has been the winner of concerto competitions awarding performances with both Florida State University Philharmonia and the Indiana University Orchestra. Taking advantage of the talented musicians at IU he joined forces with conductor Nicholas Hersh to give a memorable performance of the Delius Piano Concerto.

Justin’s journey in music has been marked by his studies with esteemed mentors such as Rae de Lisle, then Bryan Sayer. Continuing his studies in the U.S. with Read Gainsford at Florida State University, and Marian Hahn at the Peabody Institute, Justin then moved to Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music to complete a Doctorate in Music studying with the legendary André Watts.

After his Associate Instructorship at IU, he taught at Vincennes University as Adjunct Faculty, and was then appointed as Artist Faculty at Omaha Conservatory of Music in Nebraska. Now living again in NZ, Justin teaches at Auckland University and at home, performs orchestral piano, celeste, and viola with multiple orchestras and ensembles, and tunes pianos.

Short Biography

Justin Bird is an acclaimed pianist and pedagogue from Aotearoa, whose fresh interpretations have garnered attention – being named the New Zealand Young Performer of the Year and winning the Kapiti Coast National Piano Competition. His impressive musicianship has also led him to become a finalist in several notable competitions, including the New Zealand Young Musician of the Year Competition, the MTNA National Young Artist Competition in the U.S., and the Kowhai Australasian Piano Concerto Competition.

Justin’s journey in music has been marked by his studies with esteemed mentors such as Rae de Lisle, Bryan Sayer, Read Gainsford, and the legendary André Watts at Indiana University, where he earned his Doctorate in Music.

His teaching career progressed to Vincennes University in Indiana, and the Omaha Conservatory of Music in Nebraska. Now back in NZ, Justin teaches at Auckland University, performs orchestral piano, celeste, and viola with multiple orchestras and ensembles, and tunes pianos.