What drew you to the Moores School of Music, and what initially inspired your pursuit of music and the arts?

Music is something I can’t live without! In high school I considered many universities and various majors, but I was always looking for ways to minor in music or keep studying piano somehow. Finally it hit me—piano was what I wanted to do! I chose my degree at the Moores School of Music because I wanted to grow as a performer and teacher. The Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy program transformed me in both areas.

Looking back on your time at the Moores School of Music, which experiences or moments were particularly formative in your academic and artistic development? Were there any professors or mentors whose teaching and guidance had a lasting influence on your education and career?

My most ecstatic memories from UH are the beautiful recitals and concerts I attended, especially performances by my professors, but I also have a soft spot for my time spent in the second-floor practice rooms. UH has wonderful Steinway Bs, and my countless hours of practice on them overhauled my playing.

Tell us about a typical day in your job. Do you have a particular philosophy around art and creating?

A typical day for me combines practicing piano, teaching, and research, which can take several forms. Sometimes I’m working directly on transcribing Florence Price’s manuscripts; other times I’m learning more about her life and her musical world. In my own practicing, I believe strongly in a slow-and-steady approach. I like to start early, work at pieces bit by bit, and enjoy the process.

Who were the most influential professors or mentors you encountered, and how did they impact your education and career?

My piano teacher Nancy Weems made a profound and lasting impact on my artistry. She believed in all of her students and constantly inspired us to reach new levels of excellence without ever tearing us down. Mrs. Weems opened my ears to musical details I had never considered, and I can still hear her singing along with me as I play.

What is one career accomplishment of which you are particularly proud of? How do you feel your College education prepared you for this?

My proudest accomplishment is publishing critical editions of over 50 piano works by Florence Price. Her music is an American treasure that we should all celebrate, and I’m happy to have played a part in making her music more accessible. While I sadly didn’t know Price’s music as a master’s student, UH was where I first played a work by a Black woman composer: Margaret Bonds’ Three Dream Portraits. I also credit the Introduction to Research Methods course I took in my first semester with making me a more rigorous scholar. It laid a foundation that saw me through further graduate study and eventually to the work I’m doing now.

What is one valuable lesson you learned during your time as a student at Moores School of Music?

I learned how to be a professional at UH. During my master’s program, I had to balance my own practicing and studies with working as a teacher for the first time. My professors encouraged me to turn class projects into conference presentations and publications, allowing me to enter the scholarly community in which I’m still active today.

Do you have a manifesto? If so, how does it influence your life and work?

I have a few guiding principles posted on my office bulletin board:

1. The expert at anything was once a beginner
2. Easy = familiar; hard = unfamiliar
3. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
4. Progress, not perfection

These messages are all getting at the same thing: we can accomplish great things through patient, diligent effort.

How has your industry changed since you started, and what trends do you see emerging?

There is definitely more emphasis on branding and having a presence across various social media platforms than when I was in school. Having a basic online presence is necessary for people to learn about you and your work, but I would prefer to spend the bulk of my energy on the actual work rather than how I present it online.

What advice would you give to new graduates entering your field?

Stay curious and follow your passions! It’s my love for what I do that gives me the energy to pursue it so tenaciously. New avenues will open that you never anticipated, as they did most recently for me with the music of Florence Price. As I started to learn some of her pieces in 2020, I was frustrated that so little music was available, and I wondered if the editions I had were accurate. The desire to know more drove me to see her manuscripts for myself as I prepared to record my first album of her music. That album made publishers take me seriously as a Price scholar, leading to my first publication of her music.

What legacy do you hope to leave?

I hope that my work plays a part in keeping Price’s piano music in print as long as the works of other American greats like Copland and Gershwin. I also hope that my students continue to enjoy piano and music throughout their lives and pass on some of the lessons I’ve shared with them.

How can alumni or current students connect with you or follow your work?

Follow me on Instagram at @michaelclarkpiano or visit michaelclarkpiano.com. My two albums are available to stream on all major platforms: Waltzes and Character Pieces of Florence Price and Florence Price: Piano Sonata and Other Works.

What final piece of advice would you offer to anyone reading your spotlight?

Keep making and supporting art—humanity needs it to sustain and nourish us!