In recent years, the push to include underrepresented composers in our musical landscape has sparked conversation—and sometimes hesitation. Is it truly essential to broaden the repertoire? What if you simply prefer the tried-and-true classics?

This thought-provoking lecture/program invites us to dive into the heart of that question. We’ll examine how expanding the repertoire not only enriches our artistic landscape but also empowers us as performers, educators, and advocates to shape more personal and impactful musical identities. Together, we’ll uncover why these lesser-known gems deserve a place alongside the classics—and how they can help us and our students stand out with authenticity and purpose.

Note from VLMTA-NC: This program serves an exciting follow-up to NCMTA's recent Virtual Summit "Amplifying Every Voice." 

Artina McCain

Hailed by the New York Times as a "virtuoso pianist" Artina McCain, has built a formidable career as a performer, educator and speaker. As a recitalist, her credits include performances at Wigmore Hall and Barbican Centre in London, Weill Hall at Carnegie and Merkin Hall in New York City and more. Other highlights include guest appearances with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, she was the mistress of ceremony for the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. 

Dedicated to promoting the works of Black and other underrepresented composers, McCain curates Underrepresented Composers Concerts for multiple arts organizations. She is an American Prize winner for her solo piano recordings of these works and won a Gold Global Music Award for her recent album project Heritage. In 2021, Hal Leonard published her transcriptions of Twenty-Four Traditional African American Folk Songs. 

McCain was a featured inspirational leader in the award-winning PBS documentary series Roadtrip Nation: Degree of Impact in an episode exploring the real-world impact of professionals with doctoral degrees in and outside of academia. 

McCain's performances have been heard on the Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), Germany’s WDR and television appearances including features on CSPAN for the MLK 50 Commemoration. McCain is a three-time Global Music Awards winner including collaborative projects I, Too (Naxos), with soprano Icy Monroe, focused on African American Spirituals and Art Songs and Shades, a collaboration with her husband and duo partner Martin McCain. 

After not performing for 6 years while battling a performance injury, she now enjoys a prolific concert career with more than 10 years of full injury recovery. She uses her recovery to serve as an advocate of musicians’ wellness–curating articles, lectures, and forums to educate teachers and students. Most recently the BBC featured her on the podcast Sideways telling her miraculous story of injury to recovery. McCain has written and presented on wellness and other topics in the Piano Magazine and at multiple universities, Music Teachers National Association Conference and the National Conference of Keyboard Pedagogy. 

McCain graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University. She received her Master of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music and holds a doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Currently, she is Associate Professor of Piano and Coordinator of the Keyboard Area at the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music at the University of Memphis and Co-Founder/Director of the Memphis International Piano Festival and Competition. 

In her spare time, Artina enjoys boutique shopping, traveling internationally and is an avid tea aficionado. 

Artina McCain is a Yamaha Artist.

Website: https://artinamccain.com/home