Education

• D.M.A., Doctor of Musical Arts, University of Texas at Austin, 2011
• M.M., Master of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, 2006
• B.M., Bachelor of Music, Southern Methodist University, 2003

Biography

Hailed by the New York Times as a "virtuoso pianist" Artina McCain, has a 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 underperformed composers, McCain curates and consults for multiple arts organizations. 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. In 2021, Hal Leonard published her transcriptions of Twenty-Four Traditional African American Folk Songs as apart of their series focusing on folk songs from around the world.  

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 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.  

 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 from Southern Methodist University, 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 and is an avid tea aficionado.  

Artina McCain is a Yamaha Artist. More info artinamccain.com