As pianist, educator, collaborative musician and administrator, Allison Shinnick Keep advocates for the transformative role that music can play in society and in the lives of individuals. Her solo and collaborative performances have been heard across the U.S., Germany, Spain and Japan, and in venues such as Bach-Saal (Kiel), Orchard Hall (Tokyo), Hill Auditorium (Ann Arbor), Helzberg Hall (Kansas City) and Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall (NYC). A champion of American works, Allison’s repertoire includes compositions by Griffes, Liebermann and Price, and she has appeared as soloist in concerti by Amy Beach (Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra) and Aaron Copland (Lawrence University Symphony Orchestra).

A dedicated teacher, Dr. Keep received extensive pedagogical training at the New School for Music Study in Kingston, New Jersey, where she served on the faculty for four years. She has also held graduate teaching assistantships at the University of Missouri – Kansas City and at the University of Michigan. Allison is currently on the faculty of Hope College (Holland, Michigan), where she teaches courses in piano and aural skills. She also maintains a vibrant private studio of pre-college pianists.

Allison seeks to contribute to the greater piano teaching community both locally and nationally through serving in administrative roles, presenting at conferences and writing. She recently performed a lecture recital of nocturnes by women composers at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, in addition to co-chairing the New Professionals Committee. Her writing has appeared in the Piano Magazine, on the Piano Inspires Discovery Blog and will be featured in an upcoming issue of the Piano Inspires Kids magazine. Dr. Keep currently serves as the secretary of the board of the PianoArts North American Competition, as well as the Teacher Education Chair for Michigan Music Teachers Association.

Allison holds a DMA in piano performance and pedagogy from the University of Michigan; she earned a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City; and she holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and oboe performance with a minor in German from Lawrence University. She studied piano with Arthur Greene, Robert Weirich and Catherine Kautsky, and her pedagogy mentors include John Ellis, Amy Glennon and Mary Van De Loo.

EDUCATION

• DMA, piano pedagogy and performance, University of Michigan
• M.M., piano performance, University of Missouri-Kansas City
• B.M., piano performance and oboe performance, German language minor, Lawrence University

RECENT CREATIVE ACTIVITY

• Lecture Recital: Women of the Nocturne, National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, Lombard, Illinois, 2023
• “Forging Your Professional Identity: Where Community, Values, and Opportunities Collide,” with Dr. Jessie Welsh and Kellie Cunningham, National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy, Lombard, Illinois, 2023
• Klavier Vierhändig: four hand music of Johannes Brahms with Dr. David Keep, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany, 2023
• Lecture recital: Aaron Copland’s Music for the Piano, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2023
• “Pictures” with Paramount Chamber Players, Tri Cities, Tennessee, 2023
• “Mozart: Influenced and Influencer” with violinist Lauren Pulcipher, Pleyel Piano Series at the Scarab Club, Detroit, Michigan, 2023
• “More than Meets the Eye: Beginning Reading Approaches and the Pianist’s Technical Development,” Michigan Music Teachers Association, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 2022

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

• Chair of the New Professionals Committee for the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy
• Secretary of the governing board of PianoArts North American Piano Competition and Music Festival
• Teacher Education Chair for Michigan Music Teachers Association

For more information, see Allison’s personal website.