JohnWillard Utuk

JohnWillard Utuk is a pianist, educator, composer, & performer who values the integration of music, art, emotions, and storytelling. In teaching, he encourages students to create personal narratives around their pieces so they can personally connect with their repertoire. As a composer, The Etherea Suite, Volume 1 for solo piano was self-published as an intermediate-advanced collection for piano students inspired by Trials of the Innermost, a sci-fi/fantasy novel. In June 2023, his chamber piece, The High Priestess premiered at the Walden Creative Musicians Retreat with members of the International Contemporary Ensemble. Other collaborations include working with Sor Juana Elementary (Chicago, IL) in arranging an orchestration for the school’s debut fight song. JohnWillard enjoys using the composing technique of musical ciphers and cryptograms, where letters and words relate to pitches and melody lines. This writing style is a constant theme in most of his works.

Along with coaching and accompanying middle school band students for solo & ensemble festival, he also uploads piano tracks as musical meditations on the Insight Timer application. JohnWillard began piano lessons with the late Ms. Eleanor Morgan of Cape Coral, FL, continuing with the late Artist-in-Residence, Dr. Robert MacDonald at Florida Southern College. JohnWillard earned bachelor’s degrees in music education & performance from Florida Southern College, and a Master of Music in piano performance from the University of North Florida. His personal website is www.jwupiano.com.