Retiring Piano Professor, Steinway Artist to Perform Final Concert April 21

Retiring Piano Professor, Steinway Artist to Perform Final Concert April 21

Dr. Michael Boyd, a Distinguished University Professor who is retiring at the end of the semester after 36 years with The University of Toledo Department of Music, will present a final piano concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 21.

The free, public performance is at the UToledo Center for Performing Arts Recital Hall. Parking is free in Area 12.

Boyd is a soloist, collaborative artist, lecturer, teacher and adjudicator. As a concerto soloist, he has performed with the Rochester Philharmonic, the Milwaukee Symphony, the Toledo Symphony, the Dearborn Symphony and the Eastman Chamber Orchestra. Recitals have taken him across the country to California, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio and throughout Europe to Austria, Belgium, Greece and Spain. He most recently performed and taught master classes in China.

At UToledo, Boyd spearheaded two major fundraising efforts. The Dorothy MacKenzie Price Piano Series, named for its benefactor, is funded in perpetuity thanks to an endowment he helped secure. He also was a major player in the fundraising effort that led to UToledo being designated as an All-Steinway School in 2022.

An All-Steinway designation means that students and faculty practice and perform only on Steinway instruments. Boyd is a Steinway Artist who was named to the Steinway Music Teacher Hall of Fame in 2023.

"I've enjoyed many diverse opportunities throughout my career, but my greatest legacy will be the students I've taught," Boyd said, "I've been proud to watch many go on to exceptional performance and teaching careers of their own."

Examples include Olga Rua, who graduated with a master of music in performance degree in 2006 and is now a piano instructor at Cincinnati Music Academy. Juan Montoya, who graduated with a master of music in performance degree in 2009, is a pianist, composer and award-winning conductor, most recently the resident conductor of the Kuala Lumpur City Opera. Phillip Clark, who graduated with a master of music in performance degree in 2012, went on to direct the choirs and orchestra at Adrian College. And Gabriel Hagedorn, who graduated with a bachelor of music degree in 2022 and will graduate with a master of music in performance degree in May, is the central director of music at CedarCreek Church.