EDUCATION:
D.M.A. University of Missouri – Kansas City
M.M. Brigham Young University
B.M. Brigham Young University
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Nancy Allred-Wright strives to instill a deep love for learning, music, and continuous improvement in her students. In her teaching, Dr. Allred emphasizes active learning, combining performance with discussions on technique, musicality, and interpretation in weekly private lessons for piano majors. She also teaches a performance class where students critically assess their own and peers’ performances, fostering a supportive community that encourages growth and development. She extends her passion for music and teaching beyond the classroom, regularly performing to inspire her students and developing comprehensive online courses in piano pedagogy and literature to facilitate active learning. Her dedication to student success, innovative teaching strategies, and commitment to fostering a nurturing educational environment exemplify her excellence in teaching and mentorship.
As Professor of Music and Director of Piano Studies at Utah Tech University, Dr. Allred has developed Utah Tech’s outstanding piano program and mentors a wonderful studio of piano majors. A gifted teacher, she loves the classroom as well as the private studio. Dr. Allred has designed courses in piano pedagogy, piano literature, piano ensemble, accompanying, group piano and private piano. She developed a Piano Pedagogy Certificate Program for Utah Tech University and loves to mentor students through the wonderful process of learning and applying piano teaching skills.
An accomplished soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Allred is a distinguished collaborator of vocal, choral, and instrumental music. She has collaborated with Ronald Staheli, Craig Jessop, Eph Ehly, Ariel Bybee, Robert Breault, George Dyer, Jordan Bluth, and Jenny Oaks Baker. She has performed in master classes for Richard Goode, Lorin Hollander, Leonard Pennario, and Dorothy Taubman.
In 2023, Dr. Allred was appointed as the artistic director for Lieto Voices. In that capacity, she plans and organizes rehearsals and concerts for each concert season. For sixteen years, Dr. Allred collaborated with the Southern Utah Heritage Choir as accompanist, director and artistic director, and with whom she performed throughout Europe, the British Isles, China, and the United States. Previously, she was the accompanist for the BYU Singers and collaborated with the Southwest Symphonic Chorale for many years.
Dr. Allred holds advanced degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, studying piano with Paul Pollei, Robert Smith, and renowned professor Joanne Baker. She has performed concertos with the Southwest Symphony Orchestra, the Dixie State Symphony Orchestra, the Tuacahn Youth Orchestra, the UMKC Conservatory Orchestra, and the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra.
She loves teaching and is frequently asked to give workshops and presentations at music educator conferences, sharing her knowledge and expertise with other music teachers. Dr. Allred was recently honored by the Music Teachers National Association as a Foundation Fellow during the 2022 MTNA National Conference. She is the director for the Castle Rock Piano Camps, held annually at Utah Tech. She is also the co-director with Dr. Christian Bohnenstengel, for the Southern Utah Pedagogy Conference, held annually at Utah Tech and Southern Utah University.