Music Department

Jeff Payne

Instructor
Piano

Jeff Payne is known to American audiences as an artist of rare sensibilities and vision.  In 2008, his performance of Messiaen’s “Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus” was named one of the Ten Best Concerts of the year by the Oregonian.  Heralded by the Boston Globe as "a pianist of chameleon abilities,” and his performance with fellow pianist Yukiko Takagi of Ligeti's Three Pieces for Two Pianos was singled out by the Boston Globe as "a performance of special distinction." He has performed on WGBH National Public Radio in Boston, KING radio in Seattle, and All-Classical radio in Portland, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Norton Gallery in Palm Beach, at the Seattle Spring Festival, at Eugene's Music Today Festival, the Ernest Bloch Festival, and the Oregon Bach Festival.  He has performed with the Vancouver Symphony, the Newport Symphony, the Willamette Falls Symphony, Portland Opera Chorus, the Oregon Repertory Singers, the Spectrum Singers, and Concord Choir.

With percussionist Joel Bluestone, Payne founded the Fear No Music ensemble with percussionist Joel Bluestone in 1992.  As a member of the ensemble he has appeared in hundreds of performances across the United States including performances in New York City, California, Colorado as well as throughout the Pacific Northwest.  During his tenure as Artistic Director for the group he was responsible for presentation of twenty World Premiere or American Premiere performances of works by Pacific Northwest composers. In 1997 he founded the Young Composers Workshop, as part of the mission of Fear No Music, and continues as its director, fostering and promoting the talens of aspiring young musicians around the country 

Praised for his wide ranging repertoire, he has received accolades for performances ranging from Beethoven to Cage and Ligeti.  Also in demand as a lecturer and adjudicator, he has presented workshops and pre-concert talks for the PSU Piano Recital Series, the Columbia Symphony, the Oregon Music Teacher’s Association, and has adjudicated at many local, state and regional festivals and competitions.

Jeffrey Payne was graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music by Boston University where he studied with Bela Nagy and Luis Batlle.  He also attended the College of Idaho where he was a student of Fern Davidson.  He holds a Master of Music in Piano from the New England Conservatory where he studied with Stephen Drury.  He has taught at Willamette University and Portland State University, and currently teaches at Reed College.  He can be heard on CD performing with FEAR NO MUSIC 20th Century Ensemble and the Oregon Repertory Singers.