JohnWillard Utuk is a pianist & educator who enjoys sharing the classical piano repertoire with diverse audiences.
His personal mission is to "Educate, Empower, & Elevate" students and listeners through performances, teaching, creating fun arrangements, and sharing his story of resilience.
His personal mission is to "Educate, Empower, & Elevate" students and listeners through performances, teaching, creating fun arrangements, and sharing his story of resilience.
 Philippine Independence Day Celebration @ Jax Landing (my first outdoor performance!)
Recent engagements include performing at Penney Memorial Church as a featured guest artist, initiating & performing a Benefit Concert to support the local Keys on Parade Extension program at Christ United Methodist Church, and playing at the 1st annual Philippine Independence Day Celebration at the Jacksonville Landing. Other highlights include students receiving honors in the Florida State Music Teachers Association Student Day and giving written feedback to students of all levels as an MTNA eFestival evaluator.
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Presenting a token of appreciation to the Circle One United Methodist Women for their generous support
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He has appeared with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, the Imperial Symphony Orchestra (Port Charlotte & Lakeland, FL), performed at Carnegie Hall (American Protégé International Competition of Romantic Music 2012), and was a semi-finalist in the 15th Biennial International Beethoven Piano Sonata Competition in Memphis, Tennessee. He has participated in many masterclasses and played for artists such as Sean Chen, Yakov Kasman, Davide Cabassi, Robert Durso, Robert Satterlee, and Paul Barnes.
 "For John-Best regards to you - Warm wishes for the piano and beyond"
Inspired by a Reader’s Digest article of the 1997 Van Cliburn piano competition gold medalist Jon Nakamatsu, JohnWillard began piano lessons with the late Mrs. Eleanor Morgan of Cape Coral, FL.
He continued studies with the late Artist-in-Residence, Dr. Robert MacDonald of Florida Southern College. While there, he was actively involved in the music department: he played trumpet in the symphony band, was the accompanist for the FSC Gospel Choir, held leadership positions within Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity (Theta Sigma), and was chosen by the faculty as a Presser Scholar. He went on to earn his Masters in Music Performance from the University of North Florida. Currently he teaches private lessons, composes music for piano and small ensembles, accompanies band students, and performs recitals throughout the community. Venues include churches, long term care facilities, retirement homes, libraries, and at special events upon request. He's also a Youth Library Associate, where he led "Little Movers & Shakers" story times to families & children birth-5, incorporating music, movement, & basic musical concepts to enhance literacy skills. He has served as an adjunct professor of Music at Edward Waters University and was an instructor at the Jacksonville School of Music (formerly Great Scott Music Academy). "The good man is the only excellent musician because he gives forth a perfect harmony |
Meeting Jon Nakamatsu for the first time. March 1, 2000 @ the Sanibel Music Festival, Sanibel, FL
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M.M., Master of Music Performance
B.M.Ed. & B.M., Bachelor of Music Education & Bachelor of Music (magna cum laude)
Professional Associations:
Music Teachers National Association
National Federation of Music Clubs
*Honoring my late Teachers:
Eleanor Morgan (1910-2010) & Dr. Robert MacDonald (1930-2013)
*(Learn about their amazing lives by clicking their names!)
Dr. MacDonald's West Side Story Medley Premier 8/27/06 @ FSC
"EDUCATE, EMPOWER, & ELEVATE"
Origin Story&
My mission stems from my desire to share my love for the piano to others, while guiding students in discovering their own power to learn, create, use their imagination, and build their confidence. I believe the study of music (or any activity that requires patience, persistence, and consistency) can help people in many positive ways. Personally, my background has been marked with many health challenges. Despite my circumstances, always having the piano waiting for me at home has been my source of resilience, learning, fun, and inner peace.
I grew up with music all around me---from watching MTV music videos, waking up to blaring Classical music filling the house as my Dad made breakfast, to my Mom always listening to same CDs of the Premier Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd Weber or ballroom dancing tracks. There was always music playing somewhere, and to this day I still play music while going to sleep. I watched my older sister practice on our brown Kimball console piano. She taught me where to put my hands and the first "piece" I learned to play at 7 years old (by rote & ear) was the Primo part of William Gillock's "Sidewalk Cafe" duet.
Starting formal lessons at 8, piano lessons was the highlight of my week. I was excited to see what color my next method book was or what pieces I would learn for Jr. Federation festival. I was never told to practice...it was just something I worked in after doing my homework. Through middle school and high school, I kept practicing, along with marching band rehearsals and Friday night football games.
Now a teacher myself, I realize that parents play a crucial role in student success. I appreciate that my parents came to every recital, waited through every lesson, and made me "play something!" whenever there were house guests. My former piano teachers were always encouraging and understood my reserved determination. I'm forever thankful for their knowledge, kindness, and positive energy! I aim to do the same--passing along my knowledge of technique, creating at the keyboard, and playing with expression, helping students develop at their own pace, while they gain habits & skills to learn repertoire on their own, and encourage a mindset of self-belief, curiosity, and appreciation for beauty to share with others.
I'm passionate about Education: I like teaching for the simple reasons of helping others learn something new through conversations and sharing my knowledge from personal experiences. Giving students a plan & suggestions for steps to take are tools they can apply to other areas in life. Reading, research, professional and personal development keep me motivated as a lifelong learner and evolving student.
I encourage to Empower students: I personally learn best with positive encouragement and constructive criticism delivered in a forward-thinking way that focuses on methods for solutions to problems (not criticizing personal attributes). Everyone learns differently and at their own speeds. Leaving students with a message of "You can do this, if you remain persistent" and "You can learn this piece better by taking these steps" is my way of empowering them with what they can do rather than what they can't at a given moment. I know I've done my job well when students come to a lesson and are excited to show me what they learned on their own. Ultimately, we've both succeeded if they can teach themselves.
I intend to Elevate others through Inspiration: After many hospital stays, one of the first things I'd do was go to the piano and see if I could still play something. I'd be glad most of my memory was intact and continue practicing where I left off. I'd happily distract myself to be productive when my body was up to it, since recovering meant gradually resuming to life's routines. Music is an outlet that I've used for personal enjoyment, learning, and motivation despite circumstances outside my control. For students that need an "escape," or want to gain confidence as they learn more and more each lesson, I aim to be an example of the energy that inspires forward progress. When I perform I want to leave audiences feeling better than when they arrived; I hope my interpretations resonates with them, sparking a reminder of a fond memory or relaxing their minds for a brief moment. Thinking back to watching my older sister practice, to my first lessons, then to playing with orchestras and the surprise of playing at Carnegie Hall, it's exciting to envision the endless possibilities of a student's future. For me, it all started with an interest in music.
I grew up with music all around me---from watching MTV music videos, waking up to blaring Classical music filling the house as my Dad made breakfast, to my Mom always listening to same CDs of the Premier Collection: The Best of Andrew Lloyd Weber or ballroom dancing tracks. There was always music playing somewhere, and to this day I still play music while going to sleep. I watched my older sister practice on our brown Kimball console piano. She taught me where to put my hands and the first "piece" I learned to play at 7 years old (by rote & ear) was the Primo part of William Gillock's "Sidewalk Cafe" duet.
Starting formal lessons at 8, piano lessons was the highlight of my week. I was excited to see what color my next method book was or what pieces I would learn for Jr. Federation festival. I was never told to practice...it was just something I worked in after doing my homework. Through middle school and high school, I kept practicing, along with marching band rehearsals and Friday night football games.
Now a teacher myself, I realize that parents play a crucial role in student success. I appreciate that my parents came to every recital, waited through every lesson, and made me "play something!" whenever there were house guests. My former piano teachers were always encouraging and understood my reserved determination. I'm forever thankful for their knowledge, kindness, and positive energy! I aim to do the same--passing along my knowledge of technique, creating at the keyboard, and playing with expression, helping students develop at their own pace, while they gain habits & skills to learn repertoire on their own, and encourage a mindset of self-belief, curiosity, and appreciation for beauty to share with others.
I'm passionate about Education: I like teaching for the simple reasons of helping others learn something new through conversations and sharing my knowledge from personal experiences. Giving students a plan & suggestions for steps to take are tools they can apply to other areas in life. Reading, research, professional and personal development keep me motivated as a lifelong learner and evolving student.
I encourage to Empower students: I personally learn best with positive encouragement and constructive criticism delivered in a forward-thinking way that focuses on methods for solutions to problems (not criticizing personal attributes). Everyone learns differently and at their own speeds. Leaving students with a message of "You can do this, if you remain persistent" and "You can learn this piece better by taking these steps" is my way of empowering them with what they can do rather than what they can't at a given moment. I know I've done my job well when students come to a lesson and are excited to show me what they learned on their own. Ultimately, we've both succeeded if they can teach themselves.
I intend to Elevate others through Inspiration: After many hospital stays, one of the first things I'd do was go to the piano and see if I could still play something. I'd be glad most of my memory was intact and continue practicing where I left off. I'd happily distract myself to be productive when my body was up to it, since recovering meant gradually resuming to life's routines. Music is an outlet that I've used for personal enjoyment, learning, and motivation despite circumstances outside my control. For students that need an "escape," or want to gain confidence as they learn more and more each lesson, I aim to be an example of the energy that inspires forward progress. When I perform I want to leave audiences feeling better than when they arrived; I hope my interpretations resonates with them, sparking a reminder of a fond memory or relaxing their minds for a brief moment. Thinking back to watching my older sister practice, to my first lessons, then to playing with orchestras and the surprise of playing at Carnegie Hall, it's exciting to envision the endless possibilities of a student's future. For me, it all started with an interest in music.
