Asher Ian Armstrong

Described as “Powerful, big-boned” (American Record Guide) and “graceful, agile, and spontaneous” (Fanfare), pianist Asher Armstrong performs across Europe and North America, and has recorded three solo albums on Classical label Blue Griffin, including surveys of Brahms, Busoni transcriptions, and virtuoso late Romantic and 20th century works. Notable recent engagements include solo recital performances at the Penderecki Academy in Kraków, the Royal College of Music in London (UK), the Iceland University of the Arts, the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto), The University of Toronto’s New Music Festival, and as a concerto soloist with the Washington-Idaho Symphony Orchestra.

Armstrong is particularly interested in Late Romantic piano repertoire, and has given world premiere performances of works by the “Scriabinist” Varvara Gaigerova, whose unpublished Piano Sonata he discovered. This interest in neglected virtuoso music has also involved performances of large works by Kaprálová, Leginska, Fromm-Michaels, and Pejačević. Additionally, Armstrong is an advocate of new music, having worked closely with Tasmanian composer Dylan Sheridan in premieres of his piano and chamber works, as well as French-Canadian composer Alexandra Delgado, Latvian composer Dace Aperans, and Icelandic composer Veronique Vaka. 

Armstrong worked with many of the leading pianists of North America and Europe. Studies with Rachmaninoff’s pupil Ruth Slenczynska molded his artistry, as did his principal doctoral studies with the world-renowned Romanian concert pianist and teacher Marietta Orlov, herself a student of the legendary Florica Musicescu (teacher of Radu Lupu and Dinu Lipatti). Additionally, Armstrong worked with Michael Chertock (MM, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music), Kevin Kenner (Royal College of Music, London), Nicholas Ashton (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Margarita Schevchenko (Cleveland Institute of Music), and others. 

Armstrong has taught all levels of Applied Piano, as well as Chamber Music, Piano Literature, and Piano Masterclass at the University of Toronto. Prior to his faculty posting at UofT, Armstrong served as an Assistant professor of Piano at the University of Arkansas. He has taught at several other institutions, including the Interlochen School for the Arts.

Armstrong’s students include major competition prizewinners and acceptees of some of the top musical institutions (such as Eastman, NEC, McGill, Manhattan, and CCM). Armstrong prioritizes community involvement and inclusion in his studio, and has mentored students in ground-breaking projects which recovered lost music (Florence Price), engaging with the community via workshops and performances at Secondary Schools, libraries, community centres and local concert series. 

A sought-after adjudicator, Armstrong has served as a clinician at international festivals and competitions including the Chinese-Canadian Competition, the Canadian Provincial Piano Finals, Kiwanis, all levels of the MTNA competition, as well as many other local festivals throughout North America, and additionally serves as an Advanced Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music. As a masterclass artist, Armstrong has been invited to the Universities of Alberta, Prince Edward Island, Dalhousie, Memorial, Mount Allison, Texas State, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Washington State, Arkansas, and many others. A leading scholar in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Armstrong, has authored over 20 publications on piano technique, late Nineteenth century repertoire, neglected virtuoso piano music, and new music; his scholarly work can be found in Cambridge University Press’s Tempo, as well as in Clavier Companion, Piano journal, Piano Magazine, American Music Teacher, Canadian Music Teacher, and others. Four of his lecture-recitals on large piano sonatas by Twentieth century composers have been published by the Francis Clark Centre. Armstrong was also a repertoire consultant and author of the Royal Conservatory’s Nineteenth century repertoire and advanced piano technique modules (2022), and has been a recipient of many grants and awards, including the SEC Faculty Grant (2023), a Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences Grant (2023), and a Provost Travel Grant from the University of Arkansas.