Omar Roy

Biography

Omar Roy currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy in the School of Music at the University of South Carolina.

A strong supporter of independent music teachers, Dr. Roy is in demand as a clinician. He regularly presents workshops and guest lectures to music teacher organizations and universities, and is a frequent adjudicator for festivals and competitions. His involvement with music teachers' organizations has led to leadership positions and presentations at the state, national, and international level, including recent presentations for the 2021 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and the World Piano Teachers Association's 2021 World Piano Conference. His publications can be found in Piano Magazine and the MTNA e-Journal. Dr. Roy is also part of the administrative team for The Art of Piano Pedagogy – a constantly growing Facebook group that acts as a resource and forum of discussion reaching nearly 23,000 piano teachers throughout the world. 

While Dr. Roy is dedicated to teaching at both the college and pre-college levels, he also remains a committed and passionate performer, presenting both traditional and lecture performances. Recent engagements have included guest recitals, masterclasses, and lectures at universities such as the University of Arkansas – Ft. Smith, Oklahoma Baptist University, and the Western Alabama Music Teachers Association's All-State Music Weekend. His playing has also been heard on WQLN Radio's Classics with Wally Faas.

Dr. Roy earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma where he studied Piano with Jeongwon Ham and Edward Gates, and Piano Pedagogy with Jane Magrath and Barbara Fast. His research interests include practice efficiency, teaching strategies for students with special needs, sequenced repertoire assignment, and pedagogical applications of musical semiotics. Dr. Roy's other teachers include Jerry Wong, Shirley Yoo, and Nathan Hess. Previous faculty appointments include the University of Alabama and Oklahoma City University.

Omar Roy, DMA, is a Yamaha Artist.