Dr. Christie Sowby, NCTM, attended Brigham Young University, Harvard University, the New England Conservatory, and the University of Utah. Her prowess is in extended piano techniques and she relishes the challenge of championing and teaching contemporary music.
Passionate about learning, Christie participates in the Encore Music Teachers Association (president), UMTA (including past president of two chapters), MTNA, ISME, NCKP, and studied with Olympic-trainer, high-performance expert, Dr. Craig Manning. She enjoys lecturing and performing regularly for local, university, state, national, and international music conferences and webinars. She has been featured online for the Frances Clark Center “Inspiring Artistry” series.
Christie has served in various organizations, among which include Encore Piano Teachers Association President (current), Website Chair, Technique Assistant, Keyboard Competition Chair, and Handbook Chair; UMTA’s Communication Chair, Collegiate President (twice), Collegiate Vice President, and the Website Committee Chair; BYU’s School of Music student committee chair; and MTNA’s National Conference Committee and Marie Sue Harris Studio Teacher Fellowship Committee.
As an active performer and accompanist, Christie performs regularly and has collaborated with orchestras and every major symphonic instrument, including her family duo with her husband on the marimba and piano. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2018 and has won two international piano competitions and placed in others. Christie is the pianist for the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra and performs regularly for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
An award-winning teacher, Christie received the UMTA Student Teacher of the Year, the Phi Kappa Phi National Love of Learning award (twice), several MTNA Teacher Enrichment Grants, Utah’s “Best of State” (twice), Federation’s National Vivian Nelson Award, Federation’s National Ouida Keck Award, and the prestigious MTNA National Studio Teacher Fellowship. She has taught piano courses and lessons at BYU, Rivers Conservatory, in the Greater Boston area, and throughout the world via online lessons. In Utah, she coaches award-winning students in online and in-person private lessons, ensembles, recitals, competitions, pedagogy, masterclasses, and summer camps. Her students take lessons from her from around the world and place in competitions frequently.
Christie is a jury member of the World Piano Teachers Association and ENKOR International Music Competition and is an eFestival Evaluator for MTNA. She is a frequent judge for competitions and festivals, particularly Distinguished Young Women (formerly America’s Junior Miss) and Utah’s Sterling Scholar program. She loves to spend time with her husband, Dr. Robert Sowby, and their daughter, Evelyn.
Christie Sowby 