Pierre van der Westhuizen, a native of South Africa, graduated from Potchefstroom University with a double major in Piano Performance and Composition&Theory. As an undergraduate student he received several prizes, awards and scholarships, which included the M.C. Rhoode Memorial Performance Prize and a grant from the National Research Foundation. He made his concerto debut in 1998, performing with the National Chamber Orchestra of South Africa. He continued his studies in the U.S., focusing on piano performance, with major teachers being Frank Weinstock, Truida van der Walt, and Caroline Oltmanns. His performances were heard on WCLV (Cleveland) and WYSU (Youngstown). He continues to perform internationally as soloist and collaborative pianist, and appeared as soloist with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra in December, 2006. He also has a special interest in New Music which started during his undergraduate studies in South Africa (since he was also a composition major) where he often performed works by South African composers. He has performed in numerous New Music Festivals in Cincinnati, at Heidelberg College and in South Africa, with featured composers such as Karel Husa, P.Q. Phan, and Rzewski.

Pierre is also part of the Westhuizen Piano Duo, with his wife Sophia Grobler. As duo, they have performed across the U.S. and South Africa, where they also teach master classes. Their interest in new music has led them to premiere numerous works by young South African and American composers. Just recently, they were the first piano duo to receive fellowships as Young Artists at the prestigious PianoTexas International Academy and Festival. They have received master classes from artists such as Emanuel Ax, Janos Starker, James Tocco, The Pridonoff Duo, Alan and Alvin Chow and Awadagin Pratt. Their performances were heard on WGTE (Toledo), Radio sonder Grense and ClassicFM. They also featured as guest artists at the Volksblad Arts Festival in South Africa, as well as OSU/Port Clinton Arts Festival in Ohio, the “Music at Covenant” series (Cincinnati), and have been invited to perform at the Firelands Concert Series, Lakeside Summer Music Festival, St. Mary’s College in Indiana, the Grahamstown National Arts Festival (South Africa), and the University of South Africa (Pretoria, South Africa).

Pierre’s conducting activities range from the direction of choirs to brass bands, to orchestra. In South Africa he has led the Potchefstroom Brass Band, and the Musikhane Orchestra (Potchefstroom). He also served as musical director of the University of Potchefstroom’s Theater Productions, and conducted a premiere performance of an original musical in 2000. Recent performances include the direction of Handel’s Messiah in Cincinnati, as well as an upcoming guest appearance with the Firelands Symphony. Pierre studied conducting with Eric Kayayan (France), and Stephen Gage (Youngstown State University).

Pierre currently serves on the faculty of Heidelberg College, where he is Assistant Professor of Piano, as well as Coordinator of Keyboard Studies.