Dr. Sarah Rushing, NCTM
Assistant Professor
Office: Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex, Room 236
Email: srushing@wtamu.edu
Phone: 806-651-2852
Professional Profile
Dr. Sarah Rushing, NCTM is Assistant Professor of Piano at West Texas A&M University, where she teaches applied piano, class piano, and piano pedagogy. Rushing’s commitment to teaching is evidenced through her years of experience teaching private and group piano classes in both the community and university settings in Louisiana, New York, Colorado, Virginia, and Texas. Rushing has been an active member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) since 2009, serving as a faculty advisor, local competitions coordinator, and adjudicator for various regional and state competitions. In 2017, Rushing led the University of Colorado Boulder Collegiate Chapter of MTNA to receive the prestigious Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award. Additional involvement in MTNA includes the presentation of original research at national and state conferences.
Teaching and Related Service
Dr. Rushing teaches applied piano, piano literature, and chamber music ensemble. She co-directs the Grace Hamilton Piano Festival and is the advisor for WT’s chapter of the Music Teachers National Association.
Research and Creative Activity
As a performer, Rushing enjoys playing music off the beaten path and has appeared in competitions and recitals throughout the US. In 2013, she was featured on American Public Media’s “Performance Today.” Other radio appearances include a live broadcast on KGNU in Boulder, CO. Rushing enjoys collaborating with colleagues and has recently been engaged with the North American Saxophone Alliance, the International Double Reed Society, the National Flute Association, and the Flute New Music Consortium. Before moving to Texas in 2020, Rushing was an Instructor of Piano at Virginia Tech. She completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Colorado Boulder in the studio of David Korevaar, where her research focused on the music of Johannes Brahms and Claude Debussy. She received the Masters of Music in Piano Performance degree from Ithaca College, where she studied with Jennifer Hayghe, and the Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance degree from Louisiana State University, where her teachers included Willis Delony and Gregory Sioles.
Personal Sketch
When not teaching and performing, Rushing enjoys hiking, running, and spending time with her cat, Gorge.