Kristian Klefstad

Kristian Klefstad is Associate Professor of Piano and Coordinator of the Keyboard area at Belmont University, where he teaches piano, piano pedagogy, piano literature and class piano, and directs the Belmont Piano Invitational summer keyboard program.

Dr. Klefstad performs solo and collaborative music throughout the United States, and also presents lecture-demonstrations and papers at national and regional conferences, including the College Music Society and WVU’s Intersection of Jazz and Classical Music Festival. Recently, he performed as a soloist with the Western Kentucky University Orchestra, and has been guest artist at the Lamar University Piano Festival in Beaumont, TX, and the Maverick Piano Festival in Omaha, NE. Dr. Klefstad served on the jury for the inaugural Nashville International Chopin Competition in 2023, and the Knoxville International Piano Festival and Competition in 2024.

Dr. Klefstad is actively involved in regional, state, and national organizations devoted to teaching music. In addition to many officer roles in the Southern Chapter of the College Music Society, including President, (2015-17) he has served as President, Vice-President, and Programs Chair of the Nashville Area Music Teachers Association, and Coordinated the Young Artist Achievement Awards 2019-2024.