Pianist Tim Stephenson is recognized for his “old-school elegance” (The Chautauquan Daily) and performances that bring a “spontaneity and passion… that seems almost improvisational” (The Republic). He has performed widely across the United States as a soloist and chamber musician. 

Based in Los Angeles, Stephenson made his professional debut in 2019 with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, performing Grieg’s piano concerto under Dr. David Bowden. He has collaborated with renowned conductors including Timothy Muffet and Thomas Wilkins; his performance of Beethoven’s first piano concerto with the latter was praised by The Herald Times as “lovely and lyrical.” 

Stephenson has won top prizes in numerous competitions, including the Indianapolis Matinee Musicale Competition, the Jacobs School of Music Concerto Competition, and the Chapman-Neeson Piano Competition, and received an honorable mention at the International Odyssiad Keyboard Competition. 

As a collaborator, he frequently appears with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra. A strong advocate for new music, he commissioned a violin-piano duo from Malaysian composer Shao Teo Fern and premiered the work in a 2017 Carnegie Hall recital. He has also recorded Vivian Fung’s Birdsong with coaching from the composer. With pianist Nicha Stapanukul, he co-founded the B&T Piano Duo, which pioneered a live-stream recital series in 2020 for audiences in quarantine. 

His artistic range extends to jazz, as a founding member of the award-winning combo Cofield and a semi-finalist in the Jacksonville Jazz Amateur Competition. He has participated in big band masterclasses with Wynton Marsalis and Marcus Roberts and worked with saxophonist John Ricci. Stephenson is also an experienced church and dance musician and performs regularly as a gig musician throughout Southern California. 

In addition to piano, Stephenson is a trained horn player, having studied with Aaron Brask of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He has earned accolades on the horn and performed with ensembles including the London Symphony Orchestra. 

Stephenson earned his doctoral degree from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music under Norman Krieger. He received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Florida State University under Dr. Read Gainsford. He has also worked with celebrated artists such as André Watts, Hyun-Kuan Chen, Paul Schenly, and Anton Nel, and appeared in masterclasses with Jerome Lowenthal, Paul Lewis, Ian Hobson, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Logan Skelton, Alexander Korsantia, Arnaldo Cohen, Robert Blocker, Virginia Weckstrom, and Lisa Moore, with summers at Aspen Music Festival and School, Pianofest in the Hamptons, Chautauqua Institution, and Brevard Music Festival. 

A dedicated educator, Tim Stephenson is described by his students as a “highly personable” teacher with “great methods for technique, memorization, and musicality.” 

His faculty appointments include Indiana University’s Jacobs Academy, DC Strings Workshop, Stafford Piano Academy, Pacific Piano School (San Jose), Florida State University’s Piano Institute, and Aspen Music Festival and School’s PALS program. He has also been a guest lecturer at the University of Missouri, Kansas City. 

Stephenson is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) and Music Teachers of Southern California, and is a frequent presenter at major conferences, including Music Teachers National Association National Conference, The Piano Conference: NCKP, Florida State Music Teachers Association Conference, New York State Music Teachers Association Symposium, and Indiana Music Teachers Association State Conference. 

His scholarly work bridges music cognition and pedagogy. His doctoral thesis, "Is It Unteachable? Establishing a Method for Teaching Communicative Musicality to Advanced Students," investigates inclusive teaching practices for students with aphantasia. This research was featured in a plenary session at the MTNA Collegiate Chapters Symposium, titled “Using Music Cognition to Promote Inclusive Teaching.” For his outstanding work in music theory, he received a Certificate of Honor from the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. 

Stephenson was an early adopter of virtual instruction and now maintains a private studio in Los Angeles, offering in-person and online lessons in piano, music theory, composition, ear training, and jazz studies.

Tim Stephenson complements his artistic career with extensive and nuanced experience as an arts administrator, bringing a musician's insight to roles in fundraising, marketing, and operations. His practical expertise is backed by formal training, having earned a Certificate in Fundraising Management from the prestigious Lilly School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. 

He currently holds the position of Associate Director of Individual Giving at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, where he focuses on developing annual fund strategy and donor pipeline. Prior to this, he served in several roles at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, most notably as the Director of Major Giving, where he demonstrated a specialized skill in building high-level donor relationships. His foundation in arts administration was built through earlier positions at academic institutions, including roles within the Jacobs School of Music’s Piano Department and the Florida State University College of Music’s Office of Community Engagement & Entrepreneurship. 

Stephenson has lent his expertise to organizations such as the Young Professionals of Central Indiana, where he chaired the Sponsorship Committee, and the Indianapolis Suzuki Academy, where he led the Fundraising Committee as a board member. He also contributes his knowledge to the broader music teaching community as a committee member of the Music Teachers National Association’s (MTNA) Business Resources Network. 

As a thought leader in arts business practices, Stephenson has authored several articles for the MTNA Business Resources Digest. His publications offer practical guidance on topics ranging from leveraging online masterclasses to funding a new business, reflecting his commitment to empowering fellow artists and educators. His own innovative work has been recognized with grant support, most recently through a Creative Renewal Fellowship awarded by the Indiana Arts Commission, underscoring his standing as a leader who successfully bridges the artistic and administrative realms.