Meet André Short

In his own words: “I love seeing students grow. Getting to be a guiding hand in their development is truly special. I also enjoy that each student is different, which challenges me to find what works best for each of them individually. It’s fun! Another and perhaps my all-time favourite thing is that students often feel like they come to lessons to learn piano, but they usually end up learning more about themselves, their limits, their tastes, their passions, and their strengths. For whatever reason, music can often serve as a mirror, making students see themselves, see where they are, and how they think, which also serves as an opportunity for growth both musically and personally.”

André T. Short is a pianist and RCM Studentship holder. His research focuses on Cécile Chaminade’s career, works, and performativity as well as the frequently renegotiated exchange between an artist and the public.

When André is not researching and performing he is working with his students. Regardless of the genre, popular, improvisation, or classical music André’s teaching methodology is centered entirely around the goals and cultural musical preferences of his students in which a clear path to musical success is drawn. The emphasis on so much of Andre’s teaching work is lifting his students to a higher awareness and level of musicianship, without getting lost in the details and difficulties. Andre’s experience as an athlete and gymnast also gives him rare insights into the world of piano technique and how to use your body more effectively when playing piano.

In 2015 André graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s of music in piano performance at Colorado State University where he studied with Dr Silvana Santinelli and Dr Janet Landreth. In addition to performing in the US and Europe during his studies, he won the silver medal in the 2012 International Keyboard Odyssiad and Festival and was awarded 1st prize in his university’s concerto competition in 2013. After completing his bachelor’s degree he began his teaching career while continuing to perform as a soloist, collaborator, and in orchestras for musical theatre productions. It was during this time that he first discovered the music of Clara Schumann and was instantly intrigued by this newly discovered world of sound.

At the Conservatorio di Musica “F. Morlacchi” di Perugia he dedicated his master’s degree to researching and performing the works of Clara’s Schumann as well as the music of Maria Szymanowska, Fanny Hensel, Cécile Chaminade, and Jean Coulthard. While studying with Gabriella Rivelli at the Conservatorio, he also formed a piano duo that won several prizes in competitions across the Italian peninsula. He completed his master’s degree in piano performance in 2020 and graduated with the highest honours.

Alongside his work at the Royal College of Music, we are proud to have Andre as a member of the piano faculty at the London Contemporary School of Piano.