Welcome our new collaborative pianist: Austin Skeffington
After a thorough search process, I’m delighted to announce that Austin Skeffington will be our new collaborative pianist, beginning officially at the start of the church year. He’ll also appear during a few summer services to get to know us and share his skills!
Austin is a gifted pianist, composer, and arranger with experience in numerous musical styles. He’ll be a great addition to our developing music ministry, supporting our choir at the keyboard, and serving as band leader for the Chancel Cats.
Special thanks to our thoughtful and collaborative search committee: Amy Self, Paula Staffeldt, Heidi Todd, Chris Zanoni, Dr. Emily and Rev. David.
View his headshot and read his bio below:
If there were one statement to best describe the work of composer, arranger, educator, and pianist Austin Skeffington, it would have to be his driving musical philosophy: Every genre harbors its own unique ability to connect with people. Drawing influences from Chopin to Paul McCartney and Billy Strayhorn to Dark Tranquility, Austin’s work stands out for its novelty, experimentation, and exploration, often bridging the gap between traditionally unrelated styles.
Beginning his musical journey as a passionate kid set on becoming a rock star, Austin first developed a musical intuition and ear without any predispositions of theoretical knowledge. It wasn’t until accidentally joining his highschool’s jazz band that he finally discovered the limitless harmonic and improvisational potential of jazz. Attending the University of Colorado, Boulder helped quench his newfound curiosity, where he studied piano with classical and jazz greats like Jeff Jenkins, Andrew Cooperstock, and Victor Mestas. Exploring composing and arranging with Paul McKey and Annie Booth also revealed a passion for crafting original music, eventually culminating in the ambitious crafting of an hour long set for an 18 piece jazz big band. Performing as the pianist and band leader, he and his band would later play in CU’s Grusin Hall and record at KMG Studios in Denver, with an album on the way.
Beyond the jazz medium, Austin also writes and performs with the group “Soph and Austin”, releasing the album “You Could’ve Just Called Me”, and more recently recording an EP combining the rich musical traditions of a string quartet with the modern soundscape of indie rock. He also prides himself in his recent success in piano instruction, approaching the learning process from a perspective of discovery before rote memorization or tedious exercises.
