Email:

lorisims@iu.edu

Department:

Piano

Lori Sims is professor of music in piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Since winning the Gold Medal at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition in 1998, Sims has established herself as one of the most respected and admired artists of her generation. She has performed extensively across North and South America, Europe, and China, appearing as a guest soloist with orchestras including the NordDeutscheRadio Orchestra in Hannover, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Utah, Indianapolis, Rockford, and Kalamazoo. She has also appeared with chamber orchestras in Spokane, Denver, and Memphis.

Sims received critical acclaim for her 2000 debut at Alice Tully Hall, with The New York Times praising her artistry. She has also performed at Merkin Hall and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall. Renowned for her exceptional technique and wide-ranging repertoire, she has made over a dozen appearances at the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival in Kalamazoo, serving as recitalist, concerto soloist, chamber artist, and master class instructor.

A dedicated educator, Sims joined the faculty of Western Michigan University in 1997 and was named the John T. Bernhard Professor of Music in 2003 and distinguished professor in 2020. In high demand as an artist-teacher, she has performed and taught master classes at the Bay View Music Festival (Petoskey, Michigan), Eastern Music Festival (Greensboro, North Carolina), Internationale Konsertarbeitswochen (Gosler, Germany), and Western Michigan University’s Seminar high school summer music camp.

Her discography includes several acclaimed recordings on the Naxos label as well as collaborative projects showcasing both standard repertoire and innovative interpretations.

Sims earned a bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Conservatory, master’s degree from the Yale School of Music, and Artist Diploma from the Hochschule für Musik, Theater, und Medien in Hannover, Germany.