2022 Spotlight International Piano Competition | Coaches
John Weems
Leading National Private Pre-College Piano Professor
John Weems has established himself as one of the most outstanding private studio teachers in the nation. His teaching legacy was featured in a recent edition of Clavier Companion magazine in an article entitled “A Legacy of Excellence – An Interview with John and Nancy Weems.” Since founding his private studio in the Houston, TX area, his students have won top awards in numerous state, national and international competitions, including the Music Teachers National Association competitions; local, district, and state competitions sponsored by the Texas Music Teachers Association (winners for forty consecutive years); the Texas and South Central Division MTNA Baldwin and Yamaha Awards (over a dozen national finalists); numerous contests sponsored by colleges and universities; and the prestigious Houston Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Concerto Contest.  In addition, his students have been chosen by audition to perform in numerous recitals and master classes and have performed annually as concerto soloists with orchestras in over two hundred performances. These appearances include the Interlochen Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Houston Civic Symphony, the Richardson Symphony, the University of Houston Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony, the Lubbock Symphony and numerous others.  Former students are now successful teachers and performers around the nation and the world, including several under professional concert artist management.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Weems is very active as a clinician and adjudicator, and he has given numerous master classes and workshops both nationally and internationally. A recent tour of China featured him in lectures and classes in a four-city tour – Beijing, Nanjing, Chengdu, and Shenzhen. Mr. Weems has been a featured guest clinician at many state teacher conventions in the United States, including Texas, New York, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Minnesota and South Carolina.  He has been a guest faculty member in summer music programs including those of the Eastman School of Music, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, Indiana University, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Southwest Texas State University, and the Moores School of Music of the University of Houston.  He has presented lectures at the MTNA national convention in Washington, D.C. and the World Piano Pedagogy Conferences. 
 
John Weems is a charter member of Forum Music Teachers Association in Houston, and has served as President, Vice-President, Student Affiliate Performance Contest Chairman, and Concerto Contest Chairman for that association.   Also, Mr. Weems has served on the state TMTA board of directors. In 1991 the Texas State Music Teachers Association awarded John Weems the Pre-College Teaching Excellence Award.