Rachel Heard, piano and fortepiano
Assistant Professor
BM - The Juilliard School
MM - The Juilliard School
DMA - Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University

Lynn Raley, piano
Associate Professor
BM - Southern Methodist University
MM - College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati
DMA - Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University

Danuta Szlubowska, piano
Instructor
Master's diploma - Chopin Academy, Warsaw, Poland

Carol Durham, organ
Instructor
BM – Mississippi College
MM – The University of Tennessee at Knoxville

A long history of success in keyboard studies at Millsaps was established by Dr. Jonathan Sweat, who during his tenure at Millsaps maintained a department with an enviable reputation for high performance standards. As Professor Emeritus Dr. Sweat continues to share his significant energies and pianistic wisdom with students in the Millsaps Department of Performing Arts.

Our keyboard faculty teaches in the unique setting of a nationally-ranked, highly selective liberal arts college. Our attractive campus is set in an urban center with an array of cultural offerings, from the Mississippi Symphony, Mississippi Opera, New Stage Theatre to the quadrennial USA International Ballet Competition, which alternates with sister competitions in Bulgaria and Russia. The Bell Concert Series at Millsaps offers recitals and concerts by nationally and internationally known pianists. Students have regular opportunities to perform in masterclasses for guest artists. Recent guest pianists who have visited the campus include Andrea Padova (International Bach Competition winner), Stanislav Ioudenitch (Van Cliburn Competition gold medalist), internationally acclaimed pianist Robert Taub, Lambert Orkis, jazz pianists Cyrus Chestnut and Orrin Evans, and the young prizewinners Esther Park, Konstantyn Travinskyy, Tatiana Tessman, and Yoonjung Han.

An excellent student-to-faculty ratio allows for personalized attention and study with a highly qualified faculty, all of whom are active and experienced performers. Our keyboard faculty understands the needs of young artist-musicians who also value a rigorous yet well-rounded education. In keeping with Millsaps' liberal arts emphasis, we offer music scholarships to both music majors and non-majors.

The music facilities at Millsaps are excellent, with Steinways and Bostons in practice rooms, and two Steinway D concert grands and a 41-rank Möeller pipe organ in the recital hall. In addition there are two excellent practice pipe organs. The keyboard faculty strives to help our developing musicians perform at every opportunity, through appearances on campus (studio repertoire classes, departmental recitals, voice lesson accompaniments, etc.) and in competitions through our local, state, national, and international professional musical organizations.