Intrigued by music from an early age, Dwight Alexander Peirce Jr. recalls his mother singing him hymns as a child. Growing up in a musical household, he often listened to records and his aunt playing the auto-harp. He cites one of the many highlights of his career to have been when he returned to his hometown in 1981 to give his final solo recital. Immensely proud of the event, he performed before his high school piano teacher, parents and childhood friends.
Affiliated with Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, since 1982, Mr. Peirce has been a lecturer in accompaniment with the university. Prior to this appointment, he found success as an assistant professor at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, between 1977 and 1981. Later on in his career, he was an adjudicator for the Louisiana Music Teachers Association at the Toborinsonal Swawzy Competition in 2011.
Alongside his academic endeavors, Mr. Peirce has been performing as a piano accompanist for the Brilliance Concert Series since 2003, and an organist for Temple Emanuel since 2001 and the Wesley United Methodist Church in Beaumont since 1982. A past pianist for the Beaumont Symphony Orchestra between 1982 and 1990, he also served as a rehearsal pianist for the Beaumont Civic Opera, as well as a rehearsal pianist and organist at Beaumont Interfaith Choir.
Impressively, Mr. Peirce has performed at the Beaumont First United Methodist Church choir tour in Spain and Italy; the Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral in Rome; Chiesa di San Moisè in Venice, Italy; Basilica Pontificia De San Miguel in Madrid; and the French Organ Music Seminar. He has also been featured in several editions of Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who in the World.
As a testament to his success in both his educational and musical ventures, Mr. Peirce has earned a number of accolades. In 1998, he earned an Arts Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Southeast Texas Arts Council, having previously received the Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at Lamar University in 1996. Likewise, he was honored with the Service Award from Delta Omicron at Lamar University in 1989, as well as the Service Award for 30 Years of Service in 2012. To others aspiring to work in the music industry, Mr. Peirce advises to believe in your abilities and participate in organizations that include members who hold similar interests.
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