Dr. Omar Roy is Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy and Coordinator of Group Piano at the University of South Carolina School of Music. A dedicated educator and performer, Dr. Roy is active in both collegiate and pre-college teaching and is a frequent clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer at universities, music teacher organizations, and national conferences, including the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy.
He has held faculty positions at the University of Alabama and Oklahoma City University and earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, studying with Jeongwon Ham, Edward Gates, Jane Magrath, and Barbara Fast. His earlier studies were with Jerry Wong, Shirley Yoo, and Nathan Hess. His research interests include practice efficiency, teaching strategies for students with special needs, sequenced repertoire, and the pedagogical applications of musical semiotics.
A strong supporter of independent music teachers, Dr. Roy plays a leadership role in several professional communities. He is part of the administrative team for The Art of Piano Pedagogy, a Facebook group and discussion platform with over 23,000 members, and contributes to its companion site, Sustain. He has been invited to present guest recitals, masterclasses, and lectures at institutions including the University of Arkansas–Ft. Smith, Oklahoma Baptist University, and the Western Alabama Music Teachers Association’s All-State Music Weekend. His performances have also been broadcast on WQLN Radio’s Classics with Wally Faas.