Dr. John Villaveces

Dr. Villaveces, a well-known pianist throughout the Kansas City area, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Arts and Doctorate degrees in Piano Arts from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Currently a private piano teacher and accompanist, he is also Director of Music and Liturgy at St. John LaLande Catholic Church in Blue Springs. He was formerly Director of Music at St. Matthew Apostle Catholic Church in Kansas City, where he was also keyboardist. A former college adjunct professor, he has also adjudicated piano contests, and has performed with the UMKC Conservatory, Kansas City Chamber Orchestra, UMKC Opera Productions, Kansas City Civic Orchestra, UMKC Wind Ensemble, and in several Chamber Recitals including the Brahms Piano Quartet in g minor (Op. 23), Mozart Piano Quarter in E Major (K. 493), and Rachmaninoff Trio No. 1 in g minor.

Performance Awards include UMKC Concerto-Aria Competition Winner, Young Artist's Competition Winner Taipei, (Taiwan), Kansas City Music Clubs Competition Scholarship Winner, Sigma Alpha Iota Competition Second Century Scholarship winner, UMKC Musica Nova Scholarship, University of Tennessee Concerto Competition Winner.

Other academic awards include UMKC Full-Tuition Talent Scholarship, Most Outstanding Student in Music Award from University of Tennessee, MTNA National Piano Competition Winner, and Full-Tuition Recipient at the University of Tennessee.

He is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, National Pastoral Musicians, Music Teacher's National Association, and the American Guild of Organists. He is married to Chun-Chien Chuang, who teaches Suzuki Violin at MAI. They are the parents of two sons.