2021 RTPC Judges

2021 RTPC adjudicators

Doug Burn

Dr. Douglas Burn

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Douglas-Jayd Burn began serious musical study at age 18 and now holds degrees in piano performance from the University of Arizona (DMA 2018), the Hartt School (MM 2013), and Virginia Commonwealth University (BM 2007), studying with John Milbauer, David Westfall, and Dmitri Shteinberg respectively, and also studying organ with Ardyth Lohuis. He has appeared in masterclasses with Eric Larsen, Sonia Rubinsky, and Edward Newman. He served as an instructor at the University of Arizona under the guidance of Lisa Zdechlik, and as a Teaching Fellow at the Hartt School. 

Burn maintains an active career as a pianist and chamber artist. In Europe and the United States, he has performed with members of the Zürich Opera Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Deutsch Oper Berlin, Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He was selected as the Academy Fellow Pianist for the Talis Festival’s 2018 and 2019 seasons. Burn has performed with Richmond Ballet and accompanied works choreographed by Jerome Robbins, Mate Szentes, and Ma Cong. As an organist, he is in frequent demand for both worship and concert settings throughout Virginia. He is currently the Artist-in-Residence and Organist/Music Assistant at Huguenot Road Baptist Church, and has previously served as Director of Music and Organist at the Unitarian Society of Hartford and Chester Presbyterian Church. To hear more performances and for more information regarding upcoming engagements, visit www.douglas-jaydburn.com.

In his spare time, Douglas enjoys riding his motorcycle, walking in nature, and cinema.

Joshua Nichols

Mr. Joshua Nichols

Joshua Nichols is a sought-after composer, organist, and pianist. He received his bachelor’s degree from Belhaven University (B.A. Organ Performance, 2013), first master’s degree from Mississippi College (M.M. Organ Performance, 2017), and a second master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University (M.M. Composition, 2019). He is currently a Doctoral candidate for Composition(D.M.A., ABD) and holds two prestigious teaching assistantships, one in general education and the other in Counterpoint. His music is frequently commissioned in a variety of settings, including large ensemble, chamber ensemble, sacred music, and ballet/dance. Among his passions as a composer and performer are his dedication to the craft of musicianship. Joshua’s philosophy of pedagogy is to train a musician to be whole and well-rounded by inspiring them to love learning. He uses curiosity, passion, and excitement in the classroom and in private lessons to excite the musical soul and whet the student’s appetite for musicianship and the musical voice. His musical leanings are eclectic, including popular culture, jazz, romantic, film scores, and 20th century music.