John Hollins will be inducted into the hall of fame at Steinway & Sons’ historic New York factory in October.
Texas Tech University Associate Professor of Music John Hollins has been nominated to the Steinway & Sons Teacher Hall of Fame, recognizing his outstanding contributions to music education.
Hollins has served at Texas Tech in a myriad of faculty roles including choral work, opera theater, vocal coaching, keyboard studies, organ and piano pedagogy and community engagement.
“This important recognition by Steinway & Sons acknowledges the distinguished and multifaceted career that Dr. Hollins has had, and for which Texas Tech is appreciative and proud,” said J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts Dean Martin Camacho.
The nomination was submitted by one of the regional Steinway & Sons dealerships, of which there are approximately 200 worldwide. Hollins’ former pupil and Texas Tech alumnus, Oliver Lucero, is the associate director of institutional sales and educational services for the Clavier Group, a dealership that provides pianos to Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
Lucero offered Hollins’ name as one of many that the group considered and it quickly rose to the top of the list.
“No one is more deserving of this than Dr. Hollins,” Lucero said. “I learned so much from him about being a better musician. His holistic approach to music, performance and life is well-rounded. His unwavering passion transcends just the music; he is a modern renaissance man.”
Beyond his exemplary work as a music educator, Hollins has spearheaded the use of Steinway’s Spirio Player Pianos, offering workshops at the Texas Music Educators Association’s annual conference the past two years. He also is working to record a collection of hymns for Spirio’s online library.
Hollins, who has worked at Texas Tech for over two decades, was notified of the nomination in late July by Steinway & Sons. The nomination places him among an elite group of music educators nationwide who will be inducted at ceremonies in October.
“I was overwhelmed and very humbled,” said Hollins upon learning of the nomination. “My first response was immeasurable gratitude for all of my mentors, colleagues and students – all of whom are teachers to me.”
Hollins’ musical journey began as a child in South Carolina, where he was born into a world of music. His mother was a music teacher, composer and private piano instructor, while his father served as a minister of music.
After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina, where he studied under renowned piano pedagogy expert Max Camp, Hollins pursued graduate work at Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. There, he met his mentor, John Dickson, whom he followed to Texas Tech. Hollins has been an instrumental member of faculty in the School of Music ever since.
“Our school has such wonderful unity, and that is what attracted me originally to Texas Tech,” Hollins explained. “I could see how I could wear more than one hat and be fulfilled and help and support in more than one area.”
About Steinway & Sons Hall of Fame
The Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame recognizes exceptional music educators who have demonstrated outstanding teaching, performance and advocacy for piano education. Inductees’ names are painted on the walls of the Steinway factory in New York, honoring their contributions to musical excellence and education.