Denise Root-Pierce

A photo of Denise Root-Pierce

Lecturer of Horn and Theory

Music

324 Alexander

734.487.2025

[email protected]

Biography

Dr. Denise Root Pierce has performed throughout the United States, Japan, China, Mexico, Europe and in South America. She is a former member of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, the Lansing Symphony, the Kalamazoo Symphony, the American Wind Symphony and Keith Brion and his New Sousa Band.

She appeared in a solo horn quartet with the United States Coast Guard Band and she has performed with the Tucson Symphony, Arizona Opera, Albany Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Monterrey Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Dearborn Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, Michigan Opera Theatre and the Flint Symphony Orchestra.

She has performed with Tony Bennett, Moody Blues, Michael Bolton, Gerry Mulligan, Bernadette Peters, Mannheim Steamroller and Johnny Mathis; and has performed with Broadway touring productions of Porgy and Bess, West Side Story, Beauty and the Beast, Camelot, Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby and Man of LaMancha at the Goodspeed Opera House.

A devoted chamber musician, Dr. Root Pierce has performed with numerous wind and brass quintets, including the Brass Ring, a distinguished quintet based in Connecticut and Essex Winds, an award winning Canadian wind quintet.

She has held horn teaching positions at the University of Connecticut, the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York in Potsdam, Albion College, Kalamazoo College and Alma College.

Dr. Root Pierce earned the Artist Diploma from Yale University, a Master of Music degree from Michigan State University, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona. Her dissertation is entitled, "Applying The Study Of Bel Canto Vocal Technique To Artistic Horn Playing: Perfect Legato, Beautiful Sound, Agility, and Musical Expression."

In addition to teaching horn and music theory at Eastern Michigan University, Dr. Root Pierce is currently a member of Essex Winds, Eastern Winds and performs regularly with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in Ontario, Canada.

Learn more about EMU Brass.

Education

  • DMA, University of Arizona
  • MM, Michigan State University
  • Artist Diploma from Yale University

Courses

  • Applied horn
  • Brass
  • Horn methods
  • Music theory