Liz Derstine is an award-winning pianist and composer whose work bridges classical training with pop innovation, creating music inspired by nature and lived experiences.

Liz’s musical world is enriched by an eclectic array of experiences, rooted in a strong foundation as a classical musician that seamlessly integrated with her journey as a composer and songwriter. Grounded in a classical piano upbringing, her path expanded to international touring as keyboardist and singer with an indie pop band, performing at iconic venues like the Troubadour in Los Angeles and festivals such as Coachella. Her original music has been featured on television shows including Awkward (MTV) and Wednesday (Netflix). Her compositions often draw inspiration from time spent in nature, including her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

Liz earned dual Master of Music degrees in Collaborative Piano and Composition at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she was a Collaborative Piano Fellow and Patricia Ostrander and Presidential Scholar. She studied with Eri Nakamura (piano) and Alexandra du Bois (composition), and was recognized with the Innovation Award for her commitment to collaboration and the presentation of diverse new works, as well as the Pappalardo Composition Award presented by Radius Ensemble.

Active in the Greater Boston music scene, Liz is a pianist for the theater department at Brandeis University and at Sacred Heart Parish in Roslindale. She is currently developing commissioned works, including a new song cycle for mezzo-soprano and piano premiering this fall, and curates performances of her original music that blend indie pop and classical influences.

Beyond the concert stage, Liz is an accomplished long-distance hiker and trail runner representing Mountain Hardwear, holding women’s Fastest Known Times on the Appalachian Trail (northbound), Long Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and Kungsleden. She has been featured in Outside, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, and Trail Running Magazine, and appeared on the cover of Competitor Magazine for “running by day and music touring by night.” Most recently, she completed the 2,655-mile Pacific Crest Trail in under 70 days, the third-fastest self-supported finish by a woman. She also writes the popular newsletter Pink Feathers, where she shares stories from her wild adventures and explores the intersections of music and running.

Photo by Taylor Rossi