Liz Derstine is a pianist and composer based in Greater Boston.

Liz is a frequent collaborator with singers and instrumentalists in a wide variety of styles including classical, opera, art song, pop, and music theatre. Her playing and composing style is informed by her versatile musical and outdoor experiences and has been described as whimsical, playful, and graceful. She has toured the world as a pop keyboardist and vocalist, performing in major venues and renowned music festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza. Her original music released under the moniker Pink Feathers has been featured in the television shows Awkward (MTV) and Wednesday (Netflix). Her compositions are inspired by time in nature, including a piano suite based on melodies floating around her head while thru-hiking the 2,193 mile Appalachian Trail. Liz is currently pursuing a Master of Music dual degree in Collaborative Piano and Composition at Longy School of Music of Bard College, studying with Eri Nakamura (collaborative piano) and Alexandra du Bois (composition). She is a Collaborative Piano Fellow and Patricia Ostrander and Presidential scholar.

Liz is also an accomplished long-distance hiker and trail runner with fastest known times for women on the Appalachian Trail (northbound), Long Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and Swiss Via Alpina. Her running pursuits and achievements have been featured in major running and outdoor media publications including Outside, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, and Trail Running Magazine. Liz was featured on the cover of Competitor Magazine for “running by day and music touring by night”. She maintains the newsletter Mercury on the Run sharing stories about her wild adventures and exploring the intersectionality of music and running.