Liz Derstine is a Boston-based pianist and composer bridging 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 songwriter. After earning her undergraduate degree in classical piano performance, she toured around the world with an indie pop band, performing at iconic venues like Webster Hall in NYC and the Troubadour in LA, as well as major festivals including Coachella and Lollapalooza. Her original music has been featured on television shows like Awkward (MTV) and Wednesday (Netflix). Her compositions are often inspired by time spent in nature, including her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

Currently, Liz is pursuing double Master’s of Music degrees in Collaborative Piano and Composition at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she is a Collaborative Piano Fellow and Patricia Ostrander and Presidential scholar, studying with Eri Nakamura and Alexandra du Bois. She is also a pianist for the theater department at Brandeis University and Sacred Heart Parish in Roslindale.

Liz is also an accomplished long-distance hiker and trail runner for Mountain Hardwear with fastest known times for women on the Appalachian Trail (northbound), Long Trail, Pinhoti Trail, and Kungsleden. 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 popular newsletter Pink Feathers sharing stories about her wild adventures and exploring the intersectionality of music and running.

Photo by Taylor Rossi