Fine Arts Division

Louise Lofquist

Louise Lofquist has had an unorthodox musical career. Although she made her pianistic debut with the National Symphony at the age of 18, she pursued other fields for several years before returning to the piano. Ms. Lofquist received her bachelor's degree in history, summa cum laude, from Duke University, and her master's degree, also in history, from Stanford University. After finally deciding she belonged in music, Ms. Lofquist sang as a mezzo-soprano before an injury to her vocal cord cut short her singing career. She then resumed her pianistic studies, earning her M.M. in Accompanying from UC/Santa Barbara and her D.M.A. in 2000 from U.S.C., where she studies with Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Bernadene Blaha.

Since her return to the piano, Louise Lofquist has become one of the Southland's most sought after collaborative pianists. She has performed in recital with such artists as baritones Rodney Gilfry, Richard Bernstein, and Nmon Ford, tenor Henry Price, sopranos Camille King and Jessica Rivera, violinist Gilles Apap, and clarinetist Fred Ormand, among others. Also in demand as a vocal coach, Ms. Lofquist has taught in that capacity at the Music Academy of the West and the UC/Santa Barbara Summer Vocal Institute. Last year she served as adjunct faculty at U.S.C., where she taught the undergraduate accompanying class. This year she joined the faculty at Pepperdine University as a staff accompanist, vocal coach, and piano instructor.

Ms. Lofquist lives in Camarillo with her husband, Grant Specht, an attorney, and their two sons, Dylan and Shane.