About

Steven Luksan is a composer, pianist, and educator making music in Seattle, WA, USA.  He is a pianist at Seattle Opera, on faculty at Music Center of the Northwest, and is the accompanist for the Seattle Mannskor (The Norwegian Male Chorus of Seattle). He currently serves as Composer-in-Residence with the Northwest Edvard Grieg Society.

Steven received a Master’s Degree in Music Composition from the University of British Columbia and Bachelor’s Degrees in Music and Norwegian Language from the University of Washington. His compositions are influenced by folk traditions, jazz, minimalism, and the music of his favorite composers from the early 20th century. His compositions include pieces for solo piano, and over 100 art songs in English and Norwegian.

Steven is an advocate for the performance of new and uncommon compositions (especially those by Scandinavian composers and women composers), and for the performance of chamber music in intimate settings.  He is the founder and artistic director of the Saltwater Music Series (Des Moines, WA), a concert series dedicated to performances of local and off-the-beaten-path chamber music.

Steven's performance and research interests focus on late-19th and 20th century Nordic and American music, especially music composed by Norwegian-American immigrant composers.

Highlights of the 2022-2023 concert season included the world premiere of his String Quartet at the National Nordic Museum and broadcast performances on KING FM's Northwest Focus Live, All Classical Portland's Thursdays at Three, and features on NPR's Live Sessions. Recent performances include appearances at Icicle Creek Center for the Performing Arts and a tour throughout Washington State with Seattle Opera's production of the bilingual opera Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World.