Brent Funderburk is a renowned classical pianist and professor of music at Auburn University in Alabama. Born in 1959 in Jackson, Mississippi, Funderburk began playing the piano at the age of five. He showed a natural talent for music and quickly became a prodigy, winning his first piano competition at the age of eight. Funderburk continued to hone his skills throughout his childhood and teenage years, studying with some of the most respected piano teachers in the country. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. He then went on to earn a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After completing his education, Funderburk began his career as a concert pianist, performing in venues across the United States and Europe. He quickly gained a reputation as a virtuoso performer, known for his technical skill and emotional depth. He has performed with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the London Symphony Orchestra. Funderburk has also won numerous awards and accolades throughout his career. In 1983, he was a finalist in the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world. He has also won the Gold Medal in the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and the First Prize in the William Kapell International Piano Competition. In addition to his career as a performer, Funderburk is also a respected educator. He has taught at Auburn University since 1994, where he is currently a professor of music and the director of the piano program. He is known for his dedication to his students and his innovative teaching methods, which have helped to produce some of the most talented young pianists in the country. Throughout his career, Funderburk has remained committed to promoting classical music and expanding its audience. He has recorded numerous albums, including a critically acclaimed recording of the complete piano works of Maurice Ravel. He has also written extensively about music, publishing articles and essays in a variety of publications. Despite his many accomplishments, Funderburk remains humble and dedicated to his craft. He continues to perform and teach, inspiring a new generation of musicians and music lovers with his passion and talent.

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