Chair, Region 6; Member, Board of Directors
Elected November 2025; term ends November 2026
MILTON RUBÉN LAUFER is the Jack G. Buncher endowed Chair and Head of the School of Music at Carnegie Mellon University. With a focus as an artist, educator, and administrator on aligning artistic excellence with innovative curricula, student-centered learning, and strategic planning, he previously held leadership and faculty roles at Syracuse University, Western Carolina University, New World School of the Arts, and William Peace University.
Professor Laufer has performed in some of the world’s most iconic venues and has shared the stage with renowned artists such as Natalie Cole, Chucho Valdés, and Guerassim Voronkov. He is internationally recognized as both a leading interpreter and scholar of Spanish piano music. His urtext editions of Isaac Albéniz’s 3 Improvisaciones para Piano and La Vega are published by G. Henle Verlag. Professor Laufer is a founding trustee and lifetime member of the Latin Songwriters Hall of Fame and an active voting member of both the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammy Awards) and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Latin Grammys).
Professor Laufer serves NASM as a visiting evaluator.
Professor Laufer holds Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance from Rice University, as well as a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan. His musical training also includes studies at the Music Institute of Chicago, the Gnessin Institute in Moscow, and the Eastman School of Music.
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Posted January 2026