Tyler Lustek is a jazz pianist, composer, and educator from Eau Claire, WI. As a bandleader, Tyler fronts the Tyler Lustek Confluence, which recently recorded its poetry-centric debut album Shmehara: The Poet’s Journey Through War and Peace (slated for release in summer 2025). In addition to leading a competitive lessons studio, Tyler serves on the UW Eau Claire jazz faculty, directs educational programs for the Clearwater Jazz & Art Festival, and offers jazz improvisation workshops and masterclasses to schools across the Chippewa Valley.
 
As a student in the long-established jazz bands at Eau Claire Memorial High School, Tyler was deeply involved in all aspects of the school’s music programs. At the University of Wisconsin - Madison, Tyler majored in music education (B.M., 2020) and studied jazz piano with prolific jazz pianist Dr. Johannes Wallmann. After completing his undergraduate studies, Tyler earned his graduate degree in jazz studies at Northern Illinois University (M.M., 2022) where he studied piano under esteemed jazz pianists and educators Prof. Reggie Thomas & Richard D. Johnson, and composition with Brian Penkrot & David Maki. Tyler also held the jazz piano graduate assistantship at NIU, through which he received a full-ride scholarship and taught group piano classes, jazz ensembles, and private piano lessons.