Lucy Scarbrough’s early piano studies were with her mother. When 16, Lucy studied with Sylvio Scionti of New York and later with Russian pianist Maurice Lichtman.  At the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, she received the Conservatory’s top prize, the John R. Hattstadt Award for outstanding musicianship. At the Conservatory, she studied with Beatrice Eppinelle, Hans Levy Heniot and the internationally recognized musician Leo Sowersby.  In competition, she won the honor of playing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra. After receiving her degrees at the Conservatory, she taught at the Chicago Musical College and continued her studies with the internationally known pianist and founder of the Chicago Musical College, Rudolph Ganz.

Scarbrough is known for her standing-room-only concerts, and has been called “...a soloist of rare power and sensitivity.” (El Paso Times) Other comments: Leo Sowerby, noted American composer: “Lucy Scarbrough is a marvelous musician. She has what it takes and has that star quality which makes her memorable.” Conductor of the Evanston Symphony, Hans Levy Heniot: “Lucy Scarbrough is a highly respected musician. When she is going to perform, we know the Recital Hall will be filled.”

Music critic John Prestwood of the El Paso Times said: “Lucy Scarbrough gave a stellar performance exhibiting exceptional technique and deep sensitivity, enjoying several standing ovations throughout the concert.” She has received numerous awards including the Burlington Foundation Teaching Award, the National Teaching Excellence Award of  U. T. Austin and the coveted Minnie Stevens Piper higher education award of Texas. In 1996, she was inducted into the El Paso Women’s Hall of Fame. In 1998, Lucy Scarbrough received the Hidalgo award for service to the Hispanic community of El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

As Project Director of the Expansion Arts Program, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Scarbrough founded and directed the College Arts Festival. She founded and is director of the El Paso Civic Orchestra. In 1995, she founded and is the artistic director of The El Paso Chopin Music Festival. Lucy Scarbrough and the El Paso Chopin Music Festival were featured in the February 1998 issue of Clavier magazine.

She served on the The Chopin Foundation of the United States' Selection Jury for the Seventh and Eighth National Chopin Competitions in 2005 and 2010, respectively.  Dr. Scarbrough was the commencement speaker for the Spring, 2006 Commencement of El Paso Community College.   Her most recent honor was recognition from the President of the United States for her humanistic contributions to the arts in El Paso, Texas.