Michelle Jo Santoso / Master Artists, Professional Piano Teacher
About
Michelle Jo Santoso loves her profession in piano teaching for over 30 years. Founding her own private piano studio independently with her background of Master of Arts degree in piano performance, she is recognized in the music community as a great teacher who is committed, dedicated, passionate and inspiring who will always nurture each student's love of music, development of musicality, knowledge, technique, and artistry to the highest level of understanding in piano repertoire. Whether students play piano as a hobby or competitively on stages such as Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, Merkin Hall, Alex Theater, etc., she will guide young students to the path that fits each his or her needs. She has been enjoying the journey of her piano teaching year after year with great fulfillment. She has produced many award-winning students nationally and internationally, such as the Jack Kent Cook Award, the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition, the Seattle International Piano Competition and many more. Students have been soloists with orchestras nationally and internationally. She not only aims to guide each student musically but also helps develop a solid work ethic, good character, and robust responsibility to achieve whatever goals a student wishes to complete in order to lead to a full life. Her belief in teaching is to provide a happy piano studio where a family of happy teachers, happy parents and happy students grow together in the joy and love of music making and to help and encourage students to strengthen their weaknesses in self-confidence.
I am humble to say that teaching is also learning and inspiring. Learning about students, learning about their family, learning about people as wonderful human beings, learning about their character, their weakness, their strength, and their values. As my students' piano mentor, I respect their family values, perspective and integrity.
I am very happy and proud when each student achieves their piano study through many wonderful life lessons learned behind this piano training. Winning many trophies is not the most important aspect but our positive approach in learning and practicing takes us to a wonderful winning journey and that's the most beautiful thing I shared as I recognize my gift to influence and impact their life positively. It's truly a rewarding experience.
My Students' Achievements:
FROM THE TOP AWARDS with live radio broadcast
Young Musicians Foundation Scholarship Awards
Seattle International Piano Competition
International Russian Music Competition
International Young Artists Competition in Washington, D.C.,
The Los Angeles International Liszt Competition
International Young Musicians Competition
American Fine Arts Festival
Classics Alive Young Artist Concert Series
American Protege International Piano Competition
Cypress College Piano Competition
Emerging Artists Competition
Long Beach Music Festival
California Association of Professional Music Teachers
Music Teachers' Association of California
Southern California Junior Bach Festival Complete Works Audition.
My Short Bio:
Michelle Jo Santoso with Master Degree in Piano performance has been performing in numerous music festivals in Europe for several years, including with Bratislava Chamber Orchestra, Wiener Residenz Orchester in Austria, and numerous chamber music performance in Czech Republic and Italy. She was also a winner in The Los Angeles Liszt Piano Competition, etc.