About
I am dedicated to nurturing talent of all ages. I hold both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School in New York City, and have taught as a Professor of Piano at The Juilliard School as well as The University of Southern California. I have been on the faculty at the University of Southern California as Professor of Piano for multiple seasons. Additionally, I've given numerous master classes at universities across the world while traveling internationally to perform.
In addition to professional teaching credentials, I teach piano privately in the Los Angeles area, and give Master Classes to those looking to enhance their piano performance.
I use my extensive performance and teaching experience to help students advance their piano technique. With a combination of mastering the basics, accountability for practice and repetition, and some advanced tips from a pro, I haves successfully trained students for competition, performance, and more.
I am now accepting new students for private piano lessons. Lessons can be held in person, remotely via video conference for those looking for such an option.
I love to help people discover the love of music within themselves and bring out their innate talents and abilities through proven and time honored techniques and traditions. Also, the students have fun!
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I find out first from the student what their goals and expectations are and then create a plan with the student to accomplish those goals.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
Teaching Experience
University of Southern California, Adjunct Professor of Piano - 2005, 2011 Juilliard School, Assistant Professor of Piano to Adele Marcus - 1983-86 Juilliard School, Assistant Professor of Keyboard Studies - 1981-84
Taught music analysis and appreciation classes including detailed formal analysis of Stravinsky’s Petrouchka and Rite of Spring, Prokofiev’s Piano Sonatas, and Wagner/Liszt Transcriptions
Private Classes 1986-2018
Notable Students
Angela Cholakian received highest possible score from USC Jury in 2005 for her program including a Chopin Nocturne.
Lara Roizen was the 2nd prizewinner in the 2009 Los Angeles Music Teachers Association’s Concerto competition for her performance of Rachmaninoff’s 3rd Concerto.
Ray Ushikubo is the very young winner of many prizes and has performed in Disney Hall with Lang Lang.
Gloria Campaner was the 2nd prizewinner of the 1st Annual Paderewski International Piano Competition held at the Colburn School in Los Angeles in June 2010, and also won the Jury Special Prize for performances of Paderewski’s music.
Education
The Juilliard School
Bachelor of Music Master of Music Doctoral Candidate
Teachers: Adele Marcus, Piano; David Diamond, Milton Babbitt, Composition; Sam Sanders, Felix Galimir, Leonard Rose, Julius Baker, Chamber Music; Daniel Ferro, Vocal Accompaniment; Joseph Bloch, David Dubal, Keyboard Studies.
Other Professional Experience
EMI Records – A&R Executive (1996-1997)
Composer and Producer – (1982-2018)
Over 100 projects in Film and Television in New York City and Hollywood, including the Clio Award winning United Airlines Worldwide Campaign featuring Rhapsody in Blue (Piano – Daniel Lessner, Orchestra – LA Philharmonic, Recorded at Capital Records Studio A.)
Master Classes
Northern Michigan University, May 2014, Mozart, Brahms-Handel Northern Michigan University, October 2013, Bach, Chopin, Stravinsky
University of Colorado at Pueblo, February, 2012; Goldberg Variations, Rachmaninoff Etudes-Tableaux
University of Colorado at Pueblo, October, 2011; Tchaikovsky Concerto, Beethoven, Schumann, Stravinsky
Minot State University, North Dakota, April 2010; Mozart and Beethoven Sonatas, Ginastera Sonata
Radford University, Virginia, April 2010; Haydn Sonatas, Rachmaninoff Preludes Berklee College, Boston, February 2010; Prokofiev Sonatas
University of Colorado at Pueblo, February, 2010; Chopin Mazurkas, Beethoven Sonatas, Mendelssohn Songs Without Words
University of Chile, Santiago, Chile, October 2008; Chopin Etudes, Mozart Concerto, Schumann Faschingsschwank aus Wien
Escuela de Moderna Musica, Santiago, Chile, October 2008; Rachmaninoff Etude- Tableaux, Beethoven Sonata
Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, April 2008; Mussorgsky Pictures at an Exhibition, Beethoven Appassionata Sonata
Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, December 2006; Prokofiev Sonata no. 6, Tchaikovsky Concerto no. 1, Chopin Etudes
University of Miami, May, 2006; Barber Sonata, Scarlatti, and Chopin University of Southern California, 2005; Chopin Sonata no. 2, Schubert Sonata in B flat
Concert Highlights
Chopin Etudes Op. 10, Complete, Wake Forest University, North Carolina, December 2017
Rachmaninoff Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Walt Disney Hall, Los Angeles, August 2017
Rachmaninoff Concerto no. 3 with the Marquette Symphony, Michigan - May 2014
Prokofiev Concerto no. 3 with the Marquette Symphony, Michigan - October 2013
Recitals in Marquette, Michigan - October 2013
Recital at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido – September 2012
Prokofiev Concerto no. 3 with the Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, Colorado - February 2012
Recital at Kfar-Shmaryahu Auditorium, Israel – December 2011
Tchaikovsky Concerto no. 1, Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, Colorado - October 2010
Recitals in Pueblo, Colorado - October 2010
Recitals in Accra, Ghana, Africa - May 2010 Recitals in Little Rock, Arkansas - April 2010
Performance of Goldberg Variations in Carnegie-Weill Hall in New York City, as Winner of IBLA Grand Prize International Piano Competition - April 2010
Recital at Radford University, Virginia - April 2010
Recital in Bottineau, North Dakota - April 2010
Recitals at Minot State University, North Dakota - April 2010
Recital at Berklee College of Music, Boston - February 2010
Chopin Concerto no. 1, Pueblo Symphony Orchestra, Pueblo CO - February 2010
Recitals in Pueblo, Colorado - February 2010
Performance of Goldberg Variations in Ragusa, Sicily, Italy as Winner of IBLA Grand Prize International Piano Competition - July 2009
Recital at University of Miami, Florida - May 2009 Rachmaninoff Concerto no. 3, Filarmonica de Chile, Santiago, Chile - October 2008
Recital at School of Modern Music, Santiago, Chile - October 2008
Bernard Herrmann Piano Concerto and Chopin Nocturne, Pasadena Symphony – July 2008
Recital at Pasadena Jazz Institute, Pasadena - June 2008 Recital at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts - April 2008
Rhapsody in Blue, Solo Piano Version, Washington DC - November, 2007
Rhapsody in Blue, Solo Piano Version, Boston – July 2007 Rachmaninoff Concerto no. 3, Berkshire Symphony Orchestra, Massachusetts - December 2006
Recital at University of Miami, Florida, May 2006
Recital at Mark Taper Hall, Los Angeles - April 2006
Recital at Gussman Hall, University of Miami, Florida - April 2005
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, California Philharmonic, Pasadena - July 2005
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, California Philharmonic, Disney Hall - July 2005
Competitions
Winner of the 2009 IBLA Grand Prize International Piano Competition, Italy Winner of Tchaikovsky Concerto Competition, Juilliard School Winner of Miecyslau Munz Prize, Juilliard School Winner of Van Cliburn Award, Interlochen, Michigan
Winner of Rachmaninoff Concerto Competition, Interlochen, Michigan Winner of MacDowell Concerto Competition, Interlochen, Michigan Irene Muir Award for Most Outstanding Talent, Florida MTA Concerto Competition, Florida
Finalist of Maryland International Competition, Maryland
Finalist and Chopin/Liszt Special Award Winner of Palm Beach International Competition, Florida
Finalist of Grand Rapids International Competition, Michigan
Earlier highlights include:
Recitals on tour with New York Philharmonia on White Star Line Classical Music Cruise in Brazil and Caribbean – 2000
Brahms-Paganini Variations in Carnegie Hall, New York City – 1998 Beethoven Concerto no. 4, Orchestra de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina – 1994 Recital in Santa Fe, New Mexico – 1994 Recital in Buffalo, New York – 1994 Numerous recitals in Miami, Florida - 1983-91 Recitals in Palm Beach, Florida, Hyannisport, Massachusetts, and McLean, Virginia, for the DNC Recitals in the Smithsonian and National Galleries of Art in Washington, DC -1991 Recitals in Dallas, and Amarillo, Texas - 1987 Recitals in Alexandria, Virginia - 1986-7 Liszt Concerto no. 1, Queens Symphony, New York - 1984 Tchaikovsky Concerto no. 1, University of Maryland - 1981 Tchaikovsky Concerto no. 1, Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York - 1981 Recital at Ambassador Hall, Pasadena - 1981 Recital at The University of Southern California – 1980