With over 25 years of teaching experience and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Cleveland Institute of Music, I have developed an instructional system in which students can experience seamless progress tailored to their ndividual skill levels, allowing them to reach their utmost potential in mastering the instrument. Many of my students begin with me as early as kindergarten and continue through high school. I enjoy teaching the casual learner as much as the competition winner.
Students of mine have scored with high distinction on every level of the Minnesota Music Teachers Association piano exams from the preparatory level all the way through level 11. My youngest student to pass level 10 with high distinction was in second grade and had just turned eight years old. My students regularly receive honors ratings at recitals through the Minneapolis Music Teacher Forum, earning numerous ribbons and trophies.
My competition-level students have been top winners at contests throughout the Twin Cities. Their victories include first, second, and third place at Junior Young Artist, third place in Senior Young Artist, first and second place at Thursday Musical, first and second place at the Northwestern Piano Solo Festival several times, first place at the St. Paul Piano Teachers Honors recital, second place at the Piano Fun competition, and first and second place at the Northstar Concerto Competition. The latter resulted in a performance of Haydn’s D major concerto with the Golden Valley Community Orchestra. Numerous students of mine have won all levels of the MMTA state contest from primary through senior B, with the youngest senior B winner being in just fifth grade.
Several of my students have gone on to major in music at college and been awarded piano scholarships of up to $100,000.
I also maintain a small but enthusiastic group of adult learners who wish to experience the joy of learning the piano later in life. We gather twice a year for laid back afternoons involving snacks, conversation, and the optional sharing of performances for one another.
A dedicated and active member of both the Minneapolis Music Teachers Forum and the Minnesota Music Teachers Association, I have volunteered on numerous committees and judged contests throughout the Twin Cities, including Young Artist, Schubert Club, Piano Fun, and the Bethel Concerto Competition. I have conducted contest workshops for MMTF, judged piano exams, and compiled collections of literature for Hal Leonard publications.
My education has included a bachelors, masters, and doctorate in piano performance. I truly feel fortunate to have had such great mentors. These include Carolyn Nordquist from Bethel University as well as Anita Pontremoli, Olga Radosavljevic, Virginia Weckstrom, and Daniel Shapiro at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Highlights of my education included a performance of Bach’s D minor concerto with a professional orchestra that aired on Minnesota Public Radio, writing a 185-page dissertation on Berg’s Piano Sonata Op. 1, and my final doctoral recital, in which I was able to perform my all-time favorite piece, Bach’s Goldberg Variations.