Share with us some of your professional accomplishments.

Piano has taken me all around the world! I have had the privilege of performing at renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall, Merkin Hall, the Zimmerli Museum, the Ukrainian Museum, Teatro Machiavelli in Sicily, and the DiMenna Center. My performances have won prizes from the WPTA Finland International Competition, Constantine the Great International Competition, American Music Talent Competition, Mary Smart International Concerto Competition, and the Chopin Society Malaysia Competition. I also perform in recital series across the country, bringing classical music to diverse audiences.

My passion lies in championing Czech and Ukrainian composers. I recently performed Dvořák’s complete Poetic Tone Pictures at the Czech Center in NYC for Dvorak's 180th birthday, and regularly program Ukrainian solo and chamber music. My doctoral work focused on the music of Dvorak, and since then I have performed multiple solo recitals of Czech composers. As a dedicated chamber musician, I have collaborated with acclaimed artists and performed at festivals such as the Manchester Music Festival, Savannah Philharmonic’s Larsen Spotlight Series as a Rising Star, and the Bay Chamber Music Series. I am proud to participate in the annual Ukrainian Contemporary Music Festival, celebrating Ukrainian culture and avant-garde composers, as well as the newly formed Ukrainian Music Initiative, elevating Ukrainian composers to the Western canon. A recent highlight was premiering the newly discovered Chopin Waltz at Carnegie Hall in November 2024, marking the first live performance.

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I have had the privilege of studying with teachers such as Efrem Briskin, Peter Takacs, Eteri Andjaparidze, and Vladimir Valjarevic; it is our teachers who make us into who we are, and I feel privileged to have studied with professors who have formed me as the musician and educator that I am today.

Currently based in New York City, I have served as Co-Adjunct Faculty at Rutgers University, Adjunct Piano Instructor at New York University, and Head of the Piano Department at Newark School of the Arts. I am the President of the Piano Teachers Congress of NYC, and run my own studio, where my students regularly place in competitions and perform all over the tri-state area.

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What excites you about Luzerne Music Center?

Incredible musicians, beautiful surroundings, concerts and music every day - what else could you wish for? My own experiences as a student at music festivals and piano masterclasses were some of the most special, as a young pianist! I still have dear friends, chamber musician partners, and teachers with whom I'm still in touch from camps. While intense and demanding, those programs are where I had space to grow as a musician, practice for hours, and make friends in beautiful and fun surroundings. As a faculty member, it is so special to guide the students, help them to grow and develop, and to create that musical environment for them. 

 

What can campers expect to learn working with you this summer?

I tailor lessons to the specific needs of the student, with a focus on healthy technique, rich sound, and a deep understanding of the repertoire. I also encourage my students to be brave on stage, and to channel their energy into creating a performance that tells a story and connects with their understanding of the piece and the composer's ideas. My focus for student growth is on enthusiasm for their repertoire, a space to make mistakes and ask questions, fun practice sessions, and performances they can be proud of.