Convention Artists and Presenters Katrin Arefy University of at Santa at bastienpiano.blogs.com, which is the founder Barbara. Dr. Asche’s current and gives the reader an inside look into and artistic former students have won various Lori’s private piano studio. director of the competitions, including the Leni Fe Golden Key Bland Scholarship auditions and A composer, Piano School the Bronze Medal at the 1993 Van arranger, in Berkeley. Cliburn International Competition. clinician Katrin received In addition, his former students are and teacher, her Bachelor and Master degrees in currently serving as piano faculties Melody Bober Piano Performance and Pedagogy at many well-known universities enjoys creating from the Gnessin School of Music in throughout the US. motivational Moscow. She also holds a Bachelor piano pieces of Fine Arts degree in Painting from A graduate of that foster her Azad University in Tehran. Katrin is the Eastman students’ understanding and love of the author of A Thousand Stories for A School of Music music. She holds music degrees from Little Pianist and the series titled My with an M.M. the University of Illinois-Urbana and First Piano Book. She translated Anna in Performance Minnesota State University. Melody’s Artobolevskaya’s First Meet with the and Literature dynamic sessions are enriched by Music and Heinrich Neuhaus’ The (Piano), Nancy her experience as a studio owner, Art of Piano Playing from Russian to Bachus is an classroom teacher and church Farsi. Her lectures on the Russian internationally musician. methods have been well received known clinician and teacher. A Ronald M. at the University of Oregon, Ohio student of pianists Eugene List, Borczon, MT- University, and the Music Teachers’ Fernando Laires and the accompanist BC, has 30 Association of California Convention. Brooks Smith, she has recently years of clinical Katrin is a member of the Music presented workshops in North experience in Teachers’ Association of California. America, Asia, the United Kingdom, music therapy. Her very first students are now and Australia. Nancy has an In 1984, he professional pianists who are independent studio in Ohio, is on the founded the graduating from some of the finest adjunct piano faculty of Cleveland music therapy department at Cal State music universities in Austria and State University and is also the Northridge. He is also the Director of Armenia. Associate Editor for Repertoire and Performance for Clavier Companion. the CSUN Music Therapy Wellness Dr. Charles Clinic and currently Department Asche has Lori Bastien Chair. In 1995, Borczon conducted a appeared as began piano special workshop on Music Therapy a recitalist, lessons with and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder concerto soloist her mother at for therapists in Oklahoma City after and chamber the age of 4. the Oklahoma City bombing. Borczon musician She received also assisted in the planning of music throughout the her Bachelor therapy interventions for the students US, Russia, Asia, and South America. of Music of Columbine and Santee High School Concert venues have included the degree in piano shootings. He also did work in south historic Rachmaninoff Hall at the performance from Rice University. Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Moscow Conservatory and Carnegie Currently, Lori teaches both private In 1994, he received the Presidential Hall, to name a few. Originally and group lessons to students of Award from the President of the from Miami, Florida, Dr. Asche all ages in her home studio. She National Association for Music began his early studies with Peggy enjoys composing fun, motivational Therapy for work done following Neighbors Erwin. He later studied music and has coauthored the series the 1994 Northridge, California at the University of Texas with John Bastien Piano for Adults, and Bastiens’ earthquake. In 2006 he received the Perry. He was a member of piano Invitation to Music, with her mother, Award of Merit from the American faculties at the Interlochen Center Jane Smisor Bastien, and her sister, Music Therapy Association, for the Arts, the Claremont Colleges, Lisa Bastien. Lori, her husband Eric the highest award given by the and the International Institute for Vickers, and their two children Abby Association for accomplishments in Young Musicians. He is currently and Riley live in La Jolla, California. music therapy. Senior Lecturer in Piano at the Lori writes a blog which can be found

Page 1 of 5 Susan Bruckner Gavin English Pianist Diane Hidy is known for is a pianist with is the General her expertise in writing music degrees from Manager of the for students with ADD and other the Eastman Steinway Piano learning differences. She recently School of Music, Gallery in West presented at New School Hollywood. A the 2014 MTNA for Music former private Conference Study, and piano instructor in Chicago. the San Francisco Conservatory. and high school music teacher, Her Attention Her teachers include Frances Clark, English is a graduate of the Berklee Grabbers Jerome Lowenthal and Paul Hersh. College of Music. Gavin began his are National She lives in Santa Cruz, is head of the career at Steinway Hall on 57th Street Federation of piano department at Cabrillo College, in and went on to Music Clubs’ selections for 2014–16 and is author of The Whole Musician: manage the Steinway Piano Gallery and her Sight Reading Flashcards A Multi-Sensory Guide to Practice, of New Jersey, before opening the are downloaded hundreds of times Performance & Pedagogy. Susan has new Steinway Piano Gallery in West each week. With Keith Snell, she given workshops on the topics of Hollywood which is the first Steinway co-wrote Piano Town, a method learning styles, group teaching, and Factory owned showroom on the series for beginning piano students. developmental stages for musicians West Coast. Besides her 40+ recordings of piano throughout the U.S. and in Europe. teaching repertoire, her most recent She performs regularly with the Santa Charles recording was with Jane Bastien on Cruz Chamber Players. Fierro is an Bastien’s newest Piano Literature, accomplished Volume 6. Diane made her Carnegie Michael pianist, teacher, Hall debut following her studies with Delfín is professor, John Perry and Leon Fleisher. Diane currently both author and was the first woman Fellow of the a Bachelor of music reviewer. American Pianist Association and Music student He has worked won the national MTNA Collegiate at the Peabody with many legendary musicians Artist Award. She attended Julliard Conservatory including Nadia Boulanger,who and holds music degrees from the of Music personally invited him to perform USC and Peabody. Diane lives in San (where he studies piano with Boris in the 1976 American Bicentennial Francisco with her husband and two Slutsky and composition with Recital at the Palace of Fontainebleau children. Judah Adashi), and a Bachelor of in France. Fierro has a wealth of Arts in History student at the Johns highly acclaimed recordings to his John S. Hord, Hopkins University. An avid solo credit including the piano works of M.A., is active and collaborative performer on Aaron Copland which was made as a performer both the East and West Coasts he under the auspices of the composer and an made his solo debut with the EMF himself. Fierro has made concert tours educator. His Young Artists Orchestra under Eric for the National Endowment for the performances Garcia performing Liszt’s Piano Arts and the California Arts Council have occurred Concerto No. 2, which was lauded and has given more than 25 concerto throughout as a “beautiful performance of great performances with orchestras. He the and many foreign warmth.” He has performed in has appeared twice at the National countries. Mr. Hord has been a master classes and privately for many Gallery of Art and the Dumbarton member of the music faculty at celebrated artist-teachers including Oaks Foundation in Washington, D.C. Fresno City College since 1990. Leon Fleisher, Joseph Kalichstein, Currently a Professor Emeritus of Also, he is a member of the Music Yoheved Kaplinsky, Jon Nakamatsu, Piano at California State University Teachers’ Association of California John O’Conor, John Perry, and Pascal Northridge, where he received the and has served twice as President Rogé. His interest in chamber music Distinguished Teaching Award, Fierro of the Fresno County Branch. Mr. led him to be a founding member holds a Doctorate of Music “with Hord had the privilege of studying of the trio ‘Inuendi’ which took first Distinction” from the University of piano with Dr. Bob L. Bennett of prize in the Levine Chamber Music Southern California. California State University, Fresno Competition, and subsequently and Dr. Robert Pace of Columbia performed at the Kennedy Center University, New York. Dr. Bennett Millennium Stage and the Bulgarian was a student of Karl Friedberg who Embassy in Washington D.C. had studied with Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms. Dr. Pace was a student of Josef and Rosina Lehvinne.

Page 2 of 5 In addition to being an adjudicator at Baltimore County, and as Visiting collaborated with major philharmonic and a composer, Mr. Hord presents Professor at the Eastman School of orchestras and symphonies in workshops on a variety of subjects Music. In 2013, he lived in Strasbourg, Chicago, , Pacific, San including: The Intermediate Piano France, where he led SUAbroad’s Diego, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Literature of Franz Liszt and Ineffable music program in conjunction with Vienna, as well as with singers from Beauty - French Music. the Conservatoire de Strasbourg. major operas in Baltimore, Bayerische He is Professor of Piano at Syracuse Staatsoper, Los Angeles and New Jade Huang University. Fred Karpoff is a York. She also performed in Taiwan, is currently Steinway Artist and a former Artistic Russia, Austria and the U.S., and a third-year Ambassador for the U.S. Information appeared on radio and television. undergraduate Agency. www.entradapiano.com She received a DMA in keyboard at the Johns collaborative arts from USC and has Hopkins Forrest Kinney, given lectures at the Tainan National University and NCTM, has University of Arts in Taiwan. She was the Peabody taught music also asked to adjudicate competitions Institute where she is pursuing a for 35 years. He at the MTAC and SYMF. Currently double major in computer science is the author she is on the faculty at the Chapman and piano performance. Recently, she of 19 books, University and principal rehearsal was a finalist in the Sixth New York including the pianist with the National Children’s International Piano Competition, Pattern Play Chorus. & was awarded third prize in the series on improvisation and the Chord Classical Masters Music Festival Play series on arranging. His book Dr. Janet Competition. Aside from music, Creativity—Beyond Compare explores Lopinski, Huang was a software intern with common misconceptions about Director of the Mobile Communications Group creativity. Forrest has given hundreds Academic Customer Technology Solutions of presentations for music educators Programs Atom Processor Tablet Debug group throughout North America and at the Royal at Intel in the summer of 2013. Jade Europe on the Four Arts of Music: Conservatory, is originally from Granite Bay, improvising, arranging, composing, has performed California, where she studied with and interpreting. Other topics have as soloist and collaborative pianist, Sylvia Hsieh and Tien Hsieh. She included performance anxiety, piano and has presented lectures, was a VOCE winner as a member of technique, theory, songwriting, and workshops and master classes the Epos Trio in 2011, was on Public music history. Forrest has performed across North America, Europe and Radio’s program From the Top, and 21 times at the home of Bill Gates. He Korea. She is a graduate of the Royal was a MTAC Young Artist Guild has given many solo and collaborative Conservatory (ARCT gold medalist), member class of 2010. concerts, including one with a University of Toronto (Bachelor of singer that was entirely improvised. Music) and University of Cincinnati Fred Karpoff is the winner of the Aside from performing, Forrest also (Master of Music and Doctor of Frances Clark Keyboard Pedagogy composes and arranges his own Musical Arts). She has taught piano, Award for The music. He recently published World piano pedagogy, music history and 3-D Piano Songs, two collections of original art theory at the Royal Conservatory Method, a songs. His arrangements have been and is co-author of the music whole-body included in dozens of publications. In history handbook “Explorations”, approach to addition, he created a website to share published by the Frederick Harris piano playing his own piano compositions. Music Company. Dr. Lopinski is the and teaching, Founder and Artistic Director of the currently in Dr. Vivian I-Miao Liu is a versatile Canadian Chopin Society. use in thirty collaborative pianist. She has worked countries worldwide. He presents with the Long Beach Opera, Los Jerome Lowenthal, born in 1932, workshops and master classes Angeles Opera, Opera Pacific, Boys continues to fascinate audiences with throughout North America, including Choir of Harlem, Calico Winds, a youthful intensity and eloquence as guest artist at many state MTA California Quartet, Pacific Symphony, born of life-experience. Mr. Lowenthal conferences and as presenter at Redlands Bowl, studied with MTNA and NCKP. In March 2014, Riverside - he unveiled his new online video Philharmonic, Stokowski, resource for teachers and students, Pokorny Low , Entrada Piano Technique. Fred has Brass Seminar Edward served on the faculties of the Peabody and many Steuermann, Conservatory, University of Maryland others. She Alfred Cortot,

Page 3 of 5 and Artur Rubinstein. Having won piano compositions are published by and person in today’s complex and three international competitions, UK Faber Music. eclectic culture. he then moved to Jerusalem where he played, taught and lectured for Mitchell Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov is a Professor three years. He made his debut Newman began of Piano at California State University, with the in playing in the Northridge, where he serves as Chair 1963. Since then, he has performed second violin of Keyboard Studies. Dr. Rachmanov quite extensively, appearing as section of the has served on the faculties of soloist with conductors including Los Angeles Manhattan Barenboim, Ozawa, Slatkin, Leonard Philharmonic in School of Music Bernstein, , 1987. In 1991 he and Chicago and . He has also moved to the first violin section and College of collaborated with , has remained there until the present Performing Arts , the Lark, Avalon and day. He also is active in performing at Roosevelt Shanghai Quartets. Mr. Lowenthal with the University, and has also taught for 22 years at the Chamber Music Series and the Green has appeared . His recordings Umbrella Series which features new as a guest artist, masterclass clinician include concerti by Tschaikovsky music performances. Besides a private and lecturer at schools such as UCLA, and Liszt, solo works by Sinding and teaching schedule, he is the founder University of Chicago, Indiana Bartok, opera paraphrases by Liszt and director of Hilltop Boot Camp; University, University of Michigan, and Busoni, and chamber-music by and orchestra audition preparation University of Washington, University Arensky and Taneyev. Recently, he course. Newman also gave adjunct of Iowa, Tulane University, Royal recorded the complete Annees de private lessons for Pepperdine Northern College of Music (UK), Pelerinage by Franz Liszt. University until 2010. Mr. Newman Shanghai Conservatory, Shanghai attended the Curtis Institute of Music Normal University, and Beijing Elissa Milne is in . Central Music School. Rachmanov has an Australian been heard at venues such as New composer, Bryan Pezzone has been a freelance York’s Carnegie Hall, Washington teacher, pianist, performing and recording artist in DC’s Kennedy Center, and in major writer and the Los Angeles area since 1987. He is halls throughout North America and presenter. She known as a versatile performer who Europe. He has recorded for Naxos, has studied is comfortable Parma, Master Musicians and Vista composition, in classical, Vera labels. Dmitry Rachmanov is a education, arts administration, contemporary graduate of The Juilliard School and performance studies and semiotics and he holds the DMA from Manhattan (University of Auckland, University improvisational School of Music. of Sydney, University of Technology styles. He Sydney), is an award-winning performs with James Ramos is an educator, idea song-writer, composed for musical composers developer, and consultant focused theatre and has created conceptual and musicians on optimizing individual and art works. She established a private as diverse as Pierre Boulez, John organizational performance. His piano teaching studio in Sydney Williams, and John Adams; and specialties include Classical and Jazz/ in 1989, and provides professional records on countless film and Contemporary styles, Collaborative development for piano teachers television soundtracks. He is the Piano, Improvisation, Composition, in Australia. Her piano, cello, and pianist in the group Free Flight, a and Pedagogy. He received Piano trumpet compositions are included in crossover classical/jazz quartet, where Performance degrees from the syllabi for ABRSM, Trinity College, these concerts feature many of his University of Redlands (B.M.) and Australian Music Examination own compositions. Bryan has been the University of Arizona (M.M.). Board, and the London College of principal pianist in the Hollywood He pursued advanced doctoral Music. She has created innovative Bowl Orchestra from its inception work at the University of Arizona, repertoire collections for AMEB in 1991-1999 as well as the former and studied in Salzburg, Austria. In and Hal Leonard Australia. She chair and founder of the Multi- addition, Ramos earned a Master speaks regularly at conferences in focused keyboard department at of Public Australia and is a key contributor and the California Institute of the Arts Administration consultant to the Australian “Piano from 1987-2000. He abandoned both at CSU, Teacher Magazine.” She is a member those positions in order to discover Northridge. of the NCKP independent studio new paths. He is passionate about He has served teachers committee, recently serving continuously redefining himself as Coordinator on two panels at NCKP 2013. Her and his role as an artist, musician, of Piano

Page 4 of 5 Accompanying at CSU Bakersfield, England winning several scholarships in Music from the University of and Piano Instructor and Musical including awards from Rotary Houston, and has maintained a piano Director for the Opera Program at International and the Leopold Schlepp studio since 1981. She currently the University of Arizona, where he Foundation. Dr. Soller has taught runs successful group piano lessons was nominated for teacher of the music on both the east and west for ages 3-6 in the Houston area. year. At the University of Redlands, coasts working with piano students Alongside her teaching commitments Ramos was named “ Performer of the of all ages from Pre Kindergarten to she is a publisher and co-owner Year.” He has served as an officer and college level and beyond. Dr. Soller of Alpha Major™, a publishing board member at the Branch and State is a published author in the fields house dedicated to music education level in MTAC, and the California of music education, the gifted and products, teacher resources, and Association of Professional Music talented arena, and educational print music. Alpha Major’s piano Teachers (CAPMT). program management and has duets were selected for inclusion in presented at state, national and the Federation Festivals Bulletin 2014- Keith Porter- international conferences in fields of 2015-2016, a rare accomplishment for Snell is a education, gifted research, and music. a new, small publishing house. Ms. pianist, piano She is highly sought after as a festival Wallace is President-Elect of the Texas teacher, and and competition judge. Music Teachers Association (TMTA) writer of and in that role was responsible for educational Past-President the 2013 TMTA Convention in Dallas. music for piano of the West Los Currently, she is responsible for the students. He Angeles Branch 2014 TMTA Convention in Houston. received Bachelor and Master of of the MTAC In 2003, Ms. Wallace was named Music degrees in Piano Performance and current TMTA Teacher of the Year. from the University of Southern member of the California, where he was a student Santa Monica Pianist Micah of John Perry. After winning the Bay Branch, Yui made her Joanna Hodges International Piano Alpha Walker, graduated with honors solo recital Competition in 1984 he withdrew from the Eastman School of Music debut in from the concert stage in 1988 after where she majored in both oboe and Canada at being diagnosed with focal dystonia, piano. As a chamber musician she age ten and and focused on expanding his has collaborated with members of her orchestral teaching studio at the same time major orchestras in the US and was debut two becoming a highly successful editor, accompanist for Jean-Pierre Rampal years later. She is the recipient of author, and composer of educational master classes in France and the three consecutive Canada Council piano music for the Kjos Music Martha Graham Dance Studio in Grants, two Ontario Arts Council Company, and founder and owner of New York. With her husband, David Grants, the Alberta Achievement Academy Records. His music books Weiss, she formed a chamber duo Award, and the Edmonton Civic and CDs are ranked among the most known as DnA, maintaining a busy Award. Micah is a top prizewinner popular teaching resources on the performing schedule including a of the Frinna Awerbach International market today. He returned to the six concert tour of Costa Rica and Piano Competition, Yale Gordon, concert stage in 2006 as a left handed performances on several cruise ships. Harrison Winter, and Canadian pianist, discovering an intensely In addition, she is the composer of Music Competitions. Micah has gratifying new journey of music the 1997 off-Broadway musical ‘The appeared as soloist with the Montreal making. Keith is a Steinway artist. Great American Singing Commercial’ Metropolitan Orchestra and the which played to capacity audiences Syracuse, Edmonton, and Victoria An and received rave reviews. In great Symphonies. She has also performed accomplished demand as a teacher, Alpha is well with Paul Coletti, Daniel Heifetz, teacher, known for her innovative teaching James Dunham, Jacques Israelivitch, performer and methods effective both for children and the St. Lawrence String Quartet, author Dr. Janet and adults. to name a few. Micah holds degrees Soller studied from the Juilliard School, Peabody with Julio Karen Wallace earned her Bachelor Conservatory, the Royal Conservatory Esteban at the of Music from of Music in Toronto and the Peabody Conservatory and Marjorie Southwestern University of Toronto. Her recording Clementi at the Royal Northern University in with the London Symphony Music Conservatory in England. She Georgetown, Orchestra was “Record of the Year” earned a doctorate from American Texas and by Stereophile Magazine. Micah University in Washington, DC her Master is currently on the faculty at The and has performed in the US and of Education Colburn School. ♫

Page 5 of 5