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Wylsner Bastien – Jazz Piano
The average price for a half-hour piano lesson is $40 in Mauldin, while we offer lessons at only $30 per a half hour lesson.
Live online lessons using Zoom or Skype typically charge between $25-50 for a half hour lesson. Local private one-on-one piano lessons range from $35-55 for a half hour lesson, while in-person group lessons cost $25 per student for a half hour lesson.
Our professional piano instructors have college degrees in piano performance and at least a few years of teaching piano.
Top instructors like ours also have won prizes at the prestigious piano competitions with rich experience in giving public performances.
Successful piano lesson plans are structured, measurable and trackable.
Our piano teachers will provide excellent instruction based on lesson plans customized for each student.
We also value our student feedback, which will be shared with the instructors.
Students will need the following equipment for an outstanding learning experience.
The Lesson With You client service team will assist you with finding the right equipment.
Check out our most popular lessons!
What’s the difference between online and in-person piano lessons?
Our private online piano lessons are very similar to in-person lessons, except more affordable and more convenient. In-person piano lessons require you to visit the lesson studio whereas online lessons can be simply set up with few digital equipments in the comfort of your home.
The average price for a half hour piano lesson in Mauldin, South Carolina is $40. Live online lessons using Zoom or Skype charge between $25-50 for a half hour lesson. Local private one-on-one piano lessons range from $35-55 for a half hour lesson, while in-person group lessons can cost $20-25 for a half hour lesson.
Piano lesson pricing can vary widely depending on the teacher’s education, performing level and expertise, the location, years of teaching piano and lesson length. In-person private lessons typically charge more than online lessons, and the cost of individual or group piano lessons start as low as $20 per hour.
How old should children be before starting piano lessons?
We accept students age 5 and up, although students under 13 should have a parent in the room with them for successful lessons. For children who are young to read music right away, we encourage our teachers to provide a fun, easy musical instruction. This includes rhythm games, ear training, and even improvisation in order to develop your child’s musical abilities.
There are many sizes of keyboard, with small ones such as 61 keys digital piano available even for small children. Our support line is available to help you figure out what size piano is best for your child.
How do online piano lessons work for beginners?
First, it’s important to let your piano instructor know your personal goals and interests. What style are you looking for? Is it Classical or Pop? Do you like the songs of Taylor Swift or Bruno Mars? Are you interested in learning Theory at the same time?
Then, our instructor will make recommendations from getting the right keyboard, equipment and lesson book (if applicable). After scheduling a regular lesson, try practicing piano on a regular basis. There’s no rush – what matters for beginners is finding the right practice routine.
What do you learn in typical piano lessons?
In general piano lessons, students will learn detailed instructions on the technical and artistic aspects of music. Students will learn fingering and hand position along with basic music theory and musical background of the repertoire.
In the lessons, piano teachers will give live feedback on how to improve the techniques and help the student understand the musical side of the music. At the end of each lesson, teachers will specifically assign the students which part of the music to work on and it’s expected for the student to improve the playing before the next lesson.
Learn from the Best. No contracts ever.
Ana Gogava
Piano
M.M. Guildhall School of Music
B.M. Guildhall School of Music
London, England
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Ana Gogava entered the prestigious Z. Paliashvili School in Tbilisi at the age of 8 under the guidance of Darejan Tsintsadze.
Ana’s performance was recognized at European Union of Music for Youth Competition (EMCY) in 2002. Many other prizewinning achievements were to follow most notably 1st Prize at the N.Gabunia national competition in Georgia, 1st Prize in the VIIth and IXth V. Krainev International Competitions in Ukraine and 1st Prize in the VIIth international N. Rubinstein Competition in Paris in 2007.
Ana Gogava has participated in master-classes given by artists such as Imogen Cooper, Vladimir Krainev and Michel Sogny, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Richard Goode and has received scholarships from the President of Georgia, Elizabeth Leonskaya and the Sogny Foundation. She has given recital and concerto performances not only in Georgia, but also in Spain, Russia, Azerbaijan, Austria as well as Holland, where in 2010 she won 1st Prize in the Enschede international competition for Young Pianists. In June 2015 she was awarded by Hortense Anda prize for the “ most talented young pianist” at Geza Anda International Piano competition. In 2015 and 2016, Ana was awarded by Help Musicians Trust, Martin Musical Trust and English Speaking Union ( ESU) to take a part at Piano Master Classes at Banff Centre in Canada. In 2017 and 2018, Ana participated at Oxford Philharmonic Piano Festival. In 2019, Ana won 1st Prize at the Birmingham International Piano competition.
Ana Gogava successfully completed her Bachelor’s, Master’s and Artist Diploma courses at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London where she studied with Professor Philip Jenkins.
Dr. Amalia Rinehart
Classical Piano
D.M.A. Stony Brook University
M.M. Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, New York
Amalia Rinehart is a pianist and piano teacher with multiple years of experience teaching students of all ages and levels. Ms. Rinehart is a recent graduate with a doctorate degree in piano performance at Stony Brook University. Amalia earned her Master of Music degree from Stony Brook, and her Bachelor’s in music (theory and history) from Columbia University, from which she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Amalia has performed all over the US and Canada, at festivals such as the Beethoven Institute at Mannes School of Music (NY), Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival (WA), Colorado College Summer Music Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival (ME) as a Kaplan Fellow, Sarasota Music Festival (FL), Domaine Forget in Quebec, and as a fellow at the Kneisel Hall Festival in Maine.
Rosana Hurtado Klaus is a passionate teacher and avid learner of music. She completed her Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Pedagogy in 2021 at California State University Northridge where she studied privately under Dr. Dmitry Rachmanov, studied Chamber Music with Dr. Ming Tsu, and was mentored in Pedagogy by Dr. Gayle Kowalchyk. Rosana aspires to instill independence in her students through carefully teaching not only the basics of piano, but also useful practice methods. She strongly believes that an independent learner is a happy and successful learner.
Rosana first began studying classical piano at the age of five, under her grandmother Rosemary Carswell. She spent her formative years competing all over the California San Fernando Valley, participating in National Piano Guild Auditions, completing Certificate of Merit Evaluations, and later moving onto Panel Auditions. After graduating from high school, Rosana studied at Moorpark Community College with Mona Wu DeCesare where she was invited to perform Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy in 2015. Once Rosana’s studies were completed at MCC, she transferred to CSUN.
After completing her Bachelor of Music in Piano Pedagogy, Rosana moved to Portland, Oregon where she currently resides as she completes her Master of Music in Collaborative Piano. At PSU, Rosana serves as Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Collaborative Piano Area under Dr. Chuck Dillard. She will graduate in the summer of 2023. As Graduate Teaching Assistant, Rosana plays for vocal studios, accompanies juries, serves as the pianist for the Advanced Treble Choir, plays with instrumentalists such as string and wind players, and is positioned as opera rehearsal pianist, most recently for the PSU opera production of The Merry Wives of Windsor (2022.) Rosana hopes to pursue a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree shortly after completing her Master’s. She will continue teaching and performing as she moves through life.
Ryo Kaneko
Piano
D.M.A. Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
M.M. Rice University
Houston, Texas
Winner of the 2014 Miami Music Festival Piano Competition and the 2015 Jacob Flier International Piano Competition, Japanese pianist Ryo Kaneko is a rising star in the next generation of pianists. He has performed with conductors such as Vladimir Feltsman, Michael Rossi, Victoria Gau, and Bohuslav Rattay and has presented recitals on many prestigious venues including the Kennedy Center, New World Theater, Rosa Hart Theater, McKenna Theater, Manhattan’s Steinway Hall, and the Studley Theatre.
Kaneko’s performance has been consistently praised for his unrivaled, visceral energy. Times Herald-Record’s Mr. James F. Cotter vividly describes Mr. Kaneko’s performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s first piano concerto: “The final allegro takes the form of a scherzo, which Kaneko brought to a rousing climax that brought the audience to its feet with shouts of ‘Bravo.’”
Ryo received his undergraduate and Master’s degree at Rice University, where he studied with the internationally acclaimed artist Dr. Robert Roux. Currently, he is earning his Doctor of Music in Indiana University under the guidance of Professor Emile Naoumoff.
Humay Gasimzadeh recently graduated from a Doctorate degree in Contemporary Performance Program (Piano) in the studio of Professor Robert Satterlee at the Bowling Green State University. She received her Master of Music degree in the Contemporary Performance Program (Piano) in the studio of Professors: Anthony de Mare, Christopher Oldfather and Margaret Kampmeier at Manhattan School of Music, New York in 2016 – 2018 academic years.
Born in Baku, Azerbaijan, Humay received her Undergraduate degree in Piano Performance at Baku Music Academy (2007-2011) in the studio of Professor Adila Vakilova, and Master’s degree in the studio of professor Einar Rottingen at the Grieg Academy in Bergen, Norway (2012-2014). She was awarded a Post Graduate Diploma in Piano Performance in the studio of Professor Daniel Rohm at Stavanger University.
Outstanding musical achievements include her participation in many concerts and festivals such as Bang on a Can Festival in Massachusetts, Cortona New Music Festival in Italy, Bridging the Gap Music Festival in New York, Avgarde, International Chamber Music Festival in Stavanger, Youth Chamber Music Festival in Stavanger, Borealis Contemporary Music Festival in Bergen, Norway as both a soloist and chamber music performer. She is a winner of Cortona Contemporary Performance Competition, Chamber Music Competition at Stavanger University in Norway, Conrad Art Song Competition at Bowling Green State University in Ohio.
Kristi Hifzi
Piano
M.M. Conservatorio Giuseppe Tartini
B.M. Conservatorio Giuseppe Tartini
Trieste, Italy
Kristi Hifzi is a professionally active concert pianist and a piano instructor located in Vienna, Austria.
Kristi obtained the certificate of excellence in her High School studies as well as maximum grade “cum Laude” in her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree for Piano Performance at Conservatorio di Musica “Giuseppe Tartini” Trieste in Italy, where she studied with Professor and Pianist Teresa Trevisan. Currently Kristi lives in Vienna, Austria where she studies in the University of Music of the city of Vienna and studies Piano Performance under the tutelage of Markus Prause – a former student of Walter Fleischmann. She also studies Chamber Music with Denise Benda – a former student of P. Badura – Skoda, R. Buchbinder and M. Perahia.
Kristi is a laureate of around 20 prizes in several National and International competitions and her concert activity from 2015 – 2021 reaches the number of around 60 different performance events. She played in various important stages such as: Teatro “La Fenice”- Sala Apollinee – Venezia, Italy, Auditorium RAI FVG – Italy , Royal Palace of Albania, Albanian Radio Television, “Pianodrom” Festival- Tirane, Albania, Sala Tartini of Conservatory “Giuseppe Tartini” Italy, Grand Hall of the University of Art – Tirana, Albania etc.
Her participation in the masterclasses include: Antoniette van Zabbner (Austria – U. S. A.), Claus – Christian Schuster (Austria), Borislava Taneva (Bulgaria), Mihajlo Zurkovic (Serbia), Madalena Soveral (France), Maria Grazia Bellocchio (Italy), Zuzana Niederdorfer (Austria), Pierluigi Camicia (Italy), Ida Gamulin (Croatia) etc.
Recently, Kristi was accepted in the “Malta Classical Music Academy” to take lessons from some of the greatest piano masters in the world: Pavel Gililov, Michel Beroff, Dmitri Alexeev. In December 2021 Kristi makes her third debut at the most prestigious Festival of Classical Music in Albania – ”Pianodrom”, and she will make her first professional debut in Vienna.
Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Arpi Vardanyan graduated with the highest distinction from Tchaikovsky Specialized Secondary Music School in 2014.
In the same year Arpi was accepted to the piano department of the Yerevan State Conservatory after Komitas. From 2016 to 2021, Arpi transferred to the Academy of Music of Zagreb in Croatia, and she recently received a Master’s degree in piano performance from the Academy.
From 2017 till 2019, she taught as a piano instructor at the music school “Muzički Atelje” in Zagreb, Croatia. In 2013, Arpi became a laureate of the international competition-festival “Renaissance” in Armenia, and since then, she is sponsored by the YerazArt Foundation located in Boston, USA. Arpi has performed as a soloist and chamber performer at worldwide concerts, festivals, and concert cycles including “Skladatelji-Obljetničari”, “Vivat Akademia”. Arpi has recently participated in Erasmus plus Traineeship program in Vienna, Austria.
Christian Valdes
Classical & Jazz Piano
M.M. University of Texas at Arlington
Arlington, TX
B.M. University of North Texas
Denton, TX
Christian Valdés is a talented pianist from Cali, Colombia. He comes from a family of renowned Salsa musicians, which led him to be a very successful and active musician in the Latin Scene in America. by the age of 16 he was already performing and touring with numerous Salsa artists mainly from Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico, among this list Andy Montañez, Ismael Miranda, Tito Nieves, Rey Ruiz, and many more.
In 2011, the University of North Texas offered him a scholarship to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies, and since then, he has had the privilege of studying with different mentors and very well-known professionals such as Stefan Karlsson, Michael Palma and Sergio Pamies. He has performed and recorded with different internationally renowned artists such as Diego “El Cigala”, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres, Luis Conte, Karen Briggs, Brad Leali, Lynn Seaton, Rich DeRosa, among many others.
Christian has also been awarded several Downbeat awards in the category of best Latin Jazz Group with his own Sextet, and best soloist with some of his own compositions. Christian also did his Masters in Jazz Piano performance at the University of Texas at Arlington, where he is now part of the faculty in the jazz department.
Julian Castilla
Classical & Jazz Piano
M.M. University of
Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
An “artist of the sound,” Julián is more than just a pianist. His skillful versatility includes a wide-range of styles, from the classical tradition to Jazz idioms, and Colombian & African musical idiosyncrasy. His experimentation with different musical ideas inspired by the Great Masters of music history, have led him to the joy of musical expression through composition. This addition to his musical skills lets him fully explore musical thoughts with all options at hand, making each performance a truly personal expression through music.
Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Julián began his music and keyboard studies at the tender age of four, with one of Colombia’s most important composers and pedagogues, Jaime Torres Donneys, and his wife, Esperanza Valbuena.
In 2008, he continued piano studies with his brother, Renato Pernett Castilla, who is an accomplished composer, arranger, and pianist himself. Simultaneously, Julián began to immerse himself into the world of Latin-American music and Jazz. This rich background of influences inspired him to become a professional musician. To achieve this, he began formal studies with Pilar Leyva, the former pupil of legendary pianist, Claudio Arrau.
Julián earned his Master’s degree at The University of Southern Mississippi, in Hattiesburg, after which he has been working as a Jazz Piano, Big Band conductor, and collaborative pianist in both USM and the Winters School of Music at William Carey University.
An important part of his musical awareness and on-going pursuit of his craft has been participating in numerous masterclasses at national and international piano festivals, in addition to interacting with many renowned musicians of diverse genres and disciplines such as Blanca Uribe, Bill Summers, Chick Corea, Don Preston, Edoardo Torbianelli, and Lang Lang.
Dr. Larisa Soboleva
Piano
D.M.A. University of Miami
Miami, FL
M.M. Rowan University
Glassboro, NJ
Born in Chisinau, Moldova, Larisa Soboleva began her piano studies at the age of five with Larisa Kalinovskaya. In 1998 she continued to study at the Republican Lyceum “Ciprian Porumbescu” under the distinguished pedagogue and pianist Lia Oxinoit. In 2003, Mrs. Soboleva was accepted into the National Academy of Music, and Fine Arts in Chisinau, where she studied Dr. Inna Hatipova and Sergei Covalenco. In 2008 Mrs. Soboleva received a full scholarship and assistantship from Rowan University to study with Professor Veda Zuponcic. She was awarded the full scholarship and assistantship from the University of Miami in 2012, where she completed her doctorate studies under Santiago Rodriguez (piano) and Naoko Takao (pedagogy).
During her years of study, Ms. Soboleva has won prizes in National and International Competitions in Moldova, Ukraine, Romania, and the USA. She has performed with the National Orchestra of the Teleradio Moldova, with National Chamber Orchestra, and with the orchestra of Rowan University. Ms. Soboleva has recorded a number of compositions written by composers of Moldova in 2006 and 2013, including works by Vladimir Rotaru, Vladimir Beleaev, and Ghenadie Ciobanu.
Mrs. Soboleva is the holder of two master’s degrees in Piano Performance: from the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts in Chisinau and from Rowan University, which she graduated with the Jacob Steinway Award, given to the most outstanding pianists graduating in either BM or MM program. She successfully combines performance activities with piano teaching. Her essay
on the pedagogical subject “Leaning Away from the Piano à la Gieseking” won the Clavier Companion Collegiate Writing Contest and has been published in the November/December edition of the Clavier Companion, 2013. She was one of the first Piano Faculty of the Rowan Prep (NJ) founded in 2009, a Piano Faculty at the Superior Academy of Music (FL), Frost School of Music Preparatory Program (FL), Music Authority (MI), School for the Arts (MI), and Art of Musique (MI).
Thomas Crouch
Piano
M.M. Portland State University
Portland, OR
B.M. University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA
Thomas Crouch grew up in Virginia and started piano lessons at 8 years old. When he was 14, he moved to Portland, Oregon and studied with internationally renowned pianist Lena Vozheiko-Wheaton, former professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Under her tutelage he placed 3rd nationally for MTNA high school division, received honorable mention in the 2007 national Modern Music Festival and received the Young Artist Achievement award for the state of Washington.
Thomas attended University of Puget Sound where he studied under Dr. Tanya Stambuk and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. While at UPS Thomas placed first alternate in the 2010 MTNA young artist solo division. He performed for numerous masterclasses and participated in premiering several works for the 2011 National Composers Symposium hosted by University of Puget Sound. With cellist Christina Wu, the duo took top prize in the Beatrice Hermann young artist competition and were asked to perform for masterclasses held by the Tokyo String Quartet and composer Daron Hagen.
As a soloist Thomas has been invited to perform for Seattle’s Northwest Artist series hosted by Steinway and at the Perugia International Music Festival.
As a pedagogue, Thomas taught for University of Puget Sound’s Community Music department. Thomas was a founding teacher of Musicologie in Westerville, an Ohio based school, where he was the lead piano teacher, created a chamber music program for young children, and helped develop the daily activities for the school’s “Musicologie Jr.” program.
He is currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Portland State University where he teaches class piano for music majors and is also pursuing his Master of Music in Piano Performance. As a teacher, Thomas believes that each student deserves a unique approach that matches their specific needs and learning style while striving to make every lesson an enriching experience for the student.
A native of Boone, NC now located in New York City, Kasey Stokes is an emerging professional in piano instruction and performance. In May of 2021, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) with a Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Dror Biran. During her undergraduate studies, Kasey was selected to attend the Amalfi Coast Music Festival (2019) and Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival (2018). In addition to the performance competitions she placed in, Kasey participated in master classes led by renowned artists
such as Logan Skelton, Inna Faliks, Marina Lomazov, Christopher Harding and Michael Lewin, among others.
Kasey was also an active member of the CCM MTNA collegiate chapter, serving as Co-President for two years. She was an avid participant at annual MTNA, OMTA and collegiate symposium conferences. Since graduating, she has continued to further her professional development and attend more conferences, workshops and master classes given by leading pedagogues from around the world.
At the age of 12, Kasey’s teaching journey started with beginners, progressing to the late intermediate level. She believes the most important goal in becoming a musician is finding one’s own self-expression through music. To guide a well-rounded musician, she works by building a strong background in ear-training and musicality, as well as exploring students’ interests in playing different genres (pop, musical theater, jazz) as well as in composition and improvisation. Kasey’s approach to teaching is student-centered, as she learns and adapts to students’ characters, skills, abilities and musical development in each lesson. In addition to teaching, Kasey currently works as the Brand Ambassador at Steinway Hall NYC.
Mattia Senesi
Piano
D.M.A. University of Montreal (Present)
Montreal, Quebec
M.M. Conservatorio Pietro Mascagni
Livorno, Italy
Mattia Senesi was born in Arezzo, Italy and began studying piano at the age of 7 under the guidance of M° Marta Cencini.
Mattia continued his studies with M° Gianluca Biondi at the Istituto comprensivo Cesalpino, and he graduated from the Liceo Musicale of Arezzo with the highest grade in piano performance under the direction of M° Rita Cucè in 2013.
He then started his Bachelor’s degree at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali Rinaldo Franci in Sienna, Italy where he studied under the tutelage of M° Norberto Capelli and M° Hector Moreno and graduated with honors in July 2016.
In 2018, Mattia obtained his Master’s degree in piano with honors at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali Pietro Mascagni in Livorno, Italy, under the tutelage of M°Daniel Rivera. Afterwards, Mattia completed an Erasmus internship at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Brussels, Belgium, where he worked as collaborative pianist under the direction of M° Anne op de Beeck.
Mattia began his Graduate Artist Certificate program in collaborative piano at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville (US) with Dr. Kevin Class. There he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and collaborated as a vocal coach and coach with UTOT (University of Tennessee Opera Theater).
In 2021, Mattia started his Doctorate in Collaborative Piano at the Université de Montréal (Canada) under the guidance of M°Francis Perron and M°Liz Upchurch.
William Chiang
Piano
D.M.A. University of Southern California (Present)
Los Angeles, California
M.M. Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana
William Chiang received his Master of Music degree and Performer Certificate for outstanding accomplishment in recital from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in May 2021, where he studied with André Watts. He also completed his undergraduate degree at IU studying with Evelyne Brancart.
At age four, William began learning piano with Olga Radosavljevich at the Cleveland Institute of Music and was a recipient of the Olga Radosavljevich Scholarship. He continued pre-college piano studies with Pamela Mia Paul at the University of North Texas. At age 15, he won Grand Prize in the 2012 Plano Symphony Orchestra’s Collin County Young Artists Competition and made his orchestral debut performing Prokofiev’s 1st Piano Concerto with the Plano Symphony under Hector Guzman. In 2013, he performed Beethoven’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Lewisville Lake Symphony under Adron Ming as the Grand Prize Winner of the Vernell Gregg Young Artists Competition.
William has received 1st Prize at the 2013 International Chopin Youth Competition in Houston and prizes at the Juanita Miller Concerto Competition, Blount-Slawson Young Artist Competition, International Keyboard Odyssiad, Hellam Young Artists’ Competition, Robert Beardsley Piano Prize Competition, and William Knabe International Piano Competition. In 2014, he was designated a Texas Young Master in the Arts by the Texas state government’s Commission on the Arts.
During his time at IU, William served as an Associate Instructor in Piano, teaching secondary piano lessons and group piano classes for music and non-music majors. He is now a Keyboard Studies Teaching Assistant at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, where he is pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree under the tutelage of Bernadene Blaha.
Athena So began her musical journey at a young age as a classical pianist. Although she has extensive training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, Athena has always been fascinated in the art of storytelling through music. Through her experience as an accompanist and pit musician in various productions and cabarets throughout Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, Athena immediately discovered a strong passion for musical theatre.
As a recent graduate of York University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (Spec. Hon. Music) and Bachelor of Education programs, Athena has spent her post-secondary years exploring a career in music direction. Athena’s journey began as the rehearsal pianist and pit musician for Vanier College Productions, where she quickly became the first student music director at the theatre company, working on shows such as Next to Normal, Shrek the Musical, and My Favorite Year. Since then, Athena has workshopped new Canadians works such as Milo’s World, played at various cabarets around Toronto, both in-person and online, and music directed Youth Theatre companies including Bravo Academy and FLATO Markham Theatre.
Currently, Athena is a music director at The Second City, serving in both Second City TourCo (Understudy MD) and the Training Centre. Much of Athena’s influences revolve around contemporary musical theatre and classical music, but what truly drives her passion is collaborating with different art forms to collectively tell a story.
Chris Banka
Piano
M.M. Mannes School of Music
New York City, NY
B.M. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
A graduate of Mannes School of Music (MM in piano performance 2021) and Florida State University (BM in piano performance 2018), Christopher Banka has won numerous solo and chamber piano awards. Mr. Banka has performed in more than 100 recitals, concerts, and masterclasses, including at the International Keyboard Institute & Festival, Kinhaven Music School, Meadowmount School of Music, the Princeton Festival, and Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall.
In 2020, Mr. Banka was selected to represent the state of New Jersey in the MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition. He is currently studying piano with Vladimir Valjarević; previous teachers include Read Gainsford and Joel Hastings. Mr. Banka has over seven years of experience in teaching piano and has helped hundreds of students achieve their musical goals.
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