About Me
Me and my first teacher, Maria Meirelles
My journey with the piano began at age ten, following Youtube tutorials to teach myself pieces such as Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata and Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag.
A few months later, I started taking formal lessons with Maria Meirelles, an accomplished Detroit pianist and teacher, who came out of retirement to take me as a student. She worked with me to develop strong technical foundations and effective practice habits, as well as a deep love for music.*
My late start has given me a better understanding of how to help my students improve in the early stages; because I vividly remember the challenges I faced and the strategies I used to overcome them, I can relate to my students' frustrations and provide practical, tailored guidance.
I have since won prizes in several major international competitions, and I was admitted to both Eastman and Juilliard on scholarship.
From my performance at Carnegie Hall as a prize winner at the New York Piano Competition and Festival
Some of these prizes include first place at the Kuleshov International Piano Competition, third place in the Thousand Islands International Piano Competition, and honorable mention at the Marian Garcia International Piano Competition.
By sharing the strategies and mindset I employed to perform at the highest level, I help my students develop the tools and mindset they need to attain their goals.
I have studied pedagogy at Eastman and Juilliard, and I have years of experience teaching students of all ages.
At Juilliard and Eastman, I took pedagogy courses on the science of learning modalities, the science of motivation, and strategies to communicate effectively with various age groups. I have also spent countless hours pouring through neuroscience studies, learning how the brain learns motor movements.
I've taught over 20 students in the NYC area, and I view every lesson I give as an opportunity to hone my teaching skills.
Me at Juilliard commencement