BIOGRAPHY
American pianist Tanya Karyagina is praised for her “brilliant fluency, outstanding tone quality” (La Libre Belgique) and “elegant alternation of tragedy and optimism” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram). Born in Kazakhstan, Tanya Karyagina made her concerto début at the age of nine with the Kazakh Chamber Orchestra under Yuri Dorokhovski and has also appeared as a soloist with the Kazakh National Symphony, Fort Worth symphony Orchestra, TCU Symphony, USC Symphony, North East Symphony, and Nova Amadeus Chamber Orchestra working with such distinguished conductors as Leon Fleisher, Sergiu Comissiona, Nicola Samale, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Jeremy Swerling, German Gutierrez, and Tolepbergen Abdrashev.
She has performed throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belgium, France, Italy, Greece and Germany in such venues as Carnegie Hall (Weill) in New York, Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado, Bass Performance Hall in Texas, Segerstrom Center for the Arts and McCallum Theater in California, Le Théâtre Bonbonnière in Epinal, France, Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow, Russia, Central Concert Hall, National Philharmonic Hall and National Opera Theater in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Read More
CURRICULUM VITAE
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2002-present Tanya Karyagina Piano Studio
Director, Piano Instructor2023-2024 Trinity Valley School
Piano Instructor2015-2023 Texas Christian University
Piano Instructor, Collaborative Pianist2017-2022
Texas Baptist College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Artist in Residence, Adjunct Professor of Piano2015-2017
Tarrant County College Northeast Campus
Adjunct Professor of Piano2010-2015
Vanguard University of Southern California
Adjunct Professor of Piano and Accompanying2002-2010
University of Southern California
Assistant Lecturer in Piano, Collaborative Pianist -
AUGUST 2010
University of Southern California
Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance
Academic Field: Music Theory and Analysis
Elective Fields: Piano Pedagogy and Early MusicDecember 2006
University of Southern California
Artist Diploma in Piano PerformanceMay 2004
University of Southern California
Master of Music in Piano PerformanceMay 2002
Texas Christian University
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Magna cum Laude -
2022 Steinway and Sons Top Teacher Award
2009
First Prize
Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition2009
Mendelssohn Prize
Mendelssohn International Piano Competition2008
Second Prize in Divisions V & VI
Special Prize for Best Performance of a Paganini Etude
Los Angeles Liszt International Competition2008
Second Prize
Silver Medal of the President of the Senate
Eko and Foundation Como Prizes
Rome International Piano Competition2007
Winner
Ladies Music Club Competition2005
Second Prize
Kingsville International Piano Concerto Competition2005
Semifinalist Diploma
Seiler International Piano Competition2003-2004
Third Prize
MTNA National Young Artists Competition
Winner - Southwest Division
Winner - State Division2001
Second Prize
Jefferson Young Artist Competition1999
Winner
TCU Concerto Competition1998-1999
Winner
TCU/Van Cliburn Piano Institute Concerto Competition1998
First Prize
Steinway Society International Piano Competition1998
First Prize
International Chopin Piano Competition of Texas -
2022
Steinway Gallery of Fort Worth
Lecture-Recital with ALORTA TRIO featuring works by Debussy and Piazzolla2021
Texas Technological University
Lecture-Recital with Cecilia Kang, Clarinet: Travel through Italy2021
Spectrum Chamber Music Society
Lecture-Recital with ALORTA TRIO featuring Dvorak’s Dumky Trio2020
Texas Baptist College
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Chamber Music Masterclass with ALORTA TRIO2017
Dallas Baptist University
Piano Masterclass2015
Tarrant County College
Faculty Lecture Recital: Music Through the Centuries2013 Fullerton College
Lecture-recital to college students2011
Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Public and Private Elementary Schools of Orange County
Lecture-Presentation: The Symphony Orchestra2010
Vanguard University of Southern California
Lecture-recital: The Masques of Robert Schumann featuring Shumann’s Carnaval2009-2012
Virginia Waring Foundation Community Outreach
Lecture-recitals in public schools2007
Public and Private Schools Across Washington State
Lecture: Origins of Piano2005
Mission College
Piano Masterclass2003
Vail Mountain School
Lecture-recital: Music and Imagination2001
MTNA Nevada State Convention
Lecture: Pros and Cons of Piano Competitions -
“Tanya Karyagina is a big talent and a big pianist. She is superb when it comes to doing the most virtuosic works with great temperament and technique. Audiences love her. Her temperament is enormous and she is extraordinarily convincing in concert performances. She is very successful as an educator and her students love her. She is an exceptional talent.”
John Perry, Henry Rutgers Chair in Piano l Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University
“Tanya Karyagina is a marvelous pianist whom I have known for a number of years. Dr. Karyagina has a virtuoso technique and natural musicality that is quite unique and very interesting. She has a broad understanding and ability to perform many styles of repertoire.She is a superb artist and colleague to work with.”
Norman Krieger, Chair of the Piano Department l Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University
“Dr. Tanya Karyagina is one of our most distinguished alumni from Texas Christian University, an outstanding pianist and an exceptionally fine teacher. Dr. Karyagina's professional experience has encompassed both private studio teaching and faculty positions teaching students at all levels. Her organizational skills and her work ethic are exemplary. She is also a very kind and caring person with great interpersonal skills in her interactions with both students and colleagues. As a performer, Dr. Karyagina has established a fine reputation on a national and international level. Wherever she performs, she draws praise from critics and other professional musicians. We are honored that she represents TCU with distinction.”
John Owings, Herndon Chair of the Piano Division l School of Music at Texas Christian University
“Tanya Karyagina continues to demonstrate a rich knowledge of the piano repertoire through many solo and collaborative recitals she performs. She plays with expert technique and a rich sense of musicality. While she performs, the piano seems effortless below her fingers. She has the ability to make the most complex repertoire appear and sound “easy.” Dr. Karyagina brings the richness of her performing into her teaching. One of the great things about working with Tanya Karyagina is her professionalism. She brings 100% of herself, knowledge, talent, intuition to every musical expression. To top that off, she is a delightful person. Her personality is one of friendliness, maturity and joy. I believe Dr. Tanya Karyagina is a true gem.”
Susanne Reid, Chair of the Music Department l Vanguard University of Southern California
“I have the privilege of knowing Tanya Karyagina as a friend, an excellent colleague and a solid teacher. She is a true professional. I personally appreciate her command of the classroom environment. She is not shy or timid. Students know she means business from day one, and ultimately they respect and appreciate her for her consistency and ability to establish and maintain a positive and fruitful learning environment. While working together, Tanya and I met from time to time to discuss teaching strategies and I found her insights to be refreshing and encouraging; she always sought new ways to motivate her students and better her teaching. She was also deeply concerned about the progress and well being of her students. Tanya Karyagina is a consummate team player, someone who always considers the good of the program and students over her own agenda. She is an absolute joy to work with.”
Greg Glancey, Professor of Composition l Berklee College of Music