Hi, I'm Joanna!

I'm a pianist and teacher dedicated to coaching and mentoring musicians of all ages, and a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs. My love for both performing and teaching started with my professor at Brigham Young University, Dr. Irene Peery-Fox, who showed me what it really means to care about a student's growth. Hers is the standard I try to live up to with every student I teach.

I've been fortunate to win first prize in competitions like the Young Pianists' Beethoven Competition and the Olympiad of the Arts Piano Competition, and I've appeared as a guest soloist with orchestras including the BYU Philharmonic. But what I find most rewarding these days is watching my own students walk into places like Carnegie Hall and hold their own.

My Approach

I bring a performer's ear and a teacher's patience to lessons. My training in piano pedagogy, in particular, informs my teaching. I spend a lot of time teaching the how and why behind good technique, which helps keep kids motivated to do things the right way, even when it's hard.

Who I Work With

I work with pianists at both the university and pre-collegiate level, and I enjoy helping motivated students prepare for competitions and honors recitals. My students have gone on to win prizes in the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition and the American Mountain West International Piano Competition, and many have earned top scores in state and national competitions through the National Federation of Music Clubs and AIM.

I'm a great fit for families looking for a teacher who takes competition and audition prep seriously, while still keeping lessons student-centered.

And students don't have to have performance ambitions to work with me, either. Many of my students play purely for the love of creating music, with no goals of performing in recitals or auditions. These students can be particularly fun to work with, since the lack of external pressure means lessons really focus on the emotional and artistic love of the craft.

Background & Experience

I earned my Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University, studying with Dr. Irene Peery-Fox, and my Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University, where I graduated top of my class. I've also appeared in masterclasses with Yefim Bronfman and Leon Fleisher.

I've performed in collaboration with groups including the San Jose Strings Academy and the Suzuki Association of Northern California Summer Institute at Stanford, and I currently serve as an active faculty member at both university and pre-collegiate institutions.