Magdalina Melkonyan

I hold a DMA and a MM in Piano Performance from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a BM in Piano Performance from the Yerevan State Conservatory, Armenia. I have performed throughout Europe, Russia and United States, including performances at Carnegie Hall, Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, and Strathmore Hall. My latest recording project, The 23 Greatest Solo Piano Works, was done in collaboration with preeminent music historian and Steinway Artist Professor Robert Greenberg for The Teaching Company, LLC. Together we recorded and wrote a college level music appreciation textbook which includes a CD/DVD set. The book was recently nominated and received a TELLY award for excellence. I have special interest and expertise in the Romantic Period, also recently recorded 3 CD compendium survey of the piano music of Franz Liszt. I have won numerous Piano Competitions, including 1st prize at American Protégé International Concerto Competition, 3rd Prize at Los Angeles International Franz Liszt Competition, 2nd Prize at American Protégé International Piano Competition, winner of Washington DC Alumni Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon Graduate Scholarship Competition, Honorable Mention at Cosmo and Buono International Piano Competition, Honorable Mention at University of Maryland Ulrich Competition, finalist at Mackenzie Awards International Piano Competition, finalist at Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra Piano Concerto Competition, winner of All the University of Iowa 2002 – 2003 Concerto/Aria Competition, First Prize at “Amadeus” International Piano Competition (Yerevan, Armenia), Winner at Tchaikovsky School of Music Concerto Competition, 2nd prize at Babadjanyan 3rd Young Pianists Competition. I have appeared with the Armenian Philharmonic Orchestra, University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra and Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra. I love teaching students of all ages. I love piano, and try to pass the same enthusiasm and love towards music to my students. I adopt my teaching to a student’s background, interests and her/his strengths and weaknesses. I select a repertoire of varying difficulty so that the student is both encouraged and challenged at the same time. I nurture self-confidence in my students by organizing various concerts and encouraging the students to participate in them