Our team.
studio director: Karina Leonard
Since she was four years old, Karina Leonard has studied classical piano. She has also studied violin for 10 years and graduated April 2019 in Piano Performance from BYU. Karina enjoys teaching and performing: she is a member of the Utah chapter of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association) and recently participated in MTNA's 2018 piano competition. In addition, she adjudicated at the Heber Valley Music Festival in March 2019 and 2020. Karina is from the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington state. As the oldest of six children, she is comfortable working with young children and adults alike. Karina focuses on music theory and piano technique to help students make connections and succeed. Having learned Suzuki method, she incorporates memory and ear training into traditional music reading. Her goal is to help each student feel comfortable, love music, and love learning to play the piano.
experience
EDUCATION AND SCHOLARSHIP:
BM, Piano Performance, April 2019, Brigham Young University
3.9 GPA
Principal teachers Jeffrey Shumway and Jared Pierce, Brigham Young University
Studied piano for 20 years, violin for 10 years, and voice for 3 years.
TEACHING:
Piano Place piano teacher, 2019-present
Private piano lessons 2013-present (7 years)
Music Theory and piano teacher, Utah Piano Conservatory, 2017-2018
Teacher’s Assistant for Dr. Steven Johnson, music history department at Brigham Young University, 2016-2018
AWARDS AND HONORS:
Music Scholarship from BYU, 2014-2019
Selected as chapter representative to play at WSMTA (Washington State Music Teacher's Association) Conference recital in 2013.
Played in the WSMTA Tacoma Chapter 2010 and 2011 Adjudications Honors Recitals.
RECORDINGS:
Sophomore recital recording at BYU, 2017
Recording as pianist for vocal performance candidate screening, 2018
Senior recital recording at BYU, 2018
SOLO PERFORMANCES:
Senior recital for Bachelor of Music at Madsen Recital Hall at Brigham Young University (BYU), 2018
Sophomore recital for Bachelor of Music at Madsen Recital Hall at BYU, 2017
Piano concerto with the Tacoma Debut Orchestra, Tacoma Youth Symphony, 2011
ENSEMBLE:
Accompanist for high school string players in State Solo and Ensemble, 2018-2019
Piano trio, BYU String Chamber Recital, April 2018
Junior voice recital for vocal performance major at BYU, 2017
Accompanist for BYU Music Majors, including classical voice, French horn, piano, saxophone, and oboe majors at juries, recitals, competitions, and group classes, 2013-present
Accompanist for group voice classes for non-music majors at BYU, 2018
Pianist and Violinist in Symphony Orchestra at BYU, 2014
Sextet and piano trio, Young Chamber Players, 2012
MASTERCLASSES, CLASSES, AND WORKSHOPS:
Online music history camp, “Stories through the Lives of Composers,” July 2020
Piano Ensemble Camp at the Piano Place, July 2020
Workshop through the Piano Place, “Circle of Fifths and Key Signatures,” April 2020
Piano Place Makeup Master class, “Our Practicing Toolbox,” April 2020
JUDGE:
Classical and Romantic division, Heber Valley Piano Festival, March 2019, 2020 and 2021