Jennifer Roberts
Inspired by watching her mother play Für Elise, Jennifer Roberts began studying piano at the age of 5. She soon developed an interest in learning other instruments and slowly added cello, gyil (African xylophone), and steel drum to her list.
Jennifer studied piano performance at Oakland University in Michigan with Flavio Varani. While there, she played a piano concerto with the Pontiac Oakland Symphony, and she received the Outstanding Student in Piano award. In 1998, Jennifer had the honor of becoming the first African-American to receive a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Oakland University. This has inspired her even more to move forward in the world of music and teaching piano.
As an active musician, Jennifer has been involved in many areas of music with different instruments. With piano she has been enjoying teaching private piano lessons for the past nine years. She has been an accompanist for choirs, solo instrumentalists and vocalists for the past 11 years. For eight years she was a cellist in two community orchestras as well as the Hartford Cello Ensemble which was led by Nadine Delury. In 2003 Jennifer and her duet partner won the 7th place award in the Trinidad Steel Pan Festival, which was held in Trinidad and Tobago. Jennifer also performed with Southpaw Isle in Manhattan as a part of the first African Xylophone Festival.
Jennifer believes that music is a gift to share, not to hide or keep to oneself. It is her dream and determination to continue the tradition of classical piano with others.
Anahid Syourapian
Anahid Syourapian is a prominent International Recitalist, Chamber Musician, and Piano Teacher with an impressive repertoire of international awards and performances. Born in Bulgaria, of Armenian heritage, she began studying piano at the age of 5 and is currently one of the most promising pianists of her generation. Ms. Syourapian attended the State Music Academy of Bulgaria on a full scholarship where she graduated with honors, and has participated in piano master classes led by many influential pianists such as Oxana Yablonskaya (U.S), Detlef Kraus (Germany), Paul Van Ness (U.S.), Boris Bloh (Germany), Yuri Bukov (France), Atanas Kurtev (Bulgaria), Victor Chuchkov (Bulgaria) and many more.
To date Ms. Syourapian has performed at many prestigious events and venues both within the United States and internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed in multiple locations within the United States and abroad. New York City's performances include internationally renowned Carnegie Hall on four separate occasions, Brooklyn Center for Performing Arts, Brooklyn Conservatory Concert Hall, Gershwin Theater at Brooklyn College, Saints Cyril and Methody Cathedral during The Royal Players Virtuosi concert series, Fellowship Moravian Church and International Music Nights at Eisenhower Park. She has also made appearances in Newman Hall in Los Angeles, New England Conservatory in Boston, Saint Sophia in Chicago, Illinois, Washington, DC, and others. She has also made multiple recordings for Bulgarian National Radio and Television.
Ms. Syourapian International awards and prizes include First Prize at the National Competition “Young Musicians’ Talent – 1998” in Sofia, Bulgaria; First Prize at the International Youth Festival Competition “The Coast of Hope – 1998” in Dobrich, Bulgaria; Second Prize at the International Competion”Music and the Earth –1998” in Sofia, Bulgaria and Second Prize at the International Competition for Czech and Slovakian Music in Varna, Bulgaria.
During the last 15 years, Ms. Syourapian has shared her incredible education and talent with students of all ages and levels, as well as special needs children within the Tri-State and Boston areas. Her Russian Pianism influence on teaching allows her to bring her student's individual talents and abilities to a new level of excellence. Anahid Syourapian believes that piano lessons should be a part of every child's curriculum, and that the benefits are immeasurable! Pianists are able to read a universal language, learn to play many genres of music and express their individual style through the music they love. In addition, young pianists learn important skills such as self-discipline. They are taught the benefits of staying committed to a long term goal, even when it is difficult to do so.
Ms. Syourapian’s goal as a teacher is to help and train each of her students to reach excell in note reading and musicianship, learn persistence, and celebrate their accomplishments, but above all to become independent musicians!
