Piano Masterclass Inspires Students
No stranger to Maranatha Baptist University, Dr. Stanislava Varshavski recently gave a masterclass for students performing piano duos and duets. As a performer in the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo, Stasi (as she is lovingly known here at MBU) has much experience in this realm. Senior music major Emily Kindstedt remarks, “The piano duo masterclass helped performers go beyond the surface levels of the music and interpret it as a team taking into consideration the dynamic contrast and touch of the separate pianos.”
Varshavski gave excellent advice and spent ample time with each of the performers. Her vivacious and gracious personality made this masterclass an exciting experience for all who attended. Miss Janet Tschida writes, “Two hours could only fly by with someone like Dr. Varshavski!! Her musical ideas coupled with her delightful sense of humor inspired students and teachers of all ages in attendance. We all left the masterclass with specific principles to implement into our playing and teaching.”
About Dr. Varshavski
A young piano prodigy from Kharkov, Ukraine, Varshavski had her orchestral debut at the young age of eight. After receiving her initial musical training in the Ukraine, Varshavski continued her studies at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy in Israel. There, in 1998, she, together with Diana Shapiro, established the Varshavski-Shapiro Piano Duo. Within a few years the duo won first prizes at series of international competitions, leading to a set of appearances across three continents. After earning her DMA in Collaborative Piano from UW-Madison, Varshavski continues to pursue collaborations with leading instrumentalists and an active piano education career. Dr. Varshavski formerly taught piano at Maranatha Baptist University. Her extensive knowledge and talent has helped to train many MBU pianists past and, now, present. Currently she is a piano faculty member at the Silver Lake College and the Sherwood Community Music School at Columbia College Chicago.
Watch an excerpt from Varshavski’s masterclass below featuring Micah Gillespie and Charity Talosig.