Amanda

Amanda completed her bachelor's in Piano Performance and Pedagogy in December 2022 at the University of Utah and finished her master's degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Utah in December 2025. She was a student and taught as a TA in musicology (music history) and as a piano teacher at the University of Utah and affiliated music schools, such as the UPOP (Utah Piano Outreach Program) and the School of Music’s Preparatory Division, beginning in 2018, working both as a private teacher and assistant in group classes. Amanda has always been very passionate about being involved in the music community, holding positions of President of the University of Utah UMTA Collegiate Student Chapter (2021-2025), Collegiate Faculty Chair of the UMTA Collegiate State Board (2023-2025), and the School of Music's Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Graduate Chair (2024-2025). Amanda has played and performed piano for over twenty years and has won many awards in an expansive variety of performance and music theory programs, including ten years in the Utah Music Teachers Association (UMTA) Achievement in Music (AIM) program, eleven years in the Utah Federation of Music Clubs (UFMC) Solo and Concerto Festivals, and countless recitals. She auditioned and was one of the few pianists selected to perform in the April 2017 Federation Honors Recital at Assembly Hall in Temple Square. Amanda has also performed at University of Utah events, such as the annual Monster Concert, and as the only solo pianist at a celebration for the University of Utah's former School of Music director, Dr. Miguel Chuaqui, in 2022. Amanda is qualified to train students for performances, help them build confidence in their own sound, and understand and make beautiful music. Amanda has studied with many notable pedagogues: her first piano teacher was talented musician Karlyen Tan, MM, NCTM, whom she studied with for 11 years from 7-18 years old; she then studied with the very skilled pianist, Dr. Jie Lu, in the University of Utah's School of Music program for 6 years. While in her undergraduate studies at the University of Utah, she had the opportunity to study with several other notable pianists, including Dr. Ning Lu, Dr. Jeffrey Price, and Dr. Koji Attwood. She has also studied music theory with skilled composer and theorist, Dr. Igor Iachimciuc. Amanda has been performing and training in music her entire life, qualifying her to offer the unique, fine-tuned skills she has developed. She comes from a long line of teachers, as her mother and grandmother have bachelor's and master’s degrees in music and held long careers as music teachers. Amanda has a wide range of knowledge, drawn from her experience working with numerous teachers and musicians, which she uses to support and uplift her own students at any level. Amanda loves music and working with people, and the joy and gratification that teaching music and making music bring. Most importantly, she is a kind, accommodating, compassionate, and empathetic person who will work with you to meet your needs and goals in your music journey. Amanda emphasizes that music is a community and that musicians are lifelong learners willing to put in hard work to build their confidence, skills, and lifelong connections with others and themselves, grounded in trust, respect, and understanding.