Who's Who at the Center for Young Musicians: Sonia Tripathi

Sonia Tripathi

Who’s Who at the Center for Young Musicians: Sonia Tripathi

A new school year will mean new faces at the Center for Young Musicians! We are excited to announce that new teachers for piano, cello and guitar will be joining the CYM family, bringing unique experiences and solid training in music education. And as always, we happily look forward to greeting new students and their families.

To help everyone get to know each other a little better, we’ll be posting short bios on all the CYM teachers and staff.  Please give it up for CYM Piano Teacher Sonia Tripathi (can’t you hear the applause)!

Pianist Sonia Tripathi, originally from Houston, TX, received both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, under the guidance of Dr. Douglas Humpherys.  In 2011, she completed her Doctor of Music degree in piano performance at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she studied with Dr. Charles Asche. 

In her solo career, Sonia has had the privilege of playing in lessons and masterclasses for John Perry, Abbey Simon, Nelita True, Robert Roux, Andre Watts, Robert Shannon, Peter Takacs, and Veda Kaplinksy, among others.  In a collaborative setting, Sonia has been coached by Jean Barr, Yuval Yaron, Lynn Harrell, Oleh Krysa, the Ying Quartet, and the Peabody Trio.

Sonia has been teaching piano at CYM since September of 2009.  She currently resides in Churchill Valley, in Pittsburgh, PA.

Ms. Sonia teaches Classical, Legends and Literacy group classes in addition to her private piano students.

 

Q & A with CYM:

CYM: What is your favorite piece of music to play? 

Ms. Sonia: Fantasy in B Minor, by Alexander Scriabin.

CYM: When, where and how do you listen to music for fun?

Ms. Sonia: (Radio stations) 3WS or WQED while driving, Edith Piaf or Mississippi John Hurt while cooking/eating, and the Tito Puente station on Pandora (Internet Radio) while hanging out with friends in the backyard!

CYM:What is your favorite childhood book?

Ms. Sonia: 2 favorites! “James and the Giant Peach”, and “Where the Sidewalk Ends”.

CYM: What is the most memorable music performance that you’ve seen/heard?

Ms. Sonia: Again, 2 favorites, both in NYC! Pianist Pierre Laurent Aimard playing pieces by Elliott Carter and Charles Ives at Zankel Hall on my birthday in 2004, and cellist Pieter Wispelwey playing all 6 Bach cello suites at Alice Tully Hall in 2003.

CYM: What is your favorite treat to eat?

Ms. Sonia: Tex-Mex style nachos.