Tanya Karyagina

Piano
Music Preparatory

About

Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, American pianist Tanya Karyagina made her concerto début at the age of nine with the Kazakh Chamber Orchestra under Yuri Dorokhovski and has also appeared as a soloist with Kazakh National Symphony, Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, TCU Symphony, USC Symphony, North East Symphony, and Nova Amadeus Chamber Orchestra working with such distinguished conductors as Leon Fleisher, Sergiu Comissiona, Nicola Samale, Keri-Lynn Wilson, Jeremy Swerling, German Gutierrez, and Tolepbergen Abdrashev. She has performed throughout the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany in such venues as Carnegie Hall (Weill) in New York, Vilar Performing Arts Center in Colorado, Bass Performance Hall in Texas, Le Théâtre Bonbonnière in France, Rachmaninov Hall in Moscow, Central Concert Hall, National Philharmonic Hall and National Opera Theater in Kazakhstan and many others.

Dr. Karyagina has won top prizes in nearly thirty National and International Piano Competitions. Among them are the First Prize in 2009 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, New York, NY, Mendelssohn Prize in 2009 Mendelssohn International Piano Competition, Taurisano, Italy, two Second Prizes in Divisions V and VI and a Special Prize for the best performance of a Paganini Etude in 2008 Los Angeles Liszt International Competition, Los Angeles, CA, Second Prize, Silver Medal of the President of the Senate, Eko and Foundation Como Prizes in the 2008 Rome International Piano Competition, Rome, Italy, Winner of the 2007 Ladies Music Club Competition, Seattle, WA, Second Prize in the 2005 Kingsville International Piano Concerto Competition, Kingsville, TX, Third Prize in 2003-2004 MTNA National Young Artist Piano Competition, Second Prize in 2001 Jefferson Young Artist Competition, Denver, CO, two-time Winner of the 1998 and 1999 TCU/Van Cliburn Piano Institute Concerto Competition, Fort Worth, TX, First Prize in 1998 Chopin International Piano Competition, Corpus Christi, TX, First Prize in 1998 Steinway Society International Piano Competition, Dallas, TX and many more. She was a Finalist in 1999 Hilton Head International Piano Competition, Semifinalist in both 2009 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, Palm Springs, CA and 2005 Seiler International Piano Competition, Kitzingen, Germany. Dr. Karyagina has also participated in 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition Fort Worth, TX (Preliminary Recital), 2009 Esther Honens International Piano Competition Calgary, Canada (International Audition Round), 2004 Scottish International Piano Competition, Glasgow, UK (Stages 1 and 2) and 2003 Queen Elisabeth International Piano Competition, Brussels, Belgium (First Round).

Tanya Karyagina has articles and concert reviews published world-wide. She has appeared on CBS 11, world satellite TV, Radio Vaticana and Kazakh National TV and radio stations performing, giving interviews and acting. In 2011 the US government granted her a Green Card (US Permanent Residency) as a person of extraordinary abilities and in 2019 she became a US citizen.

Dr. Karyagina started taking piano lessons at the age of five and holds the Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and Performer’s Certificate from Texas Christian University, where she studied with professors Tamás Ungár and Harold Martina. She also holds the Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance, the Artist Diploma and the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Piano Performance with academic and elective fields in Music Theory and Analysis, Piano Pedagogy and Early Music (Harpsichord) from the University of Southern California, where she studied with the renowned professor John Perry.

Currently, Dr. Karyagina is an Adjunct Professor of Piano at the School of Church Music and Worship at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she teachers Applied Piano, Piano Master Class, Piano Pedagogy, Accompanying and Chamber Music classes and seminars to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students. She is also a Piano Instructor at the School of Music at the Texas Christian University (Preparatory Division), where she teaches piano and music theory to gifted students of all ages. Formerly, Dr. Karyagina served as an Adjunct Professor of Piano at Dallas Baptist University (2015-2018), as an Instructor of Piano at Tarrant County College Northeast Campus (2015-2017), as an Adjunct Professor of Piano and Accompanying at Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA (2010-2015) and as an Assistant Lecturer at the University of Southern California (2008-2009). She has also maintained her Private Piano Studio for over 15 years, first in Southern California, and now in Fort Worth, teaching gifted students of all ages.

Her students have entered and won awards and prizes in various local and international festivals and competitions, including the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (Junior and Amateur Levels). She has judged competitions, presented lectures and given recitals at many professional conferences, such as Music Teachers National Association, College Music Society, Golden Key International Honors Society and Rotary International. She is an active member of Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Teachers Association and Fort Worth Music Teachers Association and serves as a Chairperson for the TMTA Student Affiliate Local Performance Contest.

Apart from her teaching and piano performance career Dr. Karyagina plays harpsichord professionally. She is also an aspiring violinist. She likes spending time with friends and family, being outdoors, swimming, reading, cooking, traveling and experiencing new cultures.