What joy to share my music with you.
Hi, I'm Sophie! I'm a professional classical pianist. I've played voraciously as a soloist and collaborative musician alike, and have been praised for my sensitivity, dynamism, expressiveness, and evocative musical maturity.
I began my piano studies at the ripe age of 3, and excelled in my studies early on. Upon entering the competition circuit at age 9, I quickly began earning solo concerto performances with youth and semi-professional orchestras around the area. The highlights of my youth performance career were spectacular performances of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue with the Seattle Philharmonic and Seattle Symphony, at Meany Hall and Benaroya Hall in Seattle. I was also principal cellist in the Cascade Youth Symphony for three years.
I attended the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, where I received my degree in Classical Piano Performance under the tutelage of the inimitable Jon Kimura Parker. While at Rice, I won repeated accolades in the university concerto competitions, and was a sought-after accompanist and chamber musician. I headlined a university-wide concert as soloist with Ravel's Concerto in F, and graduated summa cum laude. Between musical endeavors, I worked in the fine dining industry in Houston, Texas, and in 2012 became sole proprietor of Vibrant Studios, an art, yoga, and wellness collective that joyfully closed its doors in February 2018.
2018 ushered in exciting collaborative performances with Max Ribner (I was a featured performer on both piano and cello), sold-out shows in Portland and Seattle with Joe Kye, and solo recital shows across the West Coast and Arizona. In 2019, I had the honor of performing the North American premiere of an enchanting piece by Elsa Barraine with the Seattle Philharmonic, and in 2020, I revived the scintillating Rhapsody in Blue with the Olympia Symphony.
In 2019, I was honored to found and serve as CEO of Connections Concerts Series, which launched its inaugural season in June 2019, and featured a wildly successful run of shows featuring the finest local multi-genre performers sharing music and conversation. Headliners included Joe Kye, Max Ribner, Saeeda Wright, Stephanie Schneiderman, Niema Lightseed, Saffire Bouchelion, Courtney Freed, Paula Byrne, Tim Gilson, and more! Visit the Connections website for archival information about this fantastically innovative and powerful series.
Another career highlight occurred in 2020, when I released my first full-length CD! The album, titled “Time Travel,” features a fantastic collection of some of my favorite solo piano pieces, written by 9 composers over the course of 300 years. In an innovative twist, I’ve included spoken intersitials, meant to cultivate connection and intimacy for listeners. Listen on your favorite streaming platform, or buy a physical copy here.
In 2021, I stayed busy hosting a vibrant online membership program, The Connection Sessions; recording dozens of videos for Classic Pianos as their Resident Recording Artist; being featured—twice!—on All Classical Portland’s “Thursdays at Three” program; and performing a sold-out concert with cellist Gretchen Yanover. I also devoted myself to learning music by underrepresented female composers, and have overhauled my repertoire as a result — immersing myself in music written by women from around the world. I am thrilled to be a conduit for these amazing compositions.
2022 ushered in a very exciting moment in my career: a 12-month international relocation to Tel Aviv, Israel, where I worked as International Arts Correspondent for All Classical Portland. Chronicles of my many incredible unfoldings, musically and beyond, can be found on the All Classical Portland Arts Blog. I also recorded an EP of music written by three modern Israeli female composers: Sarah Feigin, Lotti Amit-Kalev, and Na’ama Tamir-Kaplan.
In 2023, I moved back to the United States, and made a triumphant return to Seattle’s Benaroya Hall for a rendition of Camargo Guarnieri’s Concerto #1 with the Seattle Philharmonic. Now based in the Pioneer Valley, I am in the midst of a season of performances, teaching, and connection with the community of musicians and creators here — including concerts at Amherst College and Cityspace in Easthampton, and collaborative work at the University of Massachusetts. Please reach out if you’d like to hear more!
The Bottom Line:
I am passionate about using classical music as a medium of connection, and making classical music more accessible, approachable, and engaging by creating concerts that incorporate conversations and group exploration. I'd love to share my music with you.
Book Me For a Performance
Want to book me for a concert, or collaborate with me? Let's be in touch!