Education
2021 – Ph.D. in Music Theory and Historical Musicology, University at Buffalo
Advisor: Dr. Brian Moseley
Dissertation Committee: Dr. James Currie, Dr. Jean-Pierre Koenig
Dissertation Title: “Mapping Contemporary Works: a Semiotic and Linguistic Approach to Music Analysis”
2012 – M.M. in Piano Performance, University at Buffalo
2001 – Aufbaustudium, Musikpaedagogik, Hauptfach Klavier, Musikhochschule Aachen-Koeln, Germany
1998 – Concert Pianist Diploma, Accademia Pucciniana Isernia, Italy
1994 – Diploma, Conservatorio Statale “Santa Cecilia”, Rome, Italy
University Positions
2015-2020: Lecturer, Buffalo State College, Music Department
Accompanist, piano classes, vocal coaching, music theory
2014-2017: Adjunct Instructor, University at Buffalo, Music Department
Taught music appreciation classes
2013: Instructor for Music and Play, Early Childhood Research Center, University at Buffalo, School of Education
2011-2013: Piano Accompanist, Orchestra Assistant, University at Buffalo, Music Department
Work Experience
2010-Present: Founder/Music Program Director/Piano Teacher, Woom Talent Center, Buffalo, NY
Designed music courses, organized festivals, evaluations, concerts, taught music theory and piano
2013-Present: Music Director, Asbury Methodist Church, Getzville, NY
2012-2015: Instructor, Opus Zero Inc., Buffalo, NY
Tutored students in music theory and piano
2007-2010: Teacher Trainer/Instructor, “KiKa Mach Musik”, Volkshochschule, Geldern, Germany
Conducted seminars in music theory, pedagogy, and curriculum planning in early childhood music programs
2003-2010: Music Teacher (Suzuki Piano Specialist), Kreismusikschule Kleve, Germany
Developed curriculum for music classes, taught piano and music theory, coordinated ensembles and Suzuki piano program
Recent Activities and Contributions (2023)
Panelist and Mentor for ArtsUP event, University of Buffalo (UB)
Expert Guest on “Advancements in Education”, discussing trends in music education
Founded Musica IQ, a platform for academia and music professionals
Initiated professional development courses listed in the Aspire Register
Publications
“Integrating Mindfulness in Music Teaching”, MTNA Peer-Reviewed Journal, 2023 (Upcoming)
“Branding for Musicians”, Spotlight featured article/MTNA Business Digest, Winter Edition, 2023 (Upcoming)
Entries in “Music Around the World”, ABC Clio, 2020-2021
“The Labyrinth: Musical Intuitions in an Open Work”, AMS – Southwest Chapter, 2015
“Transcendence and Immortality in Busoni’s Doktor Faust”, Analitica: Journal for Music Analysis Vol. 7, 2014
Conference Presentations
Nov 2020: “Music Theory in Early Childhood: Integration of Structured and Unstructured Learning”, SMT Meeting – Interest Group WorkFam/Lightning Talk
Oct 2020: “Music Theory and Composition for the Youngest”, NYSMTA Mini Pedagogy Symposium
Oct 2019: “Grow your Studio by Planting the Seeds”, NYSMTA Mini Pedagogy Symposium
Mar 2017: “Deictic Spaces and Form-Meaning Pairings in Twentieth-Century Works”, Tokyo IMA Conference
Nov 2016: Lightning talk at CSW meeting, Society for Music Theory
Jul 2016: “Orientation in Multi-dimensional Spaces: Form-Meaning Pairings in 20th Century Songs”, Music Analysis Conference, Nottingham University, UK
Mar 2016: “Deictic Spaces and Form-Meaning Pairings in Twentieth-Century Works”, AMS- Chatham University
Jul 2015: “The Labyrinth: Musical Intuitions in an Open Work”, Music Analysis Conference, Keele University, UK
May 2015: “Blind and Imaged”, presentation at “Loci in Musicology: Epicenters, Parallels, and Unity”, Brandeis University, Boston, MA
Apr 2015: “The Labyrinth: Musical Intuitions in an Open Work”, AMS meeting, Denton, TX (poster presentation)
Mar 2015: “The Labyrinth: Musical Intuitions in an Open Work”, N_SEME Bowling Green State University
Mar 2015: “The Labyrinth: Musical Intuitions in an Open Work”, Music and Meaning- Research Symposium, University of Florida- Gainesville
Apr 2014: “Transcendence and Immortality in Busoni’s Doktor Faust”, AMS Capital Chapter, Spring meeting, Catholic University of America, Washington DC
Mar 2014: “From a Noyau to an Invention”, 7th Music Symposium, University at Buffalo, NY
Apr 2014: “From a Noyau to an Invention”, AMS Allegheny Chapter, Spring meeting, Cleveland State University
Research Interests
Music cognition, semiotics, theory of images in music, musical theater, music performance, harmonic language in contemporary music, Italian composers in the twentieth century, set theory, and mathematics.
Lectures
“Music in the Galant Style”, “Little Mozart and Productivity”, “Memorization through Structural Codes”, “Where is the Meaning”, “Music in Time: We Got Rhythm!”, “How to Learn, Memorize and Practice Contemporary Piano Music”, Tonebase Piano Livestreamed Workshops, 2022
“Children Musical Lab in Germany”, European conference for Suzuki teachers, Remscheid, Germany, 2009
“Music and Language: an Experiment at the Arnhem International School”, Gouda, Holland, 2008
“The Doman Method applied to music”, Doman Method Conference, Duesseldorf, Germany, 2007
“Teaching Suzuki Piano”, Music teacher seminar, Kreismusikschule, Kleve, 2007
“Study Music Abroad”, Symposium for Music Students, Liceo Musicale Arezzo, Italy, 2007
Projects
MusicaIQ online magazine, launching Spring 2023
Children’s Musical Tales, concert series director, Asbury UMC, Getzville NY, 2022
Content Creator for WebPiano Academy YouTube Channel (150k views and 5k+ subscribers), 2020
Founder of Interarts Academy, a learning platform for teacher training and curriculum development in the arts, 2020
“Contemporary for Kids”, Buffalo Festival director, 2012
“Twinkle Kurse” Parent-Kid Piano Lesson project, 2004-2009
“Children’s Musical Lab” preparatory music classes project, 2009
CD production “Der Kleine Mozart”, 2007
“Kinder und Krieg”, Piano Summer Classes for students in Mitrovica, Kosovo, 2007
Prizes and Awards
Scholarship as a distinguished student, Premio del Presidente della Repubblica Italiana, 1998
Rassegna Musicale Sorrento- I Prize, 1998
Concorso Internazionale “Schumann”- Macugnaga- II Prize
Concorso Internazionale “Giovani Musicisti” Montescudo- I Prize, 1995
Concorso Nazionale “Ferroni”- I Prize, 1993
Concorso Internazionale “Amadeus”- Martina Franca- I Prize, 1993
Concorso Nazionale di musica da camera- Taranto- I Prize, 1992
Service & Affiliations
Program Committee AMS-Allegheny, 2023-
Symposium Coordinator, “Sound and Sonorities”, Buffalo State College, 2016-2018
President, Chromatic Club of Buffalo, 2019-2021
Board of Directors, Chromatic Club, Buffalo, 2015-2021
Editor, Mosaic: Journal for Music Research, University at Buffalo, 2014-2016
Coordinator, Music Theory Study Group, Music Department, University at Buffalo, 2014-2016
Program Committee, MUGSA Symposium, University at Buffalo, 2014
Mentor for International students, University at Buffalo, 2012-Present
Member of SMT, MTNA, Federation of Music Clubs, American Musicological Society, Piano Teachers Forum WNY, ESA, Women Speakers Association, and Toastmasters International
Languages
Fluent in English, Italian (native), German, and Albanian
Reading ability in French, Spanish, and Russian
Concerts
Regular performances as a soloist and accompanist with collaborations internationally.