MUS 0512 — Piano

Tina Faigen is a concert pianist, chamber musician, recording artist, teacher and published music-writer. Her professional music endeavors also include engagements as adjudicator, master class presenter, workshop presenter, orchestral pianist, instrumental & vocal accompanist, and editor. Faigen earned her BM in performance from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music where she studied with Sanford Margolis. At University of Miami she studied under renowned pianist, Ivan Davis, earning her MM and DMA degrees. An active teacher from the age of 14, Faigen has maintained a private studio throughout her life and is a piano faculty member at University of Pittsburgh and at Carnegie Mellon University Music Preparatory School. Also a violinist, Faigen serves as Principal 2nd in the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra.

Among many awards, Faigen has performed on the distinguished Pittsburgh Y Recital Series as a Passamaneck Award winner, is a winner of the Pittsburgh Concert Society Majors Competition, and was awarded a debut tour of Italy with Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese. She has been engaged as guest pianist with many orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at the age of 13. Recognized for her interpretation of the Brahms D Minor Concerto, she has most recently performed the work with DeKalb Symphony Orchestra in Atlanta, Edgewood Symphony Orchestra at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Music Hall in celebration of their 30th anniversary, and as guest soloist with University of Pittsburgh's Symphony Orchestra.

An active chamber musician, Faigen collaborates with premiere musicians from around the country. Her collaborations include renowned violinists Catherine Cho (The Juilliard School) and Orion String Quartet members Todd and Daniel Phillips. Along with her husband, composer Robert Schultz, she has produced a series of special-event concerts titled, “Schultz, Faigen & Friends.” As a founding member of Zaffiro Trio (piano, clarinet, cello), she performs regularly with the ensemble in both professional and outreach settings. Faigen has performed live on WQED-FM, and in June 2020 was featured in a 2-hour radio broadcast that included recordings from her performances spanning 30 years.

Faigen’s recordings of Robert Schultz’s works Visions of Dunbar and Tina Faigen Plays Piano Transcriptions have received rave reviews. “Faigen plays Schultz’s works superlatively, effortlessly clarifying their rippling complexities and performing with supple dexterity, a clear, resonant tone and sensitive touch.” Faigen and Schultz are co-authors of the acclaimed Accelerando Piano Technique Series as well as numerous other editions of piano music. Since 1992 she has served as the principal editor for The Robert Schultz Piano Library.

Appearing in over 30 performances of Tchaikovsky’s 3rd Piano Concerto with Edward Villella’s Miami City Ballet, the Miami Herald writes, “Tina Faigen played so brilliantly that it was difficult at times to concentrate on the dancing.” Music critics have described her as “commanding a rich palette of pianistic colors and fingers of awesome dexterity,” and as having “a compelling combination of solid technique and distinctive interpretation, full of color and nuance, with her virtuosity the servant of the music. A stunning performer who plays with assurance, fluidity and power.” “Remember her name.”

For more information, performance videos and publications, visit tinafaigen.com.

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