Maria Crystalia, a native of Medan, Indonesia studied under the direction of James Miltenberger at West Virginia University (WVU) where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. She went on to pursue her graduate degrees and received both a Master of Music in Piano Performance and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from West Virginia University. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she also studied organ under professor William Haller and has experience as an organ accompanist for church services. In addition, Maria has been the recipient of numerous awards including a fine arts scholarship from the WVU College of Creative Arts and has been a two-time recipient of the Valeria Canady Award. Maria served as Secretary for three years of the WVU collegiate chapter of Music Teachers National Association before serving as the chapter’s president.

As a pianist, she is skilled and experienced in teaching piano for students of all skill levels. Maria has taught piano for 10 years while serving as Senior Piano Instructor for the School of Music Community Music Program at WVU. After graduation, Maria taught in the Dallas metropolitan area as a private academy instructor. Having 12+ years of teaching experience has helped Maria to refine her teaching methods, making her quick to adapt to the various learning styles of her students. Maria brings to her lessons the patience needed in an instructor while evoking excitement from her students on new material and technique learned throughout each lesson. Her students have been actively participating in the local UTSA Hodges piano competition every year and won.

Maria has two daughters, Chloe, 7, and Ella, 4, and also has a 3 year-old rescue dog named Bubble.

 

Awards:

Golden Piano Talents – Golden Teacher Award for Extraordinary Pedagogical Achievement for 1st Award Winner Grand Prize (2021)

Marker & Pioneer International Cultural Exchange Center – Honorable Instructor of the MAP-IMC (2022)