Playing piano has always been a fascination for me. I enjoy collaborating with many different musicians on various projects. And I love learning new music – it’s like Christmas morning getting a new score to explore! I started piano lessons at age 5, and here I am several decades later – still curious, still learning and still enjoying making music. Playing the piano can be exciting, challenging, consoling, beautiful, frustrating and magical. I have been fortunate to study with some amazing teachers, I regularly visit my 91 yr old university piano teacher, who is still practicing, performing and composing. A life in music is a life well lived.

In addition to performing as a soloist in recitals and playing concertos with orchestras, I have worked extensively as an accompanist for choirs, singers, opera and instrumentalists. Making music with such a variety of performers has expanded my sound world, and taught me many different approaches to music. I’ve studied with many teachers and observed countless lessons as an accompanist. Through these experiences I discovered that I value teaching that empowers students with knowledge, confidence, skill, curiosity and passion. My decades of studying and teaching music have given me many tools to help my students in their learning and performing. We will work together to find the tools that work best for you. We’ll focus on developing an efficient technique so that you can be free to be creative in your music making. We’ll explore the theory, harmony and history of repertoire so that you understand it deeply. We’ll discuss the joy of live performance and how to harness the energy that comes with an audience. And we’ll probably also share some laughs because music is fun and learning new things can be funny.

Learning piano is an adventure that leads to exciting places. Whether it is a career in music, playing at your church, accompanying other musicians, or playing for yourself, it is a journey that will inevitably bring you beauty, joy, art and self-discovery. And I’d love to be your guide.

MY TRAINING

● M.Mus Collaborative Piano at Western University, Dr. John Hess
● B.Mus Piano Performance at Wilfrid Laurier University, Boyd McDonald
● ARCT from The Royal Conservatory of Music

MY RECENT PERFORMING

● Choirs: Stratford Concert Choir, Menno Singers, London Pro Musica
● Opera: Grand River Opera Britten’s Turn of the Screw
● Chamber Music: INNERchamber, Gallery Players of Niagara, KWPA Trio
● Beckwith/Reaney Lecture Recital with Katy Clark
● Eckhardt-Grammatte Competition with Katy Clark (Brandon, MB)

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

● Vocal Coach at Western University 15 years
● Coach/accompanist at McGill University, Université de Montréal, University of Waterloo
● Piano Teacher in Elmira, Kitchener, Waterloo, Montréal, Stratford
Accepting students for intermediate and advanced study (RCM Grade 6 and above)
Lessons are in my home studio: 508 Devon Street, Stratford
Contact: charmaine.fopoussi@gmail.com 226-921-1394