Pianist Aleksandra Sarest received her early musical education from the Stoliarsky School for the Gifted in Odessa, Ukraine. She won top prizes at numerous state and international competitions and performed recitals since age 9, both solo and with orchestra. In 1999, Aleksandra moved to New York, where she continued her studies at the Manhattan School of Music (Master of Music degree, 2008). She became a prizewinner of the Knezkova-Hussey International Piano Competition, the Artists International Presentations, and received the Cohn Chamber Music Award from the Manhattan School of Music, among many other awards and honors. In 2014, Aleksandra defended her dissertation on the music of the Russian composer Nikolai Medtner, receiving the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. She has performed in Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, Steinway Hall, and Yamaha Hall, as well as other venues. Aleksandra has been teaching piano and related subjects since age 17, helping kids of all ages (as well as adults) to achieve remarkable progress and cultivating in them a love and appreciation for the beauty of music.

 

E D U C A T I O N

 

The Graduate Center, CUNY, Doctor of Musical Arts, 2014

Manhattan School of Music, Master of Music, 2008

Manhattan School of Music, Bachelor of Music, 2006

Edward R. Murrow High School, 1999-2002

Stoliarsky Music School for the Gifted (Odessa, Ukraine), 1994-1999

 

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A W A R D S / S C H O L A R S H I P S

 

“Strumochki” Competition—1st Prize (Ukraine, 1994)

“The Hopes of Odessa”—1st Prize (Ukraine, 1994)

Eugene Coca International Young Musicians’ Competition—3rd Prize (Moldova,1995)

Special Prize from the Composer’s Union of Moldova (1995)

International Festival of Laureates in Kaunas—Winner’s Medal (1996, Lithuania)

F. Chopin International Piano Competition—Honorary Diploma (1998, Poland)

Pinkerton Foundation Award (1999-2000, 2000-2001, 2001-2002)

Leschetizky Association Certificate of Recognition (2002)

President’s Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence (2002)

Communication Arts Teacher’s Award for Excellence in English (2002)

Gold Medal for Excellence in Russian (2002)

Medal for Achievement in Music (2002)

Cablevision’s Power to Learn Scholarship (2002)

Ludmila Knezkova-Hussey International Piano Competition—4th prize (Canada, 2002)

Miss American Coed Pageant New York Talent Winner and Community Service Winner (2002)

National Dean’s List (2002)

JFEW/Rose Biller Scholarship (2002-2008)

Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholarship (2002-2010)

Manhattan School of Music Scholarship (2002-2008)

Manhattan School of Music Dean’s List (2002-2008)

Artists International’s Special Presentation Award (2006)

Manhattan School of Music graduation award – the Helen Cohn Award for outstanding work in chamber music (2008)