Under the direction of Artist-in-Residence Ava Soifer, the piano department at SOTA offers a unique opportunity for young pianists to study solo performance, chamber music, and the art of accompanying. Through their collaboration with the vocal and instrumental departments, students study and perform music literature from all period styles.

Weekly solo performance classes, chamber music recitals, solo piano recitals, and vocal performance classes present pianists with regular venues that develop their skills as performing artists.

In addition, students in the department are expected to critique each other in a productive and supportive environment. Required written critiques of student and professional recitals help develop analytical thinking and the skills for future teachers. Students receive private weekly coaching on solo and duo piano literature and attend weekly classes in theory and sight singing.

Students from the SOTA piano department have been finalists in the Ross McKee Piano competition. Many have continued their music studies at prestigious Conservatories such as Julliard, the Eastman School of Music and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Parent/Teacher contact:
School phone: 415-695-5700
Mon. Tues. Thurs. Fri. 1:00-2:00

Ava Soifer, artist-in-residence/piano: is a graduate of the Cincinnatti Conservatory of Music and received her Masters in piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She has performed chamber music and solo recitals in the Bay area with ensembles: Trio della Rosa, Montage, and with members of the Kronos Quartet, S.F. Symphony and S.F. Opera orchestra. She worked as vocal coach in the music department at Notre Dame and is currently artistic director of the chamber music series, Music on the Hill.