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Sonya Schumann is an expressive and imaginative pianist, both in solo and collaborative performance. She has performed with orchestras across North America, holds top prizes in many competitions, and has toured throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Australia. Her recent performances include Oberlin Conservatory, Cincinnati Conservatory, and the Kennedy Center.
In addition to performing, Dr Schumann is passionate about teaching. She has appeared as a guest lecturer and masterclass presenter at several festivals and colleges, including Keys Fest, Music Teachers National Association, Central Michigan University, Red Rocks Music Festival, Art at Noon at LexArts, and the Cornish-American Song Institute. She has served as faculty at Fullerton College, Madonna University, Schoolcraft College, and the Levine School in Washington, D.C. Deeply involved in a multitude of aspects within the artistic community, she serves as an ambassador for the Piano Arts Consortium and a board member for several non-profit arts organizations. Her advocacy work in representation and inclusion in the arts has brought about Keys to Inclusion, of which she is a founding faculty member. KTI is a cross-collegiate initiative to expand the standard piano repertoire, elevating works of marginalized composers. Her publications as an editor, compiler, and producer can be found under publishers such as Hal Leonard, Schirmer, and Schott Music.
Dr Schumann is also internationally recognized for her involvement as a founding member of Piano Theatre, an artist group formed to engage audiences with innovative combinations of classical music, theatre, literature, art and technology. Piano Theatre’s opening tours of the US, Canada, and Australia were acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. As champions of equity in the arts, she and her sister, Elizabeth, perform as the Schumann Duo, promoting classical music for children in areas where arts programs and funding have been cut or limited. The Schumann Duo’s incredibly popular concert “Pianimal” was recently the feature in a documentary for the Gilmore for Kids Series.
Dr. Schumann holds her masters and doctorate from the University of Michigan and a bachelor of music from the University of South Carolina. She currently teaches at San Diego State University, where she also serves as piano faculty of the Community Music School.