Please contact for audition/interview or more info: jhillispiano@gmail.com 301.641.4906
The Capital Piano Conservatory is the private teaching studio of pianist James Hillis. James Hillis is an award-winning pianist, and graduate of Oberlin Conservatory where he studied with Joseph Schwartz and Julian Martin.
After Conservatory, Mr. Hillis studied privately with Veda Kaplinsky, currently the head of the Juilliard piano division. Among his many honors, Mr. Hillis is Winner of The Tanglewood Music Festival's Outstanding Young Pianist Award. (Here are links to performance videos from pianist James Hillis)Excerpts from Spring 2021
virtual concerts (2 min 19 sec)
Students at all levels improve extraordinarily quickly here. In addition to accepting accomplished, older teens, I have also accepted students who arrive playing simple pieces from method books but within just a couple years at my studio are playing large serious, classical works – and loving it! Because I saw something that allowed me to know they would thrive and have a wonderful experience here.
Here students acquire effortless technique - a freedom which allows young pianists to focus on great music-making. Students are encouraged to find the meaning in music and how to communicate that meaning through variety in sound, volume, voicing, phrasing, and the larger architectural shape of a piece.
We have three concerts a year, all well-attended by the community. In addition to memorized solo works, students are given opportunities to perform with singers, violinists and other instrumentalists - an endeavor which builds enormous musical resources of all kinds for young performers. Students also have the option of entering local and national competitions, an effective way to develop the life-skills of goal-setting, deadlines, and excellence.
Most importantly, this studio nurtures a sense of community and support with our students. This is a nourishing atmosphere - not a pressure-cooker. Students' achievements are driven by their sense of camaraderie with their peers, and by a love of music.
We have a lot of fun here - which reflects the joy of music-making. That's the best atmosphere for creating truly great music. It's a philosophy that shows in the beautiful playing of our students.
Please contact below for audition/interview appointments or more information:
jhillispiano@gmail.com
Or call: 301.641.4906
Wonderful pianist and pedagogue Alexander Kostadinov runs CPC's beginner/early intermediate programs, as well as our "Piano for Singers" and "Young Instrumentalists' Piano & Music Theory Prep" programs.
Alexander Kostadinov, a current Doctoral candidate at the University of Maryland, is the winner of several prestigious international competitions including first prize at the "Joseph Dichler Piano Competition" in Vienna, grand prix at the "Amici del Pianoforte Competition" in Venice, grand prix at the "Competition for Slavic Music" in Moscow. This past summer he participated in a fellowship program at the Aspen Music Festival where he worked with renowned American soprano Renee Fleming. Mr. Kostadinov brings a keen ear along with gentle patience and compassion to his teaching - and CPC is very lucky to have him.
Parents talk about their students'
experience studying at the
Capital Piano Conservatory
Contact: jhillispiano@gmail.com 301.641.4906