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Pianist KARINA TSENG is a San Francisco Bay Area native currently studying in Rochester, New York at the Eastman School of Music. Most recently, she was the youngest finalist at the 2023 Bösendorfer USASU International Competition and the winner of the 2022 Marian Garcia International Competition. Karina has performed alongside orchestras such as the Palo Alto Philharmonic, New Millennium Chamber Orchestra, and the Golden State Youth Symphony and played in venues including Weill-Carnegie Hall (NY), Merkin Hall (NY), Leighton Hall (IN), Merrill Auditorium (ME), and the Mondavi Center (CA). She is a top prizewinner of the Kaufman International, Arthur Fraser International, National YoungArts,  Pacific Musical Society, Enkor International, Ross McKee, and Junior Steinway competitions, among others. In 2020, Karina was inducted into the distinguished MTAC (Music Teachers Association of California) Young Artist Guild through which she is offered semi-professional paid performance opportunities throughout California.

Karina is honored to have worked with artists such as Simon Trpčeski, Douglas Humpherys, Gary Graffman, Dang Thai Son, Boris Slutsky, Sasha Starcevich, and Richard Goode through various masterclasses. Over previous summers, she attended the Southeastern Piano Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Vivace International Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute Young Artists Piano Program, Gina Bachauer Piano Festival, and the Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy.

An avid chamber musician, Karina is currently a member of the Luna Trio alongside violinist Jaewon Jun and cellist Taylor Yoon. The Luna Trio was selected twice to perform in Eastman’s Chamber Honors Recitals and are currently candidates for the Certificate of Achievement in Chamber Music. Karina was also the pianist of the Fervida Trio (with violinist Sean Mori and cellist Angeline Kiang) from 2017-2020, honored as gold medalists of the Junior Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Pasadena Conservatory of Music Chamber Music Competition (in addition to the Beethoven Prize), and Galante Prize Competition. The Fervida Trio was invited to appear on NPR’s “From the Top” Episode #379, at InterMusic SF’s Music Day, the San Francisco International Piano Festival, and more. In the past, Karina has studied chamber music at the Crowden Music Center Summer Workshop and Summer Music West (San Francisco Conservatory of Music).

Karina was chosen as an MTAC San Mateo Scholarship Winner for leadership and community service, recognized for her performances at various senior communities and benefit concerts. As an artist who cherishes connecting and engaging with her audience, she continues to build a diverse solo and chamber repertoire throughout her pianistic studies while concurrently studying business information systems with a minor in computer science as a dual degree student at the University of Rochester. She is currently a student of Alexander Kobrin and Kevin Lee Sun and previously studied with Olya Katsman and Sujeeva Hapugalle.