About Us
Kathryn
Owner / Teacher
Hi! My name is Kathryn. I’ve been playing the piano since I was five years old, and I love it so much that I became a piano teacher! I’ve been teaching music for over 30 years, including group and private piano, children’s musical theater, and children’s choir. I am a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through Music Teachers National Association and have served as both president and vice-president of local chapters of Utah Music Teachers Association. I am currently serving as Immediate Past President of the Jordan River Chapter. I have completed The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Teaching Elementary Piano, Teaching Intermediate Piano, and the Teaching Advanced Piano courses.
My students become well-rounded musicians with lessons that cover theory, sight-reading, ear-training, technique skills, music history, composition, and improvisation. I’m always looking for new, creative methods to engage and excite students so they can excel as pianists. I look forward to sharing music with you
Nicole
Teacher
Hi, my name is Nicole! I grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada and moved to Salt Lake City in 2021 to attend the University of Utah, and have since fallen in love with the area and decided to stay. I have been passionate about playing the piano since I was a young girl and to this day am working hard towards my dreams of performing on stage for others who love classical music. I studied piano performance at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and at the College of Southern Nevada before receiving a degree in Psychology from the University of Utah.
I have been teaching piano for over 8 years now, and have always enjoyed being a friendly, inspiring, and positive role-model to my students. I have always found that sharing the gift of music with others is extremely gratifying work. I work hard to make learning fun and help my students build confidence in their creativity and musical skills. I am excited to be teaching at Play Fortissimo where I will learn from Kathryn’s experience in teaching and be able to share my love of the piano with more students!
Joanna
Teacher
Pianist and instructor Joanna Oshida, B.M., M.M. (member, National Federation of Music Clubs), is dedicated to teaching, coaching, and mentoring pianists and musicians. Ms. Oshida serves as an active faculty member at both university and pre-collegiate education institutions.
Ms. Oshida is the first-prize winner of the Young Pianists’ Beethoven Competition, the Olympiad of the Arts Piano Competition, the Music Teachers’ Association of Northern California Piano Competition, the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Concerto Competition, the Campbell Country Women’s Club Music Competition for four consecutive years, and was the recipient of the award for the Best Performance of a Required Piece in the National Matthay Association Clara Wells Piano Competition. Ms. Oshida has also appeared as a guest soloist with the Pacific Talent Education String Orchestra, the CAPMT Orchestra, and the BYU Philharmonic. Ms. Oshida has been awarded the Thera Rabinowitch Award for Musical Achievement and Humanitarian Consideration, the Vladimir Kochanski Award for Piano Excellence, the American League of Pen Women Musical Achievement Award, the Bank of America award for Music, and Lifetime Membership in the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Ms. Oshida has appeared in musical collaboration with the Pacific Talent Education, the San Jose Strings Academy, the Suzuki Association of Northern California Summer Institute at Stanford University, the Music Teachers Association Convention, UNICEF chamber music winners recitals, the Yehudi Menuhin/Helen Dowling Music Competition Winners Recitals, and the Baroque Sinfonietta.
Ms. Oshida received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Brigham Young University where she studied with renowned professor Dr. Irene Peery-Fox and her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University. Ms. Oshida graduated top in her class and has appeared in masterclasses with Yefim Bronfman and Leon Fleisher.
Ms. Oshida’s students have performed in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Libby Gardner Concert Hall, and The Noorda Center for the Performing Arts. They have been featured in UMTA State Conference Honors Recitals, AIM Honors Recitals, and National Federation of Music Clubs Honors Recitals. Ms. Oshida’s students are prize winners in the Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition and the American Mountain West International Piano Competition and have earned top scores and prizes in Solo Ensemble State competitions, National Federation of Music Clubs Competitions, and AIM competitions.