Session 1 & 2

Dr. Ilya Blinov is an accomplished pianist and teacher. He began his teaching career in his native Nizhny Novgorod (Russia) in 1993, and since then he has taught at the University of Michigan, Bowling Green State University, Interlochen Arts Camp, and Susquehanna University. Over the years, Dr. Blinov has worked with students aged 5 to 83. He sees teaching as the rewarding process of facilitating change and growth in students and strives to show them a direction, a road, a path to knowledge, and give them a chance to discover their strengths.

Dr. Blinov is a versatile solo recitalist, chamber musician, and accompanist. He has presented recitals in his native Russia as well as in the United States and Western Europe. His performances include an appearance at the Shostakovich Festival in Rome and Venice, Italy, and a recital at the Yamaha Center in Paris, France among others. He has also performed live on WGTE Public Radio in Ohio and WDET studio in Detroit, Michigan.

Throughout his career, Dr. Blinov has developed a format of a recital-demonstration, a performance devoted to the music of a single composer using a PowerPoint presentation and a discussion of the composer’s life and compositional style. The audiences have warmly received his performances of Tchaikovsky and Mozart, Shostakovich and Stravinsky, Mussorgsky and Beethoven.

YouTube channel: youtube.com/PianistIlyaBlinov

Session 1 & 2
San Francisco Conservatory

Rose Chen is a dedicated musician and educator, currently holding positions on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's Pre-College Division in both piano and chamber music. She earned her Master of Music degree in 2002 and Graduate Performance Diploma in 2004 in piano performance from the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, studying under the guidance of Mr. Boris Slutsky. During her time at Peabody, Mrs. Chen was awarded a full scholarship with a teaching assistantship, showcasing her exceptional talent.

Mrs. Chen's passion for music shines through her extensive solo performances and chamber recitals. She also actively nurtures young talent in her west San Jose piano studio, where her dedication has guided numerous students to achieve remarkable success in their own musical journeys. Her students have excelled in international competitions and received high honors, including recognition from the Music Teacher Association of California's Young Artist Guild and Panel Honor evaluations. Many of her students have been admitted to renowned music schools like Juilliard, Peabody Conservatory, Northwestern University, UCLA, and the San Francisco Conservatory, just to name a few.

With her commitment to sharing the beauty of music and inspiring the next generation of musical artists, Mrs. Chen continues to be a source of inspiration for her students, fostering a lifelong love for music.

Session 2

Wei Coglio holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts and a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Pacific. Her teachers include Dr. Arkady Aronov, Mr. Frank Wiens, and Mr. Daniel Cheng. She has won numerous competitions, including the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) concerto competition, and has performed in various music festivals such as the Meranofest and the Tivoli Piano Festival in Italy. She has been invited to serve on the judging committees of several competitions and examinations such as the United States International Music Competitions and the Certificate of Merit Exams (CM).Dr. Coglio is passionate about fostering musical interest in the younger generation and maintains a private studio in Santa Clara and Los Gatos. Her students have been participants of masterclasses, winners of various competitions, and recipients of music scholarships. In addition to her teaching, Dr. Coglio volunteers extensively for MTAC. She has served on the CM Council for two years, and has been a section chair for MTAC’s Santa Clara Branch for almost a decade.

Session 1 & 2

Ariel Wei, a native of Taichung, Taiwan, began studying the piano and zheng at early age. Ms. Wei has won top music competitions in both instruments and recognized for her outstanding achievements. She maintains an active piano studio in Santa Clara and is the co-founder of C’est Bon Chamber Music Academy. She shares the love and passion for music with young musicians in bay area through various music activities.

Ms. Wei received her B.F.A. from the National Taiwan Normal University in Taipei and M.A. from Eastern Washington University.