Faculty Profile
Helen Tunkel
NMS Piano Faculty
Fellows Program Faculty
As a professional pianist and educator of 35 years I have been applying my experience, passion, and knowledge of music by using an insightful, sensitive, and nurturing approach to every one of my students, enabling them to reach their highest potential weather they aspire to become musicians themselves, or simply share my love for music. Close communication with my student’s families helps to develop a great support system during the whole process of learning, which is extensive and includes sight reading, theory, harmony, music history, and technique, all of which, by approaching music as a science, are essential to broadening a student’s scope and harnessing their imagination and creativity, ultimately leading them to a better understanding and appreciation of music that lasts a lifetime. Adults, on the other hand, approach music with a depth of intellectual curiosity they did not have as young students – for some it gives new and needed dimensions in their lives or for others a new outlook on music all together, by discussing style and interpretation with their teacher.
As an educator, one of the most rewarding experiences for me is to watch a student’s hard work, determination, and love of music blossom into a lifetime of opportunities. Over the years my students have earned gold, silver, and bronze medals in countless competitions, workshops, and music camps, with many of them going on to attend such prestige schools as the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Boston College, Interlochen, New Paltz, and Stanford, among others. No matter what path my student’s choice to pursue in their lives, one thing is for certain – that music will always be a big part of it, and that the lessons they learn at the Piano will help them overcome the countless challenges and obstacles we all face every day.
My own music background is complete with honors and scholarships beginning at the age of 6 when I was admitting to the highly-selective St. Petersburg Music School for Gifted Children under the supervision of Valentina Kynde. Having studied with renowned musicians Boris Lisenco, Dmitry Paparno, Yakov Zak, and Stanislaus Neuhaus; I graduated (magna cum laude) with a masters of music in performance, pedagogy, ensemble, and accompaniment from St. Petersburg’s conservatory, going on to graduate (magna cum laude) with my second masters in the same fields of study from DePaul University. As a recipient of many prizes and awards at national and international piano competitions, among them the Society of American Musicians, Piano teachers Congress of New York International, the Young Keyboard Artists International, and others; I’ve also performed solo, ensemble and chamber concerts with orchestral appearances throughout Europe, Asia, and the USA, including performances as a soloist with the Leningrad, Moscow, and Siberian philharmonic symphonies, at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Amnesty international, Dame Myka Hess Memorial Concerts Series (performed live on WFMT), and many more.
Please feel free to email me at HelenTunkel@newmusicschool.com.