ARTISTIC ROLES
Piano Teacher
Shaping the next generation of young pianists
Geena has been shaping the next generation of young pianists for over two decades. Geena's teaching philosophy is to help each student develop a personal and positive connection to the piano. She believes that learning piano is not only about playing the correct notes at the indicated tempo. In fact, she discourages her students from practicing mindlessly but instead emphasizes the importance of looking beyond the printed notes. She believes that understanding harmony, structure, historical background, and the musical intent of the composer are just as important as physical training. Communicating musically with the audience and applying imagination within the structure of the piece are skills that allow a good student to achieve excellence.
Her students have earned top prizes at the regional, national, and international levels, including the Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, Pelican International Music Competition, Sherer International Competition, Fischoff Chamber Music Competition Geoffroy Prize, South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition, Gene Marcus Piano Competition, Stickley Piano Competition, and many others. They also frequently place highly in the Achievement in Music (AIM) program and in Middle School and High School Regional Solo and Ensemble Festivals.
Her pre-college students have been accepted to many prestigious universities, including Princeton University, Cornell University, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Michigan, and Indiana University Bloomington, where they pursue music as a major or minor, or continue to participate in music ensembles.
Educator
Creating quality educational opportunities for all ages
Geena is currently a member of the piano faculty of Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and has a wide range of collegiate teaching experience, including group piano classes, applied piano lessons, music appreciation, music theory, and aural skills. She has previously taught at the University of Iowa; Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the University of Notre Dame; and Indiana University South Bend.
Her passion for creating educational programs is evident in the many initiatives she has developed and directed. These include the Sonata Sonatina Festival, Baroque Festival, and the Chopin Piano Competition, as well as serving as a committee member for the annual Stickley Piano Competition. A strong advocate for chamber music education, she served as Director of the Fischoff Chamber Music Academy, where she played a vital role in establishing the Summer Chamber Music Intensive program, designing and directing a week-long curriculum focused on fostering citizen artistry through chamber music.
Arts Advocate
Building community one note at a time
As an outspoken advocate for the arts, Geena is passionate about offering high-quality classical performances that bring the community together. Founded in 2019 by Geena, the Roti Roti Art Center Summer Concert Series aims to make connections between the visual and musical arts and to make classical music accessible for all members of our community. Performances offer an informal atmosphere, fostering engagement between performers and audience members. Musicians share the rich history and narratives behind each piece, forging profound connections between our audience and the music. These concerts are family and kid-friendly, accessible, and free to the public.
Music for Food is a musician-led initiative for local hunger relief founded by Grammy-winning violist Kim Kashkashian in 2009. The concerts raise resources for and awareness of the fight against hunger and empower musicians who wish to use their artistry to further social justice. Now entering its thirteenth season, the concert series has grown to include chapters in over twenty U.S. cities, many collaborative concerts across the nation, and a growing international presence. Geena has been the artistic director of the Michiana Chapter of Music for Food since 2019, bringing together musicians at all levels of experience to support this vital cause. The Michiana Chapter has partnered with the Food Bank of Northern Indiana and Cultivate Food Rescue to raise funds and increase awareness for these organizations. These concerts have raised funds to create more than 4,000 meals for the community.
