Education
Columbia University, Teachers College. New York City, NY: 2004-2006. Master of Arts in Music Education
Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester. Rochester, NY: 1998-2003. Bachelor of Music with a Major in Music Education. Primary instrument: Piano. Secondary instrument: Voice.
The Lucy Moses School for Music and Dance, New York City, NY: 1989-1998. Studied piano, music theory and ballet.
The Gnessin School of Music for Gifted Children, Moscow, Russia: 1985-1989. General education with focus on piano, music theory, and movement.
Awards and Accomplishments
Instrumental Music Program Designed a customized program that focused on teaching instrumental music through improvisation and composition. Inclusive to all 4th& 5th graders, learning a wind instrument during their weekly music class. (2017-2022)
“Live@Meridian” Concert Series The focus of the concert series was to bring live music to the students and to expose the community to diverse styles of music. Each visit involved extensive student preparation, customized student-artist interactions, and meaningful reflection. (2016-2022)
Yale Distinguished Music Educator Award One of fifty educators nationwide selected to receive this biennial award. Participated in a three day symposium at Yale University. (2011)
SoundTree Elementary Keyboard Lab Curriculum Book Authored twenty of the sixty lessons. (2011)
Music Sales, Inc. Educational Advisory Panel Consultant on product development and the future of digital music education. (2012-2015)
My story:
While growing up in Moscow, Russia, Emilia began her piano studies at the tender age of four and entered the Gnessin Specialized Musical School for Gifted Children at the age of five. There, the focus was on learning piano with a side-serving of academics. At the age of five, the road was paved but life took a different turn for Emilia’s family and when she was ten, her family immigrated to the United States.
Upon arrival in NJ, Emilia continued her piano studies and later enrolled in the Eastman School of Music to pursue a degree in piano performance. However, at the end of her years as a piano performance major, another door opened and she switched her degree to music education. That was a defining moment that led to great happiness. Upon completion of her studies at the Eastman School of Music with a degree in music education, she accepted a job at a public school in New York, teaching children from kindergarten through sixth grade and students with special needs. There, she developed her teaching style and fell in love with working with young children.
In July of 2013, Emilia relocated to Seattle where, after a short hiatus from the classroom, she began her tenure at The Meridian School. There, she ran weekly community gatherings (for students, faculty and parents to sing together), created a concert series to expose students to live music of different genres, and co-founded a classroom instrumental music program for all 4&5th grade students. In 2022, Emilia resigned from The Meridian School to concentrate on arts advocacy, creating relations between artists and schools and to focus her energy on building audiences of the future.
Ms. Emilia Kister currently lives in Seattle, WA with her husband and two children.