Piano

Each year, Merit piano students of all ages come together to perform in concerts online, at the Joy Faith Knapp Music Center, and at venues throughout Chicago.

Past performances include concerts at Symphony Center, Grant Park Music Festival, and the Economic Club of Chicago. Some of our students have even performed at Carnegie Hall! Even when we can’t make music together in person, the Merit community finds new life online through virtual group classes, Zoom concerts, and socially-distanced private lessons.

“Regardless of a piano student’s goals in music, a thorough grounding in the basics provides a strong musical foundation for any path. More than just the rudiments of scales, rhythm, harmony we try to teach our piano students the benefits of diligence, practice, and persistence. Plus, scientific studies have proven that a music education has many indirect and intangible benefits and rewards, regardless of a student’s chosen future pathway in life.”

– Dr. Elena Doubovitskaya
Piano Department Chair

Our celebrated teaching artists hail from across the globe and have degrees from some of the world’s most prestigious conservatories and universities. Beyond their teaching at Merit, our Piano faculty have extensive solo and collaborative piano careers working extensively throughout the city of Chicago and internationally. Committed to helping Merit students succeed in music and in life, our Piano faculty provides students with the immersive training, feedback, and mentorship they need to learn and grow.