Academia and Presentations

---

"My goal is to ensure that all students graduate with the confidence and life skills they need to successfully pursue their dreams both in music and in life."

__________________________________________

DMA in Piano Performance (2018)

The Graduate Center of the City University of New York 

MM in Piano Performance (2015)

The Juilliard School

BM in Piano Performance (2013)

The Juilliard School

__________________________________________                                                                                                                                    

A highly sought after presenter, Leann is passionate about her work in professional development (with an emphasis in culturally responsive education and neurodivergent awareness). To request a workshop or presentation, please reach out at the CONTACT link above.

• WSMTA State Conference "Baby of a Concert Pianist: Building Technical Foundations Away from an Instrument." (2025)
• MTNA National TEMPO Conference "Authenticity Equals Accessibility." (2025)
• MTNA National Conference "Synchronizing Your Musical Career With Your Growing Family." (2025)
• WSMTA District Conference "Combating OCD and Perfectionism in the Music Profession." (2024)
• WSMTA State Conference "Neurodivergence, Flying Chickens, and Chain Learning: Developing Instructional Flexibility to Become a Culturally Responsive Educator." (2024)
• MTNA GP3 Summit Conference "Neurodivergence, Group Learning, and Flying Chickens" (2024)
• ToneBase TWI "How to Use the Left Pedal" (2023)
• MTNA Webinar Series "Spatial-Verbal Teaching Skills: Neurodivergent Inclusive Education" (2023)
• WSMTA - Chamber lecture performance with Dr. Mikio Sasaki (2023)
• MTNA National Conference "Understanding OCD Musicians and How to Best Support Them" (2023)
• CSMTA Conference, Guest Lecture, "Play Everything: How to Prioritize a Comprehensive, Diverse, and Inclusive Repertoire for All Student and Ourselves." (Summer 2022)
• Rising Stars Competition Judge (2021)
• ToneBase Lectures - full beginner series (Spring 2022)
• BMTA lecture (October 2021)
• SSMTA lecture,  "With Every Job that Must be Done, There is an Element of Fun: Game Methods for Group Music" (October 2021)
• Colorado State Music Teacher's Association Conference Presenter lecture, "With Every Job that Must be Done, There is an Element of Fun: Game Methods for Group Music" (June 2021)
• Colorado Music Educator's Association (CMEA): Conference Presenter, "With Every Job that Must be Done, There is an Element of Fun: Game Methods for Group Music" (Jan. 2021)
• Colorado State Music Teacher's Association: Appointed as the MTNA Colorado Competition Chair for 2020-2022
• Colorado State Music Teacher's Association Conference Presenter lecture, Easy Octaves: Methods to Prepare and Foster a Good Technique to Play Fast, Lyric, and Effortless Octaves (2020) **Cancelled due to COVID**
• DEMTA, Competition Judge (2020)
• ToneBase Lectures (2019)
• Pikes Peak Music Teacher's Association lecture, The Art of Subtraction: A Collaborative Method That Fosters Theory, Orchestration, and Vocal Coaching (2019)
• Guest publisher of American Music Review Journal (2019)
• Steinway Competition, Judge (2019)
• Library of Congress, Guest Lecturer (2018)
• Inducted into the Steinway Artist Roster (2018)
• Early Research Initiative Conference Presentation (2017) 
• Awarded Early Research Initiative Knickerbocker Award for Archival Research in American Studies (2017)
• Brooklyn College, Guest Lecture Recital (2016)
• The Juilliard School, Guest Lecturer (2016)
• Awarded the Baisley Powell Elebash Dissertation Award (2016)
• The Graduate Center, CUNY, Guest Lecture Recital (2016)
• Dorothy Rogers Smith Scholarship/ Joseph Fidelman Scholarship (Juilliard merit) (2014)
• Gary J. Amsterdam Piano Scholarship (Juilliard merit) (2013)
• Presidential Scholar of the Arts (Obama administration) (2009)

__________________________________________                                                                                                                                  

Private Instruction

RioPiano - (founded 2021)

Online and Live Studio (2015-present)

Regis Jesuit High School

Full-time Faculty Appointment (2018-2021)

St. Kaggwa Drumline Director *founded the ensemble

*featured on 9News

Band Director

Mens Choirs Director 

*student awards in All-State Choir and All-State Jazz Choir

Orchestra Director 

*student awards in All State Orchestra, Western Honors Orchestra, and Continental League

Advanced Piano Director *founded the course/curriculum and performances

Piano/Guitar Faculty 

Vocal Coach/ Musical Pit Band conductor- "Sister Act" (2018)

*selected for Thescon Mainstage-CO

Musical Theater Director- "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (2019)

Musical Theater Director - "Bright Star" (2021)

The Juilliard School, NYC, NY

Faculty (2017-2018)

Sight-reading Fellowship (2017-2018)

Piano Minor Fellowship (2012-2018)

Juilliard Global Ventures – Online Instructor (2016-2017)

Juilliard Global Ventures – Assisting in Online Course Development (2016-2017)

Teaching Assistant – Piano Literature 20/21st century (2014-2017)

Juilliard private tutor (2012-2016)

Teaching Assistant – Piano Literature 19th century (2012-2014)

Teaching Assistant – Piano Literature before the 19th century (2012-2014)

Music Advancement Program (MAP) Substitute (2012-2015)

Bloomingdale School of Music, NYC, NY

Studio teaching (2017)

Chamber Music Associates, NYC, NY

Guest artist for chamber coaching (2017-2018)

___________________________________________