Katya Makarova
Katya Makarova has been a dedicated teacher for over 19 years now and currently offers both group theory classes and private piano lessons from studios in Pymble and Westleigh.
Katya was first invited to join the staff of the Australian Institute of Music (Sydney) at the age 19 and lectured there 1999 to 2018. Katya has also worked overseas and took part in the Educational Program held by the Van Cliburn Foundation (USA) as well as teaching at the Seoul Music School (South Korea).
Katya Makarova represents the best traditions of Russian piano school in her teachings with both her teachers Svetlana Zakharova and Victor Makarov being students of Regina Horowitz (sister of legendary Vladimir Horowitz).
Born in Kharkov, Ukraine, Katya Makarova began piano studies at the age of 4 with Svetlana Zakharova at the Kharkov Special Secondary Music School for gifted children. In 1994 at the age of 14 she became a major prize-winner in the Vladimir Krainev International Piano Competition for Young Pianists. Being a dedicated student in music and academics, Katya was awarded a special scholarship, given by school to the top students.
In 1998 Katya graduated from the school with 100% marks in piano performance, ensemble, accompaniment, music theory, music analysis and music history.
Katya has been a student of Professor Victor Makarov since 1998 when she arrived in Sydney as a full scholarship student at the Australian Institute of Music. She graduated from the Australian Institute of Music in 2002 receiving a Bachelor degree with honours in performance.
Katya Makarova has given radio and television performances in Russia and the Ukraine as well as having made recordings for the ABC, SBS as well as 2MBS-FM. She regularly played solo and with orchestras since the age of 7 as well as taking part in numerous music festivals, including Sydney Fest, Beethoven Fest, Chopin Fest, the “Modern at the Modern” series (together with A.Koltakov) held at the Modern Museum in Fort Worth.
During the opening of the Steinway & Sons Crown Jewels Exhibition at the Billich Gallery (Sydney) and the Nobel Peace Prize Fundraising event for Red Cross International in Sydney Katya had the honor of taking part in both event ceremonies. Katya was also invited to perform for Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge at Parliament House, Sydney.
Judges in the prestigious 8th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in the United States, held in Miami (Florida) awarded both Katerina and Alexey Koltakov 2nd place and well as presenting them with a special prize for their performance of the Lowell Liebermann piece. For some time after that event the duo toured extensively and performed numerous engagements in Georgia, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Seoul (South Korea).
After the birth of her two sons (Dimitry and Leroy) , Katya has been focused on her teaching career, continuing to expand her piano studio. Despite her busy teaching and parenting schedule, Katya doesn’t miss a single opportunity to perform together with her students two piano and duet pieces. In 2018 Katya performed two-piano ensemble at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Encore showcase with Coltrane Williamson.
In 2017 Katy
a joint the judging panel of La Pianista International Piano Competition held for the first time in Sydney (Australia).
Katya always gives encouragement to her students to work hard and to pursue their goals with many of them securing music scholarships at some of the best Sydney sch
ools including Scots College, Ravenswood School, Pymble Ladies College, Sydney Grammar School, Kambala as well as KNOX. Some of the hardest working students have also been accepted into prestigious international music schools including Moscow Central Music School in Russia, Sydney Conservatorium High School and Julliard School of Music in New York, USA.
Results shown by many of Katya’s Australian students in AMEB examinations have been extraordinary in piano and theory and musicianship including having had achieved very high scores in HSC by passing AMus and LMus.
Some students have also been presented with awards in various prestigious competitions and Eisteddfods including victories at the NSW Secondary Schools concerto competition held by Ku-ring-gai Philharmonic Orchestra for the junior section winner in 2007, the overall winner in 2009 as well as Multiple section winner in 2011.
Katya always welcomes new students, of any age, to her North Shore piano tuition studios whether it be playing for pleasure, preparation for examinations or concert levels performers wanting to further finely tune their skills.
VIDEO OF KATYA PERFORMING
Katya performing 1996
Brahms Concerto No.1 (part 1 of 3)
1996 Brahms Concerto No.1 (part 2 of 3)
1996 Brahms Concerto No.1 (part 3 of 3)
HSC preparation with student Sally Cao.
F. Chopin Prelude no.16 op.