BIOGRAPHY
Pianist KARINA TSENG is a San Francisco Bay Area native and graduate of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. She was the youngest finalist at the 2023 Bösendorfer USASU International Competition and the winner of the 2022 Marian Garcia International Competition. In the 2023-2024 season, Karina was featured in recital across California as a 2020-2025 MTAC Young Artists Guild member. She has performed alongside orchestras such as the Seattle Festival Orchestra, Palo Alto Philharmonic, New Millennium Chamber Orchestra, and the Golden State Youth Symphony and played in venues including Weill-Carnegie Hall (NY), Merkin Hall (NY), Leighton Hall (IN), Merrill Auditorium (ME), and the Mondavi Center (CA). She is a top prizewinner of the Kaufman International, Arthur Fraser International, National YoungArts, Pacific Musical Society, Enkor International, Ross McKee, and Junior Steinway competitions, among others.
Karina is honored to have worked with artists such as Simon Trpčeski, Gary Graffman, Dang Thai Son, and Richard Goode through various masterclasses. Over previous summers, she attended the Chautauqua Institution, Pianofest in the Hamptons, Southeastern Piano Festival, Bowdoin International Music Festival, Vivace International Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute Young Artists Piano Program, and the Philadelphia Young Pianists Academy. In 2020, Karina was inducted into the distinguished MTAC (Music Teachers Association of California) Young Artist Guild through which she is offered semi-professional paid performance opportunities throughout California.
An avid chamber musician, Karina is currently a member of the Luna Trio alongside violinist Jaewon Jun and cellist Taylor Yoon. The Luna Trio was selected three times to perform in Eastman’s Chamber Honors Recitals and are achieved the Certificate of Achievement in Chamber Music. Karina was also the pianist of the Fervida Trio (with violinist Sean Mori and cellist Angeline Kiang) from 2017-2020, honored as gold medalists of the Junior Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, Pasadena Conservatory of Music Chamber Music Competition (in addition to the Beethoven Prize), and Galante Prize Competition. The Fervida Trio was invited to appear on NPR’s “From the Top” Episode #379, at InterMusic SF’s Music Day, the San Francisco International Piano Festival, and more. In the past, Karina has studied chamber music at the Crowden Music Center Summer Workshop and Summer Music West (San Francisco Conservatory of Music).
Karina was chosen as an MTAC San Mateo Scholarship Winner for leadership and community service, recognized for her performances at various senior communities and benefit concerts. As an artist who cherishes connecting and engaging with her audience, she continues to build a diverse solo and chamber repertoire throughout her pianistic studies with Alexander Kobrin and previously, Olya Katsman and Sujeeva Hapugalle. Karina will continue to study under Mr. Kobrin this fall as she begins graduate studies at the Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana in Lugano, Switzerland. In addition to her Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Karina holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science from the University of Rochester, alongside Certificates of Excellence in Chamber Music and Arts Leadership.