Teaching and Private Lessons

In the private studio with Candace, there is a tremendous focus on independent and critical thinking to achieve a personal and relevant connection with music. From the youngest beginner to students preparing for college auditions, each student is pushed to observe their technique, listen to themselves and great artists with a critical ear, and find their own unique way of integrating sensation. Students participate in two recitals a year, where building community and support are at the forefront, and are given extra opportunities to participate in competitions, performance exams, and four hands chamber music with their studio-mates. Current students have performed at Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, Merkin Hall, Academy of Music, and more. They are accepted to prestigious summer festivals in the United States and Europe to further their musical study.

Private lessons are generally held at the home studio at the northernmost part of Manhattan, New York, which is also commonly known as Hudson Heights. Traveling to the home in Manhattan is also an option, but is scheduled very carefully. Because of the heavy emphasis on technique, Skype lessons are held on a case by case basis. If you are interested in lessons for your child, please reach out on our contact page, and read over the studio policy for pricing and studio rules. I ask that parents pay special attention to the policies on attendance and cancellations.

Studio Announcements/Student Achievements

2022 Student Achievements

Elite Music Competition

Vivian Mennecke-Calandra - Second Prize

Little Mozarts Competition

Audrey Stevens - Second Prize

Edoardo Donnianni - Third Prize

Triumph Music Festival

Vera Felciano - First prize

Lucia Manzo - First prize

Crescendo International Music Competition

Laura Vokits - Third prize

Vivo International Music Competiton

Zoe Waring - Second prize

Winter Harbor Music Festival Chamber Music Participants

Michael Waldman

Jeremy Hines

2021 Student Achievements

National Young Maestro Competition Finalists

Eliot Hsueh

Ian Hsueh

Leslie Correa

Rondo Young Artist Festival Competition

Jasper Mallorca - Honorable Mention

Audrey Stevens - Honorable Mention

Triumph Music Festival

Vivian Mennecke-Calandra - First Prize

Vivo Competition 2021

Darrow Julia O’Brien - Third Prize

Vivian Mennecke-Calandra - Third Prize

2020 Student Achievements

Crescendo International Music Competition
Kassidy Chambers, second place

Darrow Julia O’Brien, third place

Triumph Music Festival

Zoe Waring, first prize

Ian Hsueh, first prize

Elite Music Competition
Zoe Waring, second prize

Ian Hsueh, second prize

National Young Maestros' Competition

Vivian Mennecke-Calandra - Best Performance of a 20th Century Piece, bronze medal

2019 Student Achievements

Pittsburgh International Piano Competition
Channing Sun, 3rd Place
Sean Shen, 3rd Place
Yongxian Ye, Honorable Mention
Zoe Waring, Honorable Mention

STUDIO HEALTH AND SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Students will remain masked in lessons, and receive hand sanitizer upon entry. Please give as much notice as possible for illness. Remote lessons are ALWAYS and option, and preferred to getting sick!

Winter 2023 Recital Green Room Shenanigans
Lucy plays Baby Kangaroo as a baby kangaroo
Small but mighty Margaret
Alighieri Studio 2023 Winter Recital
Lucia at Academy of Music Triumph Music Festival
Vera at Academy of Music
Spring Recital 2022
Spring Recital 2022
Alighieri Studio’s Spring 2022 Recital
Adult learners at Winter Harbor Music Festival
Shostakovich 5 Pieces for Two Violins and Piano at WHMF
Zoe at Weill Warmup/Dress rehearsal at Carnegie Hall Weill Recital Hall, PIPC 2019
James 2014 With my student James - his last recital with me before his first year of undergrad for piano performance!
PIPC 2019 Zoe and Sean Proud teacher with students Zoe and Sean backstage at Carnegie Hall
Sean 2019 Sean at our spring recital 2019
Winter Recital 2018 The whole crew! One of our best recitals to date!
Spring Recital 2019 Backstage and getting situated at Mikowsky Hall
Eliana 2018 Some beautiful playing from Eliana at the 2018 Winter Recital
Studio Space A general panorama of where parents wait for lessons
During lesson Zoe in the middle of a lesson
Jack Recital 2016 Jack warms up to play his Granados at the Winter Recital 2015
The Studio 2016 Winter Recital 2016
Zoe 2016 Warming up with Zoe pre recital
Backstage 2016 Backstage shenanigans
The Studio A rare look at a clean studio without students and music everywhere!
With sweet girl Chloe, May 2016 My students are also so supportive of my performing career! Chloe came to one of my concerto performances!
Spring Recital 2016 Spring Recital 2016, right before I returned to Juilliard!
Vuk Vuk studying his music before his lesson in the infamous comfy chair
Point Counterpoint 2015 Teaching never stops even in the summer! With husband, and two talented girls, Rachel and Chloe, that we coached in their chamber groups
Yadany Yadany in a lesson
Tara and Vuk You might encounter studio dog Fritz during your lesson!
Studio Recital Winter 2013 At Renee Weiler Hall, 2013
The Lineup - Winter 2013 Sometimes, we don't get a backstage, so students practice their good audience skills while staying organized.
Summer 2012 Recital At Hunter College Ida K. Lang Recital Hall