Music, like all art, offers an analogy for how we perceive, feel, and communicate—ultimately an evolving personal representation of who we are. Analogy is thus central to my teaching. Students are continually encouraged to find imagery, narrative, and descriptive language to shape and breathe life into the music they study, whether a five-note beginner piece or a Sonata by Beethoven. I find this approach effective as well in unraveling and overcoming the technical challenges of pianism, and in developing correct and efficient technique. Scales and theory are given due and exacting emphasis, but always in a spirit of discovery and artistic purpose. My goal is for practice and performance to become equal parts in a creative, self-reflective process, one that reveals new color and dimension hidden in the everyday.

Mr. Tolwinski holds a masters degree in piano performance from the Boston Conservatory, where he studied under Max Levinson. He completed his undergraduate studies with majors in music and English at Oberlin College / Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano with Sedmara Zakarian Rutstein, and theory with Warren Darcy. He has also studied extensively with pianist Sergey Schepkin. Mr. Tolwinski taught piano and theory for three years at Brooklyn Conservatory in New York, and joined the piano faculty of Brookline Music School in summer of 2011.

Pianist Gregory Tolwinski appears frequently in the Boston and New York areas as a soloist, chamber musician, and accompanist, including on the New Music Collective and Faculty Showcase series of the Brooklyn Conservatory, and the Chamber Music Guest Recital series of the City University of New York. He has performed abroad across Lombardia, Italy, as a soloist and vocal accompanist with the Casalmaggiore International Festival. Recent performances include a collaborative cycle of the complete Chopin Nocturnes with fellow students of Max Levinson at the Boston Conservatory; a program of French art songs with soprano Teresa Wakim; and a solo appearance with the Stow Festival Orchestra for Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

B.A. Oberlin College Conservatory of Music; M.M. Piano Performance, Boston Conservatory