Born in Tehran, Iran, pianist Kimia Rafieian began Carl Orff music studies at age 5 in the Pars Music Institute Upon entering the Tehran music school as a piano major, she won prizes in competitive events such as the Barbad International Piano Competition, Clara’s Annual Piano Competition and the XIV International Music Festival Vladimir Spivakov “Moscow Meets Friends” Award. Ms. Rafieian began her bachelor’s degree studies in 2017, majoring in piano performance, at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida with Dr. Roberta Rust. She won second place in the FSMTA Gray Perry Young Collegiate Piano Award Competition and was a finalist in the Lynn Concerto Competition and the Jack Heller Young Artist Competition, sponsored by the Tampa Bay Symphony. Ms. Rafieian was also awarded a scholarship from the National Society of Arts & Letters. She also has participated in masterclasses with Peter Serkin, Alessandro Deljavan, Lydia Artymiw, Baruch Meir, Cordelia Höfer-Teutsch and Paul Watkins.
