Bernadene Blaha

Bernadene Blaha is a Professor of Practice in Keyboard Studies at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, where she has served on the faculty since 1993. A Canadian-born pianist based in Los Angeles, she maintains an active performance career while teaching and mentoring students.

• Faculty member: USC Thornton School of Music (1993–present)
• Pre-college instructor: Select private studio
• Summer faculty: ARIA, Banff Centre of the Arts, Academie de Fourviere (Lyon, France)

Her research interests center on classical piano performance techniques and chamber music interpretation. Blaha has developed specialized pedagogical approaches for collaborative piano and competition preparation, reflected in her students' consistent success at international events. She emphasizes historical performance practices while maintaining contemporary relevance in repertoire selection.

As a performer, Blaha has appeared at major venues worldwide including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. Her discography includes recordings for CBC, Centaur, Analekta, and Eloquentia labels, featuring works with her piano trio Latitude 41 and duo partner Kevin Fitz-Gerald.

• Major Awards: National Arts Foundation Outstanding Teacher Award
• Competition Recognition: Prizewinner in Montreal Symphony Orchestra Competition, Young Keyboard Artists International Competition, and others
• Jury Service: Gina Bachauer International Artist Piano Competition, Virginia Waring International Competition, International E-Competition

Blaha has mentored numerous award-winning students who have performed at Carnegie Hall, with major orchestras globally, and secured prestigious scholarships. Her studio regularly participates in benefit concerts and community outreach programs. She maintains active collaborations with international music festivals including the Newport Music Festival and Round Top International Festival Institute.

As a founding member of Latitude 41 piano trio (with violinist Livia Sohn and cellist Luigi Piovano), she has released critically acclaimed recordings of Schubert, Saint-Saëns, and Brahms trios. Her performance schedule includes regular appearances at chamber music festivals across North America, Europe, and Asia.