Marika Bournaki

Marika Bournaki serves as Assistant Professor of Piano & Piano Pedagogy at Shenandoah Conservatory, Shenandoah University since 2021. A world-class concert pianist dubbed 'The Celine Dion of Classical' by The Huffington Post, she bridges performance excellence with educational outreach as a member of Piano Six – New Generation and artist-in-residence at Canada's Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance.

Her educational foundation includes Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, studying under Yoheved Kaplinsky and Matti Raekallio.

Bournaki's professional identity centers on virtuosic piano performance and pedagogy, with deep specialization in chamber music collaboration and audience expansion strategies. She actively commissions new works from emerging composers while developing innovative projects like 'Moi, J'en Parle' and 'Let's Play' to empower youth through music education. Her interpretive approach emphasizes emotional authenticity in classical repertoire ranging from Bach to contemporary works.

Notable accolades include:

• Canadian Screen Awards for Best Arts Documentary and Best Editing (2014) for 'I Am Not A Rock Star'
• 1st Prize at Boulder International Chamber Music Competition (2016)
• Grammy Nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album (67th GRAMMY Awards)

Bournaki maintains significant artistic partnerships as collaborative piano faculty at North Carolina's Eastern Music Festival, core member of the Mile-End Trio and Frisson Ensemble, and international touring duo with cellist Julian Schwarz. She frequently performs at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall and Bargemusic while championing music access in underserved communities through Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal's 'A Cool Classical Journey' initiative.