Zarina Melik-Stepanova

Dr. Zarina Melik-Stepanova serves as Lecturer of Keyboard in the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Baldwin Wallace University. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, Performer's Certificate, and Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Arts from Augustana College.

Her artistic focus centers on piano performance and chamber music interpretation across classical and American repertoire, demonstrated through collaborations with the BW Symphony Orchestra, BW Wind Ensemble, and Bach Festival ensembles. She exhibits exceptional versatility in works by Beethoven, Bartók, Bach, and Gershwin.

Dr. Melik-Stepanova's distinguished competitive achievements include:

• Winner of the National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Piano Competition
• First place in the South Dakota Symphony Piano Competition
• First place in the South Dakota MTNA Piano Competition
• First place in the Schubert Club Piano Competition (St. Paul)
• First place in the J. Earl Lee International Piano Competition
• Top prizes at SUNY Potsdam's Crane Festival of New Music
• Junior Faculty Award for Scholarly Excellence at Oklahoma State University

She actively contributes to institutional life as founder and faculty advisor of #BWVotes, organizing voter registration initiatives and civic engagement concerts. Her recent performances include Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4 with the BW Symphony Orchestra and Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion at the 2023 Bach Festival.