Biography

Tonya Plinsky is a classically trained pianist and award-winning piano teacher located in Alexandria, Virginia.  Ms. Plinsky studied at Oberlin Conservatory of Music and was a student of internationally acclaimed Russian pianist, Sedmara Zakarian Rutstein.  She received her music degree in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and was honored to be the winner of Oberlin’s Carol Nott Prize in Piano Pedagogy.  While meeting the rigorous requirements of her Piano Performance degree, Ms. Plinsky was selected to serve as the principal teaching assistant to her piano pedagogy professor, Dr. Andrew Hisey.  In her work with Dr. Hisey, Ms. Plinsky taught college-level Piano Classes, gave private lessons to college students, and also taught the children of Oberlin faculty members.  Ms. Plinsky additionally studied organ as a secondary instrument with David Boe at Oberlin Conservatory and later with Dr. Keith Reas in Washington, DC.

Ms Plinsky has been teaching private piano lessons for over 25 years and maintains a full studio of piano students whose ages range from 5-year old children to retired adults.  Students in the Plinsky Studio receive a well-rounded music education, studying repertoire from all eras of classical music and jazz,  and emphasizing fundamentals such as as the development of technical proficiency, sight reading skills, and the study of music theory.  Above all, Ms. Plinsky's students learn to play piano with artistry.  Ms. Plinsky's students consistently receive the highest ratings each year from piano judges in both State and National judged events.  Outstanding student performances can be found in the Student Showcase.  Ms. Plinsky’s students have gone on to study at renowned colleges and universities including Yale, Juilliard, Brown, Princeton, Georgetown, Duke, UC Berkeley, Vanderbilt, Fordham, Northeastern, NYU, University of Michigan, UVA, William & Mary, JMU and Wheaton College.

While maintaining a full studio of piano students, Ms. Plinsky continues to perform as both a soloist and accompanist in the DC metropolitan area and has served as a church organist and pianist for area churches for over 12 years.  She is Chairperson for the National Guild of Piano Teachers and has served as President of the Springfield Music Club (of the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs).  Ms. Plinsky serves as a judge for area Piano Festivals, and has adjudicated for annual National Piano Guild Auditions.  She is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, the Virginia Music Teacher’s Association, the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the Northern Virginia Music Teacher’s Association, the National Federation of Music Clubs, the Virginia Federation of Music Clubs, and the Springfield Music Club.