Bio:: Tanya Végváry Plescia began studying piano at the age of four under the tutelage of her father. She started formal lessons at age six. As a young pianist, while studying with Tom Hulse, Tanya won several awards and honors including the Festival of New American Music honor, Grayce Kent Clark Scholarship award, Music Teachers Association of California Scholarship award, and the Edna S. Sibole Scholarship award. Tanya continued her studies at the California State University of Sacramento where she studied with Frank Wasko and Richard Cionco. While at the University she received a talent based scholarship each continuing semester, was the winner of the Senior Achievement Award and the winner of the annual Concerto Competition. She performed Prokofiev’s First Piano Concerto with the Sacramento State Orchestra, Leo Eylar conducting. Ms. Plescia also received the Pi Kappa Lambda national honor. She graduated Summa cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities with an emphasis on religious studies, and a second Bachelors of Music degree in Piano Performance.

Reviews of Ms. Plescia’s performances and compositions have been fabulous. “…Plescia’s original compositions show a wide range of influences and a taste for pushing musical boundaries. Her set of variations (Theme and Variations for Violin and Piano) are everywhere full of color, and she’s not shy about taking risks and being provocative. It came across as music that makes you think and feel, and if that isn’t the point of original music, I don’t know what is.” (Edward Ortiz, Sacramento Bee) And in another review, “Tanya Plescia received a standing ovation for her moving performance.” (Steffi Broski, East Sacramento News) Plescia’s original piece titled “Geary Street” was described as “a musical trip through rush hour traffic, but punctuated by moments of clarity and serenity.”(Chris Macias, Sacramento Bee) “Ms. Plescia brings a passion and fire to the piano literature that would thrill Beethoven. She takes those little notes on the page and breathes life into them, literally teasing out the flesh and blood that has gone into each composition, peeling back the layers of heart and emotion in each work until it is revealed stark and luminescent. She is fearless and devoted to the work, whether it is her own brilliant composition (I heard three at her concert), or works of previous masters.” (Jim Caroompas, Martinez News Gazette)

Tanya continues to compose and perform widely across the United States. Last season Tanya performed at the Washington Arts Club in Washington D.C., the Festival of New American Music at California State University Sacramento, Trinity Chamber Concerts in Berkeley, California, two premier concerts in Portland Oregon at The Old Church Concert Series and at Old First Concerts in San Francisco. This season she has debuted at the Kindred Arts Concert Association, Sherman Clay/ Steinway Hall in Roseville, and the Hemet County Public Library Concert Series and Master Class. Upcoming concerts include appearances at The National Gallery in Washington D.C., Music on the Divide in Georgetown, the Solano County Concert Association and Symphony Recital and fundraiser for the symphony, and the Crocker Art Museum Sunday Concert Series in July. On March 12, 2011 Ms. Plescia will perform, amongst others, at the Cascade Theatre in Redding, as the scholarship winner from the studio of Duane Hampton. Ms. Plescia will perform a special all Liszt program at the Hungarian National Embassy in Washington D.C., in honor of the bicentennial anniversary of Liszt’s birth year, and coinciding with the Hungarian national holiday on March 15, 2011.

Tanya’s CD, which contains two of her original piano compositions, L’éclair, and Geary Street, in addition to a program of works by Beethoven, Chopin, Faure, and Liszt, has been featured on local classical radio KXPR, as well as on radio stations across the US and in Germany. Her CD was featured as the “Classics over Coffee” program on KZGM radio in Missouri. Her single, “Iolanda”, has been released as a digital single, and is available on I-tunes, Amazon, Napster, and all major digital music distribution outlets. Plescia’s CD is available for purchase online at CDBaby.

Tanya continues to compose and perform widely across the United States. Last season Tanya performed at the Washington Arts Club in Washington D.C., the Festival of New American Music at California State University Sacramento, Trinity Chamber Concerts in Berkeley, California, two premier concerts in Portland Oregon at The Old Church Concert Series and at Old First Concerts in San Francisco. This season she has debuted at the Kindred Arts Concert Association, Sherman Clay/ Steinway Hall in Roseville, and the Hemet County Public Library Concert Series and Master Class. Upcoming concerts include appearances at The National Gallery in Washington D.C., Music on the Divide in Georgetown, the Solano County Concert Association and Symphony Recital and fundraiser for the symphony, and the Crocker Art Museum Sunday Concert Series in July. On March 12, 2011 Ms. Plescia will perform, amongst others, at the Cascade Theatre in Redding, as the scholarship winner from the studio of Duane Hampton. Ms. Plescia will perform a special all Liszt program at the Hungarian National Embassy in Washington D.C., in honor of the bicentennial anniversary of Liszt’s birth year, and coinciding with the Hungarian national holiday on March 15, 2011.

Tanya’s CD, which contains two of her original piano compositions, L’éclair, and Geary Street, in addition to a program of works by Beethoven, Chopin, Faure, and Liszt, has been featured on local classical radio KXPR, as well as on radio stations across the US and in Germany. Her CD was featured as the “Classics over Coffee” program on KZGM radio in Missouri. Her single, “Iolanda”, has been released as a digital single, and is available on I-tunes, Amazon, Napster, and all major digital music distribution outlets. Plescia’s CD is available for purchase online at CDBaby.

Tanya Plescia is a member of the Music Teachers Association of California and has taught piano lessons for many years. She taught for sixteen years in Sacramento at the Pease Conservatory of Music. She currently has a thriving private studio where her students learn the discipline of piano technique, music theory, and composition. Tanya’s students have participated and placed highly in competition and recital.