Sean Schulze

Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Partnerships

Piano Faculty, Joint Music Program

Piano Faculty, Academy

Music Literature Faculty, Conservatory

Pedagogy Faculty, Conservatory

Academy & Public Programs Piano Department Piano Department

Introduction

Sean Schulze coordinates and teaches the undergraduate and graduate Piano Pedagogy and Piano Literature offerings at CIM in addition to teaching applied piano to students in CIM’s Joint Music Program and Academy. Enjoying a multifaceted career as both a pianist and pedagogue, Schulze has garnered a national reputation as a sought-after teacher of pre-college pianists. His students regularly enjoy success in regional and national competitions, and have appeared as concerto soloists with orchestra on more than 25 occasions. In regular demand as a clinician, adjudicator, and masterclass presenter, Schulze appears frequently as a guest of local music teacher’s associations, teaching and lecturing on piano related topics.

Education

Early training in South Africa (with Moira Birks and Isabella Stengel)
DMA, University of Arizona (with Nicholas Zumbro, a student of the famed Rosina Lhévinne)
Further studies with Brazilian pianist Caio Pagano and numerous masterclass appearances with many of the foremost pianist-pedagogues of our time including, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Nelita True, Martin Canin, Malcolm Bilson, Tamas Ungar, Bela Siki and Joseph Banowetz

Teaching Experience

Cleveland Institute of Music, 2002-present
Young Artist World Piano Festival, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Artist-Faculty, 2013-present
Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 2015-present
- Visiting Assistant Professor
Masterclasses throughout the US

Notable Student Performances and Achievements

First Prize, MTNA National Performance Competition 2013
First Prize, MTNA State Competition, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016
First Prize, OMTA Graves Piano Competition, 2010, 2012, 2014
First Prize, OMTA State Buckeye Competition, 2006, 2012
Winner, Lakeland Civic Orchestra Young Artist Competition: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
Winner, Suburban Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition: 2010
Winner, Cleveland Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competition, 2014
Winner Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016
Students have performed in many of the most prestigious venues in the US (including Carnegie Hall and Severance Hall) and have gained admission to elite music schools throughout the US (including Eastman, Northwestern, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, CIM and Indiana University)
See one of Dr. Schulze's students performing with the CIM Orchestra