Biography

Praised for expressing "ultra-sensitive and highly refined pianism" (Quinte Society for Chamber Music), pianist Petya Stavreva holds a Doctorate degree in Musical Arts from Western University.

Dr. Stavreva maintains an independent teaching studio, both in person and online, where her students continuously succeed in festivals and competitions. Most recently, two of her students were awarded 1st place at the RCM's "Music Lights the Way" festival for levels 5 and 10. She is a passionate advocate for long term injury-free playing and is dedicated to teaching this aspect of music making to her students. She is also active as a performer.

She served as a Program Director of the Quinte Society for Chamber Music concert series in 2023, and is currently the President of the St. Albert Piano Teachers' Association.

Petya is a sought-after adjudicator for piano competitions and festivals such as Kiwanis Festivals in: Toronto, Ottawa, Peterborough, Pickering, Brantford, Oshawa, Kingston, Temiskaming Shores, Stratford, Markham, and the Provincial Ontario Festival, among others.

In 2020 and 2021, Petya collaborated with violinist Marie Berard (the concertmaster of the Canadian Opera Company) for the official recordings of the new RCM Celebration Series books. 

Petya has been a prize winner of numerous competitions in Canada and Europe such as the international competition “Franz Schubert” in Rousse, international competition “Music and Earth” in Sofia, among many others, and has performed concertos with the Toronto Sinfonietta Orchestra. She has played concerts throughout Canada but also internationally, including in the US, France, Italy and Bulgaria. Petya has frequently collaborated with cellist Amahl Arulanandam (of VC2) for concerts and recordings.

Prior to arriving at Western, she finished her master’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin, receiving full scholarship and grant support from Canada Arts Council, as well as the Webb Trust Fund at the Glenn Gould School. Before beginning her graduate studies, she obtained an Artist Diploma on full scholarship from the Glenn Gould School, and a bachelor's degree in performance from the University of Toronto. Petya was an artist-in-residence at the Banff Centre for ten weeks in 2012.

Shortly after moving to Canada, Petya attended the Taylor Performance Academy at the RCM in Toronto with full scholarship. She has been very fortunate to study with a variety of teachers including Leslie Kinton, Anton Nel, James Anagnoson, Jamie Parker, Marietta Orlov and Arshalouis Nersessian. While in Austin, Petya also studied collaborative piano in addition to her solo degree, with Anne Epperson.

Dr. Stavreva is a registered music teacher through ARMTA and teaches both online and in-person.