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Bio
Pianist Charisse Baldoria has performed as soloist, chamber musician, or orchestral soloist in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Australia. She has been winning awards in national and international competitions since age eight, starting with several first-prizes from the Philippines: twice in the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), twice in the National Yamaha Electone Festival, the Jeffrey Ching Piano Sonata Competition, and the University of the Philippines College of Music Piano Competition, winning over college students while still in high school. Since being awarded a Fulbright grant in 1998 for graduate studies in the United States, she has garnered international recognition, becoming a laureate of the 2004 Sydney International Piano Competition, recognized as one of the world’s great competitions, Fourth Prize winner at the 2003 San Antonio International Piano Competition, and First Prize winner of the 2002 Society for Musical Arts Young Artist Competition of Ann Arbor. She also won awards in the 2003 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the 1999 Ducrest Young Artist International Competition, and was twice winner of the University of Michigan Concerto Competition, a rare feat.
Charisse finished her master’s and doctorate from the University of Michigan where she studied with Logan Skelton, under full scholarship and funding. Soon after, in 2003, she became a professor at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania where continues to teach. In 2005, Dr. Baldoria was invited to give a lecture-recital at the College of Music Society International Conference held in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, presenting on possible relationships between the original folk influences and performance considerations, specifically on piano music by Manuel de Falla and Karol Szymanowski. Since then, she has further cultivated her interest in Spanish music and culture. From 2007-2008, Dr. Baldoria presented a series of concerts and lectures on Spanish music made possible by a grant from the Spanish Program for Cultural Cooperation of the Minister of Culture of Spain. She is scheduled to go to Havana, Cuba in May 2009 for research in Latin American music and culture.
From 2006-2008, Dr. Baldoria was a visiting professor at the University of the Philippines, which was where she finished her undergraduate degree summa cum laude, studying with Nita Abrogar Quinto. She taught piano literature, gave piano lessons, and put together a program on harpsichord instruction and performance. She was also a founder and faculty adviser of UP Tiklado, a university-based organization of pianists. Now back at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Baldoria continues to perform and to serve as juror to piano competitions.
Her other interests include photography, creative writing, and world travel. She also has an Advanced Open Water scuba diver certification and recently went diving in the Tubbataha Reefs.
