Tanya Karyagina named artist-in-residence in School of Church Music and Worship

Tanya Karyagina, an award-winning pianist with extensive international performing experience, has been named artist-in-residence in the School of Church Music and Worship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dean Joseph R. Crider announced at a trio recital, March 8. 

“To have an artist of the caliber of Dr. Karyagina on our faculty is indeed a great blessing to our School of Church Music and Worship,” said Crider, reflecting on the announcement. “In addition to her world-class performance background, Dr. Karyagina is a highly skilled piano pedagogue with extensive experience in teaching students at all levels—from college freshmen to performers pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts.

“For our students and their development as Christian musicians, I am most grateful for Tanya’s love for Jesus Christ and her dedication to serving Him in her artistic pursuits and through her active involvement in her local church.”

Regarding her appointment, Karyagina said, “I am honored and humbled to be awarded the Artist-in-Residence in Piano position.”

Stating that it has been “a great joy to serve alongside the highly accomplished and skilled faculty” at the School of Church Music and Worship under Crider’s leadership, Karyagina said she is “excited to be a part of the new vision of our school in this new role. I look forward to continue to invest in our students, training and equipping them for the tasks that God has prepared for them as worship leaders, pedagogues, and performers.”

Born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Karyagina started taking piano lessons at the age of 5. Just four years later, she made her concerto debut with the Kazakh Chamber Orchestra and has since appeared as a soloist with the Kazakh National Symphony, Fort Worth Chamber Orchestra, TCU Symphony, USC Symphony, North East Symphony, and Nova Amadeus Chamber Orchestra. 

She has performed in multiple countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belgium, France, Italy, and Germany. She has also won top prizes in nearly 30 national and international piano competitions; among them are the first prize in the 2009 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition in New York and the Mendelssohn Prize in the 2009 Mendelssohn International Piano Competition in Taurisano, Italy. 

Karyagina holds a Bachelor of Music and Performer’s Certificate from Texas Christian University (2002), and a Master of Music (2004), Artist Diploma (2006), and Doctor of Musical Arts (2010) from the University of Southern California. She has served as adjunct professor of piano at Southwestern Seminary since 2017 and also has teaching experience at TCU, Dallas Baptist University, Tarrant County College, USC, and Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. She has also maintained a private piano studio for nearly 20 years, first in Southern California, and now in Fort Worth, Texas, teaching gifted students of all ages.

The announcement of Karyagina’s appointment as artist-in-residence was made during a trio recital on the Southwestern campus, which featured Karyagina on piano; Ordabek Duissen, concertmaster of the Irving Symphony and first violinist of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, on violin; and Allan Steele, principal cellist for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, on cello. These three also gave a master class to piano and instrumental students at Southwestern prior to the recital. 

Calling the recital “a musical highlight of the year,” Nathan Burggraff, assistant professor of music theory and director of the Piano and Music Theory department, said of Karyagina’s appointment as artist-in-residence, “Tanya’s world-class musical artistry coupled with her heart for church ministry make her an ideal person for this position. Her solo piano performances have consistently been a model to our music students of the highest level of musical professionalism.”

Ben Caston, associate professor of voice and chair of the Performance and Pedagogy division, added, “Dr. Karyagina brings a wealth of performance and teaching experience to the School of Church Music and Worship. In each performance, she demonstrates artistry, sensitivity, and command of the instrument. Dr. Karyagina challenges her students to excel in their piano studies, and they respond positively.”

Among Karyagina’s students is Alfred Situmorang, a master’s graduate now studying toward a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and who also regularly plays piano in Southwestern’s chapel services. 

“I have been studying with Dr. Karyagina since fall 2017, and I believe her appointment will elevate our piano department to the next level,” said Situmorang. “As I am probably the longest piano student she teaches here at SWBTS (from MACM to DMA), I could testify that her performing ability, combined with her artistry, plays a significant role during my music studies, alongside her supportive attitude toward my degree programs.”