our Teachers

Piano Instructor

Valdone Arffa

A native of Lithuania, Valdone Arffa is a graduate of the National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Arts in Vilnius. After winning the United World College Music Scholarship, she continued her studies in piano and chamber music with Igor Cognolato at the International Chamber Music School of Trio di Trieste, in Duino, Italy. In 2019, Valdone graduated summa cum laude from Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University with bachelor’s degrees in Classical Piano Performance and Music Education (with emphasis in choral conducting). Here she studied with Dr. Ludmila Lazar.

Valdone has earned awards in four Lithuanian national piano competitions and three international competitions in Lithuania, France, and Estonia. Recently, she received an Honorable Mention and “Best Sonata” Prize at the Cremona International Music Academy and Competition in 2017 in Italy. She was also one of the four finalists at the Aeolian Classics Emerging Artist Competition 2019. Valdone has given solo and chamber music concerts in Lithuania, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and the United States.While she continues to be an active performer, teaching is one of Valdone’s greatest passions. She seeks to inspire her students to find the life-lasting joy and meaning in playing piano, while helping them build the skills and knowledge needed to become the best musicians they can be.