Irene Setiawan

Piano, Theory Teacher at Ava Music

Doctor of Musical Arts: Piano Performance (University of British Columbia)

Irene M Setiawan holds her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano from the UBC School of Music. She loves sharing music through teaching and playing the piano. As a music educator, Irene has given lessons in Indonesia, Singapore, and Vancouver since 2005. She has enjoyed working with students of different levels, ages, and nationalities and preparing them for successful concerts, festivals, and examinations. She has been teaching at Ava Music and Art Centre since 2015.

Irene was also honored to join the faculty of the UBC School of Music as a Sessional Lecturer in January 2020.

Her achievements include winning top prizes at Sydney Performing Arts Challenge in 2001, Pelita Harapan University National Piano Competition in 2004, and the First Runner up of UBC Concerto Competition in 2013. As a collaborative pianist, she has played in small and large ensembles, such as UBC Wind Ensemble and UBC Choirs. She has also collaborated with students and professionals, including Sara Buechner and Lorna McGhee. In addition, she was privileged to perform with the UBC President Prof. Santa Ono on many occasions, such as at the President’s Installation Celebration Concert in 2016, the Baccalaureate Concerts in 2017 and 2019, and at the house concerts for Tokyo University President Prof. Makoto Gonokami and Keio University President Prof. Akira Haseyama. Her musical partners have frequently regarded her as a sensitive and reliable collaborative musician.

Irene is grateful for all the teachers who have invested in her, including Sara Buechner, Corey Hamm, Thomas Hecht, Marian Hahn, as well as Indonesian pedagogues Sienny Debora and So Kim Wie. She is also thankful for the generous scholarships and awards she received during her undergraduate studies at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, her graduate studies (Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts) at the UBC School of Music, as well as her summer course at the Chautauqua Music Festival.
Irene currently teaches on Monday, Friday, and Saturday.