Marie Ananian is a 21 year old pianist, invested in the art of classical music. Born and raised in Japan, she is the daughter of an Armenian father and Japanese mother. Her determined passion for the piano sparked at age 10 when her family moved to California, and thus she began her musical studies with Kate Ruble-Foxworth. Marie performs competitively and has received numerous awards such as MTAC’s Certificate of Merit with Panel Honors, Rotary International Music Competition, Redlands Inland Empire Piano Festival, Southern California Junior Bach Festival, Riverside Young Pianists’ competition, Temecula’s Young Artist Competition, Steinway Society of Riverside County Senior Festival etc. Currently, Marie is being mentored by Dr. Elvin Rodriguez at La Sierra University. Her collegiate awards include Steinway Concerto Competition, Gail Newby Concerto Competition, and the Temecula Valley Symphony Competition. She has also received master classes from Antoinette Perry, Katherine Kautsky, Norman Krieger, John Robilette, and Sakiko Ohashi. Marie loves teaching and works at several studios including Morris Music Studio, Musicland, AVPA, After School Music Programs, and her own studio at home. She loves to play gospel keyboard at her church, and is grateful for God’s gift of music in her life.