BIO

Claudio Espejo is a Chilean pianist, wellness advocate and pedagogue based in Pennsylvania. Since February 2021, he has worked as the Director of the Piano Program at Cab Calloway School of the Arts. His duties include designing and coordinating the piano curriculum, including teaching 120 students from grades 6 through 12,  fostering student performances and collaborations across departments, and preparing solo performances.  He actively works to continue to grow the program, working alongside private teachers to strengthen student technique and performing, while introducing improvisation and composition skills. 

During the year 2020, Claudio was a fellow with the Global Leaders Program, a one-year fellowship that provides music teachers with access to both international teaching opportunities and a curriculum that centers around social entrepreneurship through music. As part of his capstone project, he partnered with the COMBAS Conservatory, giving performances and masterclasses in the southern region of Chile. During March, he was selected to perform at the semifinals of the Ensemble Connect competition, taking place in Carnegie Hall. 

Music always struck Claudio as a deeply spiritual experience. During childhood, the connection of music and spirituality was felt through the heavenly music of the Brandenburg Concerti, and later in his teens it transformed into a fascination in the intersection of mindfulness and performance. Both in the context of group and private lessons, Claudio is an advocate for the 
use of mindfulness in learning music. He also incorporates elements of Yoga, as a certified Rainbow Kids Yoga instructor, and Dalcroze in the piano lesson.

Espejo graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelors of Music, continuing on to obtain his M.M and D.M.A. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Michigan.. His primary teachers include Christopher Harding, Rebecca Penneys, Joseph Gascho, and Matthew Bengtson. Pedagogy teachers include John Ellis and Aya Higuchi. 

During his free time, Claudio participates in communities with a spiritual purpose, such as the Zen Buddhist Temple or the local chapter of the Mankind Project.
"Claudio was one of the most dedicated instructors I have ever met in my entire academic career, he cared a lot about his students, and wanted us to succeeded and enjoy learning regardless of our level of skill."
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-Medical Arts Winter 2018 student
Presentations:
  • Cueca (chilean dance) instructor and Chamber music coach, Ann Arbor Piano Ensemble Camp, Faber Piano Institute, June 2019. 
  • “Do you mind? Introducing Mindfulness into the Piano Studio," MTNA National Conference, Spokane, WA, March 2019. Co-presented with Ceren su Sahin, Forrest Moody, and Hillary Santoso.
  • “Do you mind? Introducing Mindfulness into the Piano Studio," MTNA National Conference, Spokane, WA, March 2019. Poster session with Ceren su Sahin, Forrest Moody, and Hillary Santoso.
  • “Do you mind? Introducing Mindfulness into the Piano Studio," MTNA Collegiate Symposium, Harrisonburg, VA, January 2019. Co-presented with Ceren su Sahin, Forrest Moody, and Hillary Santoso.
  • "Mindful Games at the Piano," MTNA National Conference, Lake Buena Vista, March 2018. Poster session. 
  • "On Performance Anxiety," Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile, June 2017.
  • "Piano technique: Cortot, Sándor, and Matthay," Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile, June 2017.
  • "Pedagogical tools learned during my Masters," Universidad Católica de Temuco, Temuco, Chile, June 2017.
Professional Affiliations:
  • Music Teachers National Association, served as Co-vicepresident of the U of M Collegiate Chapter
  • Piano Teachers Congress of New York, Co-chair of the Piano Honors Program
  • Mankind Project
  • Global Leaders Program, Cohort of 2019-2020