BIO

Claudio Espejo is a Chilean award-winning pianist, teacher, and composer based in Pennsylvania. Recent highlights include performing a complete cycle of J.S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier (Book I) at Saint Stephen's Lutheran Church in Wilmington, Delaware, as well as duo performances in Wilmington and New York City.
Since February 2021, Claudio has served as the Director of the Piano Program at Cab Calloway School of the Arts. His responsibilities include designing and coordinating the piano curriculum, teaching 100 students from grades 6 through 12, fostering student performances, facilitating collaborations across departments, and preparing students for solo performances. He actively works to grow the program by collaborating with private teachers to strengthen student technique and performance, while introducing improvisation and composition skills.
During his studies at the University of Michigan, Claudio discovered a passion for period instruments, particularly the harpsichord and fortepiano. In his third year of doctoral studies, he presented recitals focusing on these historical keyboards. After completing his doctorate, this interest evolved into a curiosity for Partimento, leading him to study with David Belkovski and Nicola Canzano. Over the past five years, composition has become his primary avenue for creative expression and a means to deepen his understanding of music. Some of his compositions can be found under the Videos tab.
As the recipient of Chile's highest award for graduate students working abroad, the Fondos de la Música, Claudio has given back to his country by leading several tours across various cities, involving over 40 performances in major concert halls as well as underserved communities.
Claudio earned his D.M.A. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan, fully supported by the Rackham Graduate School. He also holds an M.M. from the University of Michigan and a B.M. from the Eastman School of Music. His primary teachers include Christopher Harding, Rebecca Penneys, Joseph Gascho, and Matthew Bengtson. His pedagogy mentors are John Ellis, Aya Higuchi, and Paola Savvidou.
Since 2022, Claudio has served as Music Director at Saint Stephen's Lutheran Church in Wilmington, Delaware. Here, he hones his improvisation skills and provides music for liturgy on both organ and piano. He is also responsible for organizing the church's Concert Series, engaging local musicians for solo and chamber music performances.
In his free time, Claudio participates in spiritually focused communities, such as the Zen Buddhist Temple and the local chapter of the Mankind Project.

 Join me and let’s learn how to play the piano!
"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:
  • Using Partimento to teach Group Piano, Presentation given to the Early Historical Improvisation Symposium, via Zoom (2023)
  • Partimento, Presentation given to the Nashville chapter of MTNA via Zoom (2022) 
  • 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