Bio
Aya Higuchi Hagelthorn serves as the Director of Collegiate Class Piano and Coordinator of the Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program at the University of Michigan. She also contributes her expertise as a member of the College of Examiners at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
Hagelthorn’s musical journey has taken her to Japan, Italy, Prague, and the United States, where her solo and collaborative performances have been warmly embraced. Beyond performing, she is an active researcher in piano pedagogy, presenting her findings at various local and national conferences.
In her teaching, Hagelthorn focuses on solving technical problems and bringing expressive insight from both theoretical and historical perspectives. She is also adept at integrating technology into her organizational roles, enhancing the effectiveness of her educational programs.
Her recordings of Chopin’s piano compositions have been featured in films, documentaries, and educational productions, and can be found on MuseOpen.org and IMSLP.org.
Hagelthorn holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano with a minor in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Michigan.
Aya Higuchi Hagelthorn’s multifaceted career as an educator, performer, and researcher highlights her dedication to advancing the field of piano pedagogy.
Education
BM (piano with minor in Computer Science), University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)
MM (piano performance and pedagogy), University of Michigan
DMA (piano performance and pedagogy), University of Michigan