MELISSA EVANS TIERRA is an internationally acclaimed American concert pianist and educator renowned for her innovative approach to contemporary classical music and multimedia performance. As a champion of living composers, she has premiered numerous works and earned recognition as "a force of nature" for her commanding stage presence, technical virtuosity, and compelling musical interpretations.

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Tierra holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Baylor University, where she studied with James Williams and was honored with the prestigious Gladys Calder Stinson Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Performer in Piano—one of the university's most coveted performance distinctions. She completed her Master of Music degree at The Cleveland Institute of Music studying with Van Cliburn Competition winner Antonio Pompa-Baldi, and earned a Postgraduate Diploma from the Koninklijk Vlaams Conservatorium in Antwerp, Belgium, studying with Levente Kende.

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Her artistic development has been further enriched through masterclasses and study with distinguished artists including Jerome Rose, Kum Sing Lee, Alon Goldstein, Krassimira Jordan, and composer Lowell Liebermann.

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Tierra has performed extensively across the United States and internationally, with acclaimed recitals in Austria, Italy, Belgium, and Israel. Her innovative concert concepts seamlessly integrate multimedia elements with classical piano performance, creating immersive experiences that challenge traditional concert formats. Recent notable performances include Project [BLANK]'s Working Title presenting her concept 'Primal Therapy', a performance incorporating scream therapy as a means to release emotion through music as well as a premier of Yifan Guo's latest work 'Assembled Diary', a piece composed for piano, actor, conducted ensemble, videos, and electronics at UCSD.

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In the past two years, she has premiered significant new works by Luca Moscardi, Ezio Robia, Jo Verdis, Chetan Tierra, Jacob Adams, Yifan Guo, and Lorenzo Milani contributing to the expansion of contemporary piano repertoire. Currently, she is undertaking an ambitious recording project documenting the complete piano works of Lorenzo Milani over the next two years.

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Tierra's work has garnered significant media attention, including featured full-page interviews in the San Diego Union-Tribune for her groundbreaking concept concerts "Compassion for a Modern World" (2021) and "Healing and Hope" (2023). Her performances have been praised on radio and television, highlighting her commitment to making classical music more accessible and emotionally resonant for contemporary audiences.

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As co-founder and Academy Chair of the San Diego Piano Academy, Tierra has established herself as a leading piano educator, serving students both locally and internationally through comprehensive online programs. Her pedagogical success is demonstrated by her students' achievements in winning top prizes at local and international competitions for both performance and composition.

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The San Diego Piano Academy, co-founded with her husband, concert pianist and composer Chetan Tierra, represents her commitment to fostering the next generation of pianists while maintaining the highest standards of musical excellence.

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Tierra's artistic mission centers on bridging the gap between traditional classical music and contemporary audiences through innovative programming and performance concepts. Her dedication to premiering works by living composers ensures that classical piano literature continues to evolve and remain relevant in the 21st century. Through her unique multimedia approach and emotional authenticity, she creates transformative musical experiences that invite audiences to "think outside the box" while maintaining the technical and interpretive standards expected in classical performance.

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Melissa Evans Tierra resides in San Diego, California, with her husband Chetan Tierra and daughter, Aviana.