Yvonne Troxler, piano Graduate studies at International Mozart Academy, Prague Concert Diploma, Conservatory Bern, Switzerland B.M., Indiana University at Bloomington "I’m always so excited about the different personalities I get to see when I teach. And I like to find out where each student’s passion is. That is where I think the learning really starts, when it happens with passion." Past concerts with interview JUNGLE Born and raised in Switzerland, pianist Yvonne Troxler moved to New York after “falling in love when I first visited. After that, I always wanted to live in New York City. When I got the chance, I packed my bags, and my piano of course, and moved.” She began playing piano as a child after watching her older brother at the instrument. “My parents got a piano for my brother, but it soon became clear that it was my instrument. From the beginning, I liked the feeling that there is always something more to learn, there is no end to it.” As a teacher, Yvonne enjoys working with a variety of students of all levels and ages. “I’m always so excited about the different personalities I get to see when I teach. And I like to find out where each student’s passion is. That is where I think the learning really starts, when it happens with passion.” Yvonne works with adults and children as young as 4. “With younger children, they usually show me themselves in what direction the lessons should go. Some are so mature already and learn similarly to older kids, and some need a broader approach with all kinds of things included in their lessons such as drawing or singing.” A frequent performer, Yvonne focuses on new music from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, but enjoys a range of musical styles and composers. “I couldn’t pick my favorites–the list would be endless.” She enjoys both solo and chamber music performances. “I think chamber music is one of the most rewarding types of performance, it is always great to work together with other musicians, it opens you up for new perspectives. Solo performances on the other hand are rewarding because you are absolutely in control and this gives you a different type of freedom.” Additionally, Yvonne is also a composer and arranger. She often writes for her group, the Glass Farm Ensemble, which has premiered some of Yvonne’s compositions at Bloomingdale. Yvonne cites Alfred Brendel and Martha Argerich as two pianists whose playing she greatly admires and includes her last teacher, Karl Engel, as “one of my major influences. He was a great pianist and passionate teacher.” In her free time, Yvonne practices Tai Chi which she has been working on for over twenty years.