GIORGI S
Music has been a vital part of my life since early childhood, as I started to play piano at the age of six and entered a special music school in my native Tbilisi, Georgia. Music brought me to the United States in 2006, first to Indiana University South Bend where I started my bachelor’s degree and then to Chicago, where I received my master’s degree in piano performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to perform as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician. I’ve also attended masterclasses with world-renowned musicians and participated in festivals and performance showcases. Most importantly however, I’ve been incredibly lucky to have had irreplaceable teachers throughout my piano studies which has helped me recognize the great value of teaching.
As a classically trained pianist I try to encourage my students to connect with the limitless world of music through discovering the great diversity that classical music has to offer. With over ten years of teaching experience, my approach emphasizes the importance of a personal relationship with an individual student. The balance between a friendly environment, mutual respect and the increasing sense of responsibility in a student, ensures steady growth in their musicianship.
Since I’ve shifted my focus to teaching and sharing my knowledge, I’ve striven to instill the values of sincerity and freedom of expression through music. These values have been passed down through generations of celebrated musicians, such as Ludwig van Beethoven and Heinrich Neuhaus, to whom I humbly, but proudly claim a direct link to through my teachers.
NICOLE S
Firstly, I must introduce Windy, our namesake. Windy came into our lives back in 2016, changing us and our way of life forever. Named after the classic 1967 song “Windy” by The Association, she’s powered by breezy days and cool weather, loves long walks on the beach with her family, her giant Lambchop stuffed toy, and barking (or is it singing?). “Everyone knows it’s Windy!”
Growing up, there was always a camera, a box or three of photo albums, and dedicated nights of watching home videos (with a soundtrack of course, as music has always been a presence of it’s own in my family). Naturally, this pastime of my childhood led me to take a further interest in photography, and so in my teen years, and for two years, I took a film photography class that was offered at my high school. Inspired and encouraged by the one-of-a-kind art teacher who taught me, I took to even further exploring my love and somewhat of an eye for capturing the beauty and/or intrigue of life, by majoring in Photography at Indiana University South Bend in the fall of 2005 (Giorgi and I met one year later and have been inseparable ever since).
While I hope to bring visuals to It’s Windy Studios in the near future, right now I will be bringing my attention to detail to assist Giorgi in the business aspect of running a piano studio.
