FREE Courtroom Concert: Minnesota Piano Quartet

Tina Park, Ji Young Lee, Horacio Nuguid and Anton Melnichenko 

Dr. Tina Park is a pianist, educator, and artistic director, and a recipient of the Creative Individual Grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. She currently serves as Assistant Professor of Piano at Bethel University in Minnesota and is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Bethel University Summer Piano Academy. Recognized for her refined artistry and forward-thinking vision, Dr. Park is active on international stages and is deeply committed to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative music education, establishing a distinctive voice in today’s classical music landscape.

Dr. Park began her formal musical training at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, where she completed thirteen years of intensive study from pre-college through her undergraduate degree. She later moved to the United States to pursue advanced studies, earning a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Notre Dame, followed by a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Minnesota, where she studied under Professor Alexander Braginsky.

An active soloist and collaborative artist, Dr. Park has performed in major venues across the United States and China. While maintaining a strong foundation in traditional repertoire, she is equally dedicated to exploring contemporary works and cross-cultural expression. Her artistic practice frequently integrates music with visual art, movement, and other disciplines, creating immersive and multidimensional performance experiences.

A central embodiment of her artistic vision is the interdisciplinary project Piano in Motion: Where Sound Becomes Movement and Color. This innovative production combines piano performance with dance, live painting, and the Chinese pipa, transforming sound into visual and physical expression. Supported by the Minnesota State Arts Board, the project has received wide acclaim for its originality and artistic impact. Dr. Park was invited to present this work at the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Conference, where she shared her insights in a session titled Creative Concert Programming: Utilizing Interdisciplinary Art Forms in Piano in Motion: Where Sound Becomes Movement and Color, contributing to the advancement of creative concert design and music education.

In her role as an educator, Dr. Park is dedicated to nurturing young musicians who possess both technical excellence and artistic imagination. Through the Bethel University Summer Piano Academy, she brings together distinguished faculty and guest artists to offer a comprehensive program that includes masterclasses, concerto opportunities, chamber music collaboration, and diverse performance experiences.

Ji Young Lee began piano studies at the age of four. Born in Korea, she graduated from Seoul Arts High School and received the Bachelor’s degree from Ewha Womans University. She went on to study in the U.S., earning her Master’s degree at Eastman School of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Lee won first Prizes at the Yokohama International Music Competition, United States Open Music Competition (Showcase Piano Solo Advanced), American Protégé Competition, and CCM Piano Concerto Competition. She also won prizes at the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition and the Chopin International Piano Competition In ASIA.

In 2014, Lee’s performance with Moscow Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Vladimir Fedoseyev was broadcast nationally. She has given many solo recitals and chamber music concerts around the United States, Australia, Asia and Europe, including performances at the Seoul Arts Center, Sejong Chamber Hall, Kumho Art Hall, Carnegie Weill Hall, Kilbourn Hall, Ceramic Palace Hall, Youngsan Art Hall, Sundin Hall, William Abbott Concert Hall, Harris Theater, Elim Hall, Kim Young’s Hall, Kawai Hall, Weihai Center, Daejeon Arts Center, Oakland Inter-Stake Auditorium, Duo Music Hall, Watson Hall, Harris Concert Hall, Minnesota Symphony Music Hall, Corbett Auditorium, Berkman Recital Hall, Riverway Arts Centre, Werner Hall and Steinway Hall.

As a pedagogue, Lee has taught at the University of Cincinnati Starling Chamber Music Department, Hyupsung University and Seoul Arts College. She is a member of CM Piano Trio, Liszt Piano Association and the Piano Society of Korea, MTNA and also a Faculty of France Musicalta and Asia International Piano Academy and Festival with Competitions. She is also an active judge for many competitions including MTNA National Competitions and AIPAF Competitions. She came to Minnesota as a visiting artist at the University of Wisconsin River Falls in 2019. She also serves as a music director for Asia International Piano Academy and Festival with Competitions in 2023.

Pianist Horacio Nuguid received his music performance degrees from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His principal piano teachers were Milagros de Ocampo, Stella Goldenberg Brimo, Howard Aibel and Ian Hobson. With an extensive repertoire, Dr. Nuguid has performed both in solo recitals and concerto programs with various orchestras in the Philippines, Mexico and the United States.

As founder and artistic director of the Rochester Chamber Music Society, Nuguid collaborates with many distinguished artists from Minnesota and in other parts of the US, Canada, Mexico and the Philippines. He has presented masterclasses most notably at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila and Centro Cultural Ollin Yoliztli in Mexico City. Dr. Nuguid has served as artist/faculty at the Young Artist World Piano Festival in Minnesota and has been a guest artist of the Philippine High School for the Arts. He is also a sought after adjudicator in state and regional piano competitions.

Nuguid currently teaches music performance in Rochester, Minnesota with his wife and fellow pianist Rosanna Faller Nuguid. Dr. Nuguid was the recipient of the Ardee Award for Outstanding Artist in the city of Rochester in 2014.

Russian-born pianist Anton Melnichenko has been performing on several continents since his first solo recital at the age of twelve. His performances have always garnered him both public and critical acclaim. In addition to top prizes Melnichenko has received various special audience awards in numerous international competitions.

A graduate of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, Anton has also received an Artist Diploma at Hamline University, as well as his Master’s and Doctoral degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota, where he studied with Professor Alexander Braginsky.

Melnichenko has earned top prizes in a number of international and national competitions, including first prizes at the International Competition “Citta di Fasano” (Italy), the Schubert Club Competition (USA), International Competition The Art of 21st century (Ukraine), Gavrilin International Piano Competition (Russia), as well as the fourth prize at the V International Piano Competition in Andorra. He has also appeared on many television and radio stations in Russia, US and Europe, such as Minnesota Public Radio, Russia K Channel (Culture), Russian National Television and others, performing works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich.

Besides his solo career Anton Melnichenko is an established collaborative pianist and has been working with many instrumentalists and vocalists around the world. He is also a staff collaborative pianist at Hamline University.