About the Instructors

Jasna Popovic
Jasna Popovic was born in Belgrade, Serbia, where she received her first piano lesson at age 6. She continued her studies and after graduating her music high school attended the Academy of Music in Belgrade, followed by the Hochshule für Musik und Theater in Munich, Germany. Ms. Popovic received her Batchelor of Music in Piano Performance as well as Batchelor of Piano Pedagogy in 2002, and completed her studies with Professors Gitti Pirner and Claude-France Journes, receiving her Masters in Performance and Pedagogy in 2004 She has won several awards, including 2nd Place at the National Piano Competition in Belgrade, 4th Place at the International Competition in Rome, and has participated in various festivals around Europe, including those in Italy, Germany, and Austria, and Carnegie Hall in New York.
In 2005 She was invited to play at the International Keyboard Festival in New York, after which she decided to stay in New York to continue her studies. She has studied and worked with Nina Lelchuk, Rodin Scedrin, Vadim Suhanov, and many others. She is currently recording a solo album featuring classical Serbian Music. Ms. Popovic resides in New York.

Nicholas Csicsko
With his unique voice and vision, Nicholas Csicsko has enthralled audiences throughout the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Qatar, and the Philippines. His works have been performed at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, and at various other venues by ensembles including the Juilliard Orchestra, the Indiana University Orchestra, and by various prize winning performers. In addition to composing, Mr. Csicsko is a member of the Juilliard Pre-College composition faculty and is an assistant teacher of ear-training at the Juilliard School. His principal teachers include Samuel Adler, Claude Baker, and Sven-David Sandstrom. Mr. Csicsko is a graduate of Indiana University and The Juilliard School, where he is currently pursuing his doctorate in composition.

Headquarters and National Selection Center
207 West 58th Street, New York, NY 10019
Telephone: 212-581-5550
Email: bechsteinschool@gmail.com