Biography
Ana Paula Simões is from Ouro Branco, MG, where she started her musical studies at the age of six. At 11, he started to study at Casa de Música de Ouro Branco with Kênia Libânio. She has a degree in music from Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais, where she studied in the studios of professors Oscar Tibúrcio and Miriam Bastos. In 2012, she received a full scholarship to study in the conservatory program at Nicholls State University (USA) where he studied with Dr. Luciana Soares and worked as a collaborative pianist for string students at the conservatory. Ana Paula holds a master's degree from Oklahoma City University, where she was a student of Dr. Sérgio Monteiro and graduated with High Honors. In 2018, she completed her doctorate in Piano Performance with a minor in Piano Pedagogy at Louisiana State University, where she studied under the guidance of Prof. Gregory Sioles and Dr. Pamela Pike. During her doctorate at LSU, Ana Paula was a graduate teaching assistant and taught secondary piano and group piano classes for music majors and non-majors.
Ana Paula was selected to participate at Jovem Músico BDMG and Segunda Musical (with the Caliandra Quintet) recital series and received the "Cidadão de Ouro" award from the city of Ouro Branco. She was also granted the "Best Collegiate Presentation" award for her lecture "Brazilian Dance Music for Young Pianists" at the 2017 LMTA State Convention in New Orleans (USA). She has performed in several solo and chamber music recitals in Brazil and the United States. She is dedicated to researching the works of Chiquinha Gonzaga from a pedagogical viewpoint, and has written her thesis about it and has already presented a lecture, a poster and had articles published in the Piano Magazine and MTNA e-Journal. She is also the author of the blog Pianolândia, where she explores themes related to piano pedagogy. She has experience as a recitalist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist and teacher. She has taught individual, online, and group lessons for children and adults in Brazil and the United States. She was also music lessons coordinator at the United Methodist Pre-school of Excellence and After School, in Baton Rouge. Currently, she lives in Ouro Branco, MG, where she teaches piano online, at the Casa de Música de Ouro Branco, and at Arte na Escola (Congonhas). She is also a member of the Caliandra Quintet.
