Kristi McKinley is a dedicated pianist and educator based in Southern California.  She is currently earning her Masters degree in Piano Performance at California State University of Long Beach, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music where she is studying with Craig Richey.  She received her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance at Chapman University, Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music where she studied with Dr. Janice Park.  Having demonstrated herself as a versatile pianist, she was honored with awards including the Chapman University Piano Performance Award in both 2014 and 2015, and the Chapman University New Music Ensemble Award in 2015.  Her recent performances include the 2017 Piano Showcase at BCCM, an MTAC benefit concert, and the annual Multi-Piano Extravaganza at Bob Cole Conservatory of Music where she performed in an exciting 4-piano piece.  

    She has placed 1st in many competitions including the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Romantic and Impressionistic Festival in 2013, the District VIII California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) Piano Sonata Festival in 2014, and the District VIII CAPMT Honors Auditions in 2014, where she continued to compete at the CAPMT State Conference.  She is also a returning performer to the MTAC Adult Performance Competition where she has participated three times and all three times has been selected to perform at the state convention recital.  She has also had the privilege of performing in masterclasses given by world renown pianists including Abbey Simon, Dr. Anne Perry, Ning An, Arthur Green, Michael Lewin, and Nadia Shpachenko.  Other accomplishments include her solo Senior Piano Recital performed at Chapman University in 2015, and an acceptance to the Costa Rica Piano Festival in 2015 where she performed in multiple venues in the city San Jose, Costa Rica.

    Outside of performance, she is president of the CSULB MTNA collegiate chapter and she recently presented at the 2018 MTAC Piano Pedagogy Symposium held in Austin, Texas.