Liz Kohl is a pianist, instructor, collaborative musician, and yoga instructor based in Portland, Oregon. She holds degrees in music from the University of Washington (B.A. in Music, Dance Minor, cum laude) and Baylor University (Master of Music, Piano Performance and Pedagogy), where she was awarded a full, graduate assistantship. During her Master's degree, Liz started to notice that many of her undergraduate students held a lot of unnecessary tension in their bodies. Because of this, she obtained her 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification and returned to Baylor, incorporating yoga in her piano instruction and offering free yoga classes to music students. Liz was then able to combine these experiences with body wellness and yoga in her thesis, "Cultivating Awareness in the Piano Student."
Along with musician wellness, Liz enjoys working as a collaborative pianist and with new, interdisciplinary musical performances. Some of her recent collaborations include: premiering her original piano solo, "Impromptu in A-flat minor: Music for Three Tragedies" at the Connections Concert Series (July 2019), performances with Adam Eason (Composer/Cellist, 2018-19), a cross-genre concert with Trevor New (Violist/Composer, Oct. 2018) A Jazzy Review with Washington Dance Creative (Dec. 2018), and Classical Revolution PDX (hosted/curated/performed in Bachxing Day 2018). During the fall of 2018, Liz began an intimate concert series that showcases local musicians and allows classical music to be shared with a broader audience in monthly/bimonthly concerts. At these Chamber Music House Shows, musicians share chamber music from the classical repertoire, as well as new compositions, and some arrangements of popular music.
Liz has been a member of the adjunct faculty at Portland State University since 2016, where she teaches her original course material, "Yoga for Musicians." She also maintains a thriving, private piano studio in SE Portland, teaching students of all ages (from as young as 3 years old to adults). Learn more about her studio, performance schedule, or find out more about "Yoga for Musicians" on her website: LizKohlpianist.com