BIOGRAPHY
Emma Gabriela (Emma Switzer) is a pianist known for her expressive sensitivity, stylistic versatility, and commitment to bringing both classical and contemporary music to life. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area and now based in Johnson City, Tennessee, she is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Piano Performance at East Tennessee State University, where she studies with Dr. Eva Polgár and holds a full graduate assistantship in addition to receiving the Powell Steinway Scholarship and ETSU Creative Arts Scholarship.
Emma began playing piano at age nine—later than many classical pianists—but quickly accelerated beyond expectations. This dedication led her to the Fine and Performing Arts Program at Colgan High School, an audition-based magnet program that helped shape her artistic foundation. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from James Madison University in May 2025 under the mentorship of Dr. Gabriel Dobner.
In addition to her formal studies, Emma has expanded her artistry through masterclasses with distinguished pianists and pedagogues, including Dr. Chyh Shen Low, Tatiana Loisha, Topher Ruggiero, and Dr. Chih-Long Hu, experiences that have enriched her interpretive insight and technical versatility.
As a performer, Emma has appeared at notable venues including the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas, Virginia, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and the Martin Center for the Arts in Johnson City, Tennessee. In 2025, she performed at the American Liszt Society Festival, a highlight that reflects her affinity for virtuosic and expressive repertoire. She also won second place in the Knoxville International Piano Competition's Duet Category, presenting works by Mozart and William Bolcom. In June 2026, she gave a presentation and performance at the Tennessee Music Teachers Association conference regarding the piano sonata of Florence Price.
Emma is also an active advocate for new music, having collaborated and premiered works by emerging student composers. Additionally, her five years of experience as a piano accompanist—primarily in vocal repertoire but also in instrumental settings—have made her a sought-after collaborative pianist known for her sensitivity, reliability, and artistic depth.
Beyond the stage, Emma has worked as a teacher, church pianist, and ballet studio accompanist, embracing opportunities to share music across a broad range of settings. Her musical interests include ragtime, impressionism, and romanticism, styles that inspire her musical voice and shape her expressive approach.
If you're a trooper you've made it this far through the paragraphs of professional jargon and niceties, you are allowed to know that Emma has terrible stage fright, an overuse of rubato, and a bizarre stage presence, but she makes up for it with lots of emotion and sparkly dresses. You only live once and Emma has decided that her life will be dedicated to resolving these performance pitfalls, because that's what elegant, glamorous, and demure pianists do.
