About me

Irina Stene holds a D.M.A in Collaborative Piano/Coaching (2018) from the University of Minnesota, where she studied under Dr. Timothy Lovelace. Her musical training began in her native Russia at the age of six and included full scholarships to the public music academy in Arkhangelsk, where she earned her Bachelor’s, and to the Petrozavodsk State Conservatory, where she completed her Master’s (2003) as a piano performer, concertmaster and piano instructor. In St. Petersburg (Russia), she served as staff accompanist/pianist at the music school, working with children’s groups and maintaining a private piano studio. Since her move to St. Cloud, MN in 2011, she has been actively involved with regional music programs.  Her work at College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, and Saint Cloud State University includes accompanying student and faculty voice and instrumental recitals and music directing opera workshops; she is a member of the faculty of  St. Cloud State’s Music Preparatory Program and has collaborated with the Saint Cloud State University Women’s Choir, Tech High School Choir and Band.  During her D.M.A studies, Irina regularly took part in master classes conducted by instructors from the Julliard School of Music, the Manhattan School of Music, and numerous other prestigious institutions. She has twice participated as a pianist-vocalist duo in the annual “Source Song Festival”, where she worked with Olivier Godin, Julius Drake, François Le Roux, Stephen Swanson and Arlene Shrut. An active performer both in the Twin Cities and the St. Cloud area, Irina lives in St. Cloud with her husband, daughter, and their dog Cesar.