About Irene
Pianist, composer, singer, and recording artist, Dr. Irene Monteverde, hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she discovered her curiosity for the piano at an early age. At first, the piano was a relaxing hobby that she enjoyed by herself; later, however, after hearing an album led by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, Irene decided that she wanted to understand the collaborative aspect of music. She completed two intensive years studying jazz piano and music theory at Duquesne University while finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Business.
After a few years working in the financial sector, Irene moved to Italy where she recommitted herself to music. She enrolled in the Fondazione Siena Jazz, studying piano under Alessandro Giachero among others who she still considers mentors, and graduated with an Artist’s Diploma after three years. Her time there proved to be an artistic and personal turning point in her life. Returning stateside, she was accepted into the PhD Jazz Studies program at the University of Pittsburgh, headed by pianist Geri Allen and later, flautist Nicole Mitchell. Her doctoral research focused on Pittsburgh-born jazz pianist, Erroll Garner, and the rich cultural legacy of jazz in the Pittsburgh community that continues to flourish today.
Her teaching style is based on the idea that music sounds better when we’re having a good time. It’s not about how fast or loud you can play – it’s about how it makes you feel! Irene is enjoying settling into her new home in Lafayette and looks forward to being an uplifting presence in the lives of our students.
