Jacqueline Petitto

Pianist Jacqueline Petitto was born in the United States and began her piano studies at the age of four. Subsequently, her Argentinian parents moved the family to Argentina where she grew up and trained at the Conservatorio de Música Beethoven.

As an active soloist and chamber musician, Dr. Petitto has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, China and Hong Kong. Recent appearances include solo and chamber music performances in Hong Kong such as “Piazzolla Passion,” a joint concert in China, the Beethoven Choral Fantasy and Mozart Piano Concerto in D minor (soloist with orchestra), three lecture recitals “Boulanger Sisters Tribute” (solo and chamber music), “A Celebration of the Tango” (solo piano) and “Music from the Book The Soloist” (piano and cello), piano duo/duet recitals “Four Latin Hands” and “Scenes and Fairy Tales from Childhood,” and concerts with distinguished vocalists and instrumentalists. She has collaborated with numerous artists including members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Opera Hong Kong.

Dr. Petitto received both Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in piano performance from the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, and her Bachelor of Music cum laude from Santa Clara University. She has studied with renowned pianists, among them Hans Boepple, James Bonn, and Antoinette Perry. She has participated in masterclasses with internationally acclaimed pianists Earl Wild, Alicia de Larrocha, John Perry and Marc Durand. While at USC, Dr. Petitto was awarded a graduate assistantship in the Keyboard Arts Department and a Thornton School of Music Merit Scholarship. She has premiered several new works from the USC Thornton Composition Department and the Aspen Center for Composition Studies, and performed with the USC Contemporary Music Ensemble. Festival appearances include the Zhengzhou Yin-Yu International Music Festival (China), International New Music Festival (Nevada), the Aspen Music Festival, the Cliburn Piano Institute, Orford Arts Centre (Canada) and the Las Vegas Music Festival.

With over 25 years of private piano teaching experience, Dr. Petitto has also taught an array of music courses at USC, University of La Verne, Pasadena City College, Los Angeles City College, University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Baptist University. She was a faculty member of the Colburn School Conservatory of Music (for ten years), and Assistant Professor of Piano/ Director of Keyboard Studies at Long Beach City College. At Colburn, Dr. Petitto taught all levels of ear training and created a Musician Wellness course. At LBCC, she taught courses in private piano and class piano (all levels), and music appreciation. Her many awards and honors include the Los Angeles City College Faculty Learning Award (2013), the LACC Staff and Organizational Development Recognition Award (2010), and various scholarships/prizes awarded by US institutions.

In addition, Dr. Petitto is in high demand as an adjudicator, presenter/clinician and masterclass teacher. She has been an active member in organizations such as the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Music Teachers National Association, California Association of Professional Music Teachers and College Music Society. Dr. Petitto translated a musician wellness book from Spanish into English.

Dr. Petitto is currently among the music faculty at Long Beach City College. She serves Junior Chamber Music as a piano coach and as Director of the Conejo Valley and Los Angeles Coast branches.