Born in Indonesia, Michelle Wijaya began playing the piano at the age of 7. By 13, she performed her first piano solo recital, showcasing all of Schubert’s Impromptus, Op. 90 and Op. 142 in Indonesia. In 2016, she performed a solo recital at the Sydney Opera House, earning a standing ovation from the audience. Her third solo recital took place in 2018 in Vilnius, Lithuania. After finishing high school, Michelle received a full scholarship to pursue a degree in piano performance under Dr. Michael Baron at Florida Gulf Coast University. During her undergraduate studies, she earned numerous accolades, including 1st prize in the Gray Perry Competition (2021), MTNA State Winner (2021), 3rd prize in the Kuleshov International Piano Competition (2022), and 1st prize in the Prescott Piano Division Competition (2022). Michelle recently graduated with a master’s degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Southern Methodist University, with the guidance of Dr. Catharine Lysinger and Dr. Carol Leone. At SMU, she was named the alternate winner in the Meadows Concerto Competition’s piano division (2023). Michelle views music as a celebration of humanity and life, using its vast emotional and storytelling range to connect with audiences and share the voices of composers. As a teacher, Michelle approaches each student as she would a unique piece of music, dedicating time to understand their individual personality and learning style. Her goal is to empower students to develop the skills needed to learn independently and build self-trust. She emphasizes balancing self-compassion with self-improvement, believing that growth is an inevitable part of life and is best achieved when kindness toward oneself is paired with a drive to learn and develop. Beyond her passion for piano, Michelle enjoys reading, going to the gym, drawing, composing music, and exploring psychology in her free time.