Born in Indonesia, Clara Liera is an aspiring pianist and educator known for her deep, musical, and rich tone on the keyboard. When she was nine, she read a biography about Beethoven and told her mother “I want to dedicate my life to music just like Beethoven did!” “prove it, then,” her mother replied. Little did her mother knows that her words that day became one of Clara’s biggest motivations and driving force to pursue excellence in musical studies. Good musical education was not something that is as accessible in Indonesia. In 2010, Clara moved to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, under the guidance of Mrs. Youngsook Park, she starts the arduous process of learning basic music skills, such as counting and reading music rather than learning through imitating recordings. In 2015 she came under the tutelage ofDr. Lishan Hung of Biola University, in California. Currently, Clara is furthering her musical pursuit to obtain a Master in Piano Performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College under Prof.Esther Ning Yau’s guidance.

 

Clara has performed as a soloist, as a chamber, and orchestra musician in Indonesia, Italy and United States. She has won awards including the 2018 Biola Conservatory Concerto Competition, 2019 Cremona International Piano Competition, and chosen as Barbara Roth Donaldson’s Scholar Scholarship recipient at Longy School of Music in 2020 and 2021. In the next few years, she wishes to further expand her musical knowledge and repertoire as well as continuing to perform in various other places. Pursuing excellence in music, Clara wishes to be able to utilize her music, her performances, as something that can bring forth joy, rest, peace, and hope to her audiences. Since her moved in 2010, her achievements among many had included first place winner Southern California Junior Bach Festival (SCJBF) Complete Works Audition 2015, first place in MTAC San Gabriel Valley Branch Theme Festival for a few consecutive years, and first place in CAPMT Sonata Festival 2015.

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