Education
DMA, Texas Tech University
MM, University of Tennessee
BS, North Dakota State University
Dr. Priyeshni Peiris-Perera is an international award-winning Performing & Teaching Artiste and choral Director, currently based in Connecticut, USA. Upon graduating with a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Pedagogy(teaching) from the Texas Tech School of Music, she returned to her native country - Sri Lanka, to foster music education, where she headed and pioneered, internationally recognized music programs at the Prestantia community Music School and as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka. Her students have continuously won several accolades and Gold medals at the British Music Festivals as well as “international High Scorer awards” at prestigious UK music school examinations, such as the London College of Music (UK), the Trinity College of Music (UK) and the Royal Schools of Music examination boards, based in London, UK.
During her doctoral candidacy, Dr. Perera was awarded several prestigious fellowships, such as “The AT& T Chancellor’s Fellowship” and the “Texas Tech President Horn Fellowship for Outstanding Academic & Professional Achievement.” As a concert pianist and pedagogue, she has concertized across the U.S, Australia, Europe, Singapore, and China and disseminated her research in Music Performance & Pedagogy through lecture-recitals & workshops at prestigious international Music Conferences. In addition to being a Pianist and Pedagogue, Dr. Perera was also the founder and choral director of two internationally ranking choirs; the Prestantia Children’s Choir and the Prestantia Chorale, whom she led to win world-ranking Gold Medals with a Championship trophy at the Asia Pacific Choral Competition in 2017. At present, she is a teaching artiste in Piano, at the Community Division of the University of Hartford Music Program, while also serving as a board member for the Windham Arts Regional Council, the Organist/Pianist/choral director, heading the music program at the Talcottville Congregational Church, Vernon, and the assistant Director for the Youth Choirs of Consonare Choral Community in Connecticut.
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching is based on the premise: that “every person is musical” and it is important for me as an educator that positive and enjoyable musical experiences are created for my learners, consistently, in the learning environment, combined with appropriate guidance, strategies to support the learners, based on holistic music education principles.
I strongly believe that empathy and communication are important when working together as “a team” with my learners and their carers/parents. It is essential to understand the needs, and goals (short-term and long-term) of learners to find attainable outcomes for each year to reach, their full potential in their music education journey. Hence, I believe it is an essential step to craft a plan (attainable), based on the learners’ interests and skill set. I also believe in instilling the joy of lifelong music learning hence I take much effort to provide my learners with fun and positive experiences to develop motivation for music reading skills, connected with Music theory knowledge (where applicable) and instilling Healthy Piano Technical growth combined with relaxed, ergonomically-sound body movements.
To sum up, as a music educator, it is my wish, that my learners advance from their current level to the next, in a fun, progressive manner which also develops self-confidence, self-expression, and creativity, which in turn will build the next generation of musicians and music aficionados in the world.