Crystal Rivette
Pianist, Assistant Professor at Azusa Pacific University
Pianist Crystal Rivette grew up in Pasadena, California, and has been studying piano since a young age. She has been awarded top prizes in several California competitions, including the Peninsula International Festival, the Los Angeles Liszt Competition, the Southwestern Youth Music Festival, and has performed as a competition winner with numerous orchestras including the Brentwood-Westwood and La Mirada Symphony Orchestras. She was a semifinalist in the International Russian Music Competition in San Jose, California in 2003. From 2006-2008, at DePaul University, Ms. Rivette was an active member of the Steinway Artist Ensemble AmerKlavier. From 2008-2009 she served as Resident Life Director and Staff Accompanist in the Azusa Pacific University (APU) School of Music’s Study Abroad Program in Heidelberg, Germany. Her primary teachers have included Duane Funderburk, Antoinette Perry, Roza Yoder, and Eteri Andjaparidze.
Ms. Rivette is an Assistant Professor at Azusa Pacific University, where she teaches a variety of classes in the School of Music and serves as the Director of the Artist Certificate Program. She maintains an active performance and teaching schedule in the Los Angeles area, and has premiered several works by the composer Reena Esmail, including Curiosity (2014) and Earth Speaks (2015) with the Pasadena Master Chorale, and for solo piano, Crystal Preludes (2020). Currently, Ms. Rivette is completing a doctorate degree in piano performance at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, in the studio of Antoinette Perry.