Pianist Katia Dinas was born in Syracuse, New York, and raised in Greece. She enjoys a multifaceted career as an educator, performer, and collaborative pianist within the United States and internationally.

Throughout her music career, she has received numerous awards and prizes such as First Prize at the Panhellenic Performing Arts Competition, Second Prize at the Association of Greek Conservatories Piano Competition, First Prize at the Kutztown Festival Concerto Competition, Second Prize at the American Protégé Competition, the Hira Poncha Music Award, and the Evalina Vernon Honsinger Award for Performance Excellence. Katia has given solo and chamber music recitals in concert venues across the United States, Canada, England, Germany, and Greece. In May 2017, she had her Carnegie Hall debut in NYC performing works by Franz Liszt. In January 2018, she was invited to a music residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Canada, where she presented her doctoral research on Aaron Copland’s piano works and gave a recital at the Rolston Recital Hall. She has also played for Greek television and her recitals have been broadcast on radio stations in New York and Michigan.

Dr. Dinas holds a Piano Diploma and a Specialist Degree in Advanced Music Theory from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, a Master’s Degree in Musicology from the Aristotle University, a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from Syracuse University, and a Doctorate Degree in Piano Performance from Michigan State University, where she studied under the tutelage of Cliburn Silver Medalist Panayis Lyras.

As an educator, Dr. Dinas has taught piano at Syracuse University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan-Flint, and Flint Institute of Performing Arts. Dr. Dinas works as a faculty member in the Department of Music at Southern Methodist University.

Dr. Dinas currently serves as a piano faculty member at Prime Music Institute.