Crystal Rivette, MM

Director, Artist Certificate Program
Adjunct Professor of Piano Studies

Phone: (626) 812-3022
Alternate: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3576
Photo of Crystal Rivette, MM

Biography

Pianist Crystal Rivette, MM, grew up in Pasadena, California, and began her piano studies with her mother at age 8. Her subsequent primary teachers included Duane Funderburk, Antoinette Perry, Roza Kostrzewska Yoder, and Eteri Andjaparidze. She has performed in master classes with Vera Gornostayeva, Dina Joffe, Bronisława Kawalla, Pavel Nersessian, Kalle Randalu, Yuri Sletsarev, and Natalia Troull.

Rivette has been awarded top prizes in several California competitions, including the Peninsula International Festival, the Los Angeles Liszt Competition, and the Southwestern Youth Music Festival, and has soloed with the Brentwood-Westwood and La Mirada symphony orchestras. She was a semifinalist in the International Russian Music Competition in 2003. From 2006–2008 Rivette was an active member of the Steinway Artist Ensemble AmerKlavier while at DePaul University, and from 2008–09 served as resident life director and staff accompanist for the Azusa Pacific University School of Music Study Abroad Program in Heidelberg, Germany. Since then she has been adjunct faculty at APU, teaching piano and accompanying. Additionally, she has served as the manager of the Goldline Noon Concert Series at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena.

Rivette is the director of the Artist Certificate Program at Azusa Pacific. In addition to working as a freelance accompanist, she is also the church pianist at Grace Church of Glendora. A member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California, she maintains an active private teaching studio in Pasadena.

Education

  • MM, Piano Performance, DePaul University
  • BM, Piano Performance, Azusa Pacific University

Academic Area

  • School of Music (College of the Arts)
    • Graduate Programs

Expertise

  • Accompanying
  • Administration
  • Piano Instruction
  • Piano Literature
  • Piano Pedagogy
  • Piano Performance

Courses Taught

  • GMUS 524 - Keyboard Literature
  • MUS 429 - Piano Literature I
  • MUS 430 - Piano Literature II
  • MUS 106 - Advanced-Intermediate Piano
  • MUS 105 - Intermediate Piano
  • MUS 104 - Elementary Piano
  • MUS 103 - Beginning Piano