Zarina Melik-Stepanova

Dr. Zarina Melik-Stepanova holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree, the prestigious Performer's Certificate and a Master of Music from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied under the guidance of Natalya Antonova. Before joining the faculty at Baldwin Wallace University, Melik-Stepanova served as assistant professor of piano at Oklahoma State University, where she was honored with the Junior Faculty Award for Scholarly Excellence. She also held a position at Millikin University.

Melik-Stepanova is a winner of the National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Piano Competition, which led to two years of professional management by the Federation. During that time, she performed as a guest artist at NFMC Conventions across numerous states, including Ohio, Oklahoma, Iowa, Virginia, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri.

Her achievements also include first-place victories at several prestigious competitions, such as the South Dakota Symphony Piano Competition, the South Dakota Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Piano Competition, the Schubert Club Piano Competition in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the J. Earl Lee International Piano Competition. She also earned top prizes at the Crane Festival of New Music at SUNY Potsdam.

Melik-Stepanova is an active performer with the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Performing Arts ensembles. In recent years, she has showcased her talents as a soloist with the BW Symphony Orchestra, performing Ludwig van Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, and with the BW Wind Ensemble, where she brought to life George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." These performances reflect her versatility and commitment to engaging with both classical and American repertoire, further enriching the musical community at Baldwin Wallace.

As a dedicated proponent of chamber music, Melik-Stepanova actively contributes to the vibrant musical life at Baldwin Wallace. She has been an active performer at the Bach Festival, where in the fall of 2023, she collaborated with fellow musicians to present Béla Bartók's Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion — a powerful and evocative work that showcases her versatility. In collaboration with guest artists and BW faculty, Melik-Stepanova created a unique and inspiring program by weaving the music of Bartók and Bach in the same program.

In addition to her musical achievements, Melik-Stepanova is also a founder and faculty advisor for #BWVotes, a nonpartisan student organization committed to encouraging student voter registration and civic engagement. Through this initiative, Melik-Stepanova and her students have organized a variety of events, including concerts designed to raise awareness about the importance of voting and participation in the democratic process. Her efforts aim to foster a sense of responsibility among students and engage them in the political process, helping to create an informed and active community on Baldwin Wallace's campus.