Iryna Kudielina, a 25-year-old pianist originally from Stakhanov, Ukraine, has established herself as a distinguished musician with a rich and diverse background in piano performance. Born in 1998, Iryna's musical journey began at the age of six when she started piano lessons at a local music school. After her early education, she attended a prestigious boarding school in Kharkiv, where she specialized in music and graduated with honors and a silver medal.

Iryna continued her studies at the Kotlyarevsky Kharkiv National University of Arts. Under the guidance of Anna Sagalova, she honed her skills and graduated with honors, earning her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance.

In 2019, Iryna's growing reputation as a talented pianist led to her appointment as a collaborative pianist at Kharkiv Music School No. 13 in Ukraine. That same year, she won the Erasmus+ Project Competition, a notable achievement that opened the door for her to study in Porto, Portugal at the Escola Superior de Música e Artes do Espectáculo (ESMAE) under the tutelage of Constantin Sandu.

During her studies in Portugal, Iryna attended numerous masterclasses with various European professors and completed her term before returning to Ukraine to join the staff at I.P. Kotlyarevsky Kharkiv National University of Arts. She also taught piano at the Kharkiv College of Arts and worked as an accompanist at the Kharkiv Secondary Specialized Music School.

In 2022, Iryna was invited to return to Portugal to pursue a Master’s degree in Piano Performance at ESMAE. During this time, she also worked as an accompanist at the Music Conservatory in Gaia and ARTAVE in Famalicao. Her stay in Portugal was highlighted by a series of solo recitals at the Teatro Nacional São João in Porto. In June 2022, Iryna achieved remarkable success, winning First Prize at both the 16th Concurso Internacional de Piano do Alto Minho and the Premio Elisa de Sousa Pedroso in Vila Real, Portugal.

Currently, Iryna is a graduate student in Piano Performance at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, studying under Dr. Alexander Tutunov. She regularly performs as a soloist throughout Rogue Valley. In addition to her solo career, she’s an active collaborative pianist, participating in student recitals. Iryna also founded the Trio “La Forza,” comprising piano, bassoon, and clarinet, which has performed at SOU and other venues. Her most recent accolades include winning the Gold Medal at the North Pacific Piano Competition and becoming an alternate winner at the 2023 MTNA State Competition.

Sonata Op. 111, Mov. I by Ludwig van Beethoven