The Artist & Educator Behind Pianeta 

Dr. Olesia Pupina is an award-winning pianist, music educator, and scholar with over 25 years of international experience in Ukraine, Sweden, and the United States. She is the founder of Pianeta in Bloomington-Normal dedicated to nurturing musicians of all ages through a rich blend of classical tradition, innovative pedagogy, and artistic sensitivity. 

Academic Excellence & Research 

Holding a Ph.D. in Art Studies from Kharkiv National University of Arts (Ukraine), Dr. Pupina is known for her groundbreaking research on Franz Liszt’s "Third Year of Pilgrimage" and for her expertise in musical interpretation, ensemble performance, accompaniment mastery, and educational methodology based on musical  games.  She is the author of 16 publications, 9 of which are scientific articles in respected peer-reviewed academic journals. 2023-2025, she served as a pianist for the Illinois State University Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, actively collaborating with instrumentalists and vocalists. Until 2022, she was an Associate Professor in the Chamber Ensemble Department of the National University of Arts in Ukraine. Dr. Pupina was honored to be selected for the highly competitive DAAD Scholarship (German Academic Exchange Service) at three prestigious German music institutions: Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Leipzig, and Universität der Künste in Berlin. She holds her second Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from Illinois State University.  She has had the honor of performing at numerous artistic showcases and international concerts, showcasing her skills as a solo pianist, accompanist, and ensemble artist across Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, and the United States. Currently, she has been serving as pianist at First United Methodist Church, Normal (Illinois). 

Teaching Philosophy 

What sets Dr. Pupina apart is her integrative teaching style. Trained in the East European musical system, she brings a strong academic and performance background into a creative, child-centered environment. She combines traditional piano instruction with modern educational approaches such as the Suzuki Method, the Orff Schulwerk approach, Music Mind Games system and techniques tailored for young learners. 

Her method emphasizes deep listening, a beautiful tone, emotional connection and structured musical development, guiding each student to find their own voice and confidence at the keyboard — whether they are complete beginners or advanced performers preparing for competitions and conservatories.

In addition to her work as a teacher, Dr. Pupina has performed extensively as a soloist and ensemble pianist, with concerts in Ukraine, Sweden, and the U.S. Her cross-cultural concert series "Ukraine in Our Hearts" featured Ukrainian repertoire and collaborations with other musicians, extending to a broader range of Slavic, European, and Scandinavian works, was warmly received by international audiences. She has collaborated with professional vocalists, instrumentalists, served as a music director, and adapted classical works for contemporary recital formats.

A strong advocate for music education leadership, Dr. Pupina serves as Vice President of the Bloomington-Normal Music Teachers Association (BNMTA) and the member of both the Music Teachers National Association and the Suzuki Association of America. She has also been a featured participant in national and international cultural programs, including the Lady Science exhibition honoring women in science and the arts, supported by the European Union.

Through Pianeta, Dr. Pupina continues her mission to make high-quality music education accessible, meaningful, and inspiring for every student she meets — through an engaging, individualized approach where the joy and enjoyment of children are the highest priority.

Ready to start your musical journey?