Hello! My name is Mina Parastaran, and I am a pianist and vocalist who has been playing piano since I was 6 and singing in choirs since I was 10. In grade school I studied with Christiane Huff and competed in concerto competitions, playing Beethoven’s Concerto No. 3 in C minor and Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major. I also sang in concert choir and a Madrigal group at Langley High School.
I received a Bachelor’s in Music and Computer Science at The College of William & Mary, with a concentration in piano performance. Throughout college I sang with The William & Mary Choir and The Intonations acapella group, where I had the honor of being the musical director! I had a solo senior recital where I played Mendelssohn’s Rondo Capriciosso and Prelude No. 1, as well as Debussy’s Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum. I was also a member of the Hickory Neck Episcopal Church Choral Singers.
Currently, I sing with The 18th St Singers in Washington, DC, and play piano part-time, accompanying voice students for various performances and competitions in the DMV area. I am also a substitute soprano singer for the Arlington Temple United Methodist Church. By day, I work as a software engineer, but by night I am a musician! In my free time I enjoy learning new languages, indoor rock climbing, yoga, pilates, and cooking.