Classical pianist, music teacher, and People’s Music School alumna Anna Pastrana
Award-winning pianist and music educator Anna Pastrana has built an impressive musical career, shaped by international training and a deep commitment to teaching. She is currently working on her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance at Roosevelt University, and is preparing for a busy summer with several recitals coming up in Chicago and abroad. She also teaches piano at Oak Park School of Music y Better World Music School.
But long before awards, graduate studies, and teaching, Anna was a young pianist searching for a place to grow after moving from Moscow to Chicago at age 10. What she found was The People’s Music School.
Early Days at The People’s Music School
Anna performs piano at The People’s Music School’s Uptown Academy
Anna began taking piano lessons in Moscow at age five. Soon after her family moved to Chicago, they heard from friends about a tuition-free music school where Anna could continue her studies – for free.
“I remember when we got there on audition day, it was late in the day and I was at the end of the line,” Anna says. Enrollment was full, but Anna’s mother asked if they could give her the chance to audition anyways.
“I was rusty, but I played ‘Für Elise,’” Anna recalls. That performance was enough for staff to reconsider what was possible. Even though the program was full, Anna was accepted.
Anna remembers her piano studies at The People’s Music School fondly. Her piano teacher, Hulya Alpakin, fostered her love for the instrument and for performance.
“She absolutely shaped me as a musician and as a performer,” says Anna. “Because of her, I got a lot of great opportunities.”
A Rigorous Musical Foundation
Anna performs piano alongside People’s Music School classmates at an event in downtown Chicago
Even as a young student at People’s, Anna knew she was gaining a uniquely comprehensive music education.
“The education that People’s Music School was giving, I remember it had everything,” Anna says. “Theory classes, vocal exercises, music history. We had theory juries and exams that were very hard, too. We had to sing a melody, major scales, and minor scales.”
Anna remembers that Rita Simó set the tone for the well-rounded, rigorous piano education she received.
“Every time she would walk through the door, everybody would whisper, ‘She’s here!’” Anna says. Rita’s feedback left a lasting impression on her musical interpretation, especially during music exams. “I remember in my jury one year, she gave me good comments about playing with ‘freedom’ when playing Chopin,” she says. “That stuck with me for a long time.”
Building a Musical Career
With piano always playing such a large role in her life, it felt natural for Anna to pursue a path in classical music.
“My music education always came first. Even if I wasn’t thinking about becoming a professional pianist, it was always the most important thing I was doing at the time. And for my mom especially – that was her dream, for me to become a pianist.”
As Anna grew older, she realized that the education she received at The People’s Music School had prepared her for the demands of higher-level musical study. Through theory classes, ear training, music history, juries, competitions, and performance opportunities, she developed skills that many students do not encounter until college.
“When you go to college sometimes, students don’t have that kind of ear training,” Anna says. “But The People’s Music School introduced us to that from the start.”
Performance opportunities also helped build her confidence. Anna recalls participating in competitions, annual juries, and even solo recitals while she was still a student. Looking back, she recognizes how formative those experiences were.
“You don’t always get to practice having a solo recital at that age – usually only in college,” she says. “I was very grateful to have that experience when I was younger. It was scary, but it was a very good growing experience.”
Lasting Impact of The People's Music School
A young Anna smiles after a concert with TPMS classmates and world-class violinist Rachel Barton Pine
Today, Anna still sees the influence of The People’s Music School in her work as a classical musician and music educator. She often reflects on the opportunities she received through the school and the example set by founder Rita Simó.
“I think in a way, The People’s Music School not only helped me become a better musician, but it helped me to be a better teacher. Just by seeing the dedication of my teachers there – it helped me be as passionate as them.”
Anna brings this passion to her work at Oak Park School of Music y Better World Music School. As a piano teacher, she helps instill the foundations of music theory and teaches performance excellence through rigorous education – just like she received at People’s.
“Music is so important for development and intelligence. So when you start music education as a child, you’re opening doors to so many skills already,” says Anna. “When I see kids that want to learn music, but they cannot afford it, it breaks my heart.
“Just like normal education, I think [music education] has to be available for everybody.”