Piano Performance Arts Academy
The Art of Teaching at its Finest
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE LESSONS
IN-PERSON AND ONLINE LESSONS
Professional Members of the Music Teachers National Association
"Our mission is to educate, guide, and inspire the students of the future."
About Us
ALINE GIAMPIETRO TRIFONOV
Founder and Artistic Director
Aline Giampietro Trifonov is an expert piano pedagogue, concert pianist, entrepreneur, and the published author of the children's book The Enchanted Garden of Music. She holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Eastern Washington University and has presented solo and chamber music concerts across Latin America and the United States. Mrs. Trifonov believes deeply in the power of music to inspire positive change in individuals and communities.
In 2024, Mrs. Trifonov will be featured as a keynote speaker at the National Wellbeing & Resilience Conference with her presentation, "The Powerful Connection Between Music and Mindfulness – Exploring Healing Through Musical Experiences," focusing on the power of music and mental health. Her past features include the Neighborhood News and magazine publications such as MTNA, Clavier Companion, Voyage Tampa Magazine, Bold Journey, Fashion Republic, and More Than a Crown Magazine. Additionally, she has been featured in the 2024 Lois Golding Memorial Teachers Benefit Recital, the 2024 Pasco-Hernando Concert Series with tenor Dr. Robert Williams, and the upcoming concert series The Hidden Christmas Gems of Classical Composers at the Steinway Gallery in Tampa, FL.
Prior to founding the Piano Performance Arts Academy, Mrs. Trifonov worked with non-profit organizations such as Instruments of Change and the Boys and Girls Club of Tampa Bay, bringing music lessons to economically disadvantaged children. She has also collaborated with organizations like Tampa Tunes to bring music to the streets, furthering her commitment to making music accessible to all. As an educator, she is passionate about helping students discover their “inner voice” while developing musicianship and the art of piano playing.
Her award-winning students have been featured in national and international competitions, including a 2019 performance at the Gala Winner Concert for the Pittsburgh International Piano Competition at Carnegie Hall. They have also received consecutive Highest Honors in the Royal Conservatory of Music for their piano examinations.
As a devoted advocate for music education, Mrs. Trifonov is a sought-after adjudicator at piano festivals and competitions. While still completing her graduate studies, she received the Spokane Music Teachers Association and Steinway & Sons Award for young exceptional teachers who fostered artistic growth and music education in the community.
Mrs. Trifonov currently serves as Vice President for the Florida Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), where she oversees state-wide music competitions. She is also the visionary behind the From the Piano Bench Concert Series, bringing music to diverse venues such as hospitals, retirement homes, and community spaces while promoting the connection between music and mental health.
A semi-finalist at the Salzburg International Music Competition, representing her home country, Brazil, Mrs. Trifonov continues to showcase her talents on the global stage. She also blends music and literature through her program Art in Motion: Midnight Summer Dream, combining music with the poetry of Portuguese poet Luiz Vaz de Camões, while performing as an aerialist at local festivals.
Mrs. Trifonov is an active member of the Music Teachers National Association, as well as the Florida and Tampa Music Teachers Associations.
JOANNA XIMENES
C0-Founder and Senior Faculty
Ms. Ximenes, a native of Kentucky, studied early in her life at the Conservatory of the Royal College of Music of London in Zimbabwe. After graduating from Georgetown College, with bachelor’s degrees in piano and music education, she taught music privately and in schools from the elementary level to university for 28 years in Brazil.
Ms. Ximenes returned to Kentucky in 2000 and earned her master’s degree in piano and music education from Campbellsville University, where she then served on the faculty. She also taught at Lindsey-Wilson College and the Community Music Program at the University of Louisville.
Prior to joining Piano Performance Arts Academy, Ms. Ximenes maintained a private studio since 1972, in Brazil, Kentucky and since 2016 in Tampa Bay. She has performed in Brazil, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Florida as a soloist, an accompanist, and chamber music ensembles.
Ms. Ximenes is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, Florida State MTA, Mid-State MTA, and The National Guild of Piano Teachers (Teacher Division of the American College of Musicians).
