ALMA BATISTA began her musical studies in her native country, Puerto Rico, with Alba Rosa Castro. At
the age of 15 she continued her piano studies with Cecilia Talavera at the Conservatorio de Música, de
Puerto Rico. Upon coming to the United States in 1987, she undertook further studies in New York City with
Edith Oppens, and studied and performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Colorado, and the Interlochen Arts
Academy, Michigan. Ms. Batista earned her Bachelor and Master Degrees from the San Francisco
Conservatory of Music, SF, CA. Where she studied with Mack McCray. She performed and had a successful
piano studio in San Francisco, CA for 9 years.
She moved to Santa Barbara, CA to pursue her Doctor of Music Arts degree, from the University of
California, Santa Barbara, after she was awarded a Graduate Opportunity Fellowship for 2 years. She
studied with Paul Berkowitz and Dr. Betty Oberacker. Ms. Batista doctoral thesis was about, The Life of
Puerto Rican Composer Narciso Figueroa, and his Contributions to the Puerto Rican Danza is the first
comprehensive study on the danzas of Puerto Rican pianist and composer Narciso Figueroa. Alma Batista
received her Doctor of Music Arts degree in 2002.
In 2002, she moved to Riverside County, CA, to start a new piano studio, perform, compose and record.
Dr. Batista performs frequently in California and Puerto Rico. Most recently she performed at the Festival de
Música Cubana at the Santa Clara University where she premiered Cuban Danzones by Alejandro García
Caturla. She also performed a solo piano recital at the City of Riverside's first Classical Music Program.
She was awarded City of Riverside's Honoree of the Month Award for her help and participation at this event.
She has appeared as a soloist with the Community Music Center orchestra of San Francisco under the
direction of Urs Leonhardt-Steiner. She has presented piano solo and chamber music recitals at the City
College of San Francisco, The Faulkner Gallery Series in Santa Barbara, CA, The National Academy of
Recording Arts and Sciences, Performances at Six Concert Series in San Francisco, CA, San Francisco
Music Center Faculty Artists Series, Rossmore Concert Series in Lafayette, CA, White Barn Concert Series
in St. Helena, CA, The Conservatory of Music, and Institute of Culture in Puerto Rico.
Biography
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