DRORA MAYNARD

I was so sad to hear of Professor Pershing's passing. She coached me in chamber music 2007-08, when I was getting my master's in composition at Queens College. She was a great teacher. I remember her coaching me how to do Baroque style keyboard improvisation. I also remember her reminding me each week to sit farther back from the keys, to play with my whole upper body and not just my forearms. This simple correction really improved my technique. She was strict, but also warm, and it was clear...

I will never forget Prof. Pershing ~ Her love and passion for the music of J.S. Bach was extremely contagious. She coached me for chamber music (I think sophomore/junior year at Queens College) and when we met again at a Baroque/Bach music workshop a few years later in 2012, she was so uplifting about how much my playing improved (specifically Bach). She was always extremely honest when it came to feedback about performance, and that's something I was always extremely grateful for! Those who...