Bio

Maria Teresa Sierra is a pianist from Barcelona, Spain, who began her musical journey at the age of three under the guidance of her mother—a pianist and pedagogue. Her early training, deeply rooted in the traditions of the Russian Piano School, shaped her into a versatile and expressive performer with a keen ear, including perfect pitch, which she now cultivates in her students.

By the age of 21, Maria Teresa had already earned three graduate degrees with highest honors: Piano Performance, Collaborative Piano (Chamber Music), and Music Theory. She later completed a Master’s Degree in Music Education at the University of Barcelona, graduating with honors. Her pianistic lineage includes mentorship from the distinguished Russian pianist Leonid Sintsev of the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, and Oxana Yablonskaya of the Juilliard School in New York.

Maria Teresa is a laureate of several international piano competitions and has performed widely across Europe, Russia, and the United States. In 2013, she recorded a critically acclaimed album of piano and organ works with her husband, organist Raul Prieto Ramírez, under the Brilliant Classics label. The recording took place at the iconic Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona—one of Europe’s most celebrated concert halls.

In addition to performing, Maria Teresa is a passionate and sought-after teacher. She founded her own private studio in Carmel, Indiana, where she quickly built a thriving community of over 30 students in a single year. In 2018, she relocated to San Diego, California, following her husband’s appointment as Civic Organist of the Spreckels Organ Pavilion at Balboa Park. After several years of teaching in San Diego—working with over 200 students—she moved her studio to San Marcos in 2025.

Her students have achieved top honors in national and international competitions, and regularly earn the highest marks in ABRSM exams, including Distinction at Grade 8 and Merit in the ARSM Diploma in Performance.

Maria Teresa became a U.S. citizen in 2024 and now balances her time between concertizing and running her private piano studio, where she prepares students for all levels, including exams, competitions, and university auditions. Her teaching blends technical rigor, deep musical insight, and a personal, intuitive approach, inspiring students to reach their fullest potential.

Listen to Maria Teresa on Itunes: Duo MusArt-Barcelona (Brilliant Classics label).