Biography

Christina, "Christy," Boersma has been praised for her "upbeat" teaching, and students have commented that they, "had fun and learned a lot in a great environment," "learned more than I thought was possible...now I know piano will always be a part of my life." Christy graduated from Florida State University, where she received a Master of Music in Performance (Degree Track: Piano Pedagogy) studying pedagogy under Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla and piano under Dr. Read Gainsford. During her time at FSU, Christy worked as a graduate teaching assistant in class piano, an award which comes with a full tuition waiver and stipend. This assistantship gave her the opportunity to work with a variety of undergraduate students, from freshmen to seniors, including music and non-music majors. She also volunteered as the lead teacher for the Adult Piano Class of the University Musical Associates, a recreational class for mature adults at varying levels of piano experience. Her teaching experience ranges from ages 0-87 in both group and private settings, as well as masterclass segments and early childhood classes.

Christy has worked in a variety of settings since graduating. She taught music at London Christian High for three years, where she led various music classes and extracurriculars in a school setting. She also taught private piano lessons and accompanied voice students at the Beckett School of Music in Kitchener. Additionally, Christy served as the music team leader for Teen Challenge Ontario Men's Centre.

As a pianist, Christy has performed in venues across Ontario as well as Ohio and Florida including Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, Von Kuster Hall, Westben, Bolthouse Center for Music, and Prince Edward County Music Festival. In 2017, she was a finalist in Florida State University's Young Artist Concerto Competition. Christy has a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Western Ontario where she studied with Dr. Leslie Kinton and received the 2014 Dr. Sherwood Fox Music Award for most outstanding second year student in performance and academics. Christy is a two-time winner of the Silver Tray Competition at the Quinte Rotary Music Festival and a three-time provincial finalist at the Ontario Music Festivals Association. While finishing high school, she also graduated with an ARCT diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Brian Finley. Christy has participated in masterclasses with clinicians such as Christopher Harding, Ian Parker, and Lori Rhoden.

Christy's interest in education extends to the concert setting as well. She regularly mixes verbal introductions into her performances and has also given outreach concerts to high school students and seniors. Her interest in making Classical music more accessible to the community has led her to volunteer with the Quinte Society for Chamber Music, an organization focused on bringing high quality music to rural Ontario and attracting a diverse audience. As a collaborative musician, Christy has worked in a variety of settings playing for choirs, chamber music, solo instrumentalists, and vocalists. She has also worked as a dance pianist for the Quinte Ballet School of Canada.

Away from the piano, Christy and her husband run a local market garden. She enjoys board games, thrift shopping, and all things Jane Austen.