International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of the effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
Read our interview with Kristine, below.
ABOUT KRISTINE AYVAZYAN
Kristine has been playing piano since the age of six. She studied at the Prague Conservatory in the class of doc. MgA. Martin Kasík, PhD., with whom she also studied at the Music Faculty of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. She is currently pursuing her graduate studies at Manhattan School of Music in New York City under the guidance of Prof. William Wolfram.
Kristine is a laureate of numerous national and international piano competitions, including the title of absolute winner in the international competition Amadeus in Brno and Virtuosi per musica di pianoforte in Ústí nad Labem. She has also received many other awards, such as 2nd prize and the EMCY Prize in the International Smetana Piano Competition in Plzeň, 2nd prize in the 22nd International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Szafarnia (Poland), and 2nd prize in the Città di San Donà di Piave competition in Venice. This year, she won 1st prize and the Outstanding Laureate Award in the online World’s Best Musician competition.
She has performed at major concerts and festivals, including the Leopold Mozart International Festival in Augsburg, The American Fine Art Festival in New York (where she performed at Carnegie Hall), and the International Children’s Festival of the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation in Moscow, among others. Kristine has had the opportunity to perform with prestigious orchestras, including the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Brno Philharmonic Orchestra, North Bohemian Theatre Orchestra, West Bohemian Symphony Orchestra, and the State Chamber Orchestra of Armenia.
In addition to her solo performances, including recitals in Mariánské Lázně, Germany, Spain, and Budapest, Kristine also plays the violin and has won several prizes in national competitions in this field.
Kristine: A fascinating fact is the Czechs invented the word “robot.” The word originated from Karel Čapek’s 1920 play R.U.R. (Rossum’s Universal Robots), where “robot” is derived from the Czech word “robota,” meaning forced labor. This invention revolutionized science fiction and is still widely used today.
The beer industry is iconic in Czech culture and economically impactful, as the Czech Republic has the highest beer consumption per capita in the world, with famous brands like Pilsner Urquell and Budweiser Budvar exporting worldwide.
One of the biggest differences between the Czech Republic and the USA, especially New York City, is the pace of life. In New York, everything moves quickly; people are always in a rush, and there’s a strong focus on efficiency and productivity. In contrast, the Czech Republic, including Prague, tends to have a more relaxed and balanced approach to daily life, where people value leisure and downtime as much as work.
Another difference is public transportation. While both Prague and NYC have extensive transit systems, the Prague Metro is quieter, cleaner, and smaller but very efficient, and Czech cities generally place a high emphasis on maintaining quiet public spaces. In New York, the subway is louder and busier, reflecting the high-energy lifestyle of the city.
Finally, community traditions and holidays feel more culturally preserved in the Czech Republic, especially in smaller towns where local customs are closely maintained.
My favorite holiday to celebrate is Christmas in the Czech Republic, celebrated on December 24th, known as “Štědrý den” or “Generous Day.” Unlike many other places where Christmas Day is the main focus, Czech families gather for a traditional Christmas Eve dinner, which usually includes fried carp and potato salad. This is followed by opening gifts, a magical moment often said to be orchestrated by Ježíšek (Baby Jesus), who “delivers” the presents.
The holiday atmosphere is especially beautiful in Prague, where Christmas markets light up the squares and people gather around for mulled wine and traditional Czech pastries.
Although I am still new here, I deeply value the opportunity to study at MSM because of its vibrant and inspiring community of musicians from all over the world. The sense of belonging is incredible—I feel like part of a welcoming tribe where everyone is accepted and celebrated, which allows me to fully embrace and express myself as an artist. MSM encourages artistic exploration and provides endless opportunities to collaborate and try new forms of art, helping me grow not only as a soloist but also as a person. I am very excited for the future and grateful for an environment that nurtures both creativity and freedom.
Currently, I am preparing for the Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, which will be held at the beginning of the next semester. In addition, I am collaborating with a clarinetist, who is also in first year of the Master’s program, to perform a duet for the competition. I am also working on expanding my repertoire to create opportunities for performances at concerts and festivals. While I’m still new here, my current projects and upcoming plans are limited for now, but I’m excited to explore and make the most of every opportunity to showcase myself as much as I can.
Watch Kristine perform A. Grünfeld's “Soiree de Vienne”, Op. 56 (Concert Paraphrase from Strauss' Waltzes)
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