Music Teacher and Accomplished Pianist

Girma Yifrashewa is a teacher of music and fully trained pianist. He teaches all gades at the Yared Music School in Addis Ababa. Endowed with natural refinement and rare no-bleness of mind, Girma Yifrashewa is arespected pianist with a marked lyrical disposition. His best achievements as a performer are in the spheres of romantic and impressionist repertoire, above all the piano works of Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin and Debussy.

Born in Addis Ababa, in his child-hood Girma learned to play the ‘Kerar’, a national folk instrument. He was sixteen when he first became familiar with the piano. He attended Dej. Wonderad Comprehensive School in Addis and the Yared Music School. He had the opportunity to study in Bulgaria with renowned pianist, Prof. Atanas Kourtev. However, he suffered financial difficulties and was forced to leave his studies. He was deciding whether or not to pursue another career when, while performing in Italy, the Christian Brothers gave him a grant of $10,000 to continue studying. After five years at the Conservatory of Music of Bulgaria, he earned his M.A. Degree in piano forte in June 1994. At a recent concert in the Italian Cultural Institute, Girma gave a recital of pieces from six composers. They included Fantasia in C minor by Mozart, Beethoven’s Sonata in C sharp minor and two preludes by Gershwin. Girma hopes to evolve a style of Ethiopian classical music, and intends competing in international competitions.

Girma Yifrashewa’s hobbies and interests naturally include music, he also enjoys jogging and theatre.