Tali 
Morgulis

I was in my early and rather idealistic twenties. It was after my performance of Rachmaninov’s 3rd Piano Concerto with the Haifa Symphony (conducted by Stanley Sperber), which felt exhilarating, that I decided to do everything I could to grow as a performer and avoid the typical path of becoming a piano teacher. To fulfill my dream, I mastered an immense amount of repertoire, studied at some of the most prestigious conservatories, collaborated with as many excellent chamber musicians as  possible, and won top prizes at several international competitions in Italy, Spain, Croatia, and the US. 

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In my more realistic early thirties, after I joined the piano faculty at Fort Hays State University in Kansas, I realized to my surprise that teaching created an inspiring challenge and brought a strong sense of purpose. In 2008, I was fortunate to join the faculty of the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston where I currently serve as an Associate Professor. It has been a joy working with an eclectic group of young performers from South America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the US. I have been described as "a great motivator with a unique approach to teaching and an amazing insight into sound." 

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Currently, I am enjoying a fulfilling career as both a pianist and teacher. This dual path of performer and educator has taken me around the globe for solo, chamber, and orchestral performances, as well as  teaching and judging engagements. Being  a strong believer in the richness of the ever-evolving classical repertoire, I love performing works by living composers and discovering lesser-known gems by composers of the past. In 2024, I commissioned and performed several short pieces by Marcus Maroney as part of “Flying First Ward,” a stunning aerial arts show set to live piano and percussion music. 

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I was born in Ukraine to a Russian-speaking Jewish family. My parents, both engineers, enthusiastically supported my interest in piano from a very early age. Following my family’s immigration, I spent my teenage and college years in Israel. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Tel Aviv University, where I studied with Prof. Mikhail Boguslavsky. Prof. Boguslavsky inspired me to view music performance as a sacred practice and opened my eyes to the power of art and creativity. After (accidentally) moving to the US, I completed my Doctorate at the New England Conservatory in 2006, studying under Wha Kyung Byun, who taught me the meticulous craft of colorful piano playing. Having roots in different cultures gives me the ability to see things from varying perspectives. This can be  a blessing and a curse. 

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Since my work revolves around intense listening, I enjoy soundless activities in my spare time, such as hiking, reading, gardening, playing with my adorable toy poodle Lucy, and watching my daughter Marianna perform insane aerial arts routines. In the summer of 2024, I felt that visual beauty was missing from my life and began exploring the new hobby of floral design. 

Both countries that I used to call “home” are in wars. Being immersed in music day in and day out sometimes feels like living on a magical island. I don’t deserve this “vacation,” and I cherish every single minute of it. I know that working with young musicians on how to listen to themselves and others continues the essential tradition of beautiful music with rich human connections. At a time when the world feels broken, creating beauty is both unnecessary and essential.