Collaborative Pianist
Hanako Duffie
Hanako Duffie is a collaborative pianist based in Washington D.C., and has extensive experience performing with instrumentalists and vocalists in a variety of genres and styles. Originally from Southern California, she has played with leading professional choirs such as the Choral Arts Initiative, the Voices of Terpsichor, and the Temecula Valley Master Chorale. Hanako has worked on staff as a collaborative pianist for the University of Redlands Conservatory of Music, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in collaborative piano at the University of Maryland. Hanako has attended music festivals where she has studied with renowned pianists such as Martin Katz, Howard Watkins, Warren Jones, Ana Maria Otamendi, Elena Lacheva, Alexandra Nguyen, and Kathy Kelly. Hanako has worked closely with conductors such as Jenny Wong, Jason Max Ferdinand, Christopher Gabbitas, and Donald Brinegar.
Collaborative Pianist
Rachel Flicker
Rachel Flicker currently attends the University of Maryland under the direction of Professor Rita Sloan, and is earning her Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano. She is currently the collaborative pianist for Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand’s Chamber Singers choir. In 2023, she graduated Cum Laude from Penn State University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance under the direction of Dr. Timothy Shafer. She recently toured with Penn State’s Glee Club choir for 10 days in Portugal as their collaborative pianist. Rachel has also premiered many works written by composition majors during her time at Penn State. She made her opera debut by playing harpsichord for Penn State’s Opera Theatre’s production of Dido and Aeneas in 2021, and was the rehearsal and performance pianist in 2023 for their production of Dialogues of the Carmelites. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award, the Sue Haug School of Music Leadership Award, the Valley Family Scholarship, the Schlegel Memorial Scholarship, the Marie B. Ashburn Piano Scholarship, and the Jane Cowell Sheaffer Endowment. Rachel has also taught private piano lessons at Flicker Music Studio for 9 years and recently began teaching at Chevy Chase Music in Maryland.