Transylvanian born, Dr. ILonka Rus has graced stages across United States, Europe, South America, and Mexico as a soloist and piano collaborative artist with orchestras and chamber ensembles. The pinnacle of her career includes chamber music and solo performances at Carnegie Hall in New York and at Atheneum Hall in Bucharest, Romania. 

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ILonka's passion for piano performance and teaching extends globally, encompassing solo and chamber music. She conducts master classes in Europe, South America and USA. ILonka is honored to be a featured clinician and recitalist at prestigious events like the International Music Festival in Colombia, and World Piano Conference in Serbia. Actively participating in competitions, she contributes as a judge and clinician both nationally and internationally in events such as TMTA, MTNA Piano Competition, World Piano Teachers Association – International Piano Competition, Italy, World Piano Teachers Association – International Piano Masterclasses and Conferences, Peru. 

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ILonka is a distinguished Professor and the Director of Keyboard Studies at Sam Houston State University. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree and a Master of Music degree, from the University of Houston, an Artist Diploma from Texas Christian University and a Bachelor of Music Degree from Oberlin Conservatory.  Her teachers have included Gabriel Amiras, Dr.Tamas Ungar, Peter Takacs, Nancy Weems, and Timothy Hester. 

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Currently, ILonka holds the position of President of the World Piano Teachers Association – Texas Chapter, actively shaping the landscape of piano education and nurturing a vibrant musical community. She is the recipient of the Kawai Teacher Medallion Award and the Excellence in Teaching Award from Bellas Artes University, Medellin, Colombia