Yolanda Tapia is a Mexican-born pianist, educator, vocal coach, and Fulbright Scholar, currently based in Toronto. With an international career rooted in collaboration and cultural storytelling, she works actively with institutions such as the University of Toronto, El Sistema Toronto, the Community Music Schools of Toronto, and the Miles Nadal JCC Suzuki Program.

 

Aa a co-founder of Obsidiana Duo, Yolanda bridges music, education, and interdisciplinary art by highlighting historically underrepresented Ibero-American and Canadian composers. Alongside mezzo-soprano Camila Montefusco, the duo has toured nationally under  Prairie Debut and Debut Atlantic, and their work has been supported by grants from both the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council.

 

A versatile chamber musician, Yolanda is also a member of Solidaridad Tango Ensemble, an all-female group dedicated to exploring the expressive depth of tango music. The ensemble has performed in Toronto and Montreal and is currently preparing to record their second album in Buenos Aires. Yolanda also shares the stage with her husband, classical guitarist and pedagogue Lenny Ranallo, in a unique guitar and piano duo. Together, they have performed in venues such as the Four Seasons Centre in Toronto and for the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society.

Yolanda’s performance experience spans continents and genres. She has appeared as a soloist with the Xalapa Symphony Orchestra and the CSU Symphony Orchestra, and has earned accolades from Mexico’s Chamber Music National Competition and multiple concerto competitions. From chamber ensembles like Trio Loja and the Sampanguita Flute Project to orchestral appearances with the Veracruz State Youth Orchestra, her work has taken her across North and South America, Europe, and even Antarctica through her residency with Holland America’s Lincoln Center Stage Piano Quartet.

A passionate music educator, Yolanda has given masterclasses at Mount Allison University, the University of Veracruz, FIM Loja in Ecuador, and Cambrian College in Ontario. She has also presented lecture-recitals at CollabFest2021, Latin American Chamber Players, Western University, and El Canto Online. Deeply committed to community and advocacy, she co-founded www.collaborativepianist.info and Cybercollab 2021, projects dedicated to uplifting and connecting collaborative pianists worldwide.

Yolanda holds a Bachelors of Music in Performance from Universidad Veracruzana, a Master of Music from Colorado State University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Western University, where she was mentored by leading figures in collaborative and chamber music.

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When she’s not performing, teaching, or collaborating, you can find Yolanda discovering new music—from metal to jazz—cooking, dancing, or watching art films. Her favorite practice buddy? Her orange tabby, Shostakovich, who often naps contentedly on the piano while she plays.