Kimia Rafieian

Based in the vibrant city of Austin, Texas, Kimia Rafieian is an Iranian collaborative pianist and vocal coach. She is currently embarking on a series of concerts alongside bassist Ali-Kian Yazdanfar, called “Chiaroscuro” representing works that showcase one’s complex identity combined and in contrast with today's political and societal scene.

Kimia is pursuing opera coaching at the University of Austin at Texas serving as repetiteur on the Opera Centers 20th anniversary productions of Puccini’s La Boheme, Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul and Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades. Kimia’s passion for opera began with the productions of the Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen and Massenet’s Werther at the University of Michigan where she holds a degree in collaborative piano. She has also served as a vocal fellow at the Aspen Opera Theater as a recipient of the Polonsky Foundation fellowship and scholarship.

Kimia’s hobbies include hiking, swing dancing, reading, and trying out vegan recipes from different parts of the world.