Today we’d like to introduce you to Olga Urick.
Hi Olga, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ukranian-born pianist and pedagogue, Olga Urick, is a passionate teacher whose primary goal is to prepare her students for independent careers in the performance of the classical piano.
Mrs. Urick’s love and dedication to the professional study of music began at an early age. Graduating with gold medal distinction from Music School at the age of 16. She is a graduate of the highly regarded Nikolaev State Music College, Ukraine. Where she studied classical piano with Larisa Yesenia in the lineage of the world-class artists and pedagogues Serafima Mogilevskaya and Henrick Neuhaus (director of Moscow Conservatory 1937-1939)
Beside receiving degrees in Piano Performance and Piano Accompaniment she also received a degree in Piano Pedagogy under Emma Mamutova.
Mrs. Urick began her piano teaching career in Ukraine and continued in the United States by founding her independent piano studio in Cary, North Carolina in 2001.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has certainly not been a smooth road—but from a very young age, I knew exactly what my destiny was: music. I began playing the piano at the age of nine, even though no one in my family was a musician or had any particular interest in music. My determination was often met with skepticism, but the call to play was so strong that it pushed me to practice for endless hours, always striving to become the best version of myself.
Seven months before my first audition for music college, I broke my finger. It was a terrifying moment, and there was real fear that I might lose the ability to play. By what I can only describe as a miracle, once the cast was removed, I was able to continue playing and pursue my dream without permanent damage.
After moving to the United States, I had to begin again from scratch. I did not speak English, and I did not even have the means to buy a piano. But when you truly have a calling, you find a way forward. God placed the right people in my path, and they helped me begin teaching. I remember how happy I felt—I could finally breathe.
I rented a small room in the back of a music store in Cary, North Carolina. Four years later, I was able to purchase my Boston baby grand piano. Within seven years, my studio began to gain recognition and attracted families and students seeking serious musical training. It was a rewarding period, but life, as I learned, is never static.
When the store closed, I once again faced uncertainty. For six long years, I moved from one office space to another, constantly searching for a place that would allow a piano studio. Every two years brought new stress and instability—few landlords want a piano studio next door. It was exhausting and often discouraging.
At last, the journey came to a joyful conclusion when I was able to build a permanent studio for my students. I am deeply grateful to God for allowing my dream to come true. Interestingly, the studio closely resembles a picture I purchased over a decade ago. At the time, I remember thinking, “It is so beautiful, but it is just a dream—I will never have anything like this.”
Now, I share this message with my students: Dream big. Dreams sometimes come true. You must wish, work hard, and believe.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
She is an active member of a number of professional organizations of music teachers: Cary-Apex Piano Teachers Association, Raleigh Piano Teachers Association, Raleigh Music Club, North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs, North Carolina Music Teachers Association and the Music Teachers National Association. She has served as an office chair for Elizabeth Bullard competition (CAPTA), Lamp of Learning Theory Program (CAPTA), chair for North Carolina State Piano Teachers Pedagogy Workshop, Historian chair for RPTA.
Mrs. Urick presented programs on her teaching techniques for NCMTA, RPTA, CAPTA. Also, she is frequently invited to serve as an adjudicator for piano competitions across North Carolina and Virginia.
In 2017 Olga Urick was nominated for Steinway & Sons “North Carolina Teacher of the Year”
Mrs. Urick’s students have been major prize winners in various competitions: RPTA Young Artist Audition, RMC competition, RPTA scholarship competition, CAPTA Sonatina competition, CAPTA Elizabeth Bullard competition, NCFMC State scholarship competition, NCMTA State competition, MTNA competition, Virginia Old Dominion Classical Period Sonata competition, UNC School of Arts Classical Period Piano competition, East Carolina University Young Artist competition, Steinway Junior Piano competition, Baltimore International Piano competition, Carmel Indiana International Piano Competition, Elite International Music Competition, Charleston International Piano Competition.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I naturally connect with people in my field because we share common ground, language, and passion. While I never had a single formal mentor, I have always been deeply curious and eager to learn. That curiosity has guided my path.
For me, learning has come through many channels—live masterclasses, workshops, lectures, and conversations with artists, as well as through recordings, podcasts, and educational content available online. I believe that if you remain open, observant, and genuinely interested, learning opportunities appear everywhere.
Rather than focusing on “networking” in a strategic sense, I focus on listening, learning, and engaging sincerely with people whose work inspires me. Over time, those authentic connections naturally grow into meaningful professional relationships.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caryclassicalpiano.com/about-olga
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caryclassicalpiano
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caryclassicalpiano/
- Youtube: Olga Urick Piano Studio @olgaurickpianostudio3952
- Other: https://www.alignable.com/cary-nc/olga-urick-piano-studio-rose-point-dr
