Steven Viola believes that “if you are learning, studying, and playing the piano, then you are a pianist.” With over twenty years of dedicated study, he has worked closely with his long-time teacher and mentor, Yuka Yanagi of Tokyo, Japan. Steven holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Piano Performance, along with an Artist Diploma, from William Paterson University and Montclair State University’s John J. Cali School of Music, respectively. He has also studied with esteemed educators, including Andy Krikun, David Witten, Soyeon Kim, Youn-Hee Kim, Lisa Yui, Florence Liu, and Fei-Fei Dong.

He has performed at notable venues such as Steinway Recital Hall, Shea Center for Performing Arts, Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall, Ciccone Theatre, and Leshowitz Recital Hall. Steven is passionate about redefining the classical concert experience through engaging, interactive performances that blend humor, energy, and connection across solo, chamber, and duo settings. His mission is to make classical music accessible and meaningful to all audiences.

As an educator, he develops confident, polished performers whose students have gone on to institutions such as Berklee College of Music and Belmont University School of Music. His students regularly compete in events like the Young Maestro International Competition, Golden Key Festival, and American Protégé Competition, earning top placements, and consistently achieve high marks in Music Educators Association of New Jersey (MEANJ) auditions and London College of Music exams.