Today we’d like to introduce you to Boris Cepeda.
Hi Boris, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Two years ago—after receiving an EB-1 extraordinary-ability green card—my wife Katja and I moved from Germany to Atlanta, bringing a successful career across opera companies, university lecturing, and public music-school teaching in Germany and worldwide, alongside our work as performers. We opened the European Piano Academy of Atlanta with three students and a Steinway; today about thirty pianists ages 5–75—many from Buckhead, some driving from Dahlonega—study with us. The studio is my creative hub: I coach opera singers, teach conducting, and lead master classes here and abroad. Every two months we host Opus & Wine, intimate salon soirées where live recitals meet curated tastings to connect European and American culture. I recorded Andamios in our studio; it’s currently under Latin Grammy consideration. In Atlanta I collaborate with Georgia State University, the Atlanta Music Project, the German Cultural Institute, and the Consulate General of Ecuador; beyond Atlanta, we partner with the VIA Center in Vienna on cultural-exchange projects linking emerging artists and audiences across Europe and the U.S. Born in Ecuador, forged in Germany, and fluent in Spanish, German, and English, I believe in excellence that feels welcoming—craft, curiosity, and joy sitting side by side at the piano.
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?
Our biggest challenge was leaving everything behind and reinventing ourselves fast. We arrived in Atlanta with no contacts and had to compress decades of networking into months, learn a market-driven business culture very different from Germany’s, and connect with the right institutions. Good friends in Atlanta were pivotal—they opened doors, explained local timelines, pricing, and expectations, and showed us the city’s rhythm: speed, clarity, follow-up. At the same time, we aimed for elite positioning—German-level craft without feeling elitist. We over-prepared, communicated clearly, delivered results, and invited people in through projects like Opus & Wine. The pace was intense—teaching, coaching, conducting, and doing our own marketing and partnerships—but it worked. People often ask how we grew so quickly; the answer is simple: listen well, execute at a high level, honor your word, and keep reinventing—without losing your standards.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a pianist, conductor, vocal coach and lecturer. I run the European Piano Academy of Atlanta, a boutique studio for personalized, European-style training. I teach in English, German, and Spanish. Our program delivers advanced, conservatory-level technique that adapts to motivated beginners, returning adults, and young professionals preparing for auditions and competitions, as well as those learning for joy.
What sets me apart: 40+ years as a performer and teacher, a precise ear with fast diagnostics, and a lineage through the German school that reaches back to Beethoven. Every two months we host Opus & Wine salon concerts. In Atlanta I have continued my recording work—most recently Andamios, under Latin Grammy consideration—and I’m one of the few Steinway Artists in town.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can work with me as a student (piano, vocal coaching for opera, or conducting), as a presenter/producer (recitals, lecture-recitals, master classes, residencies), or as a partner for our Opus & Wine salon series and cultural-exchange projects with the VIA Center in Vienna. I also accept guest-conducting/coaching invitations and university workshops. Our Buckhead studio—with a Hamburg-built Steinway—is available for select rentals/recordings.
Ways to support: sponsor a student scholarship, underwrite an Opus & Wine evening or a recording, host a salon at your venue, or collaborate on community outreach. Referrals are gold—sending a friend or a school our way truly helps.
Pricing:
- $290/month — 45-min weekly piano lessons (yearly subscription; 38 lessons; includes 2 student recitals + 1 master class).
- $180 / 90 min — vocal coaching or conducting coaching (by appointment).
- $345/month — 60-min weekly piano lessons (yearly subscription; 38 lessons; includes 2 student recitals + 1 master class).
- $150–$200 / hour — studio/Steinway grand renta
- $150 — single 60-min piano lesson (advanced/specific goals).
Contact Info:
- Website: https://europianoacademy.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/europianoatl
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/europianoacademy
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/boriscepeda
Image Credits
Gonzalo Guana
Kirill Lialin
