AboutBentleyPianoAcademy

My name is Nicole Bentley, and I have been playing piano for almost 20 years. I began studying at age six and developed a lifelong passion for music through the guidance of an exceptional teacher whose patience, encouragement, and mentorship continue to influence my own teaching philosophy. I studied Piano Performance at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and later pursued coursework in both piano and psychology before earning my Bachelor's degree from the University of Utah.

Since then, I have performed in a variety of settings. I was part of a group that presented “parlour-style” shows, creating entertaining evenings of music performed in people’s homes on their own pianos. During these performances, I played exciting solo works such as Flight of the Bumblebee, Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, Chopin’s Ballade in G Minor, and my personal favorite, Jarrod Radnich’s arrangement of A Mad Russian’s Christmas. Beyond solo repertoire, I also had the pleasure of performing lively duets with my duet partner, including Shostakovich’s Waltz in A Minor, Hungarian Dance, and Exodus. I have also performed at small music festivals, presenting hour-long sets of carefully curated classical and contemporary music.

I still find myself sitting at the piano for hours each week, never growing bored or tired of it. I am grateful to have found something in life that I am not only skilled at, but truly love. This genuine passion for the piano and the world of classical music is what inspires me to teach. Music has given me a sense of purpose, something meaningful to turn to, and greater confidence in myself. I believe it is important to pass that gift along so others can experience the tremendous joy and fulfillment that come from playing music.