"At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." 

Albert Schweitzer

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EARLY YEARS​

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Born in Fortaleza, Brazil, Mrs. Giampietro Trifonov fell in love with arts, dancing, and performing the piano at a very early age. Her early influences began when her dad would play jazz and classical music on their family vinyl record player, and when she would listen to her sister practice the piano for hours every day. She also loved to watch the musicians in their church orchestra with excitement and anticipation as they tuned their instruments before the Sunday services. 

 

Her love affair with dance, started around the age of eight when she had a very quick growth spurt that caused excruciating pain in her muscles. As advised by their family doctor, her parents enrolled her in ballet lessons and she received her classical ballet training up to the time she went to college. 

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Piano music, however, came into her life around the age of ten after taking some violin lessons, but still remembering how she loved the sound of the piano as she listened to her sister practice. She started teaching herself to play the piano and coping her sister's scores note by note to be able to have her own piano scores. One day, her mom came home earlier from work and heard someone playing the piano, and thought it was her sister, but to her surprise, it was Aline, who secretly had been teaching herself to play the piano. 

 

At the time, her mother had been taking piano lessons herself, as it was one of her biggest dreams to learn how to play the piano. Unfortunately, the teacher schedule was full and she didn't have any openings to accept new students. So, her mother gave up her lesson spot to allow the opportunity for Aline to take piano lessons. So, she started taking piano classes with one of the most important musical influences in her life, who would also later become a major mentor and colleague - Mrs. Joanna Ximenes. Prior to starting college, she completed her music studies at the Conservatorio de Musica Alberto Nepomuceno while setting her sights in the United States to continue her music studies.

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After spending a few years studying Communications & Journalism at Faculdades do Nordeste, in Fortaleza, she received a scholarship invitation to study music at Campbellsville University in Kentucky. This was a wonderful opportunity as she was able to immerse herself in her music studies and gain experience as a collaborative pianist. However, a couple of years after moving to the U.S. she received the news her mom was very sick and it was not possible to afford the increasingly higher tuition. She dropped out of school and her music career seemed to have come to a halt. However, through the help of friends and family, and with the faith that her mom's health would improve, she moved to Spokane, WA to find a way to continue her studies. 

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TEACHING & PERFORMING

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Through a lot of perseverance and hard work, she was able to enroll in the Piano Performance program at Eastern Washington University and she studied with many important mentors, like Dr. Jody Graves, Kendall Feeney, and Greg Presley who would influence and inspire her teaching and performing career. As her mom's health improved, her parents were able to move to Spokane and her mom was able to receive better health treatment and full recovery.

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In 2009, she graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance while being awarded the Spokane Music Teachers Association and Steinway & Sons Award for young exceptional teachers who fostered artistic growth and music education in the community. Through this opportunity, she established Spokane Piano Studio, a very successful premier piano studio, teaching children and adults of all ages and quickly establishing an important presence in the music community.

 

In 2013, she received her Master's Degree in Piano Performance from Eastern Washington University, and she continued to persevere in her music career. After moving to Tampa, FL she made many connections within the community and became involved with Instruments of Change, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching children at risk, giving them the opportunity to learn a musical instrument and to learn important life skills. 

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Mrs. Giampietro Trifonov is a strong believer that music can inspire a greater positive change in the community and in the world. In her teaching philosophy, she is passionate about discovering her students' “inner voice” while fostering musicianship, and the art of piano playing. As an avid promoter of music education, she is a sought-out adjudicator at piano festivals and competitions. Her piano students have received many accolades and awards, including winning prizes in the International Pittsburg Piano Competition, allowing her students to perform at Carnegie Hall. 

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FASHION & STYLE

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One of Mrs. Giampietro Trifonov's biggest passions is to inspire others towards self-growth and personal development. Inspired by one of her long-time, best friend and professional stylist, Cristina Kapazi, she decided to take on a new creative and entrepreneurial venture. In 2019, she founded My Vintage Place, a fashion online boutique with a mission to bring classy and feminine pieces to women's wardrobes. She wanted to empower others beyond her teaching and performing experience and allowing them to feel empowered to express their own style and break the rules in fashion, creating a fashion brand that beautifully speaks to the old and the new. 

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"I love all vintage things, not just fashion. The music, the art, the  movies and musicals are all unique and a beautiful reflection of their time. Each era has something very special and glamourous. The beauty of vintage is you can pick what you like and make it your own. They are really no rules. My mission is to help other women feel good about themselves - both inside and out. Clothing is a big part of it. Women are strong, passionate, sensitive and fearless. We know ourselves better than anyone else. I want to inspire other women to be their best advocate and to have the courage to express themselves through their femininity and personal style."  Aline Giampietro Trifonov. Founder & Creative Director

 

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Through her entrepreneurial endeavors, Mrs. Giampietro Trifonov has been able to enjoy a very creative career combining her passion for performing, teaching, collaborating, and inspiring others. She is a believer that we all have a mission in the world, and it is up to us to discover it and make our paths and destinies. 

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Explore more of her projects, blogs, fashion store, performing, and teaching.