Mrs. Eiki P. Worcester

Mrs. Paik-Worcester studied under internationally acclaimed pianist Daniel Pollack at the University of Southern California where she received her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance. But her musical roots reach back to Japan where she studied as a child. Her father, the Rev. Namchul Paik (1912-2012) was a Korean Presbyterian minister who started her with a teacher on the piano at an early age. Years later she played the piano and organ in his church in Japan. In addition to her classical training, Mrs. Paik-Worcester has had a lifetime of interest and experience with the Suzuki Method and is highly trained as a Suzuki instructor. Her greatest joy is to see her young students thrive in this system as they learn to love music and piano.

Mrs. Paik-Worcester immigrated to the United States in 1971 where she began studying with UC Irvine Professor Arnold Juda (1913-1988). She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance with honors from the University of California at Irvine in 1978. During her studies she received numerous scholarships and awards, including the coveted Daniel Aldrich Chancellor’s Scholarship for Music. She was also a winner at numerous piano competitions including the Joanna Hodges Piano Concerto Competition (now the Waring International Piano Competition) and the Ventura College Piano Competition.

In 1981, Mrs. Paik-Worcester received her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California (USC Thornton School of Music) where she studied with Daniel Pollack, the internationally renowned performer and teacher. Her teachers have also included Edna Gollansky and Dorothy Taubman. Mrs. Paik-Worcester has performed solo concerti with various symphony orchestras. In addition to distinguishing herself as a soloist, she has performed extensively in chamber ensembles and in performance recitals for flute and piano for Doctoral candidates at USC.

Mrs. Paik-Worcester has previously served as a faculty member at both the University of California, Irvine, and at Vanguard University. Her study of pedagogy includes the Suzuki Method and the Dorothy Taubman Technique.

Mrs. Paik-Worcester is a member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) and the Orange Coast Cities Branch of the MTAC. In the Orange Coast Cities Branch Mrs. Paik-Worcester has served in various officer capacities including Vice President and as has also served as chairperson for numerous competitions. She enters her private students in piano competitions where appropriate and prepares them for advancement annually through the MTAC CERTIFICATE OF MERIT program. In this program students are tested annually in music theory as well as sight-reading and performance.

Mrs. Paik-Worcester also serves regularly as an adjudicator at piano competitions outside of her MTAC Branch area. She also hosts regular recitals for her students and their families.