Russian-born pianist Nadia Blank-Koliha holds a diploma in Piano Performance from the Leningrad State Conservatory in Russia, where she studied with the renowned Grigory Sokolov and Issac Katz. The lineage of her mentor Isaac Katz can be traced to Alexander Goldenweiser, Alexander Ziloti, Franz Liszt, and Ludwig Van Beethoven. Nadia also holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California, where she studied with Daniel Pollack, Stewart Gordon and Cherry Rhodes (organ). 

Nadia has received various prizes and awards in national and international piano competitions. She was a recipient of a Special Recognition Award in the First National Rachmaninoff Piano Competition in 1983. In 1985 she placed second in the All-Russia Piano Competition, and in 1990 she was a prize-winner of the Busoni International Piano Competition in Bolzano, Italy. After her performance in Italy, the news publication “L’Arena di Verona” commented that Nadia is “a pianist with an exceptional talent”.

Currently, Nadia resides in the Bay Area where she maintains a private teaching studio and performs as a soloist. Her public appearances include performances with the Orchestra of San Francisco Opera and Ballet Company, Pro-Art Symphony Orchestra, Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, as well as solo recitals. Over the past five years she has been actively collaborating with Dale Tsang as a duo pianist having played numerous piano-duo performances in various venues.

Nadia serves as an organist and pianist at San Ramon Valley United Methodist church in Alamo. She is also a frequent adjudicator for various piano competitions in the Bay Area.