Dr. Somruedi Suchitphanit (“Dr. Kwan”)

Dr. Kwan is an accomplished and dedicated piano coach with over 20 years of experience in music education. Renowned for her holistic, project-based approach, she guides students to develop technical mastery and artistic expression while nurturing a lifelong love for music.

Her musical journey began at the age of seven when she started piano lessons in her hometown in Thailand. Her passion and commitment led her to pursue pre-college training by age twelve and earn a Bachelor of Music from Mahidol University. Dr. Kwan further honed her craft in the United States, completing a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College and a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Kansas.

Dr. Kwan has taught at esteemed institutions such as Westminster Conservatory, the University of Kansas, and Rugby School Thailand, where she served as Head of Keyboard for four years. Under her guidance, students have achieved remarkable success, winning international competitions and earning top scores in prestigious music exams. Her exceptional teaching has been recognized with multiple awards from Trinity and ABRSM.

Beyond teaching, she enjoys collaborating on chamber music and sharing her knowledge through workshops for piano teachers. Now based in Washington DC, Dr. Kwan leads Holistic Piano Coaching and is thrilled to join the faculty at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop. She remains committed to inspiring and empowering musicians of all generations.