Irina Meachem — Piano

Irina Meachem, a first-generation Romanian-American pianist, is celebrated for her artistry as a collaborative partner and opera coach. Hailed by Voce di Meche as “a gifted collaborative pianist,” she regularly performs with her husband, baritone Lucas Meachem, in recital. Together, they have appeared at the Athanaeum in Romania, Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, Death of Classical’s Crypt Sessions in New York City—where they performed Mahler’s Kindertotenlieder—and for series including North Carolina Performing Arts and the Moore County Arts Council. Their virtual performances have been presented by Los Angeles Opera, The Dallas Opera, and the Merola Opera Program.

An accomplished educator, Meachem has served on the faculties of the Tequila Cultural Festival, the Vincerò Opera Program, the University of Minnesota, and Michigan State University. She has also worked as a coach and répétiteur with numerous opera companies and festivals, including Palm Beach Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Birmingham, Nashville Opera, Chicago Summer Opera, Mill City Summer Opera, Opera in the Ozarks, The Banff Centre, and the Interlochen Summer Arts Academy.

Meachem earned her Master of Music degree from Florida State University and her Bachelor of Music from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. She also studied at the George Enescu High School of Music in Bucharest, Romania.

A passionate advocate for equity in the arts, Meachem is the co-founder of the Perfect Day Music Foundation, a nonprofit organization promoting diversity in classical music. The Foundation’s Perfect Day Competition encourages young musicians to use social media to share works by historically underrepresented composers.