Pinió Dovalis Benetatos, Accompanist

Pinió Dovalis Benetatos holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from California State University Long Beach and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Southern California. She has held staff positions at Cal State University Long Beach, Cal State University Fullerton, University of California Los Angeles, California Institute of the Arts, Orange Coast College and Cypress College. As an organist she has held positions as Music Director/Organist at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Anaheim and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach.

Her credits include a New York debut recital at Merkin Hall in 1992, an appearance at the Waikiki Bowl in Honolulu as well as two concert tours of Europe where she had the rare privilege to perform on the great pipe organs at Westminster Abbey, the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy, and the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. In 2007 she organized as well as performed Beethoven’s "Fantasy for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra" in two concerts which involved the San Fernando Valley Symphony and choirs from St. Irenaeus Catholic Church and Holy Cross Lutheran Church of Cypress. The proceeds benefitted Arts and Services for the Disabled which is based in Long Beach and serves surrounding communities.

Throughout her college years Pinió developed an interest in two-piano repertoire. She and her piano partner of twenty-two years, Katheryn Klein, perform in numerous recitals throughout the year. They have also specialized in all concerti written for two pianos and have performed these works with orchestras in Southern California.

Mrs. Benetatos and her husband, Harry are long-time residents of Cypress where she maintains a busy teaching schedule at her private studio. She recently returned to the position of Director/ Organist at Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Long Beach, and Pinió genuinely enjoys her role as pianist/accompanist for the Southern California Master Choral and Meritáge Concert Singers under the direction of Dr. Sheridan J. Ball.