Dr. Natalia Lauk, DMA, a Russian-born pianist and conductor, directs a non-profit youth conservatory in Pocatello, ID, where she also administers the GEMS Piano Competition. With over 30 years in performance, teaching, and conducting, she draws on Russian piano pedagogy, emphasizing efficient movement and sustainable technique to help prevent overuse injuries. Dr. Lauk holds a Doctorate in Piano Performance and Instrumental Conducting from the University of Utah and a Master’s in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Collaborative Piano from the Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Arts.

Her repertoire includes major works such as Beethoven’s "Emperor" Concerto and Rachmaninov’s Concerto No. 2, performed with ensembles like the Glacier Symphony and Idaho State Civic Symphony. She has translated the seminal text On the Development of Piano Skills by A.A. Schmidt-Shklovskaya, which incorporates insights from Dr. Nikolai Bernstein, a pioneer in neurophysiology. Bernstein’s research on motor control underpins the text’s injury-preventive approaches, alongside methodologies from educators like Horowitz’s teacher, Felix Blumenfeld.

Additionally, Dr. Lauk reaches over 7,000 followers with online tutorials focused on practical technique and music theory. Through her conservatory, competition, and digital platform, she combines her academic, performance, and instructional expertise to address evolving needs in piano pedagogy.