Tatiana Lokhina, known as Tania to her students, is a collaborative pianist, and Tony Weinstein, OC ’03, is a visiting assistant professor of class piano. The two both completed their doctorates of musical arts at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Tony also received his performance diploma and masters of music from Indiana University.

Tania began in the Collaborative Piano department while at IU. Tony, having seen her name in programs for many years, began asking himself just who the Russian girl who was taking all of the gigs from the professional pianists was. Having never crossed paths before, Tony messaged her while the two were in Indiana playing for a competition, saying, “I know about you, why don’t we meet?”

By pure coincidence, Tania had gotten a job at Oberlin, Tony’s alma mater. He was still in Bloomington at the time. For about a year, they dated long-distance, but upon getting pregnant with their first daughter, Ania, the two had to decide whether to settle in Bloomington or Oberlin. Oberlin, of course, was their choice after, serendipitously, the professor previously teaching secondary piano left and Tony was able to take up a position in the Conservatory.

By another, perhaps stranger, coincidence, both of their mothers had studied under the same choral conductor despite the fact that Tania grew up in Russia and Tony in Ukraine until he was 14. On top of this, the connection that comes with speaking the same language is particularly meaningful for the two of them.

Presently, Tania and Tony are pregnant with their second daughter. Ania is already something of a mascot for the Conservatory, as well as a perfect traveler having visited both Türkiye and Egypt in her 18 months of life so far — so expectations are high for baby number two.

Of course, Tania and Tony share a love of music. Though piano duets aren’t the most common, Tania’s faculty recital last December involved a four-hand piece. The two are excited for more opportunities like that and to continue life here at Oberlin. Their favorite times of year are fall and spring, which provide the best weather to walk around; it’s one of their favorite things to do together, especially when joined by Ania.