Mina Mu (Director&Co-founder)
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 12 years
Education: Master of Music: Piano Performance(University of Montreal)
Bachelor of Music: Piano Performance(University of Montreal)
Language: English, Mandarin
Mina started the piano training at 5 years old in China. At the age of 9, she won the audition of Primary Music School attached to WuHan Conservatory of Music with outstanding comments. She has over 10 years of piano learning experience in WuHan Conservatory of Music.After moving to Canada ,She continued her piano study with Professor Jimmy biere,earned her Master of Music at University of Montreal.
As a piano teacher, she began to instruct her students since 2006, Many of her students have achieved top awards in competitions at all levels throughout Canada and abroad including The 28.International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children, Canadian Music Competition,OMFA Provincial Competitions, Steinway Piano Competitions,CCC Music Festivals, Kiwanis Music Festivals, Markham Music Festival, Crescendo International Music Competition, and US International Music Competiton. During her lesson time, she focuses on student’s basic skill training , technique of classical piano and accurate music expression of difference periods.She teaches classical piano for all ages and all levels .She looks forward to help all her students to have outstanding performance and enjoy themselves in music land.
Olga Curdova
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 22 years
Education: Bachelor of Music: Piano and Pedagogy (University of Music, Kishinev) RCM Teacher Certification (Toronto)
Language: English, Russian, Bulgarian
Olga started playing piano at the age of 5 in Kishinev which back then was part of the Soviet Union. She quickly fell in love with the instrument and embodied a passion for playing it. Olga studied piano with a number of different highly regarded Russian teachers who were all strictly demanding of high level performance and pushed Olga to be the best, which aligned perfectly with her goals which were also to be the best she can at playing piano. She went on to win multiple competitions all over the Soviet Union, including competitions held in Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The success only led Olga to push herself even more as she went on to complete a Certified Piano Teacher Degree at the Music University of Kishinev, Moldova, and following that, the Event Organization and Entrepreneurship degree at the St. Petersburg State Institute of Culture in Russia. Olga then proceeded to use her mastery in piano and music arts to teach students piano, music history, vocal lessons and acting lessons, as well as directing live performances at the School and Theatre College in Moldova before moving to Toronto, Canada where she started from scratch by creating a piano studio in her home and teaching students from there meanwhile expanding her education by achieving an RCM certification in elementary, intermediate, and advanced. She now accounts for 22 years of experience in teaching piano. During her time in Toronto, she guided all her students to achieve excellent RCM examination grades, and inspired her students to win competitions such as Kiwanis Musical Festival. Olga is constantly collaborating with famous composers and musicians such as Christopher Norton with whom she held a recital for her students in Temerty Theatre and Pavel Nersessian whose recital she organized in Mazzoleni Hall. She teaches various playing styles such as classical, modern, and jazz to students of all ages, levels and abilities. She aims to inspire, motivate and fuel superb performance from all her students and most importantly help them achieve their own personal goals.
Orianna Ding
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 5 years
Education: Bachelor of Music: Music Education ( Shanghai Conservatory of Music)
Master of Music: Music Education ( Western University)
Language: English, Mandarin
Orianna started piano learning at 6 years old in China. She studied with Professor Qing Wang and graduated from Shanghai Conservatory of music as an undergraduate student major in music education. She holds a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Western University and she received Western Graduate Research Scholarship. During that time, she has studied with Dr. Brett Kingsbury who is renowned pianist for the Madawaska Chamber Ensemble.
Orianna has 5 years teaching experience with different age groups in piano lessons and she has passionate and effective teaching styles. She helped many students to successfully pass the piano level examinations provided by Shanghai Conservatory of music. In addition, she is also familiar with Orff and Kodaly teaching methods. Therefore, she is going to provide interesting lessons with attractive music activities.
Iris Zhang
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 7 years
Education: Master of Music in Piano Performance (Western University)
Master of Arts in Music Education (Kingston University (UK) )
Bachelor of Music in Musicology (Xiamen University)
Language: English, Mandarin
Iris started the piano training at 4 years old in China. At the age of 10, she got top award of the ABRSM Grade 8. During that time, she got excellent result in many piano competitions. Whether in China, Britain or Canada, she won a scholarship each semester. During the time in Britain, she was invited to give a speech as outstanding graduate in graduation ceremony. She also worked as music teacher trainee in Southborough High School in London. During the time in Western University, she was invited as a pianist for Opera accompaniment and as a Coach for Singers. What’s more, she has studied with Angela Park who has established herself as one of Canada’s most sought-after pianists. Praised for her “stunningly beautiful pianism” (Grace Welsh Prize, Chicago), “beautiful tone and sensitivity” (American Record Guide), and for performing “with such brilliant clarity it took your breath away” (Chapala, Mexico), Angela’s versatility as both soloist and chamber musician has led to performances across Canada, as well as in the United States, Europe, Japan and Mexico. Angela is also an artist for Piano Six – New Generation, an organization that brings world-class pianists to remote communities across Canada. She is still studying and working with Angela who is full of praise for her performance. Her teaching tenet is to cultivate students’ musicality, inspire student and help them get brilliant performance.
Jolin Wang
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 6 years
Education: Bachelor of Music: Master of Music Education (Western University)
Bachelor of Music Education (Shenyang Conservatory of Music)
Language: English, Mandarin
Jolin started the piano training at the age of 4 in China. She studied with Professor Xurong Yang in Shenyang conservatory of music major in Music Education as “outstanding student”. She got the Master Degree from Western University and her research proposal was saved in Don Wright Faculty of Music as a remarkable case. Besides,she engaged in seminars of Berklee and Yale in musical psychology fields. Jolin has over 6 years of teaching experience with students from diverse backgrounds since she was an assistant lecture in college. Her teaching style is characterized by an active approach and a clear sense of direction. With her guidance,many students had achieved success in obtaining the piano grade examination certificates issued by Central conservatory of Music and ABRSM. She believes that every student is a proficient performer in potential. She try to unlock the hidden talent within each student, enabling them to become best themselves in music area.
Selina Huang
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 5 Years
Education: Bachelor of Music: Piano Performance (York University), Artist diploma of piano performance （Royal Conservotary of Music)
Language: English, Mandarin
Selina started playing piano in China at 4, studying with Professor Youdan Zhang at the China Conservatory of Music. In Canada, she continued her musical study at York University with the guidance of renowned Canadian pianists Professor Christina Petrowska Quilico and Professor Katherine Dowling. She actively participated in numerous competitions throughout this period, achieving excellent results.
With a wealth of experience in RCM piano and music theory instruction, Selina emphasizes inspiring students’ interest in music. She encourages the development of creative thinking and fosters independent perspectives on music.
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Katie Ma
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 20 years
Education: Bachelor of Music in Piano and Composition (Baptist University, HK)
Language: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
Katie Ma graduated Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Music, 2005, Hong Kong Baptist University, majoring in Piano and Composition. Over the 15 years of teaching experience, Katie’s students have gained successful result in Hong Kong School Music Festival. One of the key methodologies of teaching piano from Katie is Piano Duet which develop her students’ listening and balance of tone, focusing on rhythmic accuracy and change of dynamic.
During studying in the University, Katie Ma was elected into Baptist University Girls Choir. In 2000, The Baptist University Girls Choir was one of the representatives in Hong Kong to participate World Choir Games (ex-Choir Olympics) in Vienna, Austria. Katie Ma was glad to be a member who joined such World-class competition.
Studying music is a life-long journey. Katie didn’t stop learning new method to enrich her piano teaching. She encountered Orff approach from 2014, including singing, body movement, music jamming, which make her students learning piano in joyful way. She thinks “We could nurture children’s hearts with beautiful sound and joy.”
Joanne Wang
Instrument: Piano/ classical vocal
Experience: 5Years
Education: RCM Certified Teacher(The Royal Conservatory); Bachelor of Music
(Tianjin conservatory of music)
Language: English, Mandarin
Joanne Wang is a piano and classical vocal teacher in Toronto. She learned piano since childhood and was admitted to Tianjin Conservatory of Music with excellent grades. She study with Professor Hu Ya and join the international famous Professor Fang Jianjun’s team for ethnomusicologies study.
She is experienced in teaching vocal music from children to adults, and will teach them according to their levels. Tutored many children to take part in Chinese and RCM piano examinations and achieved excellent results.
She has good patience with beginners and believes that every child has his or her own talent in music.
Vivian Xu
Instrument：Violin
Experience: Over 15 years
Education： Bachelor and Master degree of Music ：Violin performance（Pusan National University in South Korea）
Artist diploma of first class in violin performance （ Royal Conservotary of Music）
Language： English，Mandarin，Korean
Vivian Xu began studying the violin at the age of 4. She has earned Master degree from the Pusan National University (South Korea) and graduated with first class honours and distinction. During 2014-2015, she was the principal of second violin in CAST Philomusica Orchestra in Canada.she accounts for 16 years of experience in teaching violin.her students went on to win multiple competitions all over the Canada.She tried to make her class enjoyable and efficient and cultivate students how to think independently during the practicing process.
Vincy Xiong
Instrument: Piano
Experience: Over 9 years
Education: Master of Music: Piano Performance( the University of Victoria)
Bachelor of Music: Piano Performance(Wuhan Conservatory of Music)
Language: English, Mandarin
Vincy started to play the piano at 4 years old in China. She won the audition of Primary Music School attached to WuHan Conservatory of Music when she was 11-year-old. She has 12 years of piano learning experience in WuHan Conservatory of Music. After graduated from Wuhan Conservatory of Music, she continued to study music in the University of Victoria with a full scholarship. During her graduate study she was a teaching assistant of Professor Artur Rowe and successfully conducted two solo recitals.
She won 3rd place at The Third Gulangyu Piano Festival, the National Youth Piano Competition, and the first place at the Gold Prize of ChuTian Piano competition and so on. As a piano teacher, she began to instruct her students since 2010 with considerable experience in teaching different ages and skill levels from beginners to advanced. She prepared students for the school’s annual concerts, competitions and determined the progress of the students by assigning them with appropriate tasks to practice. Vincy is very patient, Prepared and designed lessons to accommodate each child’s way of learning, she offered praise, positive encouragement, and rewards in order to keep students motivated and eager to learn and progress.
Wylie Lam
Instrument: Guitar, Bass, Drums
Experience: 4 years
Education: Audio Engineering and DJ Arts (Trebas Institute Toronto)
Language: English, Cantonese
Wylie Lam is a multi-instrument session musician in Toronto. He started playing guitar at 12. Having taught by different session musicians in Hong Kong, he learned about the music industry early on and started to pursue the mastery of different instrument, bass and drums at 15. By 18, he is working in multiple bands within Toronto music industry, playing different instruments in touring and performance needs. Having more than 8 years of live stage performance experience, he is very knowledgeable in how music, instruments, and performance go in front and behind the stage. By 27, he graduated from Trebas Institute Toronto for Audio Engineering under the guidance of Darius Szczepaniak , he mastered the arts of recording instruments, producing music and music technology. With all the experience he started teaching different instruments and music producing to students of all ages 4 years ago. Understanding how each individual learn and understand music, he always sculpt and personalized individual lesson plans for each student, helping them to learn more easy, fun and efficient.
Aaron Chong
Instrument: Drums
Experience: Over 11 years
Education: Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance (University of Toronto)
Language: English, Cantonese
Aaron Chong started taking drum lessons as a hobby when he was at the age of 16, and moved to Canada a year later where his musical journey began to take off. During his late highschool years, he was inspired by his former teachers when they introduced him to jazz and latin music. Since then, he began pursuing music and attended University of Toronto’s jazz performance program while expanding his skills in education and performing in public venuesaround Toronto.
Aaron is versatile in a wide variety of styles including rock, jazz, latin, funk, pop and electronic music. He has experience performing in small jazz ensembles, big bands, choirs, concert bands, rock/pop bands and church worship bands. Shifting his focus towards education, he started to coach bands in high schools, churches and also help prepare students with their auditions into music programs in percussion and theory. Aaron is known to be very engaging and patient towards children as he has worked in summer camps for many years. He hopes to inspire students and help them find their own creative and uniqueness in drumming.
