The Teachers

Melody Tam is Harp Column Artist, her transcriptions and music arrangements are being published on the Harp Column website. She has obtained a reputation as the harp ambassador in Hong Kong. Having won numerous awards on both harp and piano competition, she performed in Japan, Italy, France, The Netherlands, China, and Korea. Melody is one of the founders of the Hong Kong Harp Quartet. 

Melody’s students won numerous prizes. She has been awarded certificates for her outstanding commitment to music education and excellence in teaching. Most of her students got a Distinction on their ABRSM Exam.
“In my philosophy of teaching, I love to work with students in all aspects: create beautiful tone color, understand and analyze on music, working on technique, prepare for auditions or competitions, build up their careers as well as build up an esthetic conception of arts. 

My charity contributions including : ” Plan International” which helps give children educational opportunities in Third World. With “Oxfam Hong Kong ” I performed in a fundraising concert and offered a free masterclass to students who donated for the poverty alleviation.”

“My name is Anna Castellari, I am an Italian Harpist who studied at “Conservatorio Superior de Musica J. Rodrigo” in Valencia (Spain), under the guidance of Cristina Montes Mateo. I am grateful to my amazing teacher for her support and attention; particularly to encourage me to achieve international prizes and awards as “World Classical Music Awards”, “Universal Stars Music Competition”, “Best Classical Musicians Awards. “Global Genius Music Competition”, “La Villavella Classical Music Competition”, “Premio Crescendo-Citta’ di Firenze”.

During the pandemic years, I decided to caught the audience directly at home, providing them the opportunity to listen to my last CD “Chertok, Watkins, Maros, Britten, Mathias: Nocturne (Harp Suite from 1948 to 1988)”.With my music I hope to be a source of strength to people during hard times.

I love all the musical genres, with a preference for classical music.

Before concerts and competitions, I stay relaxed, and focused on my own repertoire. I also ensure my music in detail by analysing it, creating images with the sound, and study mentally studying the score. Lastly, I make sure that I am well-rested.

I am a Harp Teacher and Performer and my dream is to share my knowledge and music with others, not only in my country, but also giving the opportunity to listen to this undiscovered instrument to all by being involved in charitable projects.”

“Brazilian violinist Dr. Marcio Candido has performed extensively worldwide as a soloist, concertmaster and chamber musician. His most recent album, Brazil x Argentina, was awarded several prizes, including two gold stars at the Music & Stars Awards 2021, a silver medal at the 2020 Global Music Awards (emerging artist and new release), and a nomination for the Anchorage Press Person of the Year 2020. In 2021 Dr. Candido made his debut at Carnegie Hall, having been awarded first prize at the 2021 Golden Classical Music Awards. Additionally, he made his solo debut at Teatro Studio-Parco della Musica in Rome, Italy, having been awarded first prize as well at the 2021 International Music Competition “Rome” Grand Prize Virtuoso. 

the professors who most influenced me were Eric Rosenblith, Roman Totenberg, Peter Zazofsky, and Paulo Bosisio. They all have not only helped me in shaping my musicianship but also enabled me with the necessary tools so I could be a teacher of my own.

My primary goal in teaching is to inspire students to become self-motivated artists, who will foster a desire in learning, performing, and teaching. I believe in a flexible manner of instruction, responsive to the student’s personality and state of mind—every student, regardless of their backgrounds, can improve at different degrees their artistry. My goal is to enhance the student’s ability to analyze, discuss, and understand their musical output— in short, offering tools in order to help the student to become a thinker and not merely a player.

In my achievements in my carreer, there are the prizes such as the gold and silver stars at the Music & Star Awards for my latest album “Brazil x Argentina”, the silver medal at the Global Music Awards, and the solo debuts at Carnegie Hall in New York and at  Teatro Studio-Parco della Musica in Rome, Italy. And of course, my students achievements. 

Mt favoiurite performers are Heifetz, Oistrakh, and Gitlis.

If I had to choose a humanitarian project to sustain would be to provide music education for the underprivileged cultures.  Promoting that is a possible way of contributing for a more equal society—in short, that is the purpose of my art.  “

Chu Ping Lin was a former principal violist of the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra and the founding member of the Taiwan String Quartet.  She was previously on the viola faculty at the National Taipei, Taichung University Education and Tung Hai University in Taiwan. She has been on the faculty of the Claremont Community School of Music in California since 2014.  

“The renowned violist, Martha Katz, is one of the professors who influences me the most. She is a very spiritual artist, and I have learnt not only music skills but also a sense of humanity from her.

My teaching philosophy is to explore the origin of individual players and encourage them to expand their abilities by showing them the various possibilities of techniques.

My students have won the top/grand prizes at local, national, and international competitions including Vancouver, American Virtuoso, Chicago, North, Vivo, Greece Muse, Great Composers International Competitions, International Young Musician Competition “City of Barletta”, Festivalul de Arte International Strings & Chamber, American Protégé, Opus, John Walker, National Taiwan Music Competitions, and have received invitations to perform at Carnegie Hall, NY, as well as Salzburg, Austria and Bonn, Germany. They have joined the youth orchestras and chamber music workshops such as Claremont Young Musicians Orchestra, American Youth Symphony.

My favorite performers are Pablo Casals, Maria Callas, Glenn Gould, Ruggiero Ricci, Joseph Szigeti, Fritz Kreisler, Arthur Grumiaux, Clara Haskil, Alfred Cortot and Lillian Fuchs. Their performances are timeless classics that convey the inner soul and resonate with the listeners.” “If I had to choose a humanitarian project to sustain, I would like to advocate for people with disabilities and orphan disease to support their human right for better inclusivity and promote the research of rare diseases.”

“I was born in İzmir-Turkey and started my violin studies when I was 10 at the preparation class of the Dokuz Eylül University İzmir State Conservatory. In 2001 I became an official student of the same conservatory and got my bachelor degree in 2009 as a student of Prof. Jerrold Rubenstein. While continuing my stage career as an orchestra member, chamber musician and soloist I had my masters degree in 2015 as Prof. Joshua Epstein’s student and Phd degree in 2020 as Prof. Ildiko Moog’s student. I’ve been continuing my concerts and have a violin class in Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory since March 2020.

I was mostly influenced by Prof. Jerrold Rubenstein. I was so lucky to  to be his student and translate his lessons from English to Turkish; so that I was able to learn his teaching philosophy. For him, each student was precious and had their own levels and his aim was to help them to reach their own highest limits.

Like my professor, I also believe that every student of mine has their own limits and I am here to show them their potential and help them to reach their best versions.

I think being violinist is an achievement itself! But If I need to write the most important ones, I was the concertmeister of the National Turkish Orchestra in 2007 and also 2nd concertmeister of International Animato Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2014 and I was the only Turkish violinist at International Davos Festival in 2014, 2015 and 2017. I always tried to be capable of every possible areas such as chamber music, orchestra, teaching, giving solo concerts etc. Because I believe that If we need to became a good professor we should have enough experience and an active career.

My favourite performers are Ginette Neveu, Henryk Szeryng, David Oistrakh, Itzhak Perlman, Janine Jansen, Julia Fischer, Yehudi Menuhin, Ayla Erduran, Suna Kan and a very very long list that I would like to continue writing but I know that I should keep it shorter than I would love to!

Do you know the “Island of Flowers”? For two years I’ve been a sociology student at İzmir Democracy University. This is my second university and inspiring me a lot! As an artist, I believe that we should be more connected with the different cultures and societies. I have seen this “Island of Flowers” documentary by Jorge Furtado thanks to my sociology professor and now have a dream! I would love to help that poor people suffering there who had to eat the garbage and feel less precious than pigs. I would love to organise a concert for them and supply enough food.”

He studied with Mario Brunello, Enrico Dindo, Johannes Goritzki, Siegfried Palm and Trio di Trieste after graduating with full marks at the Como Conservatory. He has been teaching for years and is a teacher at the Novara Conservatory. Regularly invited as Second Cello at the Teatro alla Scala, he has collaborated for 30 years with the best orchestras: National Academy of Santa Cecilia, Rai National Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie, First Cello in the Verdi orchestra of Milan and Soloists of Pavia. He was also a finalist at the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Orquestra Simfònica de Barcelona, Opernhaus Zürich.

“My first teacher Paolo Beschi and my teacher in Como Conservatory Guido Boselli influenced me the most. Then I continued  with Mario Brunello, Enrico Dindo, Johannes Goritzki and Trio di Trieste who also influenced me a lot.

My philosophy of teaching i combining severity and lightness, understanding and improving the difficulties of individual students by adapting my personal method.”

Andrea Scacchi has distinguished in concours and auditions in the principal Italian orchestras and in Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam,  
 Orchestra Simfonica de Barcelona, Opernhaus Zurich Orchestra. I was First cello in orchestra Sinfonica G.Verdi of Milan and I regularly collaborate as Second Cello with Teatro alla Scala.
Winner of Premio Nazionale delle Arti 2006 (Best cello player of Italian Conservatories- 2006) by Italian Ministry of University. 

“My favourite performers are Mario Brunello, Truls Mork, Miklos Pereny , Jean-Guyen Queiras. “

Yoana has enjoyed a dynamic musical career as a concert pianist, pedagogue, and adjudicator. Her mission is to prepare students to exceed their creative an artistic talent in cultivating a musical way of playing with sensitive tone quality.
Yoana’s students have received first class honors and medals in RCM exams, and have been also recognized through awards and scholarships locally, nationally, and internationally in music festivals, competitions, and master classes.

“One of the professors that influenced me the most is Mr. Eric Larsen, (my piano professor) during my graduate studies at UNCSA (USA). His patience, and understanding in a very deep level that can open the hidden door to music-making and freedom of personal expression.

My philosophy of teaching is to prepare students to exceed their creative an artistic talent in cultivating a musical way of playing with sensitive tone quality.

I have Doctor of Music degree in piano performance. I also have full private teaching studio in Edmonton. My students have received first class honors and medals in RCM exams, and have been also recognized through awards and scholarships locally, nationally, and internationally in music festivals, competitions, and master classes. These are my biggest achievements.

My favourite performers are Vladimir Horowitz, Anton Rubinstein, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Glenn Gould, Maurizio Pollini,  Ivo Pogorelic and many more. I love Old School!

As a humanitarian project I would chose is the future of classical music.”

Known for her mellifluous voice and singing agility, Gynger Soh, the Malaysian Soprano is amongst the leading vocal teacher in Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia. Having won various singing competition titles under her belt, her classical singing experience has included multiple performing opportunities in Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia, Brunei, Australia,Singapore,Taiwan and New York for festivals and competitions. She has developed a strong passion for education and has been actively involved in the field since 2003.  Encouraged by the drive to cultivate musical wholeness, one of Gynger’s most distinguished traits as a voice tutor lies in her ability to engage completely in the lives of her students; enabling a learning process that transcends outside the classroom. Gynger is the Artistic Director/Founder of VOICES IN BLOOM International Singing Competition and the Academy Director of Young Choral Academy,USJ. 

“I believe one of the purpose that God created human is to sing and praise HIM . Everyone has a unique voice and different personality. Discover and release my student ‘s full potential with passion and love is my philosophy of teaching.

Many of my students have been awarded amazing results in the International Music Competitions at China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Germany, Austria, Canada, United States & Malaysia. And I have successfully organised and conducted a charity concert for the Alumni Choir of Taiwan Cheng Kung University Malaysia- [Voices of Compassion] with the presence of 700 audiences in 2019, raised Thirty Thousand Malaysia Ringgit for an old folks House.

If I had to choose a humanitarian project to sustain , I would choose to sponsor a hungry child who lives in a poor country and be a sponsor for all the charity works in my church – Christian Gospel Missionary (CGM) Malaysia.”

Dr. Svetlana Belsky is a concert pianist, recording artist, author, and above all, an enthusiastic teacher and lecturer. Her areas of expertise is Baroque pedagogy, the pianistic and compositional legacy of Ferruccio Busoni and the music of early 20^th century.

I have been remarkably blessed with my teachers, who between them, define American piano pedagogy to a great extent. During high school, I studied with Chicago’s beloved Emilio del Rosario, who endowed all his students with a profound belief that, with sufficient work, nothing is ever impossible. My undergraduate and Master’s studies were with Anne Schein, who taught me to love music with all of my heart. I received my Doctorate under Nina Svetlanova, who taught me to really listen, analyse, think, and create worlds in sound.

My philosophy of teaching is that every aspiring musician’s potential is greater than they think it is.

I am most proud of my work on the legacy of Ferruccio Busoni, my book, my various performances, CDs and lectures about him.  I am also rather pleased with winning the American Prize in Solo Piano in 1919 for my CD of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring in a solo piano version by V. Leyetchkiss.

Too many favourite performers to count. Maurizio Pollini was the first pianist I fell in love with.  The late Yuri Egorov was the one I mourned the most when the world lost him.

If I had to choose a humanitarian project it would be one quite outside of music – my charitable contributions always go to childrens’ hospitals and organisations which support injured veterans and first responders.

Born into a family of violin pedagogue in China, Yakun Liu currently serves as a violinst as well as a violin teacher at the Uni-Art e.V. in Hamburg, Germany. She studied playing violin with Prof. Shaokuan Ma und Prof. Yiyong Zhao at Xi’an Conservatory in China. In Germany, she studied with David-Maria Gramse at Hamburger Conservatory and completed her master’s degree there. She also received Master Classes with Prof. Nachum Erlich in Karlsruhe and with Prof. Hans-Peter Hofmann in Saarbrücken.

“All my professors inspired me to different degree in the professional field. In terms of technical improvement as well as work’s style, they all gave me useful and unforgettable suggestions. For example, good tone quality should be ‘even, accurate and beautiful’; pay attention to the clean tone quality when practicing; use relative relaxation when practice and perform, and so on.

I believe that basic skills are the foundation of all kinds of performance. Music and technique always go together. Even if a player has a good understanding of music, without correct playing technique he still cannot play well. Therefore, I put the most emphasis on the basic skills when teaching students. And I teach students in accordance with their own aptitude. In order to motivate my students, I create opportunities as much
as I can to let them perform and take part in the competitions.

Since I have been teaching students in Germany in the past three years, my students have won several First and Second Prizes, and I have been awarded Best Teacher several times in the international competitions. For example, in the Music & Stars Awards International Competition in 2021, my student won the Gold Star Medal. I am very honoured that my students and I were recognised by the jury.”