MERRY MELODY
MUSIC ACADEMY
“The teachers are extremely patient and encouraging which keeps us coming back year after year!”
- Laura, Westwood
CONTACT US
Piano
Vivian Tsang
Piano Program Director

Katherine Anderson | Piano


A native of New York, Katie began studying music at the age of five, began giving piano lessons at sixteen, and received her Bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Rhode Island in 2005. Since that time, Katie's love of music and teaching has taken her to many different places, from a little piano studio in Rhode Island, all the way to Japan. Before relocating to Massachusetts, she spent a year teaching elementary general music at the Harlem Promise Academy in New York City. Katie has many diverse hobbies, but music, by far, is number one. She looks forward to each and every opportunity she has to share and spread that love of music with others.

Katherine
Anderson

Colleen Averill | Piano


Colleen Averill is a pianist and composer from Texas. She is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Film Scoring from the Berklee College of Music. She started piano at the age of 3, and fell in love with music. Growing up, she learned a variety of musical styles, before studying jazz at Berklee. Outside of piano, her musical interests span the orchestra as a composer. Before coming to Berklee as a music major, Colleen was at Texas A&M. An experienced teacher, Colleen is passionate about equipping students with the tools necessary to foster a love for music. She hopes to help make music understandable and exciting to all her students.

Colleen
Averill

Hope Banach | Piano


Hope is a native of Boston, MA, where she began her musical studies in piano, musical theater, and classical voice. A recent graduate of Northwestern University, Hope holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance after studying under the tutelage of international soprano Nancy Gustafson, coaching with vocal coach and pianist Richard Boldrey, and participating in masterclasses from master teacher Marlena Malas and renowned soprano Barbara Bonney. Hope has extensive performance experience as a vocalist, having performed as a soprano and alto in Northwestern’s University Singers, University Chorale, and The Renaissance Singers, and participating in several university productions, including Les aventures du roi Pausole, Iolanthe, Trial and Error, Interim, and 1776, as well as giving recitals. Hope knows the effects a good music teacher can have on students and aspires to equip students with the tools and encouragement necessary to foster a love for music and help them reach their fullest musical potential!

Hope
Banach

Evan Butler | Piano


Evan Butler has a Master of Music in Music Education from University of Massachusetts Lowell, a second Master of Music in Jazz Performance from William Peterson University, and a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from McGill University. Evan began playing the saxophone in elementary school, and he knew he would pursue music for the rest of his life. A multi-faceted musician, Evan plays the saxophone, piano, drums, and guitar, all of which he has a lifelong commitment to ever-increasing development. His interests are multi-faceted: on the one hand he has an uncontestable passion for jazz and pop/rock music, as well as a rival passion for education. Evan believes that musical ‘genius’ is available to all who seek it and feels called upon to instill this philosophy to all, thus providing the joy of music to everyone and anyone. He is positive, friendly and enjoys the company of both children and adults.

Evan
Butler

Annie Chen | Piano


Annie Chen is a native Taiwanese classical and jazz pianist. She holds Bachelor Degree in Classical Music from National Hsinchu University on a scholarship award, and also accepted on scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music. She’s also former principal Oboist in Hsinchu City Hall wind orchestra band. Annie has taught Yamaha piano while in Taiwan, and she is an experienced teacher in Alexander Technique and Dalcroze Eurhythmics. She has been teaching piano and accompanying for many kind of instruments for more than ten years, and many of her students have participated in piano examinations, competitions and other events. She leads student with awakening, developing and refining innate musicality through rhythmic movement, ear-training and improvisation. Annie is focus on her music development and feels passionately to lead her students into magical music world by her faith.

Annie
Chen

Ray Demers | Piano


A recent graduate of Berklee College of Music, Ray Demers is not only a teacher but a jazz pianist, composer, sound designer, voice actor, producer, and wearer of many other hats. He has been playing the piano for around 18 years now and has been teaching for 6 years. On his business card he is a musician but in his heart he is a gamer. Growing up with soundtracks from the most interactive art form out there has inspired how he views music and how he views the world. He hopes to be able to inspire others the same way.

Ray
Demers

Sean Devlin | Piano


Sean Devlin is a pianist and composer from Pennsylvania. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Berklee College of Music, majoring in Film Scoring and minoring in Video Game Scoring . At 4 years old, after hearing his older sisters play piano, Sean fell in love with it and hasn't looked back since. He grew up learning classical music before expanding into pop and jazz. Sean is deeply passionate about video games and works creating both music and sound effects for them. Sean is dedicated to showing students how both fun and fulfilling music can be.

Sean
Devlin

Marissa Dyer | Piano


Soprano Marissa Dyer is an enthusiastic voice and piano teacher dedicated to building community and connection through music education and performance. Marissa’s studio is an imaginative space for students to explore their unique artistry and musical craft. She loves working with students of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds, supporting every student in achieving their goals. Marissa is a firm believer in student led learning and that every student deserves lessons crafted to their needs, interests, and personalities. A diverse singer, Marissa performs a variety of styles including opera, oratorio, musical theater, jazz, and choral works. Favorite past roles include Barbarina in Boston Opera Collaborative’s Marriage of Figaro, Monica from The Medium with Old Town Actors Studio, and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls with Idaho State Opera Theater. Marissa holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Idaho State University and a Master of Opera from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. When she isn’t busy teaching and singing, Marissa enjoys cooking, crafting, walking her pup Quincy and snuggling her cat Oliver.

Marissa
Dyer

Amanda Fandos Andres | Piano


Amanda Fandos is a pianist, composer, and conductor from Barcelona, Spain. She graduated from Berklee College of Music ('22) with a Bachelor Degree in Composition and Film Scoring, specializing in Orchestral Conducting. Prior to that, she did her studies at the Conservatori Superior del Liceu in Barcelona, Spain studying Contemporary Classical Composition. Her career as a pianist started at the age of six years old, thriving in classical music, and later on, she started learning other genres such as pop, rock, blues, and jazz. She has won numerous awards and scholarships, including the Amy Beach Award and the Thrive Scholarship and the Berklee World Tour Scholarship. Amanda has twelve years of experience teaching private piano lessons and in music academies. She has experience working with a wide range of ages and levels, from three years old to adults. She is very flexible, always adapting to the student's needs and finding a way to make the learning experience fun and enjoyable.

Amanda
F.

Alena Feldman | Piano


Alena Feldman received her Bachelor of Music from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee under the tutelage of Professor Frank Kelley. She is looking forward to starting her graduate studies this year at Boston University College of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Professor Bitzas. Alena has over 10 years of music making experience and likes to create a holistic environment in her teaching studio. She has been studying classical vocal performance for 12 years, but has ample experience in musical theater singing as well. Alena is a multi-faceted musician whose other instrumental studies include violin, guitar, electric bass, and piano. Some of her favorite roles include: Idamante (Idomeneo), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), Bernarda Alba (Bernarda Alba), and Mina (Dracula). Ms. Feldman's other interests include martial arts, which she has been studying since she was 4 years old. She received her black belt and has teaching experience in that art form as well. Alena will be certified in the Alexander technique in May 2023 and has a unique teaching style, which she attributes to her studies in the Alexander technique. She believes the student is the whole instrument and that connecting to mind and body will bring out their true voice.

Alena
Feldman

Winston Feliz | Piano


Pianist and composer Winston Feliz has over twelve years of music teaching experience. With experience in various music methods, including the Suzuki Method, he has taught people between four years and 50 years of age. Winston began his music career at a young age. As the son of a church minister he organized and directed various church musical groups and accompanied the groups on keyboard and organ. Winston then began his own music school and audio recording/mixing studio in Humacao, Puerto Rico, where for ten years he instructed many students of all ages. He also became the director and keyboard player of the pop musical group “Eclipse”, which won performance and compositions awards including being twice-awarded the prestigious “Festival San Juan de la Cancion” (San Juan Song Festival) in Puerto Rico. Winston attended Berklee College of Music and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 2000. During his education at Berklee he was selected to be part of the “World Music” exchange student program in the Rotterdam Conservatory in Holland. Following graduation Winston continued his music career as an educator and music producer concentrating on his interest in music education technology. Winston’s specialty is his ability to tailor his instruction method to diverse students of all ages and abilities and to excite their passion in a musical piano and keyboard style of their own liking.

Winston
Feliz

Marissa Fieland | Piano


Marissa Fieland received her Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory. She is originally from the West Coast but came to Boston to study music where she was a recipient of the Andy Anselmo scholarship. Marissa is one of those talented musicians who excel in several instruments - voice, piano and percussion. She is an experienced and versatile teacher who is experienced in classical music, but also other genres such as musical theater and pop. Marissa performed at Carnegie Hall in 2017 as a finalist for the High School Honors Performance Series and recently placed second in the International Art of Artsong Competition in 2019. A Soprano, Marissa’s operatic roles include: Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte, Countessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Alice in Falstaff, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Mimi in La bohème and Antonia in Les contes d'Hoffmann. Marissa aspires to give her students the tools they need to express themselves musically and to assist her students in their musical journey.

Marissa
Fieland

Ivan Gueorguiev | Piano


Ivan Gueorguiev graduated from the University of Texas A&M-Commerce in the Spring of 2016 and holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance. While there, he studied piano with Dr. Luis Sanchez and Organ as a secondary instrument with Dr. Lerie Dellosa. Ivan also had the opportunity to teach through a school program and accompany voice majors in performance. Ivan previously studied with Dr. Brian Allison through a local community college before attending undergrad. He relocated to the Boston area in the summer of 2017 to pursue graduate school. Throughout his studies, Ivan has been actively performing locally. Some of these performances include: fundraiser performance, Christmas party at a residential office, Steinway Hall, Dallas Meyerson Symphony Hall, as well as accompanying an elementary school choir, and a part in a church program. Ivan has been teaching for 6 years and is always excited to help aspiring musicians of any age or level grow into the artist they want to be and build their passion for music. Ivan's goal is to continue reaching out to students of all levels through the joy of music.

Ivan
Gueorguiev

Isabella Harkopf | Piano


Pianist, clarinetist, and educator Isabella Harkopf received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Music Performance from Boston University. Isabella is a native of Connecticut where she began her piano studies at the age of 9. She has taught private piano, clarinet, and guitar lessons through Musical Mentors Collaborative as well as general music and band in public schools in Massachusetts and has taught using the Kodály methodology as well as Music Learning Theory. Isabella believes in encouraging each student to take ownership of their own musicianship and cultivating students’ joy for making music in ways that are meaningful to them.

Isabella
Harkopf

William Holloman | Piano


William (Bill) Holloman is finishing his Bachelor Degree at the Clark University School of Music studying Composition and Theory. He is studying under Guggenheim Fellowship-receiving composer John Aylward and is instructed in voice by Cailin Manson. A countertenor and pianist, he has been active in music since a young age and his father has toured with many renowned artists. He works for Brian Keane, Emmy-award winning composer on film-scores and soundtracks, arranging and editing sheet music. Bill has taught voice and piano to students ranging from ages 8 to 50 in contemporary, classical, blues, and jazz. Bill has played hundreds of gigs, recitals, weddings and performances in many styles as well as having spent two seasons as principal countertenor with The Hartford Chorale. He is very excited to bring his skills and experience to children to impart everything he has learned as well as learn as much as he can with the students and teachers at Merry Melody!

William
Holloman

Almira Izumchensky | Piano


Originally from Saint-Petersburg, Almira Izumchensky is a diverse collaborative pianist and composer. Almira studied Piano Performance and Composition at Berklee College of Music and Kazakh Conservatory. She is the recipient of numerous scholarships and composition awards as a pianist and composer. Equally experienced in classical as well as contemporary styles, her recent collaborations include chamber and choral concerts in Carnegie Hall with Schiller Institute, as well as Cathedral of St. John the Divine with Paul Winter Consort and “Pletenitsa” Balkan Choir. Currently, Almira is about to pursue Master of Arts in Composition in New England Conservatory. She is a very passionate teacher and has been privately teaching piano and composition for 7 years. She aims to help students to find their unique voice and and obtain a solid technical foundation.

Almira
I.

Joshua Jandreau | Piano


Joshua Jandreau is a composer, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist currently based in Boston, Massachusetts. His music has been performed, premiered, and recorded by orchestras, chamber music groups, and solo artists across the United States and Switzerland. A passionate arts educator, Joshua has been awarded grants to provide music and arts opportunities to students of low-income families. Recently, he served as a guest speaker at the 2016 Arizona Music Educator Association conference for incorporating technology in the musical classroom. As an instrumentalist, Joshua served as principal tuba with the University of Maine Symphonic Band and has played with many brass and chamber groups; as a guitarist, he routinely performs as a solo-artist; and as a pianist, he performs as a chamber musician and choir accompanist.

Joshua
Jandreau

Eunhye Jeong | Piano


Born in Seoul, Korea in 1986, Eunhye Jeong began her piano studies at the age of 4. At the Berklee College of Music, where she received her Bachelor Degree in Film Scoring/Performance dual major and Global Studies minor in 2013, she had the honor to study with the award-winning film composer George S. Clinton. She also had the opportunity to undertake studies with the internationally acclaimed jazz pianist/composer Vadim Neselovskyi, among others. Living in the urban hotbed of multicultural Boston, she was able to explore global musical traditions from African to Middle Eastern countries, and elsewhere. This exploration became the motivation for her to connect more deeply to her own roots. In founding Sigimsae - Berklee Korean Traditional Music Society, she extended her awareness of Korean traditional music and her vision of theretofore unexplored musical possibilities. In addition, she engaged in multifarious crossover projects that included conducting, performing in concerts, writing, recording, and several clinics. Eunhye Jeong is truly a contemporary musical renaissance person. Utilizing her many talents, she is an active pianist, composer, film composer, arranger, music director, Korean percussionist, and piano teacher currently based in Boston.

Eunhye
Jeong

Jennifer Judd | Piano


Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance for Voice from Westfield State College in 1998. She began teaching voice and piano in 1997, working for some local lesson centers, as well as running her own lesson center for 6 years. Jennifer has assisted as music director for theater groups and has been a conductor for several local and national church choir concerts, particularly through the Polish National Catholic Church. As a choir member, she has enjoyed performing with the Schola Nova Chorus, Springfield Symphony Chorus and Westfield Community Chorus. Jennifer has recorded and continues to record with recording artists known as Autumn Tears, has appeared as backup singer for underground metal bands…and then changed it up for a time by touring as backup singer with a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Changes In Latitudes. These days she dedicates a lot of her focus on yoga, which incorporates a lot of singing and breathing techniques, and where she is learning to play the harmonium. Jennifer feels that we are our own best teachers. Her focus is to help students to be interested in self-discovery - to find that strength, courage and self-discipline within themselves and cultivate it. And, of course, all learning is a more enjoyable experience if we allow ourselves to stand in that power.

Jennifer
Judd

Juha Kim | Piano


Juha Jay Kim has impressed audiences worldwide with her unique artistry, a blending of commanding techniques, and elegant musicality. She is finishing her Graduate Performance Diploma and working on a Masters Degree in Piano Performance at Boston Conservatory at Berklee with Korean legendary pianist Prof. Jung-Ja Kim. She received her Bachelor Degree of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Ulsan in Ulsan, Korea. In South Korea, She owned and ran the Muse Music Academy, and she is also one of the Ulsan Pianist Club members. She has been teaching in various music educational institutes in South Korea and the United States for over 10 years.

Juha
Kim

Holly Krafka | Piano


Holly MacEwen Krafka teaches voice and piano. She has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Gettysburg College and a Masters in Conducting from the Boston Conservatory, where she studied both voice and piano. Ms. Krafka is founder and Artistic Administrator of the New World Chorale, performing with Boston’s major orchestras at venues such as Sanders Theater, the Hatch Shell, Fenway Park, Jordan Hall, the Opera House and the Wang Center with the Boston Ballet. She has taught music and chorus at both public and private schools, as well as her own voice studio. Her children’s choruses have performed at the Colonial Theater in Boston and European tours. She has decades of experience in teaching classical, opera, musical theater, jazz, pop, contemporary a cappella, sacred and secular music as well as theory and music history. Her other love is her precious baby granddaughter, and following the careers of her three very musical sons.

Holly
Krafka

Rainice Lai | Piano


Rainice Lai holds Graduate Performance Degrees from New England Conservatory and Boston University, a Masters degree from Temple University, and a Bachelor degree from the Boston Conservatory. A pianist and percussionist, Rainice was born and raised in Hong Kong where she started playing piano and percussion from a young age. She has performed with numerous ensembles across the US, Asia and Europe. She has served as a guest percussionist with professional orchestras such as Philharmonia Orchestra London, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Macau Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and New World Symphony. As an active chamber musician, Rainice has appeared in the Boston Symphony Orchestra Prelude Series, Boston’s leading contemporary ensemble ‘Callithumpian Consort’, the Summer Institute of Contemporary Performance Practice; she also appeared on the Dutch National Classical Music TV Channel, Podium Witteman, as a guest percussionist with Fuse Ensemble.

Rainice
Lai

Enjie Lian | Piano


Enjie is finishing his Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College under the tutelage of Dr. Christopher Sierra. He has sung with some prestigious organizations like Seattle Opera for the leading role of Happy Prince in " Wilde Tales", and the First Sailor(Cover) in " Dido and Aeneas" at Boston Camarata. He also has played piano for many years, studying piano in high school and at Longy. Being and experienced teacher in both voice and piano, Enjie is willing to explore music with his students no matter their age. His teaching philosophy is for his students to learn how to sing and play in a healthy way and with good foundations, but still find the musical and emotional voice in everyone.

Enjie
Lian

Xiaohe Liu | Piano


Xiaohe Liu is a passionate and hardworking classical pianist who graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Bachelors in Piano Performance, under the guidance of Professor Ya-Fei Chuang. Born in Xi’an, China, he started learning piano at the age of 5. He has been professionally learning piano for more than 16 years and has extensive experience in solo and chamber music performance. During his piano studies, he participated and won many major piano competitions, including First Prize in the Professional Group A of the 77th Steinway International Youth Piano Competition China Grand Final in 2013. He is a friendly and dedicated teacher with many years of teaching experience helping students of all levels to reach a higher level of excellence in piano performance.

Xiaohe
Liu

Scott Lyman | Piano


Scott Lyman graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from UMASS Dartmouth, with an emphasis on Jazz Piano. He has classroom music teaching experience in all grades K-12 and is licensed to teach music in the public schools in Massachusetts. Playing the piano since he was 9 years old, Scott is currently a gigging musician and recording artist. Scott plays keyboard in his band Background Orcs, who has developed quite a following and frequently performs around the Boston area! He has been the musical director at the 20 Cent FictionTheatre Company, leading them to several musicals such as Sweeney Todd, Reefer Madness and Cannibal: The Musical. He has also gone to Ghana, West Africa for a trip to learn African Drum and Dance, so his musical background is quite diverse! He is very excited to be teaching private lessons and hope to inspire his students to develop as much passion for music as he has!

Scott
Lyman

Inga Mironov | Piano


Inga Mironov is an experienced piano teacher who has taught private piano lessons for over 20 years in the United States as well as in her home country of Lithuania. Inga holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Choir Conducting from Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre and a Master of Music Degree in Music Education from Lithuanian University of Educational Sciences. Inga has an extensive experience in working with young children. She is a very patient, positive and upbeat teacher who personalizes her lessons to each of her students’ needs to help them reach their full potential and to love music. Many of Inga’s students have successfully participated in piano examinations as well as other music events. Besides teaching private piano lessons Inga has also taught general music to elementary and high school students and directed children choir in Lithuania. She has also been a Music Director at FBC Medfield for 15 years now, where she plays organ, piano and works with adult and children singers. Inga lives in Natick with her husband and two daughters.

Inga
Mironov

Amber Naugle | Piano


Originally from Missouri, Amber Naugle earned her Master of Music in Voice Performance from the Boston Conservatory in 2019 under the tutelage of Victor Jannett. She arrived in New England after obtaining her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, studying under Stella Roden, and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Ms. Naugle studied voice and piano from an early age and is accomplished in both instrument. She has performed voice in Italy, France, and across the United States. Her notable roles are Mother (Hansel und Gretel), Pamina (The Magic Flute), La Princesse (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges), Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), and Despina (Così Fan Tutte). During her undergraduate studies, Ms. Naugle served for 2 years as President of the Student Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She also virtually teaches English to Chinese children aged 3-18 and aspires to bring fun and positive energy into every class setting. She strives to understand her students on a personal level to better tailor the learning experience to the students’ interest.

Amber
Naugle

Yana Onufriychuk | Piano


Yana recently moved to Boston to pursue her Masters Degree at the Boston Conservatory of Music on a scholarship. Before moving to Boston, she received her Bachelor of Music at Syracuse University where she studied with Laura Bossert. She also studied in Ithaca College with Calvin Wiersma. Yana started piano at the age of 8 and has been taking piano lessons all the way through her music career path along with the violin. She studied piano with Dr. Kevin Moore while doing her undergraduate studies. She performed with many orchestras and has been doing solo works as well. Yana believes that piano and violin are very close instruments and she is one of the very few who has mastered both of them.

Yana
O.

Aiko Onuma | Piano


Aiko Onuma is a keyboard/piano player and instructor, and a music therapist She holds a degree in music therapy from Berklee College of Music, in Boston, MA. After over 10 years of varied performance experience as a professional piano player and several years of teaching experience throughout Japan, Aiko moved to the United States. She has been teaching the piano, performing as a piano and keyboard player, working as a music therapist with the elderly and autistic children, and supervising music therapy students. In 2006, she developed a new music therapy program at Deutchen Altenheim, West Roxbury, MA as their first music therapist. She has given keyboard workshops for music therapy students at Berklee College of Music as her unique method of using the keyboard and improvisation has been recognized. Currently she performs on piano and keyboard both independently and with several bands. Aiko hopes to incorporate her skills as a music therapist into teaching her students, as being a music therapist gives her unique insights into the human mind, as well as a strong ability to recognize the needs of each student.

Aiko
Onuma

Daniel Paik | Piano


Daniel Paik is a pianist and composer from Los Angeles, California. He has a Bachelor Degree from Berklee College of Music in Jazz Composition. He started piano at the age of 6 and decided that he wanted to pursue a career in music when he joined his high school Jazz band. He is a wonderful jazz pianist and an experienced teacher. He is well versed in all genres, but currently mostly performs jazz music. Daniel has hopes of not only passing on what he has learned from his teachers, but also getting his students passionate about the music they are studying. This is because he believes that being in love with one’s craft is the key to fast learning.

Daniel
Paik

Cholong Park | Piano


Cholong Park is a pianist specializing in new music. She earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Florida State University where she studied under the guidance of Dr. David Kalhous. Throughout Cholong Park’s active music career, she has developed a wide range of repertoire and discovered that chamber music, contemporary works, and piano pedagogy are her forte. She is a founding member of two chamber groups, an award-winning ensemble What Is Noise, as well as mixed chamber ensemble Some Assembly Required. In May 2014, Park made her Carnegie Hall debut performing solo and ensemble works. Park released her first album with Justin Croushore entitled "Stuff" in Fall 2017 and her ensemble What Is Noise’s debut album "Equivocal Duration" in March 2019. Besides her music career as a pianist, she was a director of international affairs at DMZ International Music Festival in South Korea and serves as the artistic director of "Voices of North Korean Refugees" dedicated to raising funds for North Korean refugees. She has been teaching students since 2002 and has taught students of all ages & levels.

Cholong
Park

John Rei | Piano


John Rei is native to Rhode Island, where he began his piano journey at the age of 5. In college, he studied Chemistry and Music, while composing music for the performing groups of Rhode Island College and the Community College of Rhode Island. He has performed with the Warwick Symphony Orchestra, RIC Percussion Ensemble, CCRI Opera Workshop, CCRI Jazz Ensemble, CCRI Percussion Ensemble, among others. John carries the belief of his teacher that it is never too late to learn. An experienced teacher, he has taught children as young as 6 to being an instructor for college students. Piano is a fun instrument, so learning how to play should be fun too! It is his passion to share the power of music with as many people as he can.

John
Rei

Yingyu Ren | Piano


Yingyu Ren is a pianist dedicated to chamber music, vocal coaching, solo piano performance and piano teaching. She is completing her Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano Performance at Longy School of Music, instructed by Esther Ning Yau. She also holds a Graduate Performance Diploma in Collabroative Piano Performance from Longy School of Music and double Bachelor Degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from Xinghai Conservatory, where she studied with Qin Wang. Yingyu have been featured in numerous concerts, including Xinghai Conservatory Concert Hall in Guangzhou and Shalin Liu Performance Center in Boston, and has won numerous piano competitions here in the US and in China. An experienced teacher, Yingyu has taught piano both in the US and China.

Yingyu
Ren

Theresa Ronan | Piano


Theresa Ronan is a pianist/piano teacher in Brockton. She was raised in Brockton, and studied piano with the late Mrs. Helen Starr. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Lowell (now UMass-Lowell), did graduate work in Piano Performance at UMass-Lowell, and has studied piano at Longy School of Music in Cambridge. She has taught private lessons for over 20 years, and has several years of public school teaching experience. In addition, she is currently the Music Director for Christ the King Parish in Brockton, and also works as a free-lance soloist and accompanist in the Brockton area.

Theresa
Ronan

Sohyun Ryee | Piano


A native of South Korea, pianist Sohyun Jun made her debut with the Shanghai Orchestra in China in 2001. She has appeared as a solo pianist, collaborative pianist, and chamber musician. She performed at the Sydney Music Festival in 2002 as well as the Piano Summer Festival in New Paltz in 2005, where Vladimir Feltsman was the Artistic Director. In the summer of 2007 and 2008, she performed at SongFest in California where she worked with Graham Johnson, Amy Burton, Kendra Colton, and Jake Heggie, as well as in various master classes for Margo Garett, Martin Katz, and the American Quartet. Sohyun was invited as a pianist for the brass department at Boston University Tanglewood Institute and performed with Professor Eric Rusky in 2011. She has taught for many years in her own piano studio and joined Merry Melody Music Academy since 2013. After completing her Bachelor’s Degree in piano performance at Busan National University in Korea, she came to the United States to study with Professor Stephanie Brown at the SUNY Purchase College where she also earned her Master’s and Artist Diploma. She received a second master’s degree in collaborative piano and completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts under Professor Sheila Kibbe at Boston University in 2014.

Sohyun
Ryee

Omar Sandakly | Piano


Omar is a graduate of The Hartt School with a Bachelor of Music in Composition with a concentration in Voice. He is a multi-talented musician, being a skilled vocalist with two years of conservatory musical theatre training, in addition to having professional experience singing — as well as playing piano, drums, and guitar— in rock, pop, jazz, alternative, and R&B styles. Omar is an experienced teacher who has been teaching voice and piano lessons since 2018. A composer, arranger, filmmaker, and absurdist, Omar brings a diverse educational perspective to the table.

Omar
Sandakly

Laura Sekarputri | Piano


Laura Sekarputri is a music therapist, composer, and pianist from Indonesia. She graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Therapy and minor in Psychology. Born in Jakarta, Laura began playing piano at 4 and has become a versatile musician, who is accomplished on other instruments including the electric bass, guitar, and gamelan (Indonesian percussion). In 2017, her counterpoint composition Can-On (solo piano piece) was selected and performed by composer Marti Epstein in the ‘Best Inventions Plus 2017’, a recital of the “best student projects from the three core counterpoint courses” in Berklee College of Music. She is a founding member of the pop duo ImpromToo, of which debut single Tiada (meaning “Gone”) featuring Daniel Yoong and Irena Taib reached Number 1 on the Momea 104.2 FM Palembang in 2017. Laura has been giving piano lessons at seventeen and enjoyed connecting with people through music.

Laura
Sekarputri

Gabrielle Siena | Piano


Gabrielle Siena is a classical pianist from Connecticut who is currently on track to finishing her Bachelors of Music specializing in piano performance at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. Beginning her piano studies at the age of 7, Gabrielle fell in love with the piano instantly- but, it wasn’t until her teenage years that this passion took flight. A graduate of the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, an arts oriented high school that connects and encourages the collaboration of diverse art forms, Gabrielle found her way through supportive mentors and teachers. In these years, her teachers guided her to gain the confidence to participate and win local and state competitions and festivals in Connecticut such as the Audrey Thayer Competition and the Connecticut Bach Festival. While in college, Gabrielle has been able to meticulously work on her craft, while also exploring other genres of music where she discovered a newfound love of jazz and contemporary music. She was a recent participant of multiple festivals this past summer, including the Emerald Coast Chamber Festival and Adamant Music School Piano Festival. Gabrielle has collaborated with many well known musicians in the Boston area, and is currently studying under Hugh Hinton. Her passions as an artist and teacher are to pass on what she was grateful for, which was having inspirational guidance to show that no matter what, the best way to find success as an artist and musician is to work hard, be true to yourself, and to love what you do.

Gabrielle
Siena

Andrew Stack | Piano


Operatic Baritone and Voice & Piano Teacher Andrew Stack earned his Graduate Diploma in Voice from New England Conservatory, his Master’s in Voice Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and his Bachelor’s in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College. Andrew has played piano since a young age learning from his jazz pianist Father. As a performer, Andrew recently was part of the world premiere cast of Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abel’s opera Omar, and performs with organizations such as Boston Lyric Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, and Carolina Performing Arts. An experienced teacher, Andrew has taught both voice and piano lessons. As a teacher, Andrew firmly believes in modeling positive self-talk as often as possible, so that students learn to become their own biggest cheerleaders on stage, while practicing, and in every day life.

Andrew
Stack

Alexandra Tan | Piano


Alexandra Tan started her musical studies at the age of four in classical piano. She later received a Diploma in piano performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, Australia where she majored in voice performance and instrumental teaching and minored in piano, she continued her graduate studies at The Boston Conservatory, receiving a Masters in voice performance under the tutelage of Dr Marilyn Bulli. She has also performed and given recitals in her home country, Singapore, Australia and here in Massachusetts. Discovering her passion for teaching, she also undertook a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Education. Alexandra has taught in a variety of settings. Besides teaching private piano and voice lessons, she has also taught in public schools in Massachusetts such as the Boston Latin School and Bigelow Middle school, teaching general music, chorus and instrumental ensembles. As a teacher, she endeavors to help students achieve their full potential by adapting her instruction to the student’s needs. Besides this, she believes music should be enjoyable and fun for all.

Alexandra
Tan

Vivian Tsang | Piano Program Director


Vivian Tsang was named Teacher of the Year by the Massachusetts Music Teachers Association (MMTA), the state affiliate of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) in 2014. She has a Master of Music degree in piano from the New England Conservatory of Music. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. She has studied with some of the most wanted teachers in the country, including Patricia Zander, Eugene & Elizabeth Pridonoff, Rosita Kerr Mang, and Suzanne Guy. Vivian has performed all over the United States, Europe, and Hong Kong and is the prizewinner of various piano competitions in the United States and Europe. She is an experienced piano teacher whose students actively participate in performances, are winners of state-wide competitions and have performed at prestigious concert halls such as Carnegie Hall in New York. She is frequently invited to adjudicate piano events throughout the state and have lead various Master Classes. She is a Past President of MMTA.

Ana Maria Villa Pico | Piano


Ana María Villa is a multi-talented vocalist and pianist from Bogotá, Colombia. She studied and performed Musical Theater in Bogotá for 7 years and later moved to Boston to pursue a career in music when she got admitted into Berklee College of Music. Ana María graduated with a performance degree in 2016 and has been actively performing around the Boston area. During her time in Boston she has performed along artists like Juan Luis Guerra, Joyce Moreno, Noel Schajris, Tigran Hamasyan and Mane Dela Parra. Besides performing, Ana loves teaching and sharing her love of music with her students!

Ana Maria
Villa Pico

Yijun Wu | Piano


Yijun Wu is a musician dedicated to piano performance and education. Born and raised in China, she started studying classical piano and music at the age of 6. In 2022, Yijun Wu graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance, under the famous pianist and educator Max Levinson. During her time at school, she also played several important roles in chamber music and piano collaboration. During her undergraduate studies, she studied under the famous professor Zheng Xiaofeng and Qian Yinuo from Wuhan Conservatory. She has participated in several large-scale competitions and won many awards. At the same time, an experienced teacher who has taught since 2015, she is also committed to music education. Yijun Wu's passion for music and her patient guidance are deeply loved by children. She hopes to teach students in accordance with their aptitude, ignite children's interest in music and lead them to grow together.

Yijun
Wu

Matthew Xiong | Piano


Matthew Xiong is an Australian classical pianist and teacher based in Boston, MA. He began his studies in piano at the age of 5 and he has concertized nationally and internationally in USA, Australia and Europe. Matthew obtained his Bachelor Degree for Piano performance with academic honors at New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Prof. Gabriel Chodos. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Music at Boston University. He has also had the opportunity to study under several revered pianists; among them are teachers such as John Perry, as well as Curtis and Juilliard faculty members Robert Mcdonald and Ignat Solzhenitsyn. Matthew has attended several competitive music festivals, including the KlavierSommer in Cochem, Germany, the Kawai International Piano Masterclass festival in Sydney, Australia, and the Beethoven institute at Mannes, New York. Matthew is particularly interested in the field of Psychology, which he believes is integral to all areas of musical practice and teaching. He is an experienced teacher who has taught for six years before coming to Boston to pursue his degrees. His ultimate goal is to delve deeply into each of his students interests and methods of learning to find a unique way to ignite their passion for music.

Matthew
Xiong

Yuko Yoshikawa | Piano


Born and raised in Japan, Yuko began her musical journey starting with piano at the age of three, percussion at nine, and marimba at fifteen. She holds Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from Osaka College of Music and Master of Music in Marimba Performance from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Yuko has been teaching piano and marimba more than a decade in the US. She has taught in various schools including The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee College of Music and Liceo Mexicano Japones. After taking a few years off due to a baby, Yuko is happy to return to Merry Melody, where she has been working since 2007! As teaching is one of her passions, she is looking forward to sharing the joy of music!

Yuko
Yoshikawa