Meet our Instructors

Shahrzad Shakeri earned her Bachelor and Masters degree in cello performance from Mcgill University under the virtuoso cellist Matt Haimovitz. She also studied at the Conservatory of

Paris with renowned cellist Helene Dautry. She has performed in various solo recitals, chamber music ensembles, orchestras, and festivals across Europe, the Middle East and North America. She has always been given fantastic opportunities to work with well-known cellists and teachers at school, festivals and masterclasses such as Philippe Muller, Jerome Pernoo, Raphael Pidoux, Johannes Moser, Richard Aaron.

Teaching has been a significant part of Shahrzad’s career. She has taught students of all backgrounds, from young children to adults. She is always interested in discovering new,

exciting ways of teaching music to students at different levels. Her teaching is based on the principles of the Suzuki Method. She is passionate about making the learning process a fun

experience for everyone while helping students find their unique ways of playing at ease and expressing their emotions and musical ideas.

She was born in Hong Kong, Sharon received full scholarships to study at Wells Cathedral School in the UK as a specialist musician at the age of 14. She has won numerous prizes in competitions including champion and first runner-up in the Barbara Fei Instrumental Scholarships and the Seasound Scholarships. 

During her 5 years at Wells, Sharon toured to local churches, London, Germany, Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Beijing with Wells’ String Chamber and Symphony Orchestra. She also had the honour of playing to the Princess of Denmark at a conference in 2010. In the same year Sharon won the opportunity to play the Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the School's orchestra in Wells and Llandaff Cathedrals. An invitation to play the Mozart Concerto No.5 in St. Cuthbert's Church with the Mid Somerset Orchestra followed the year after.

Sharon continued her study at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts under the guidance of Professor Michael Ma. She had the privilege to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the School’s Symphony Orchestra at her graduation. 
Sharon began teaching at various schools, music centres and in private while pursuing her Bachelors degree. Her warm and genuine personalities has helped her bond with students and sparkle them towards their passion for playing. Sharon remains a professional performer and is generous in sharing her experience and stories with young learners.

József Botos is a highly skilled guitar teacher who studied in Vienna, Austria, at The University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, under the tutelage of Professor Alvaro Pierri and Professor Alexander Swete. For the past 12 years, he has been living and working as a performer and educator in Toronto. His students have consistently achieved high marks in their RCM Practical Exams, with some receiving gold medals for their outstanding performances. Notably, his Jazz and Rock students actively participate in school big bands, smaller combo bands, and music festivals. 

József also teaches students who simply enjoy playing guitar and want to explore their favorite genres. With 30 years of performing and 20 years of teaching experience, he is eager to share his knowledge with others. He specializes in RCM Practical Exam Preparation and accepts students at all levels. His goal is to help each student achieve their musical aspirations.

In the past two years, his students have had over 15 successful RCM Exams, some with Distinction, earning gold medals and performing at the Mazzoleni Concert Hall in 2023 and 2024. His students have also won gold medals at the Kiwanis Music Festival, and those who participated in Jazz and Pop music ensemble programs have been recognized at The Nationals MusicFest Canada and the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival.

Yang Zheng is the Associate Concertmaster of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong and Guest Concertmaster of the Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra. He frequently performs with leading ensembles including the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Macao Orchestra, Shenzhen Symphony, and Hong Kong String Orchestra. A founding member of the Bauhinia Trio, he is dedicated to both performance and chamber music education.

An active educator, Zheng has taught at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Junior Department, Maryknoll Convent School, and Fukien Secondary School Affiliated School. His students have won top prizes in major competitions and consistently achieve high marks in international music exams. In 2025, he received the Outstanding Teacher Award from the Global Genius Music Competition. Zheng was First Prize winner with the Gloucester String Quartet at the 2013 Schoenfeld International String Competition and has appeared at prestigious festivals including Kent Blossom, Aspen, Tongyeong, and French May. He has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, Divertimento (France), and was featured in Hong Kong’s 20th Anniversary Concert Series in London. His recording and touring credits include Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 (chamber version), UK and Asia tours with the Hong Kong String Orchestra, and the award-winning musical Wild. He has also composed and recorded for films including A Guilty Conscience and Dust to Dust, and scored for the 20th Guangdong Dance Festival.

Zheng holds a master’s degree with distinction and a bachelor’s degree with first-class honours from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, following early studies at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing.

Grace has over 20 years of experience playing the violin, her extensive performance experience includes participating in orchestras, chamber music groups, and individual

recitals. This rich background has given her a deep understanding of a wide range of musical styles and techniques, allowing her to bring a wealth of knowledge to her teaching.

Grace holds a Master of Music from the University of Ottawa, she has had the privilege of studying under several renowned violinists and educators, including Timothy Chooi and

Yehonatan Berick, further honing her skills and expanding her knowledge. Her educational background has equipped her with a solid foundation in both performance and pedagogy, making her a well-rounded teacher. Grace's academic achievements and continuous professional development ensure that she stays updated with the latest teaching methodologies and performance practices.

Grace's teaching philosophy is centered around fostering a love for music in her students.

She believes in a tailored approach, meeting each student’s unique needs and goals. Grace has taught students in both China and Canada, gaining extensive experience working with

diverse student populations. She emphasizes the importance of developing strong technical skills while also encouraging musical expression and creativity. Grace aims to create a supportive and inspiring environment where students feel motivated to practice and improve.

Her patience and dedication ensure that her students not only develop their violin skills but also cultivate a lifelong appreciation for music.

Languages: English, Mandarin

Minhee Seo, born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, is a vocalist who began her musical journey fueled by a deep passion for R&B and pop music. At the age of 15, she gained early recognition by winning the grand prize at a youth vocal competition in her

hometown. Since then, she has consistently placed in various vocal contests, steadily proving her talent and potential.

At 17, she began professional vocal training, meticulously refining her technique and building a strong foundation through numerous stage experiences. She later worked as

a demo singer, collaborating with professional musicians and gaining hands-on studio recording experience that broadened her musical scope. Eager for growth and a broader musical perspective, she took a short but transformative

trip to New York, where she was deeply inspired by the freedom and freshness of jazz.This pivotal moment led her to pursue formal studies in the genre. She later moved to

Toronto, Canada, where she majored in jazz vocals at Humber College, completing the introduction to Commercial Jazz Music program and earning her Bachelor of Music

degree in 2024. In 2024, she received the International Student Award of Excellence. During her studies at Humber, she studied under Rich Brown, Kirk MacDonald, Alex Dean, and deepened

her musical insight through guidance from Yvette Tollar, a longtime student of Sheila Jordan, a renowned figure in modern jazz vocals. Building on this foundation, Minhee was featured as an interviewee on Jazzology in 2023/24, a JAZZ.FM91 program

spotlighting emerging jazz artists. Currently, she is working on her debut EP while further developing her skills in piano,

composition, and arrangement. Actively immersed in Toronto’s vibrant jazz scene, she continues to shape her unique musical identity. With her deep and delicate tone and sincere expressive style, Minhee connects with audiences on a profound level, bringing a fresh and personal voice to the world of jazz.

​Vivian Chuiman Ho is a professional pianist and passionate educator with over 10 years of teaching experience. She holds a Master of Arts (Music) from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, a Licentiate Diploma in Piano Performance (LRSM) (Distinction), and RCM Level 8 Theory (Distinction). As an award-winning performer, she won 1st place at the Tzar’s Village Music Festival (Russia, 2012) and 3rd place at the Antonio Vivaldi Youth Music Competition (Vienna, 2017). Vivian is also an experienced collaborative pianist, having accompanied choirs and professional soloists. Many of her piano students have earned top honors, including the 76th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival (2024) and Taiwan International Youth Music Competition (2024). Fostering creativity, technique, and passion, Vivian inspires her students to grow and embrace the joy of music.

Parnian Aghaiani is a distinguished violist based in Toronto, Canada, with nearly 19 years of performance experience and over 11 years of teaching expertise.
She holds a Bachelor of Music from Tehran University of Art and a Master’s degree in Music Literature & Performance from Western University of Ontario, where she studied under Professor Sharon Wei.
Parnian has performed with renowned ensembles such as the Tehran Philharmonic Orchestra and the Iran National Orchestra. She has received recognition, including 2nd prize at the Iran Youth Music Competition, and has had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed artists. In addition to her performance career, she is a dedicated educator, specializing in the Suzuki and RCM methods, and has successfully taught students of all ages and skill levels.
Parnian is an active member of the Canadian Viola Society and the American Suzuki Association.

Miu Ching Ng holds a Master of Arts in Music and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Music from

Hong Kong Baptist University. During her master’s studies, she was awarded a competitive fellowship and completed a full solo recital as part of her dissertation, demonstrating a broad

and expressive musical voice. Her academic journey has equipped her with strong foundations in performance, ensemble playing, and accompaniment.

Miu has performed in several notable events, including Reverie: Fantasia of France at the 2023 French Music Festival, and Piano Tricks or Treats, one of the opening ceremonies for

Tom Lee Music’s Steinway & Sons Hall. She also participated in a clinical piano workshop focused on musculoskeletal and psychological considerations in piano playing, exploring

how the body functions during performance.

She studied with Steinway Artist Dr. Yoonie Han during her bachelor’s degree and continued her artistic development under the mentorship of Mr. Stephen Wong during her master’s

studies. She has also participated in masterclasses with Dr. Amy Sze, Dr. Nariaki Sugiura, Miss Nancy Loo, and Mr. Paolo Vairo.

Her achievements include Champion titles in multiple international competitions, such as the Hong Kong International Music and Arts Festival, the Hong Kong Master Music Piano

Competition, and both the Open and Classical divisions of the Elite Performers Piano Competition.