Fiorella Alvarenga
Mehlinda Heartt
Mehlinda Heartt is an instructor in Harp and Voice. She has been a professional Harpist for the past 35 years and a teacher of Harp and Voice over the past 20 years. She has students from the ages of 4 – 90.
Many of Mehlinda’s students are now professional harpists. She is also a composer and arranger who’s music is published.
Fiorella's first teacher was her father who was also a piano teacher and passed his love of music to her at a very young age. Her greatest joy is seeing children develop musical interest and also achieving RCM goals. She is very experienced with teaching children as young as 4 and also teaches up to Level 8 theory.
Our Teachers
James
Hook
James is a Vancouver-based musician who specializes in writing and producing music. He has been passionate about playing and writing music since he was a child. After
finishing his B. Mus at UVic, he began sharing his love for
music through teaching. James teaches piano, theory, and
music composition.
Aside from the being involved in the creative side of things, he also enjoys spreading his love of music through teaching. James currently teaches piano, guitar, and music theory.
Eliza
Ip
B. Mus, M. A. (UBC, ARCT – Piano Performance
ARCT – Piano Pedagogy RCM Theory and Piano Specialist- Piano, Theory, Midi Orchestration (Logic Pro X )
Sibelius Software
Extended Bio
Corina
Kuban
With over 15 years of teaching experience, Corina Kuban encourages well-rounded musicianship in all of her students. Her multifaceted approach incorporates growth in areas such as tone, technique and ear-training for flute and she is also a specialist for music education for very early beginners.
Ben Lockwood
Ben Lockwood is a woodwind multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, flute, and clarinet), composer, born in Bedford, UK, but is currently residing in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Ben graduated Dartington College of Arts in 2003 with a BA (with Honours) in Music (Performance), before moving to London to become a professional musician.
After settling as a resident of BC, he is active in teaching and performing. He is experienced in RCM preparation and carefully teaches the proper foundation.
Hailing from North Vancouver, Thad Bailey-Mai is a composer, instrumentalist, and instructor with over a decade of music performance experience. Having earned a diploma in Jazz studies, as well as a nearly-completed Bachelor's Degree in music from Capilano University, Thad has been well versed in performing Jazz music, Classical works, Funk music, Folk, and many other genres.
In addition, he has performed alongside internationally renowned artists such as Randy Brecker, Norma Winstone, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Vancouver's own Brad Turner.
Having dedicated much time to studying and
performing music of all varieties, Thad is above all else passionate about passing on his musical knowledge to students of all levels and ages. With extensive experience playing and teaching trumpet, trombone, tuba, euphonium, and piano, he greatly values being a part of the educational journey that comes with learning an instrument at a young age, all while offering valuable tools and skill-sets that can help more advanced students achieve higher levels of
musicianship.
Most importantly, through music, Thad aims to pass on the essential values of fun, joy, and the desire to never cease learning.
Thad
Bailey-Mai
Scott
Meek
Canadian pianist Scott Meek, first-prize winner of three national competitions (Knigge, Shean, and National Music Festival), has performed as soloist with the Toronto, Edmonton, and Winnipeg Symphony Orchestras, and has performed solo recitals for the University of British Columbia’s Noon Hour Recital Series and the Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg. Internationally, he has performed with the Oberlin Orchestra, Indiana University ad hoc Orchestra, and has won bronze medals at the Corpus Christi International Competition and at the World Piano Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Scott began piano studies at the age of six, taking lessons with Carole Pollard in Winnipeg, Manitoba, before enrolling at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio, to earn his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts (East Asian Studies) degrees in 2005, studying piano with Alvin Chow. At the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Scott received his Master of Music and Doctor of Music degrees, studying under world-renowned pianist and Distinguished Professor, Menahem Pressler.
Currently, Scott is a sought-after collaborative pianist and teacher.
Mark Richardson
Mark Richardson is an active guitarist, session player, songwriter and teacher in the greater Vancouver area. Originally from Manitoba, Mark studied classical guitar at Brandon University and then continued his studies at the Vancouver Academy of Music under Robert Jordan and Hanh Nguyen.
Mark has played everything from heavy rock to jazz and blues, and from country to musical theater, but always returns to the beautiful textures of the classical guitar; a love since childhood. Mark is a music educator with over 25 years of experience. Past students have achieved the highest mark in BC for RCM examinations, earning Silver Medals.
Pavel Rhyzlovsky
Pavel Rhyzlovsky is a musician based in Vancouver, B.C. where he has been making, conducting, and arranging music in various genres. He also teaches both instrumental music and theory. Previously, he was musically active in the Middle East and Europe. Pavel plays piano, electronic keyboard instruments, accordion, organ, clarinet and saxophone.
Marco
Del Rio
Marco Del Rio is a teacher, singer, and multi-instrumentalist with a Bachelor’s Degrees in Music and Education from the University of British Columbia. To keep himself musically sharp, he performs with and directs in many ensembles around Vancouver, and is an experienced arranger. He is a very sought-after voice teacher at Mozart who teaches one to one for the most serious opera student to the one who wants to learn a safe correct technique for pop/rock bands. He is also experienced in group and family lessons as well.
Jordan
Rosen
Jordan began his teaching career over 10 years ago and has been a Mozart faculty member since 2014. He holds ARCT diplomas in both Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy designations.
While incorporating Popular styles alongside Classical repertoire, Jordan promotes an enjoyable and productive environment in which students can excel.
Vernon Shewchuk
Vern is a spirited and enthusiastic drummer who has devoted his life to music since he was five years old. He began playing snare drum in a marching band and quickly gained an appreciation for rock and roll playing the drum set. While learning to read basic marching beats he also devoured many rock and roll records learning the drum parts by ear.
Thus developing a good ear for music and basic reading skills. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1986 with a degree in Percussion Performance. At this time he teaches timpani, vibes, marimba, and hand drums as well as drum set. During his career, Vern has played in marching bands, drum corps, percussion ensembles, symphony orchestras, and various types of bands (rock, blues, country, r&b, latin, jazz, big band, and show bands).
His experiences have taken him from concert halls, and nightclubs to cruise ships (Princess, Holland America, NCL, Royal Caribbean, and, Seabourn). He has played small venues as well as 60 thousand seat stadiums. He plays by ear or reads music fluently. Vern has taught many students - young and old, amateur and professional and is the director of many ensembles in the Mozart School of Music.
Stephen Lester Smith
Stephen Lester-Smith was born in Manchester, England. He attended Grammar School and then went on to complete an Associate-in-Music (Theory) from Trinity College in London.
Since coming to Canada, he has worked as a music teacher, specializing in all levels of RCM theoretical subjects.
Brad
Stark
Alexandra
Sia
Alexandra Sia is currently based out of her hometown of Vancouver, BC. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of British Columbia and her Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she studied with Alan Stepansky.
During her graduate studies, she was a member of the Peabody Symphony Orchestra and also performed with various other ensembles in the Baltimore/DC area including the Mid-Atlantic Symphony, the York Symphony, and the Harrisburg Choral Society.
After graduating from Peabody, she freelanced around Atlanta, Georgia, teaching a private studio and playing with the Rome (GA) Symphony Orchestra and the Macon Symphony Orchestra. She has been principal cellist of various orchestras including the Texas Music Festival Orchestra and the Prince George Symphony and has performed across Canada, the United States, Japan, and China.
She teaches cello and RCM theory to Level 8.
Brad Stark is a composer for video games, film, and other media. Prolific and versatile, Brad is a composer with over 20 years of music writing experience.
Composing music and playing the piano since the age of 11, Brad has composed music for video games for platforms such as iPhone, PC, and Xbox360. Comfortable with a variety of styles and genres, he has diverse influences ranging from classical composers such as Chopin, Rachmaninov, and Scriabin to contemporary composers for media. Brad writes in a musical language that favors colorful harmonic progressions, emotional moods, and a unique style which blends his diverse pool of influences.
In addition to being a composer and pianist, Brad has developed and refined his unique, classical style of improvisation at the piano since his teenage years. Described as "Classical piano-perfection" by journalist and music writer Thomas L. Raukamp, Brad has been recording his piano improvisations with acoustic piano and Soundiron's Emotional Piano since late 2011. Brad is a featured artist on Soundiron's website. Brad is currently an instructor at Stylus College of Music & Sound Technology. Brad is currently an instructor at Stylus College of Music & Sound Technology and teaches both beginners to advanced piano and theory at the Mozart School of Music.
Monika
Sun
15 years experience teaching and producing award winning students. Ms. Monika has a Bachelor of Music (B.Mus) (University of British Columbia). For the past fifteen years, she has been teaching students ranging from young beginners to professionals, young musicians to adults.
Although she has many serious students Ms. Monika also has those that just love music. From a three-year-old just starting out to an adult taking on a new challenge. Any age any level.
Andrew
Ty
Andrew graduated from the Vancouver
Academy of Music with a BMUS in Violin Performance, and has been teaching for over 10 years. He encourages his students to balance foundational techniques, accuracy, and musicality in everyday playing.
He believes that teaching should help students find their appreciation and self-expression through different genres, and develop their self-confidence. He is well-versed in RCM violin preparation and teaches to advanced levels. Andrew is famous for his sense of humor and ability to connect with his students.
Shannon Wong
Shannon Wong’s love for music began at a young age. She was singing at the age of 2 and started playing piano at the age of 4. Her journey with the Royal Conservatory of Music led her to write and creating music. She graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts specializing in Performance and Collaboration. She has collaborated with several music designers, directors, and choreographers throughout Vancouver such as Martin Gotfrit, Stefan Smulovits, Penelope Stella, Steven Hill, and Rob Kitsos.
Shannon has been teaching piano and music theory for the past 8 years. Her love for children’s imagination came into play since she decided to become an Early Childhood Educator. She loves to create, and watch creativity happen right before her eyes. Music is a source of creativity, and she believes anyone is capable of learning music and translating that into the composition as long as they can put their heart into it.
