Brad Stark is a pianist and composer for video games, film, and other media. Prolific and versatile, Brad is a composer with over 20 years of music writing experience. An emerging composer for media productions, Brad is classically trained in piano performance and composition.
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, Rachmaninoff 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. His scholarships and awards are including:
- 2006 ‘Elixir’ for Orchestra chosen for the Jean Coulthard Readings by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
- 2006 ‘Dolente’ for String Orchestra chosen for the composer open readings by the Victoria Symphony Orchestra
- 2005 University of British Columbia Graduate Entrance Scholarship
- 2004 University of Western Ontario Special University Scholarship (SUS)
- 2003 University of Western Ontario Special University Scholarship (SUS)
- 2001 University of Toronto Ben McPeek Scholarship
Lynn Liu has a Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance from China and a Master Degree in Music from Canada. Lynn had many years of depth research in piano teaching and music education (Kodaly and Orff Method) which equips her with solid foundation to meet the future working requirements. Lynn took specialized courses, such as piano performance, piano pedagogy, music theory, music history, harmony and counterpoint, Kodaly and Orff method, philosophy of music education, and educational psychology. Lynn studied piano with Robert Richardson, Dr. Lawrence Jones and Dr. Joan Miller in Canada.
The Research Project—“Early Years Creative Piano Teaching” was accomplished in May, 2005, which received a Graduate Scholarship.
Lynn has had fifteen years’ private piano teaching experience both in China and Canada. She is a member of CRMTA and BCRMTA, she founded a music school in Vancouver and supervised in many music schools. Many of her students participated Kiwanis Music Festival, Richmond Music Festival and BCRMTA Music Festival, and achieved the prizes and medals.
A native of Taiwan, I-Cheng Chen began his music studies at the age of five. After he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance, Composition and Conducting, he continued his advanced musical training in Vienna, Austria where he studied with renowned Pianist Jorg Demus. In 1993, he moved to Montreal where he continued his studies and attained a Master’s degree at McGill University. Throughout the years, he has performed in major concert halls and music festivals. His playing is distinguished by softness of sound and variety of tonal colors. His extraordinary memory (a 300 composition repertoire) and excellent improvisational skills have led him not only as a recitalist, but also as a pianist for Classical ballet and Jazz.
Domenico Mongelli was born in Foggia (Italy) in 1986. He started to learn piano when he was nine. In 1997 Domenico entered the Conservatory of Music U. Giordano in Foggia in the class of Daniela Caratori. On 2008 he obtained the Bachelor diploma with honors and prize at the Conservatory O. Respighi in Latina.
The same year he got the Prize Regione Lazio as a best pianist of the year. For this occasion he was invited to play in Roma (Biblioteca Angelica), Frosinone and Latina. He attended master classes led by Roberto Prosseda, Claudio Trovajoli, Elisso Wirsaladze, Graham Scott, Aaron Shorr, Teppo Koivisto, Hu Yong Liu Tavaststjerna, Petras Geniusas and J.-C. Pennetier.
In the second Concert Season Assaggi di Musica, Arte e Natura in 2009 he played recital solo in Foggia, where he performed Beethoven and Schumann. In 2010 he studied at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in a frame of Erasmus, under tuition of Peep Lassmann.
In 2011 he finished Master degree with honor and prize in piano performance at the Conservatory of Foggia in the class of Claudio Trovajoli.
In 2012 he performed the Haydn Piano concerto in D major with the young orchestra ArtOrchEesti under the baton of Karol Kisiel.
In 2013 in collaboration with Maila Laidna and Mirva Helske he organized a tour called Musical Stories of Three Pianists performing through different cities in Estonia (Tartu, Türi, Tallinn) music of Debussy and Prokofiev. In the same year he obtained the Master Degree in piano performance at the Estonian Music Academy and Theatre in Tallinn in the class of Ivari Ilja and Mati Mikalai.
Claire Huang started her piano learning when she was age 6 in Taiwan. Beside Piano, she also received her offer in Voice major from Shih Chien University when she was in Taiwan. However she decide to explore her music journey after she moved with her family in Canada, She studied with Barrie Barrington, MayLing Kwok, also she received her Bachelor of Music in Piano at University of Victoria with Professor Bruce Vogt.
Claire has received several awards and performances including first honor talent when she was in high school in Taiwan, Entrance Scholarship at Douglas College.
Claire encourage her students to participate recitals, RCM Examinations and master classes to achieve their music desires as a piano player step by step. She shares passion of music with her students with patience and interpersonal skills.
Armand Saberi is a Canadian pianist and piano teacher. His two favourite aspects of music are teaching and performing.
He has, from a young age, performed with chamber ensembles and at the age of 16 performed the Beethoven Choral Fantasy with the Victoria Conservatory of Music Symphony and Choir. He has won awards at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival and won the Johann Stauss Competition at Uvic, which enabled him to participate in the summer festival at the Mozarteum University of Music in Salzburg, Austria. He holds a Bachelors in Piano Performance from Uvic and is currently pursuing his master’s in Piano Performance at UBC. He has studied with distinguished artists such as Dr. Jamie Syer, Michelle Mares, and Mark Anderson. He has also had the opportunity to have masterclasses with Anton Kuerti, John Perry, and Andrej Jasinski. He has regularly taught students throughout his years at Uvic and is currently a teaching assistant at UBC. Being born and having lived a portion of his life in Luxembourg, has given him the opportunity to develop his language abilities. He would also be able to teach in German (high proficiency), French (conversational proficiency), and Farsi (medium proficiency).
Aine Mahony was born in Ireland and started to learn piano at the age of 9. Having discovered her love of music, she went on to study music at University College Cork. Here Aine studied with concert pianists Anderw Zolinsky and Tra Nguyen.
In 2009, Aine was awarded with a scholarship to study in the USA for one semester. During this time, Aine began to study the works of Schoenberg and Webern under the instruction of Mana Tokuno at the New England Conservatory and Leslie Amper at Wheaton Liberal Arts College. Upon returning to Ireland, Aine began to study with Paris Conservatoire Graduate, Brian McNamara.
In 2011, Aine graduated from University College Cork with a BA.MUS with a major in Piano Performance. She was awarded First Class Honors in her Final Year Recital having performed Schoenberg’s Three Piano Pieces Opus 11, and Webern’s Piano Variations Opus 27.
Aine completed her M.MUS at University College Dublin in 2012 and has since been teaching piano in Ireland and Canada. Aine is a warm and engaging teacher who teaches students of all ages and abilities.
Oscar Liu started learning the piano at age 5 in China, and has been teaching since 2009. He is fervent about sharing the art, and introducing the practice and performance of music into students’ longterm lifestyle. Oscar received rigorous trainings in western classical music, and has worked as an accompanist for choirs ranging from classical chamber groups to modern vocal jazz. Oscar emphasizes on a balanced lesson format, weaving playing the instrument with music theory, sight reading, rhythm exercises and aural trainings at the very start of a student’s musical journey. Oscar is committed to introduce his students to a wide range of genres, from classical to jazz and contemporary pop. Oscar encourages students to sing and play at the same time, and collaborate with other instruments and musicians. Most importantly, Oscar wishes to share the greatest qualities of practicing music with all students: elevated selfesteem, perseverance, and tranquility in character. Oscar has an ARCT in Piano Performance, and has also received: 2008 Darren Paul Jacobson’s Memorial Scholarship and Plaque for music 2008 Dogwood Graduation Scholarship for music (School District of Vancouver)
Katherine Ho has started learning piano in Vancouver since she was 4 years old. She has achieved her first diploma from the London College of Music and Media in 2002. She has also finished her Grade 10 Piano Examination in March 2003 and in the same year, she has received her Diploma in Piano Performing from The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.
Katherine has also taken music programs in high school and received several awards in her performances throughout her high school years.
Katherine has been giving piano and theory lessons since 2008 to students of every age. She encourages her students to participate in various recitals and RCM examinations to build up their passion and knowledge towards music.
