Our Teachers

At Inspire Music, we pride ourselves on offering musical education led by top-notch teachers in music. Our rotary of teachers comprises accomplished musicians who hold prestigious music degrees and boast extensive teaching experience.

Leah is a performing pianist and a music educator. She has performed as a concert soloist, chamber musician, and as an accompanist both internationally and across North America. Leah holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Missouri and was a full scholarship recipient. During which, she has studied with world-renowned concert pianist Dr. Peter Miyamoto, who holds prize from the National Chopin Competition, pianist Victor Rosenbaum, Frederic Chiu, just to name a few. Leah has her bachelor of music degree from Sichuan Conservatory of Music, also in piano performance.

Leah has performed in numerous solo concerts in the US and Canada for the past 10 years, she has accompanied the University of Woman Choral, the Show-Me Opera productions including the world-renowned opera La Cenerentola and Cosi Fan Tutte. In 2013 she was featured an Emerging Artist Competition winner at the Missouri Theatre. In the same year, Leah received Honorable Mention in the Missouri Music Teachers Association’s (MMTA) Collegiate Honors auditions and she is also a member of the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA).

Leah has dedicated to teaching, she is known for her passionate and effective teaching styles. Her students have maintained consistent high scores in RCM exams. Many of her students accomplished numerous achievements, including performing at the Carnegie Hall as well as winning top prizes in competitions such as Little Mozart, CMC, North York Music Festival, and Markham Music Festival.

Deepani studied Piano Performance in Sir Lanka, Italy, UK and Canada. She completed her undergraduate and post-graduate studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, UK and recently, she was awarded the Canadian National Gold medal for LRCM Performance.

While studying in Scotland for five years, she was the winner of two Bach prizes and recipient of the prestigious TG More scholarship for her Postgraduate studies.  Deepani made her debut in Scotland with the Glasgow Chamber Orchestra playing Schumann’s Piano Concerto.  She has had Public Master Classes with Pascal Rogè, Fou T’song, Roger Vignoles, Jeffrey Parsons, John Lill, Madame Shishkow, Ekatarina Murina and Dominique Merlet.

Deepani received the National Gold medal by getting the highest mark in North America for LRCM Piano Performance.  She has been teaching the RCM syllabus since 1997 while pursuing her own musical dreams and growth.  Her students have gone on to become Music Majors in Performance, Pedagogy and Music Therapy, some are currently high school music teachers.

Dr. Mimi is an educator who holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. She began learning piano at the age of four, and has a great appreciation for the arts. She completed diplomas in ARCT Piano Performance (2008) and ARCT Piano Teacher (2009), and was the recipient of the ORMTA Pedagogy Award for Excellence in Musical Achievement (2009).
Mimi has been teaching piano and music theory for over fifteen years. She has guided students in their preparation for participation in music festivals and Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. She has taught students of various ages and levels, and is very grateful for the many opportunities in fostering an enjoyment of music.

Amy graduated from the school of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design in York University with a major in Piano Performance. She received a number of prizes from festivals, including the International Kawai Competitions. Amy studied with world-renowned pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico, who is hailed by the New York Times for her “promethean talent” at her professional debut at age 14 and was honored with the 2007 Friends of Canadian Music Award from the Canadian Music Centre and Canadian League of Composers.

Amy has been teaching piano for many years and has helped numerous students to attend music competitions, festivals as well as the RCM exams, many of whom achieved with top prizes/scores. Amy teaches piano and music theory, using teaching methods tailored to each individual student. Her teaching style is patient, yet enthusiastic and encouraging. She enjoys giving praises for things that a student does well during the lessons time or during their practice sessions throughout the week. Amy’s known for her ability to recognize a student’s strength and continues to build on it; her students find it very encouraging and fun to study with Amy.

Sammi  has acquired a Master of Music Therapy (MMT), and a Bachelor of Music (BFA). Besides her main instrument, Piano, she has been trained in Voice, Guitar, Orff, and Yamaha Music Educator. She has a passion for sharing her music through performances, as well as teaching and encouraging her students.

Ms. Sammi is a High School Music Teacher and an International Baccalaureate (IB) Educator Candidate, as well. She has been teaching Music Classrooms of Preschool to G12, and Math to G4, in several Ministry-Approved Private Schools in Toronto.

Sammi  has taught private music lessons for 15-years with a reputation for “fun-learning” for children aged as early as 3.5 years to adults. She is a very experienced music instructor who prepares all levels of Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Exams in Piano, Voice, and Theory. She has led many students to win awards in competitions, and her students attend local music events with her every year. She is also capable of teaching Violin, Guitar and Ukulele to young beginners and she also instructed multiple Music Camps.

Ms. Sammi Lee enjoys teaching and sharing the joy of music here at Inspire Music Academy since 2018.

Euphemia has taught piano and music theory for a number ofyears.  She started learning piano at the age of seven and since then has participated in numerous festivals, including the Kiwanis and others.  Having actively served for over ten years at Malvern Baptist Church as the worship team pianist, Euphemia has also composed several original compositions mainly for piano and piano and violin, including Prelude in E flat Major, which has been featured in the CD Gathas: The Message of Zarathushtra.  She has received her ARCT piano performance certificate in 2010, having studied under Sofia Elrichman of Majesty Music School.  At York University she has studied harmony and counterpoint under Art Levine and composition under the guidance of David Mott and Casey Sokol.  She has performed several recitals and was the accompanist for Ariel Mao for a special television broadcast on Fairchild TV.  Having prior experience in music arrangement and improvisation, Euphemia aims to spark a lifelong passion and appreciation for music and music performance in kids, adolescents and adults alike.

With over 15 years of professional experience, Anastasiya provides high-quality training in violin, viola, piano, ensemble performance, music theory and history. Her teaching method is based on the philosophy of the Russian and European Schools combined with a deep understanding of student’s psychology. The aim is to encourage artistic curiosity, foster creativity, emotional receptivity, and communication through music.

Anastasiya has been a frequent adjudicator for the American Guild of Music in both strings and piano divisions, and her students are prize-winners of numerous music competitions and graduates of post-secondary programs within music concentration.

Besides teaching, Anastasiya is engaged in recording original music for record labels, film and TV; and serves as a juror on a panel for FACTOR Canada, a private non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance toward the growth and development of the Canadian music industry.

Dr. Serena is a teaching artist, appearing as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestra musician, and educator. She holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University, a Master’s of Music degree from the Mannes College the New School for Music and Bachelor degree in Cello Performance from Taipei National University of the Arts.

The 2nd prize winner of the American Fine Arts Festival― Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition, Dr. Serena was given her solo debut at the Carnegie Weill Recital Hall in the winners’ concert in 2016. She was invited as a jury panellist in the 18th and 19th Capital Taipei International Music Competition and music-gifted program in Taiwan. Ms. Serena’s performances have taken her to Asia, Europe, and North America, including renowned venues in New York City, such as Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center, Steinway Hall, The Symphony Space, etc.

Dr. Serena’s teaching philosophy is patient, caring and learner-centred to teach according to students’ aptitudes and help them reach the best of their ability through dialogue pedagogy to cultivating students’ independent thinking ability, appropriate learning attitude, and growth mindset. In addition to considering students’ technical skills and helping them understand how to interpret each piece’s standards and aesthetics for play, she especially prioritizes students’ mental and physical wellness, teaching them knowledge of injury prevention, healthy and efficient practice skills, and strategies to manage stage fright. Overall, her teaching goal is to help enrich students’ lives through music, as having happiness and positive music-playing experiences is an invaluable treasure in their lives.

Cellist Cynthia is a musician and music educator from Hong Kong. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Cello Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of Iowa with a full scholarship and a Bachelor degree in Music Education from Hong Kong Baptist University majoring in Double Bass and Piano.

Dr. Cynthia has appeared as a chamber and orchestra musician. She has won several symphony orchestral positions in Hong Kong and United States. As a musician who believe in the power of music to connect people, Cynthia has performed in places like orphanages, senior homes, prisons, public parks and carnivals. In addition to her performance experiences, she is also a devoted educator who has worked with students of all ages and level of experiences for over 14 years. She has also coached small ensemble groups and chamber orchestras in elementary schools and high schools.

Cynthia emphasizes on the importance of organic learning in order to help students to develop both their personality and musicality. Through experimenting with different ideas and evaluating traits and areas to improve, students gain the ability to meet any composition’s demands, and at the same time their self-confidence, openness and perseverance.

Born in Chengdu, China, Xinya began studying cello at age 4, She attended high school at The Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Later Xinya earned a bachelor’s degree in cello performance from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and after graduation, joined the cello section of the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the most professional orchestras in China. One year after, she was offered a full scholarship and an assistantship to Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA for graduate cello studies. At BGSU, she studied with Dr. Alan Smith and became a member of the Graduate String Quartet. During her graduate studies at BGSU. She became principal cello of the Bowling Green State University Philharmonia and joined the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra (OH) as principal cello. Ms. Zhou completed her doctoral degree in cello performance at the University of Cincinnati and moved to Toronto with her family.

Xinya’s philosophy of teaching involves treating every student, no matter their age or level of development, on an individual basis. She believes that every student has unique qualities and that her responsibility as a teacher is to bring out those qualities without any comparison to others. Her students are all over the US and China. In China, many of her students have received offers from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, and one of her students recently joined the Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra. After coming to the U.S., she opened her own cello studio. Her students in the U.S. have won many rewards in different competitions.  So far, all her students passed the Royal Conservatory Music (RCM) exam with high scores. In order to increase her students the experience of ensemble music, she created chamber music groups.

Oxana is a musician and teacher with over 25 years of experience (23 in Canada). She began her music education at Lviv State College of Music with further graduate studies at Lviv State Music Academy in Ukraine, earning her degree with distinction in Performance and Pedagogy. With a background in solo, chamber music and orchestral playing, Oxana’s passion for flute has seen her engaged over the years in multiple performances as a member of a Renaissance Music ensemble, Woodwind Quartet and symphony orchestras.
Currently Oxana is a flute teacher with a large number of students of beginner to advanced levels in and  around the Toronto area. Her great amount of teaching experience, patience and understanding of individual needs helps to create a successful learning process for students to achieve their goals in music. Among her students are many Regional Gold Medal recipients of the Royal Conservatory and winners of local and provincial music festivals, such as Kiwanis, North York Music Festival, Unionville Music Festival. Some of her students have gone to university for a Major in Flute Performance, Pedagogy and Music Therapy, and some of them are working currently as high school music teachers.

Galyna is an accomplished musician, educator, and composer with a rich background in musical arts. She currently serves as a Voice Teacher in the GTA, where she imparts her extensive knowledge and passion for music to her students. Galyna’s commitment to fostering creativity and innovation is evident in her ability to generate new artistic projects and educational initiatives.

With an Associate Professor role at the Art Education Department of Zhytomyr Ivan Franko State University in Ukraine from 2021 to 2023, Galyna demonstrated her expertise in interactive teaching methods and technological integration. She organized recitals and concerts, encouraging students to showcase their musical talents while overseeing music selection and composition for the department.

Galyna’s artistic prowess extends to composing, arranging, and conducting. She contributed significantly as Composer, Arranger, and Conductor for the Shiraz Chamber Orchestra “Chanli Kyuch” in Iran from 2018 to 2021, where she created compositions based on Qashqai folk melodies. Her collaboration with orchestras and choirs, both in rehearsal and studio settings, culminated in the creation of a CD featuring her original works.

As a Soloist (soprano) in the Chamber Ensemble Named After I. F. Dobzhinsky in Ukraine since 2002, Galyna has graced concert halls, exhibitions, and conferences with her captivating performances. Alongside her performance career, she honed her teaching skills as a Private Music Teacher in Iran, motivating students to excel and providing personalized instruction in music theory, history, and performance techniques.

Galyna’s educational achievements include a Ph.D. in Musicology from the Ukrainian National Academy of Music, a Master of Arts in Musicology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Music from the same institution. Her laureate status at the “School of Mastery” International Festival and Competition underscores her vocal prowess and commitment to musical excellence.

With a holistic skill set encompassing teaching, composition, performance, and research, Galyna Omelchenko-Aghaie Koohi continues to make indelible contributions to the world of music and education.

Composer, performer, and teacher, Anton has been playing professionally for over twenty years in a variety of musical contexts. He is a member of SOCAN and has composed original works for guitar, as well as world music compositions that fuse elements of Bulgarian folk music, flamenco, Latin music, and jazz. Anton began playing tambura and guitar in Bulgaria at the age of six. After studying classical guitar, he performed as a soloist with the orchestra Pirinski Zvutzi in Blagoevrad. Later he became a member of the Valeri Dimchev Trio where his many performances and recordings blended traditional Bulgarian folk music with modern and classical music styles. In 1995, Anton settled in Atlantic City, New Jersey where he taught guitar, performed regularly as a solo guitarist, and became a member of the American Federation of Musicians. Since 1998, Anton has composed and performed in Toronto, his new home. There he also teaches classical, folk, rock, and jazz guitar and his students have won top prizes at the Kiwanis Music Festival. Anton was recently awarded two Canada Council grants for both writing and recording original compositions that draw from his Bulgarian roots and other forms of world music.

Camilo, a seasoned multi-instrumentalist with over two decades of immersive experience in the dynamic realm of music. With a passion for both the artistry and education of music. Camilo has carved a remarkable niche for himself as an accomplished musician, dedicated educator, producer, and a live music sessionist.

With expertise across a spectrum of instruments, Camilo is an experienced musician. Whether it’s the strings, keys, or percussion, their musical prowess extends across diverse genres, showcasing a versatility that only comes from years of dedicated practice and exploration.

For more than 20 years, this experienced instructor has been imparting their wealth of knowledge and passion for music to eager minds. His teaching philosophy is centered in the transformative power of music as a universal language. Their teaching and artistic endeavors are driven by a passion to unlock the creative potential within each student and collaborator, fostering a lifelong love and understanding of music.

Behind the studio, Camilo emerges as a dedicated producer, weaving sonic landscapes that transcend genres. Their soloist recordings and collaborations with artists from diverse musical backgrounds have earned them prestigious production scholarships.

Embark on a musical journey with Camilo, where classical precision meets electric energy, and genres blend seamlessly. Whether you’re a budding musician or a seasoned artist seeking refinement, Camilo invites you to explore the rich and diverse world of music under their expert guidance.

Reza, a versatile musician, was born and raised in Iran within a musical family. Initiated into traditional Persian music at a young age by his brothers and family friend Hamid Mansouri, he swiftly mastered instruments like the Tonbak, Setar, and Tar by age fifteen. Inspired by Western music during his teens, Reza gravitated towards the Classical guitar as his primary instrument.

Upon immigrating to Canada, Reza pursued formal training in Toronto, studying under renowned musicians. Initially self-taught, he later received guidance from Farzad Daneshmand in Iran and Bagher Moazen in Canada. He furthered his studies under Dr. Jeffrey McFadden at the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Music at York University, Reza delved into Composition, earning a Master of Arts degree and currently pursuing a Ph.D. During his academic journey, he served as a Teaching Assistant, working with esteemed musical groups like the York University Gospel Choir and Symphony Orchestra.

As a performer, Reza has showcased his talents extensively in both Iran and Canada, both as a soloist and with various bands. He has graced numerous stages in the Greater Toronto Area with guitar recitals and has shared his expertise in guitar, Tonbak, and music theory for over two decades as an instructor.

Passionate about music education, Reza finds joy in teaching and imparting his knowledge and love for the performing arts to younger generations. He continues to be an active performer, composer, and educator, contributing to the musical landscape with his talents and dedication.

Toronto based musician, Tim has had the good fortune of performing and/or recording with many acclaimed Canadian artists from many genres, including Rich Underhill, Ron Davis, Quique Escamilla, Amelie and Les Singes Bleus, Chris Gale, etc. Tim’s own band, the Worst Pop Band Ever, has also played to packed clubs and festivals across North America, reached #1 on college radio charts and been featured on All About Jazz, CBC, Canadian Musician, etc. PPF House, a multimedia production house he co-runs, has has provided music and sound design for the CBC, Disney, OMNI, Teletoon and even the Governor General’s office. Their 2016 project for the NFB, “BAM”, premiered at TIFF and was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award.

Along with two decades of private instruction experience, Tim created the Jazz For Juniors workshop which teaches elementary and secondary students about Jazz and improvisation. He has worked extensively with the TDSB, JazzFM 91.1 Educational Outreach, and the Jazz Performance and Education Centre, as well as private schools like Upper Canada College, Stirling Hall and PACE.  He’s also done numerous master classes across Canada at the post-secondary level including master classes at Carleton University, Upper Canada College, Guelph University, Grant MacEwan College and Western University.

A professional drummer and producer originally from Toronto, his years of rigorous training, performance experience, and dedication led Petros to The Juilliard School in Manhattan. There, he immersed himself in the vibrant Jazz program, graduating in May 2022.

Driven by a desire to impart knowledge and inspire the next generation, he has transitioned his focus to the field of education. As a school teacher, he is committed to creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment where students can explore their creativity and develop a deep appreciation for music.

Drawing upon his musical experiences, Petros infuses his teaching with innovation and passion, striving to instill in his students a love for music that extends beyond the classroom. Through personalized instruction and hands-on learning, he empowers his students to discover their unique musical talents and unleash their full potential.

With a firm belief in the transformative power of education, he is dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive community where every student feels valued and encouraged to thrive. As he embarks on this new chapter in his career, he is excited to continue his journey of growth and discovery, leveraging the skills he has cultivated over the years to inspire the next generation of musicians and artists.