Mingyue Fu, born into a musical family, began piano lessons at the age of four. In 2010, Fu won the bronze medal at the 5th Gulangyu Piano Festival. The following year, Fu secured an award at the “Pearl River • Kaiserburg” National Youth Piano Competition and, in 2012, stood out among competitors at the “Golden Sunflower” National Children’s Piano Competition in Nanchang, earning a top ranking. That same year, Fu participated in the 9th Shanghai International Piano Master Class, studying with Demitri Bashkirov, Anton Kuerti, and Oxana Yablonskaya.

In 2013, Fu was the top entrant to the high school section of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Middle School, becoming the first piano student from Nanchang to do so, and studied under professors Zhou Kang and Tang Beihua. In 2014, Fu attended the Shanghai Himalaya International Piano Master Class with Boris Berman, David Lively, and Andre Michael Schub. In 2016, Fu enrolled at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, under the tutelage of Professor Sun Yun.

Fu attended the Almafi Coast Music Festival in Italy in 2017, studying with Boris Berman and Yoshikazu Nagai. Between 2017 and 2018, Fu participated in the Jian see Piano Corps, performing in large concert halls in Yichang, Nanjing, and Shanghai, and in 2018, held a solo piano recital at Nanchang Normal University, receiving high praise from professionals. In 2019, Fu attended the 15th Shanghai International Piano Master Class, studying with Da Ming Zhu and Anatoil Zatin, and won second place in the professional B category at the Magnolia International Piano Competition.

In 2020, Fu was admitted to the Master of Music in Piano Performance program at the Manhattan School of Music in the United States, studying with Professors Philip Kawin and Jeffrey Cohen, and received a substantial scholarship. Fu continued at the Manhattan School of Music for a Professional Studies Diploma in performance, participating in numerous masterclasses and holding both solo and ensemble concerts. In 2023, Fu was admitted with excellent results to the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance program at the University of Hartford, and will continue studies under Professor Jose Ramos Santana.

A native of South Korea, Eun Joo Lee began playing the piano at the age of seven and soon started playing in the City Hall. After entering into the specialized Art High School in Pusan, remarkably she appeared at the Art Hall of Ga-ram and Ga-Eun as solo pianist. When she was studying in Pusan National University, she received a scholarship from the Department of Music, and also played at the school’s concert hall every year before her graduation under the tutelage of Jung Soon Choi. In 2002, she played Bartok’s Rhapsody op.1 at Cultural Concert Hall of Kyumjung. Her performance of Bartok Rhapsody Op.1 was highly received by the audience with a storm of applause. Also, she started expanding her repertories by playing contemporary work such as Copland, Bartok, Scriabin, Charles Ives.

The 2002 Piano Summer at New Paltz, NY hosted by Vladimir Feltsman, inspired her to come to New York and begin intensive studying. During the summer session of that year, she performed Ravel’s Jeau D’eau in the Concert Hall in SUNY at New Paltz. As a receiver of Art Bridge America Scholarship, she was able to pursue her master’s degree in Music with the well-known pianist Paul Ostrovsky in SUNY at Purchase.

In 2007, her immense fascination with music led her to participate in the Summer Course in New Paltz again, so that she could get more valuable stage experience. She achieved the Master of Music in 2007 and the Artist Diploma Degree at SUNY Purchase in 2008. She also learned the organ with the interest of sacred church music with Anthony Newman. In 2010, she began the fall semester in the Graduate Professional Study at the Hartt School, University of Hartford with Luiz De Moura Castro. She successfully finished her first Graduate Diploma Recital on January 31, 2012 in Berkman Recital Hall at the Hartt school. As well as her piano studying, her interest in sacred church music led her to meet the renowned organist Patrica Snyder at Hartt school. She studied with her for one year and also completed the final organ recital in her studio. She successfully completed her second Graduate Diploma Recital on May 13, 2013.

She was a lead faculty member for five years at the Music School of Woodwind since 2005. She was also recently hired by the Cheshire Academy as a piano faculty member in the music department. She worked as piano faculty at ABC music school in Litchfield county from 2013 to 2016. She also gave a Lecture Recital about Composer’s life and representative works (Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart) for the Korean Community. She performs as an Official Accompanist for the Connecticut College Choirs every semester since she was appointed as an collaborative pianist in 2020. She has been teaching students as Piano Faculty at the Thames Valley School at Connecticut College.

In the local Korean community, she plays chamber music with other members in various concert halls. As a music director in the Korean Presbyterian Church of Greater Hartford, she had served for the choir since she moved to Connecticut in 2009. She was a music director and organist in the Calvary Baptist Church and The First Congregational Church of Woodbridge. She recorded the Brian Field’s piano solo piece “Three planets” for climate change warning and also uploaded the whole movements on her YouTube channel. She is a currently active member of Harford Music Teacher Alliance (HMTA) since 2013 and also member of National Music Teachers Association (NMTA).

Take private lessons with me if…

If you are interested in learning the piano as a hobby/fun or if you’re interested in sharpening your skills and musicianship for recitals or competition. I customize my lessons to meet student’s musical goals, responding to the needs of students and parents in offering high quality musical training. I commit to inspiring students to reach the highest artistic level of piano playing. My mission is to provide professional instruction with enthusiasm and dedication where each lesson has a purpose to nurture and enhance musical ideas and concepts. Students in my studio are encouraged and empowered to improve musical skills which will eventually help them to enjoy music for the rest of their life.

Eun Joo Lee’s Student Testimonials

“My instructor teaches me the best fundamental technique and theory for beginners looking to excel. When I don’t understand, she is patient. She is really encouraging and complements my playing throughout the lesson.” -Angie Stanford

Take private lessons with me if…

If you want to build a healthy, sustainable vocal technique that lets you sing your favorite songs.

Julia’s Student Testimonials

“Julia es una profesora excelente y enseña canciones bilingues es muy linda. Nos encantan las clases se nota la planeacion y la transicion de las actividades de la clase es muy divertida . Julia has a great energy es muy alegre.”

“Always on time and keeps the class moving at a steady pace, We love the classes, they are so much fun with a variety of songs, instruments and props”

“Leora loves how Ms. Julia ” goes into the closet” and brings out all kinds of cool musical learning instruments. I love how she engages everyone and creates such a positive, uplifting and comfortable atmosphere perfect for fostering learning and making the kids feel safe to learn and participate!”

Michael Stewart has performed to great acclaim throughout the United States, Europe, and South America as solo pianist and collaborative pianist alike. In addition to his duties as a music teacher at Enfield High School in Connecticut, Mr. Stewart is currently collaborative pianist and vocal coach at Juilliard’s Pre-College Vocal Arts Camp in Orlando each summer, music faculty at the Sarasota Music Conservatory in Florida, and most recently music faculty at the Community Music School of Springfield in Massachusetts.

Mr. Stewart’s multifaceted career has spanned everything from performing solo piano recitals, making concerto appearances with dozens of orchestras, and maintaining a bustling private piano teaching studio online and in-person to performing chamber music, directing musical theater and opera productions, choral conducting, vocal coaching, songwriting, and utilizing music technology, recording equipment, and digital audio workstations to enhance the artistry of his students and colleagues.

Michael received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Utah and two Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano respectively at Mannes Conservatory in New York City. Whenever Mr. Stewart is not busy with his musical activities, you may find him hiking, reading, baking, traveling, or playing with his pack of Siberian huskies.

Take private lessons with me if…

If you wish to dig deep into oboe or piano technique. I keep lessons informative and fast-paced, but most importantly, motivating and fun. We will explore many sides of music-making and tailor our time together to suit your needs.

Steve Moser studied at the Eastman School of Music and majored in music at the African American and Jazz Department at UMass Amherst. He has been teaching for more than 20 years, is the owner of New Traditions music publishing company, and performs throughout the Northeast. Steve also teaches music theory and composition.

Take private lessons with me if…

If you are someone who has studied classical piano for some time, but knows you don’t want to become a concert pianist. My students typically want to play piano for their own enjoyment. With a music theory approach, I teach my students how to read chord “symbols”, so they can pick up a contemporary music book and play Pop and/or Jazz pieces – without having to sight-read entire piano arrangements. Lessons also include some ear-training and learning keyboard techniques for accompanying vocalists.

Sofya Shainskaya earned her Masters of Music degree at Tashkent Conservatory, Russia. Sofya has been teaching and performing for four decades and was an accompanist for the Olympic gymnastics team and for theater, opera, and ballet in Russia. She also accompanied the famed Glinka Vocal Competition, and taught at the Leningrad College of Music before immigrating to the United States. She is currently the organist and Minister of Music at St. Barnabus Church, Springfield.

Take private lessons with me if…

If you want to learn the piano. I like to teach students of all levels, beginner to advanced, and all ages, children and adults too! My main goal is to introduce everyone to music and the interesting things about it. I enjoy sharing about the history and theory of the music, and also the biographies of composers from many different styles of music, but primarily classical. I’m very dedicated to teaching and caring about my students. In return I expect that students are not only interested in what we do in the lesson, but practice on a steady routine. Success for our lessons depends only on your practice.

Sofya’s Student Testimonials

“I love how Sofya is very patient if I don’t understand something and helps me again and again, leading me to different skills I can use.”

Marineh Gevorgi Kirakosyan, born in Armenia, graduated music college studying with R. Melikyan with a bachelor of performing arts in Yerevan, Armenia. She continued her education in St. Petersburg, Russia and later Yerevan, Armenia and received a Master of Performing Arts degree in 1993. Kirakosyan started her professional career as a piano instructor in 1993 at the St. Petersburg Academy of Music and at St Catherine church as an organist in St. Petersburg, Russia. She has been a faculty member of CMSS since 2009.

Take private lessons with me if…

If you want to time travel discovering the treasures of classical piano music or if you want to understand baroque, classical, and romantic music, and meet some contemporary composers.

Marineh’s Student Testimonials

“She shares helpful and understandable advice that already helps me grow.” – Alexandra Nunez

“She has a lot of patience with me as a student, even if I repeat errors.”

Kavan Rambukwelle received his B.F.A. in Music from SUNY Purchase, Master in Music from the University of Notre Dame. and Post Doc. from Umass Amherst. He studied with Amadeo Liva (late assistant to Ivan Galamian), Dr. Yehudi Wyner (Emeritus Yale Univ.), Charles Treger (Founding Member Lincoln Center Chamber Music Society), and Daniel Phillips (Orion Quartet), A. Markov (Official Soloist Moscow State Phil./Assistant to David Oistrach), the New Approach with Kato Havas in Oxford, UK, Master classes with the Tokyo String Quartet, New World String Quartet, Emanuel Borok (Concert Master Boston Symph.), and Baroque Performance Practice with Anthony Newman.

Kavan’s most notable solo appearances have been for the 50th anniversary celebration of the United Nations (UN) Declaration on Human Rights, ‘Festival for Humanity’ in New York, and the Holocaust Memorial at Temple Beth El in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he performed music from the movie “Schindler’s List.”

Kavan has over 30 years of teaching experience in Violin, viola, and Piano, and is a firm advocate for studying musical instruments to achieve academic excellence and life mastery in general.

Take private lessons with me if…

As the great Juilliard teacher Ivan Galamian said, “Focus on skill building, and the music will take care of itself.” Take private lessons with me if you want to get fluent at playing violin, viola, and/or piano. I help folks gain the knowledge and skills that unlock fluency and freedom in playing. As the old saying goes, “aim for the stars, so you can at least settle on the moon.

Kavan’s Student Testimonials

“Kavan breaks lessons down really well for me so I have a clearer understanding” – Mikayla Harris

“Kavan teaches me how to play piano really well. He provides helpful skills and excersises to help with that.” – Christina Marie Obas

Joan Marcil received her Bachelor of Music in Performance from Lowell State College and her Master of Music from the Boston Conservatory of Music. She was a voice therapist with the McClosky Voice Therapy Clinic and is currently Choir Director at St. George Cathedral, Springfield. Joan was a founding member of Opera Works, a non-profit organization that brought opera to schools and the general public.

Joan’s Student Testimonials

“Joan allows me to proceed at my own pace.”