Piano Instructors
Japanese-American pianist Yurie Farnsworth has established herself as an emerging young artist across Oregon, Texas and Japan.
In 2008, Yurie won the 2nd place title at the National level of the MTNA Piano Competition. As a Junior at the Shepherd School of Music, Yurie became the first undergraduate student to win the school’s piano concerto competition in many years, and was subsequently presented as a soloist with the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra in 2015. . In 2019, Yurie won 3rd prize at the Aoniyoshi Music Competition in Nara, Japan. In 2021, Yurie won the Grand Rachmaninoff Prize, as well as the overall 2nd prize at the 3rd International Rachmaninoff Piano Competition. In 2024, Yurie presented her doctorate thesis, “The art of intoning music: an alternative approach to analysis and interpretation of Rachmaninoff’s piano music through Boris Asafiev’s theory of intonation”, alongside a final exam performance consisting of Rachmaninoff’s second piano concerto and second piano sonata, the latter of which was arranged by Yurie as a mix of both the 1913 and 1931 versions.
Yurie has also performed in various venues across Japan and in Tokyo, including the salon concert halls at the Ginza Yamaha and Omotesando Kawai buildings, as well as with orchestra at the Sumida Triphony Hall. .
Akina earned a Master's degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Doctorate from West Virginia University (both in Piano Performance) after graduating from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law and the Graduate School of International Relations. Studied piano under Sonoko Hanai, Dr. Stephen M. Smith, Dr. José Ramón Méndez, Dr. Ching-wen Xiao, and Dr. Lucy Mauro. Won Third Prize at the Pittsburgh International Piano Competition to perform at Carnegie Hall. Received Second Prize in the Adult Concerto Division at the American Fine Arts Festival. Founded Oto-no-irodori to bring diversity to Japan's music
Akina is fluent in English, Japanese and Chinese Mandarin
Alejandra is a professional piano teacher graduated from the University of Cauca, Colombia. She has been awarded the First Prize at the "National Competition for Young Talents 2000" by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Valle, as well as the First Prize at the competition "Sala Beethoven 7.30" in Cali in 2008 and 2009.
With 15 years of experience as a piano teacher under her belt, she worked at Cauca University and Nariño University, forming and educating new generations of young pianists. She has been an active performer as a soloist and as a collaborative pianist for other instruments and various musicians. She worked in the Philippines and Japan, and it is because of her deep interest in more disciplines of the human spirit beyond the arts, that she trained and grew in other fields of education, enriching her expertise and making her teaching system more holistic and integrated to the life of her apprentices. "I strongly believe that teaching is like opening a door to a world of discovery where we both learn, hand to hand with the student".
Daisy holds a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of York, UK. She began music lessons at the age of 5 and focused on classical piano by the age of 8. She graduated with High Honors from the Pre-Conservatory Programme at Yayasan Pendidikan Musik (YPM) Music School in Jakarta, Indonesia, earning the 2014 YPM Artist Diploma, the 2014 YPM GOLD Medal of Honor, and the 2014 YPM 3 Unison from the Teacher's Diploma Programme.
With 11 years of teaching experience, Daisy is dedicated to providing enjoyable and high-quality music education. She co-founded Dolcissimo in Indonesia, where she integrates game-based learning to make music lessons engaging for children. Her vision is to create a positive and inspiring environment for her students, fostering a lifelong passion for music.
Daisy has further enriched her expertise by training in the Suzuki Method, Orff Schulwerk, and Kodaly Method during her postgraduate studies. She participated in the Mozarteum International Summer Academy 2023 in Salzburg, Austria, under the guidance of Andreas Frölich and volunteered at the North Yorkshire Music Therapy Centre's Grow n Groove program, working with children aged 0-4 and their parents. Additionally, she performed with the University of York Choir, including a notable performance of Edward Elgar's "The Dream of Gerontius" at York Minster. An active church pianist for 12 years, Daisy has played in churches across Indonesia, the UK, and Japan.
Carrissa started learning the piano at the age of 10. She passed her ABRSM Grade 8 Piano with Distinction at the age of 17.
Carrissa is a Music graduate from King’s College London, United Kingdom. Her study in King’s leads to advanced work in History of Western Music, Musicology, Music Performance (Piano), Music Composition and Music Analysis.
Carrissa received her piano training at the Royal Academy of Music, London. She passed her Piano Performance Examination with a First-class result.
Carrissa was selected to participate in various music festivals in the Europe, including the FEST- YN (2017), Spain; the VI & VII International Piano Festival Torre de Canyamel, Spain (2017,2018), which was organized in collaboration with the Royal College of Music (RCM) and the Moscow Conservatory, She has performed alongside with pianists from the UK, Spain, Russia, China, Japan and Korea during the international piano festival. In 2018,
Carrissa has 8 years of teaching experience in Music, specializing in Piano Performance teaching. In her teaching, she focuses on delivering specific performing techniques required for different musical works from each musical period, and helps to solve technical issues in piano playing.
Emi-sensei began playing the piano at the age of 6 and moved to the USA at the age of 19 for language study.
During her studies, she was a member of the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation, an American music foundation, and participated in many concerts at the Tenri Cultural Society in New York, as well as at the International House New York, The Longy School of Music in Boston, Miami Senior High School and Halle in Germany.
She has participated in international music festivals such as the Euromusic Festival Academy and the Miami Music Festival, where she studied with Alexandre Mutuskin, Anton Nail, Daniel Shapiro and Alexei Gorlach.
Since graduating, she has worked as an online piano teacher, teaching students of all ages in English.
CuiLin is from China. She started to learn piano at the age of 6 and later on she learned how to play the electronic organ. Exceptional skills in both Piano and Organ. She graduated from the Music Education Department of Xi'an Conservatory of Music. She used to be an intern music instructor. She has taught general music and piano at primary schools.
Besides, she also taught piano (private lessons) in China
(from Grade 1 to higher diploma level in English, Japanese or Chinese)
Therefore, she has gained professional experience in music education especially in piano teaching for young learners.
She speaks 3 languages: Chinese, English and Japanese.
( Sachi sensei )After graduating from Toho Girls' High School (Music), she graduated from the Toho Gakuen School of Music with a degree in piano.
Studied in the USA after participating in the JISA Music Festival in Canada. She completed her master's and diploma studies in piano performance at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. While in Boston, she has accompanied various instruments and has been asked to be a class accompanist by professors of double bass, violin, flute and oboe.
Currently, she is active in a piano duo with a friend from the New England Conservatory of Music, and also performs solo, chamber music and accompaniment, as well as teaching younger students.
As an external instructor, she has also provided music education programmes at nursery schools for more than 15 years, and is well-loved by the 2-5 year-old children in her charge.
Special Venue Music Awards 2025
First Prize, DUO category
Mateus began his musical journey in Brazil playing the guitar at age 8 and later the piano under the guidance of pianists Iracele Vera Livero (Brazil) and Rosa Maria Tolon (Cuba). He also participated in several masterclasses with Brazilian and international musicians, such as the Argentinian pianist and conductor Alfredo Corral.
A graduate in music education, Mateus holds a master's and doctorate in musicology from UNICAMP (ranked the second best university in Latin America, according to Times Higher Education (THE) Latin America University 2026). As a teacher, he has 15 years of experience teaching guitar, piano, music history, and music theory in conservatories and private lessons in Brazil and, since 2023, in Japan.
His musical experiences are divided between classical and Brazilian popular music, performing at weddings and events such as the Hamamatsu Jazz Week. In addition to his formal training, Mateus studied composition and musical analysis with Achille Picchi and holds the title of Junshiho in koto from Seiha-Ikuta-ryu.
Maiko started piano at age 5 in New York. She earned bachelor and master degree at Manhattan School of Music, studied solo piano with Andre Michel Schub and accompaniment with John Forconi.
She also studied with Golda Tatz, Krzysztof Jablonski at Kirishima International Music Festival, Andrea Lucchesini at International Summer Academy Mozarteum.
Maiko started her career as a piano teacher in 2018. She’s been teaching various students from beginner to advanced.