Meet Your Instructors!
Alexander Barsov
Alexander founded New York Piano School in 2019 with a belief in the creative power of music and the idea that the joy of music should be accessible to all, as well as the belief that piano lessons should stimulate and develop creativity and the imagination while helping the student to acquire a healthy and effective technique.
Conservatory trained with a degree in classical composition, as well as additional studies in piano with Alexander Budyonny and pedagogy with Natalia Budyonny, Alex offers his students deep insight into music and piano playing. Alex has worked with students between the ages of 3 and 70, and offers instruction in English, Russian and Spanish, currently on a limited basis.
Sofia Sanchez Maestro
Sofia is a Spanish pianist and educator known for her expressive artistry and dedication to musical excellence. Throughout her career, she has performed in prestigious concert venues across Europe, the United States, and Asia. Sofia has performed as a soloist at prestigious venues such as Greenfield Hall and Miller Recital Hall at the Manhattan School of Music (USA), Instituto Cervantes (Tokyo, Japan), Ehrbar Saal (Vienna, Austria), Manuel de Falla Hall (Madrid, Spain), Ateneo de Madrid, and Euskalduna Palace (Basque Country, Spain). Her talent has been recognized in several international piano competitions, earning her Second Prize at the Oberton International Music Competition in Graz (2022) and First Prize at the European Music Awards in Paris (2020).
Sofía blends her performance career with her passion for education, teaching at the Manhattan School of Music and the NY Piano School, where she brings the depth of her musical and performance experience into every lesson. As an artist and educator, she is continuously crafting new projects that reflect her creative vision while advancing her presence on the international stage.
In addition to earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Musikene, where she studied with Marta Zabaleta and Gustavo Diaz-Jerez, and a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied under Dr. Solomon Mikowsky and Dr. Wael Farouk, Sofia has performed in masterclasses with renowned pianists including Khatia Buniatishvili, Eldar Nebolsin, Dmitri Bashkirov, Ivan Klansky, Franck Van de Laar, Martha Gulyas, Luis de Valle, and Patrin Garcia Barredo, among others.
Helia Saraidarian
An award-winning pianist, Helia has worked with students of all ages and levels, from young beginners to advanced pianists. She’s passionate about making music enjoyable and accessible for every student, regardless of age or experience level, working to help nurture a love for music and playing the piano, as well as helping to develop musicality and to build a strong technique.
Helia holds a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
Laura Georgiev
Laura is a Bulgarian-American solo and collaborative pianist and instructor. As a piano teacher, her philosophy is based on the belief that every student has the ability to learn and enjoy music. Her goal is to help each student reach their full potential and become well-rounded musicians.
She has participated in festivals and competitions both in the United States and internationally, including Puerto Piano and Strings, Mark Morris Dance Accompaniment Training Program, Brevard Summer Institute, U.S. Open International Music Competition, International Keyboard Institute & Festival in New York, Grand Prize Virtuoso in Salzburg, and Interharmony in Germany.
Laura earned her Master of Music in Piano Performance and Advanced Certificate in Piano Pedagogy at New York University, where she studied with Eteri Andjaparidze. Prior to this, Laura studied with Steven Mayer at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music.
Andrew Wilson
Born and raised in Kansas, Andrew began his musical education at the age of 10. He earned his bachelor’s degree in piano performance at Kansas State University, studying with Dr. Slawomir Dobrzanski.
Andrew has performed as soloist with the Kansas State University Symphony Orchestra, and has received awards in several other regional competitions.
Zachary Gossett
An experienced piano instructor, Zachary has welcomed students of all ages and skill levels, in piano lessons as well as composition lessons. While their teaching emphasizes musicality, ear training, and rhythm, a central tenet of Zachary’s approach focuses on playing the piano with ease and fluidity and building a sustainable lifelong relationship with the instrument. One of Zachary’s greatest joys as a teacher is witnessing students’ progress as they simultaneously develop confidence, problem solving skills, and an inspiring relationship with music
Zachary has performed originals, jazz standards, salsa, classical repertoire, and contemporary music in a variety of settings, even playing with pop acts such as The Platters. In 2019, Zachary was invited to be the Musician Apprentice for the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC. Most recently, they worked as a collaborator for the 2022-2023 North Carolina Dance Festival season. As a composer, Zachary has arranged for strings, large jazz ensemble, as well as their own small group collective. In 2020, Zachary was awarded the Durham Arts Council Artist Support Grant, which was used to fund their first recording project: Can’t Forget Where You Come From.
Zachary earned a Bachelors of Music from UNC Chapel Hill studying under Dr. Clara Yang and Dr. Stephen Anderson. They earned a Masters in Music from North Carolina Central University in 2018. While at NCCU, they also enjoyed the privilege of lessons and clinics by resident artists Joey Calderazzo and Branford Marsalis.
Luka Marinkovic
A native of France, Luka is a pianist, composer, and arranger active in classical music and musical theatre. He is passionate about all kinds of music, from classical and jazz to pop, and has years of of experience teaching piano lessons to children and adults.
Luka studied composition and piano at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, most recently with Norman Krueger, Claude Baker, and Sven-David Sandström. He has also studied at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the IRCAM electronic music center in Paris, France, and has performed in masterclasses with pianists Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Richard Goode, and Lars Vogt. Luka has served as the Associate Music Director of the 2022 national double tour of An American in Paris and South Pacific, performing in 30 states across the US. Outside of music, his passions include hiking, cooking, math and dance.
Luka offers lessons in English and French.
Jiazhou Conroy Hu
Conroy is a New Zealand-born pianist, composer, and dedicated educator. With a passion for nurturing in students a love for music, Conroy is committed to providing comprehensive instruction that is tailored to each individual’s goals and aspirations. His teaching philosophy is that a young musician grows using a good balance of technique, methodology, and musicianship. Conroy is well versed in teaching beginner, intermediate, as well as advanced levels. He teaches piano, theory, as well as composition.
Starting his own musical journey at the age of eight, Conroy’s dedication to the piano led him to earn a Bachelor of Music in Classical Piano Performance at The University of Auckland, where he studied with Dr. Rae de Lisle and Matteo Napoli. He then earned a Master of Music in Piano Performance at Mannes School of Music, under the tutelage of Pavlina Dokovska. Throughout his studies, Conroy distinguished himself as a Haydn Staples Piano Scholar. He has performed in venues around the world, including Steinway Hall, Aotea Centre, and Hong Kong City Hall. Orchestral performances of concertos include performances with the Auckland Philharmonic and Nelson Symphony Orchestra. He is the founder of Artemis Music and Sunü, and is also an experienced chamber musician. In addition to performing and teaching, Conroy is a composer with a focus on piano music in particular.
As a piano teacher, Conroy is committed the growth and education of his students to reach their full potential. In good music education, he believes students can learn life-long skills that can be applied to numerous other aspects and disciplines in one’s life beyond music.