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.
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.
Tavit Tashjian
Tavit is an Armenian-American pianist and educator. Born in Nicosia, Cyprus, Tavit came to the United States at the age of 1 and began his first piano lessons at age 6, discovering very early in life that his desire was to become a concert pianist. His primary mentors and teachers have included film composer/pianist Marcelo Cesena, Alexander Toradze, Professor at Indiana University, and Dr. Caio Pagano at Arizona State University.
Tavit has performed throughout North America and Europe, recently being featured with the Mississippi Symphony, Roanoke Symphony, Lima Symphony, and others. He has collaborated with conductors, musicians, and composers including David Stewart Wiley, Crafton Beck, Blaise Mangier, Carlos Alves, Zac Munn, Tony Devroye, Emily Ray, and has recently recorded an album with British violinist Pip Clarke.
Jose Walker Peguero
A Native of Puerto Rico, Jose is a solo and collaborative pianist, as well as educator. He has participated in a variety of projects including the Multipiano Festival in Puerto Rico, Puerto Piano and Strings, as well as contemporary ensembles such as Alea 21.
Jose is a co-founder of Dúo Colibrí.
Passionate about performance, Jose has performed with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra as a chorister, has participated in festivals and masterclasses with pianists including Theodore Hendricks, Eduardo’s Halim, Eteri Andjaparidze, Adonis Gonzalez, the Dali String Quartet, Jeffrey Swann, and others.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico (and two additional degrees—in Political Science, and Literature—at the University of Puerto Rico, Jose went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Pedagogy at NYU.
Jose believes the arts should be interactive and accessible to everyone, and that only in creating a musical journey unique to every student can they achieve their true potential. In his teaching, he aims for students not only to have fun, but to find their individualities through music. In his teaching, Jose believes in applying the fundamental principles of musical appreciation, and the acknowledgement of the arts and music as a whole
Outside of music, Jose loves to read, write/research, and to go to the beach!
Jordyn Burton
Jordyn has been musically active since the age of 5. She believes music has been a great blessing in her life and that she would not be the person she is today without it. Jordyn believes performing and educating go hand in hand, with clear, effective communication at the heart of both.
Jordyn earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Master of Music in Piano from University of North Carolina School for the Arts, and has participated in masterclasses with Orion Weiss, Gilles Vonsattel and Jon Kimura Parker.
When she’s not playing or teaching, Jordyn enjoys her other passions which include taking care of her puppy Brahms, and vegan cooking.
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.
Calina Bobis
As an undergraduate student at Pepperdine University, Calina studied with Dr. Louise Lofquist and Rufus Choi. She is the winner of several national and international competitions, including 1st place at Concours de France in Paris, 3rd place at Piano Talents in Milan, Italy; and 1st place at Millennium in Bucharest, Romania
Calina has worked with both children and adults of all playing levels and in addition to her work as a pianist and teacher, is currently working on a Masters Degree in Music Therapy.
David Fraley
David is a pianist, conductor, and music director, with a career spanning the genres of musical theatre and classical music. David worked as a vocal coach and accompanist at Pepperdine University for three years, and music-directed Contempo, the Pepperdine University musical theater ensemble for six years. He is also a classical pianist who teaches in addition to composing and arranging musical works.
David is the winner of the 2019 Thomas Osborne Concerto Competition, and has performed the 1st movement of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Pepperdine University Orchestra. He has perfect pitch, can play by ear, and is an expert sight-reader.
His blend of skills and experience make David an asset to piano students, whether they are learning to play classical, pop/rock, or musical theater.
Royniel Perez
Royniel is a Cuban-born pianist. As a participant in the prestigious Miami International Piano Festival, he has had the privilege of performing alongside world-renowned pianists and receiving lessons from them. Roy holds a degree in piano performance from Rollins College and in addition to teaching piano privately, has taught in various settings, including K-8 general music, choir ensemble, string ensemble and piano summer camps. Outside of music, Roy’s passions include salsa dancing and chess.
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.