Winnie Ip
M.M. Catholic University, Washington DC
B.M. Hartt School of Music, Hartford
L.R.S.M. Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
Diplomas with Merit, advanced Chamber Music ABRSM
Certificate in Administration and Management, Harvard University Extension
Representative, ABRSM since 1990
Committee Presentation in the 8th World Piano Pedagogy Conference, Nashville, Tennessee 2003
2003 Soloist in the 10th Annual Concerto Concert, BU
2005 MTNA National Conference received PTGF Award
2006 Soloist Double Concerto Fundraising Concert in the Rachel Molly Foundation, BU
2008 Soloist Double Concerto Fundraising Concert in the KKCS, BU
Director, the Ip Piano School since 1992
Piano, Theory
Gonzalo Farias
Candidate D.M.A. Piano Performance, NEC
Artist Diploma, M.M. Piano Performance, NEC
Winner Flora Guerra Piano Competition
Winner Claudio Arrau National and International Competitions
Piano Faculty since 2005
Rhiannon Banerdt
A native of Los Angeles, made her solo debut at age 14 with the New England Youth Ensemble in South Africa. She has since given solo and chamber music performances at Philadelphia's Kimmel Center, New York's Weill Hall at Carnegie, and Boston's Jordan Hall. A former member of the Amethyst Piano Trio, Ms. Banerdt was selected for the semifinals of the 2006 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and the same year was awarded first prize in the International Chamber Music Ensemble Competition. She is a member of Discovery Ensemble, a chamber orchestra presenting workshops and performances in underserved communities in the Boston area. Rhiannon received her Bachelor's degree from New England Conservatory under the tutelage of Lucy Chapman and is currently pursuing graduate studies there with Paul Biss.
Violin Faculty
Tal Zilber
Israeli born pianist Tal Zilber enjoys an unusually diverse career of classical, jazz, and pop performances as well as composing, arranging, and improvising. Zilber has appeared as a soloist with the Ramat Hasharon Orchestra in Tel Aviv and his recordings were featured on the Galei Zahal radio station in Israel. Zilber was chosen to serve as an Outstanding Musician in the Israeli Defense Forces and during the three years of his military service, he was chosen by the Zionist Federation to participate in a concert tour in Australia. Prizes and Awards include the Andre Watts Scholarship, the America-Israel culture foundation scholarship, the Lillian H. Duncan Prize and the Marian Fox Martel scholarship. Zilber holds a M.M from Rice University, a Performance Diploma from Indiana University, and a B.M. from the Rubin Israeli Music Academy, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. His has performed in the Masterclasses of Pnina Salzman, Ronan O'Hara, Evelyne Brancart, Tamás Ungár and the Eroica Trio. Past teachers include Brian Connelly, Edmund Battersby, Michael Boguslavsky, and Alexander Volkov. Zilber is pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Contemporary Improvisation at the New England Conservatory in the studios of Ran Blake and Bert Seager. Visit website >>>
Piano Faculty
Julia Okrusko
Julia Okrusko received her Master's Degree and Performance Diploma in violin from Boston University College of Fine Arts studying with Dana Mazurkevich. Julia is a winner of the International W.A.Mozart Competition in Latvia (3rd Prize), the International Berlingske Tidende Competition in Denmark (1st Prize), National J.Fledzinskis Competition in Lithuania (1st Prize), National Chamber Music Competition in Lithuania (1st Prize), International B.Dvarionas Competition in Lithuania (Laureate Diploma and the Special Prize), International Jascha Heifetz Competition in Lithuania (Special Prize), International A.Glazounov Competition in France (1st Prize), J.S.Bach Competition in Boston (Grand-Prix). Julia was awarded The International Holland Music Sessions and Lithuanian Ministery of Culture scholarships, and Boston University School of Music full scholarship. Julia performed in Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Denmark, Holland, Germany, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey - as a soloist and member of chamber ensembles. She is a founding member of the New England String Quartet, and collaborates with Boston's finest ensembles and soloists. Visit website >>>
Violin Faculty
Konstantin Rybakov
Konstantin Rybakov started to play violin at the age of 6. Winner of numerous awards at the international violin competitions in Russia (Moscow), Italy, Belorussia, and Finland, Konstantin has been performing extensively as a soloist with orchestra and member of chamber ensembles in Russia and abroad. In 2004 Konstantin became a student and a teaching assistant of Professor Wolf Usminsky at Ural State Conservatory, and the same year he made his debut with Ural State Conservatory Student Orchestra. In 2005 Konstantin became a full time soloist and chamber musician at the Ural State Philharmonic Society and was giving numerous performances throughout Ural Region. In 2006 Konstantin received award at the Contemporary Art and Education Music Competition in Moscow, Russia, and became a member of B-A-C-H chamber orchestra. In 2007 he received an award at the International M. Elski Violin Competition in Minsk, Belorussia, and won the 1st Prize at the International Art of 21st Century Competition in Finland. Currently, Konstantin lives in Boston, MA and keeps concert and outreach activity throughout the New England area. Konstantin is also a member of the New England String Quartet. Visit website >>>
Violin Faculty
Ming-Hui Lin
A native of Taiwan, Ming-Hui Lin is a versatile cellist and pianist, an enthusiastic chamber musician, and a devoted teacher and coach. Ming-Hui has joined the cello faculty as a teaching assistant and sectional coach for the All Campus Orchestra at Boston University since 2007. Ming-Hui has also serves as an instructor on both of cello and piano at the Brookline Adult& Community program, Seed Music and Art Center, Takelessons Music School and Musikalessons Music Organization in the greater Boston area. As a founding member of the New England String Quartet, Ming-Hui was invited to be a guest coach for the chamber program The Young People's String Orchestra (YPSO) under the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. She also served as a faculty member in the 9th Annual Burnside Music Festival. Ming-Hui has received degrees in cello performance from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University (GPD, 07; MM, 05) and the Taipei National University of the Arts (BM, 03). She is currently pursuing her Doctoral of Musical Arts degree at the Boston University. A winner of international and national competitions, Ming-Hui has premiered numerous contemporary works in various music styles, and has collaborated with many composers and performers throughout United States, Asia, and Europe. Visit website >>>
Cello Faculty
Ai-Ying Chiu
Pianist Ai-Ying Chiu has years of experience teaching piano, including performance techniques, ear training, and theory. She has worked with all ages from beginners to advanced students. Ai-Ying has appeared as both soloist and chamber pianist at many important concert halls such as The Town Hall in New York City (U.S.A.), Le Petit Trianon in San Jose (U.S.A.) Walter Hall in Toronto (Canada), Basilica San Francesco in Assisi (Italy), Rachmaninoff Concert Hall in Tambov (Russia), Chih-Shan Hall of Chiang Kai-Shek Cultural Center in Kaohsiung City (Taiwan), and many others in Germany and France. In pursuit of her Master’s degree and Graduate Performance Diploma, she studied with Michael Lewin at The Boston Conservatory, where she was the winner of the H. Wilfred Churchill Piano Scholarship Competition in 2006 and the Piano Honors Competition in 2007 and 2009, and an Honorable Mention Award recipient in the 2008 Mozart Concerto Competition. She was also an Honorable Mention Award recipient at the 2008 Chinese International Piano Competition in New York City.
Piano Faculty
Natalie Erlich
Pianist Natalie Erlich has performed at Boston’s Jordan Hall, New York’s Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Hall, Weill Hall, the Juilliard Theater, and the 92nd Street Y, and venues in Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and Mannheim. She has worked with prominent composers such as Malcolm Peyton and Michael Gandolfi, as well as Leon Kirchner in the year before his death. She has been featured four times on the Young Artists Showcase on WQXR, New York’s classical radio station. Natalie received a Master’s degree in Piano Performace in 2008 from New England Conservatory, where she had also completed her undergraduate studies. At NEC she was recognized for her talents as both soloist and chamber musician, winning the 2005 Borromeo String Quartet Guest Artist Award, the 2006 Commencement Concerto Competition, and the 2006-2007 Chamber Music Honors Auditions. Natalie has participated in IMS Prussia Cove, Kneisel Hall, Prague International Piano Masterclasses, and Meranofest. She has played in master classes with Andras Schiff, Vladimir Feltsman, Peter Eicher, Erich Höbarth, Andre-Michel Schub, Lori Sims, Barbara Mallow and Donald Weilerstein. Visit website >>>
Piano Faculty
Heeyeon Chi
B.M. McGill University, Montreal
M.M. New England Conservatory
Graduate Diploma, NEC
Doctorate Candidate, Boston University
Piano Faculty
Elisa Rega
Elisa Rega's multifaceted approach to music is seen through her versatility as a classical violist having played with orchestras across the United States and Europe, a jazz violist steeped in improvisation and an Indian music specialist performing on the sitar. Elisa attended Oberlin Conservatory where she completed both a BA in Psychology and a BM in Viola performance. She enjoyed a residency in Arezzo, Italy playing for the Oberlin Opera as well as playing at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. Elisa won the Young Artist Chamber Music Competitions Best of 2009. Currently, Elisa is pursuing her Masters of Music at the New England Conservatory.
Violin / Viola Faculty
Bella Breykher
B.A. State University, Yakutzk, U.S.S.R.
B.M. Music College, Penga U.S.S.R.
Piano Faculty since 1992