Our Team
Jessie Tang
Music Director
Master of Arts in Piano Pedagogy/Performance, University of Northern Iowa (U.S.A)
Jessie Tang is an energetic piano teacher with a passion for music education. With over 15 years of piano teaching experience, she is always able to help many different students of different ages. During her graduate studies, she took many piano pedagogy courses, did a one year piano pedagogy internship in Dr. Robin Guy’s studio and gave group piano lessons at the University of Northern Iowa as part of her scholarship duties. Most of the students she taught there were undergraduate music students whose primary instruments were not piano. Her special studies in piano pedagogy include group piano teaching methods for students of different ages, sight-reading methods and piano techniques. In addition, her research paper for her master’s degree is to an analysis of two notable group piano textbooks, Alfred’s Group Piano for Adults and Piano for the Developing Musician.
After she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, she was successful in gaining a full scholarship to continue her education in the United States. In 2008 she obtained her master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Robin Guy and Dr. Genadi Zagor. From 2009, she pursued a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Iowa before moving to Australia in 2011. She studied with Dr. Uriel Tsachor and Dr. Alan Huckleberry while in her doctoral studies.
Since moving to Australia she has continued her piano teaching in the Sydney area. Many of her students have obtained remarkable achievements in their exams and in competitions. She has also worked as a professional pianist ranging from opera to soloist. In the past three years, she has been invited to be a panelist in the Young & Even Younger Virtuoso program of Fine Music.
Music Director
Master of Arts in Piano Pedagogy/Performance, University of Northern Iowa (U.S.A)
Jessie Tang is an energetic piano teacher with a passion for music education. With over 15 years of piano teaching experience, she is always able to help many different students of different ages. During her graduate studies, she took many piano pedagogy courses, did a one year piano pedagogy internship in Dr. Robin Guy’s studio and gave group piano lessons at the University of Northern Iowa as part of her scholarship duties. Most of the students she taught there were undergraduate music students whose primary instruments were not piano. Her special studies in piano pedagogy include group piano teaching methods for students of different ages, sight-reading methods and piano techniques. In addition, her research paper for her master’s degree is to an analysis of two notable group piano textbooks, Alfred’s Group Piano for Adults and Piano for the Developing Musician.
After she received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, she was successful in gaining a full scholarship to continue her education in the United States. In 2008 she obtained her master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa under the tutelage of Dr. Robin Guy and Dr. Genadi Zagor. From 2009, she pursued a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy and Performance at the University of Iowa before moving to Australia in 2011. She studied with Dr. Uriel Tsachor and Dr. Alan Huckleberry while in her doctoral studies.
Since moving to Australia she has continued her piano teaching in the Sydney area. Many of her students have obtained remarkable achievements in their exams and in competitions. She has also worked as a professional pianist ranging from opera to soloist. In the past three years, she has been invited to be a panelist in the Young & Even Younger Virtuoso program of Fine Music.
Jennifer Clarkson
Music Theory and Piano Teacher
PostGrad.RCM; Dip.RCM (Performers); ARCM (Teachers); Royal College of Music (U.K)
Jennifer completed a degree course in performance at the Royal College of Music in London before a Postgraduate year at the same institution. Whilst at the College she was a finalist in the Chappell Medal competition, the highest award for piano at the RCM. She won the Scarlatti prize and a bursary to study at the Mozarteum Summer School in Salzburg, Austria.
Jennifer, together with coloratura soprano Lucy Bailes, was guest performer at the Sydney Eisteddfod piano finals, held at the Sydney Conservatorium. She has given many solo piano concert recitals in Australia, England and South Africa. Jennifer has a special affinity for accompanying - solo instrumental and vocalists in particular.
She is also an experienced singing teacher. She was part of the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir, which performed at Westminster Abbey, Kings College Cambridge amongst other singers. She usually encourages her students to sing in any live situations where they can and have prepared students for AMEB and ANZCA exams with pleasing results.
Music Theory and Piano Teacher
PostGrad.RCM; Dip.RCM (Performers); ARCM (Teachers); Royal College of Music (U.K)
Jennifer completed a degree course in performance at the Royal College of Music in London before a Postgraduate year at the same institution. Whilst at the College she was a finalist in the Chappell Medal competition, the highest award for piano at the RCM. She won the Scarlatti prize and a bursary to study at the Mozarteum Summer School in Salzburg, Austria.
Jennifer, together with coloratura soprano Lucy Bailes, was guest performer at the Sydney Eisteddfod piano finals, held at the Sydney Conservatorium. She has given many solo piano concert recitals in Australia, England and South Africa. Jennifer has a special affinity for accompanying - solo instrumental and vocalists in particular.
She is also an experienced singing teacher. She was part of the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir, which performed at Westminster Abbey, Kings College Cambridge amongst other singers. She usually encourages her students to sing in any live situations where they can and have prepared students for AMEB and ANZCA exams with pleasing results.
Mark Costa
Music Theory Teacher
Master of Music in Composition, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Mark holds a Master of Music degree in music composition and an Associate Diploma of Jazz Studies from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His music arranging credits include Australian Idol, The Voice, NSW Schools Spectacular (2005-2007), Dusty –The Musical, Oh, What A Night, Priscilla – Queen Of The Desert, 2006 Brisbane School Spectacular, Rotary International and string arrangements for Tom Burlinson. He is also a former lecturer and Head of Academic Studies at the Australian Institute of Music (Sydney and Melbourne) and has conducted numerous lectures and masterclasses at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie University, University of Western Sydney and many secondary schools. Currently, Mark is playing bass for the stage musical Billy Elliot and teaches the Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing course for Berklee Online through the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.
Among countless recordings and jingles, Mark can be heard on Anthony Callea's debut CD with The Prayer taking out the Highest Selling Single Award at the 2005 ARIA Awards. Other credits include major theatrical productions of Mamma Mia, Priscilla- Queen of the Desert, The Bodyguard, We Will Rock You, Muriel’s Wedding, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease - The Arena Spectacular, Shout, Hair, Footloose and TV shows such as Australian Idol, The Midday Show, Channel 9 Gold Telethon, 2005 NSW Schools Spectacular, Strictly Dancing and Have A Go.
Music Theory Teacher
Master of Music in Composition, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Mark holds a Master of Music degree in music composition and an Associate Diploma of Jazz Studies from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His music arranging credits include Australian Idol, The Voice, NSW Schools Spectacular (2005-2007), Dusty –The Musical, Oh, What A Night, Priscilla – Queen Of The Desert, 2006 Brisbane School Spectacular, Rotary International and string arrangements for Tom Burlinson. He is also a former lecturer and Head of Academic Studies at the Australian Institute of Music (Sydney and Melbourne) and has conducted numerous lectures and masterclasses at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie University, University of Western Sydney and many secondary schools. Currently, Mark is playing bass for the stage musical Billy Elliot and teaches the Arranging: Advanced Horn Writing course for Berklee Online through the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA.
Among countless recordings and jingles, Mark can be heard on Anthony Callea's debut CD with The Prayer taking out the Highest Selling Single Award at the 2005 ARIA Awards. Other credits include major theatrical productions of Mamma Mia, Priscilla- Queen of the Desert, The Bodyguard, We Will Rock You, Muriel’s Wedding, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grease - The Arena Spectacular, Shout, Hair, Footloose and TV shows such as Australian Idol, The Midday Show, Channel 9 Gold Telethon, 2005 NSW Schools Spectacular, Strictly Dancing and Have A Go.
Sil Jin
Piano Teacher
Master of Music Therapy, University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sil is an expert pianist and teacher informed by her extensive experiences in performance, pedagogy and therapy. She graduated from Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied piano performance under the tutelage of late Nikolai Evrov. She then went on to study music therapy at University of Melbourne and currently works as a Registered Music Therapist when she's not performing or teaching. She is very passionate about sharing the joy of music with people, often with people who don't have a lot of access to quality music making and music education. Sil's philosophy in teaching is to tailor the learning experience for each child where they are at and what special qualities they bring to their learning space and most importantly to foster love, fun and excellence towards music.
Piano Teacher
Master of Music Therapy, University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Sil is an expert pianist and teacher informed by her extensive experiences in performance, pedagogy and therapy. She graduated from Sydney Conservatorium of Music where she studied piano performance under the tutelage of late Nikolai Evrov. She then went on to study music therapy at University of Melbourne and currently works as a Registered Music Therapist when she's not performing or teaching. She is very passionate about sharing the joy of music with people, often with people who don't have a lot of access to quality music making and music education. Sil's philosophy in teaching is to tailor the learning experience for each child where they are at and what special qualities they bring to their learning space and most importantly to foster love, fun and excellence towards music.
Larissa Lilley
Vocal Teacher
Bachelor of Music Performance in Voice, Australian Institute of Music
Larissa Lilley (Rissa) is a vibrant vocalist and songwriter who has been heavily involved in the Sydney music scene for over two years working both on the stage, in studio and behind the scenes, collaborating with multiple artists across Sydney and Melbourne. After completing her Bachelor of Music (Contemporary Performance) at Australian Institute of Music in 2018, Rissa has been involved in various original works at Studios 301 and most recently performed within the Sydney Opera House alongside the Sydney Lyric Orchestra. Rissa’s love for music is passionate and she wishes to share and build that passion with each student she has, focusing on their individuality and strengthening each students’ abilities within a positive environment.
Vocal Teacher
Bachelor of Music Performance in Voice, Australian Institute of Music
Larissa Lilley (Rissa) is a vibrant vocalist and songwriter who has been heavily involved in the Sydney music scene for over two years working both on the stage, in studio and behind the scenes, collaborating with multiple artists across Sydney and Melbourne. After completing her Bachelor of Music (Contemporary Performance) at Australian Institute of Music in 2018, Rissa has been involved in various original works at Studios 301 and most recently performed within the Sydney Opera House alongside the Sydney Lyric Orchestra. Rissa’s love for music is passionate and she wishes to share and build that passion with each student she has, focusing on their individuality and strengthening each students’ abilities within a positive environment.
