Teacher Biographies
Our people are among the most talented in the industry. It would be our pleasure to put our extensive experience to work for you.
Dr. Sandra Garrido
Sandra holds a PhD in Music from the University of New South Wales. She teaches Music Psychology at the University of New South Wales and also works as a researcher for the University of Western Australia. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Distinction) from the University of Southern Queensland with majors in music and psychology and has been teaching piano for nearly 20 years. She studied piano under Lyall Duke from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Violin is her second instrument, and she has performed with several orchestras around Sydney including the Strathfield Symphony Orchestra, Beecroft Orchestra, and Orpheus Strings in the Blue Mountains. She particularly enjoys teaching pre-schoolers and adult beginners.
Serviana Chudora
Serviana completed her Masters of Music in piano performance at the Wesley Institute in Sydney. Her Bachelor’s degree with a major in music education was obtained at the University of Pelita Harapan in Indonesia. She has extensive experience in teaching and performing and also has an interest in singing, having participated in several choirs. She has experience with both the AMEB and the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music. Serviana has been teaching at YMGP Music School for several years and has a particular interest in helping advanced students. Her students from beginners to diploma level have obtained excellent results in both piano performance and theory.
Wallace Chan
Raised with a musical passion, Wallace began studying violin from the age of 5 with the natural talent of perfect pitch which helped developed his skills and knowledge for his instrument for both classical and contemporary styles. He was a member of the Sydney Youth Orchestra for 5 years from the age of 12. He completed his Bachelor of Music for Classical performance at the Australian Institute of Music, with both international performers James Cuddeford and Zhu Wen as his teachers. He has performed with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and also performed various times on National Television for shows such as Xfactor and Sunrise. Wallace has considerable experience teaching violin, having taught in primary schools and privately for some years. He offers a friendly and professional learning experience in both classical and contemporary violin. He covers technique, improvisation, soloist methods and theory, preparation for HSC, AMEB and University entry level exams for Violin.
Emily Chu
Emily is originally from Vancouver, Canada and has also taught piano in Toronto and New York City. She has had over 15 years of teaching experience, ranging from beginner to diploma level and has been playing nearly her entire life. Emily enjoys working with advanced students, but also with beginners since she believes strongly in the importance of building a strong foundation with proper technique and developing correct fingering skills. Since completing an Associate diploma with the Royal Conservatory of Toronto at age 17, Emily enrolled at the Evening Division Program at the Juilliard School of Music in New York where she studied with world renowned musicians, Liz Huang and Dr. Julie Jordan. She spent a year in NYC, teaching privately around the city and playing at restaurants, bars, music halls and for weddings. She's also performed as an accompanist and is currently working towards her Licentiate in Performance.
Kathryn Elliston
Kathryn comes from a musical family which is well known in the Sydney area. She attended the Sydney Conservatorium High School, studying piano under Lyall Duke, flute and singing. She has an Associate Diploma in Piano Performance from the AMEB and has been teaching piano and flute in primary schools, high schools, and privately for around 20 years. She particuarly enjoys imparting her considerable experience as a teacher to students at an advanced level, and has specialist training in assisting children who are intellectually delayed or have behavioural problems. Kathryn's students have also been high achievers with several being accepted to study at the Sydney Conservatorium. She is also an experienced accompanist.
Tania Kolesnikoff
Tania began her study of piano at an early age at YMGP Music School, developing a love of performing through her frequent participation in events organised by the school. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education from Notre Dame University in Sydney as well as a degree in Business from the University of Western Sydney, and has a particular interest in working with pre-schoolers and primary school-aged children. She took up violin as a second instrument and enjoys playing both classical and contemporary music on both instruments.
