Meet our faculty

A graduate of Yaroslavl State University in Music and International Languages, Ms Natia discovered that her true passion in life is sharing her love of music with children of all ages. She has been teaching early childhood music classes for over 10 years, and is excited to help discover and realize musical potential in every child.

Erica Phung is a multifaceted pianist, conductor, and pedagogue whose work centers on helping students and audiences connect deeply to music and to themselves. With training in piano, conducting, music theory, voice, bassoon, and percussion, she brings a rich orchestral and vocal perspective to piano performance and teaching. Her musical approach is strongly influenced by the Russian/Eastern European School of Pianism.

Passionate about inspiring the next generation of musicians, Erica is dedicated to providing students with a strong and well-rounded musical foundation. Her teaching emphasizes not only technical mastery and score study, but also theory, aural skills, improvisation, collaboration, and emotional engagement.

Erica earned her Graduate Performance Diploma and Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she studied with Grammy-nominated pianist and composer Andrius Žlabys and was named a Gene Dahmen Longy Fund Scholar. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Conducting, graduating summa cum laude with departmental honors.

Johnny Selmer is a classical saxophonist and music educator living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Featured on NPR Live Sessions and Classical KING FM 98.1 in Seattle, Mr. Selmer holds the alto chair of the award-winning Zelos Saxophone Quartet.

Mr. Selmer has performed throughout the United States as both a soloist and chamber musician, including regular recitals at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference and the International Saxophone Symposium. He earned his MM in Music Performance from San Jose State University in 2021.

Kendrick is a versatile musician and educator who brings both passion and creativity into his teaching.

He teaches piano, voice (classical, jazz, pop, and musical theater), beginner guitar, and general music, and also enjoys working with students on composition and arranging. With his wide range of experience, Kendrick connects with students of all ages, inspiring them to explore music in ways that feel fun, expressive, and personal.

One of the most unique things about Kendrick is his love for instruments beyond the ordinary — ask him about his ocarina collection! His joy for music shines through in every lesson.

Stanley has been playing the piano for over 15 years. Born into a family of musicians, he was constantly surrounded by music and began studying the piano at 7 years old. After 10 years of classical training, he continued to self-study and pursued his passion for Romantic Era classical music.

Stanley graduated from Otis College of Art and Design with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts. He worked in New York City for 10 years as a designer, where the piano became his refuge — an outlet for creativity, expression, and communication. Because of that experience, Stanley refocused his time and energy toward teaching and sharing the gift of music with others.

Stanley has trained with Selena Pistoresi on a strengths-based approach to teaching music that caters to each individual student. The priority is having fun and making music first and foremost.

Karina Grigorian is originally from Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia and was raised in a family of musicians. She holds a degree in piano pedagogy from Tbilisi State Conservatory. Karina moved to California in 1997 and has been working as a piano teacher and as an accompanist for over 25 years.

She has significant experience in teaching children and adults of all ages, and works closely with each student to create a customized learning plan, establish a strong musical foundation, and make sure the process is fun and engaging. Her students have competed and won top awards in the Youth Focus competition and the US Open competition. Karina is a certified Suzuki teacher and a member of American College of Musicians.

Tristen began studying and playing music at a young age. She has studied music since 2006 in many areas including piano, concert band, marching band, choir, and trombone, and continued her trombone studies all throughout high school and college.

Tristen is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor's of Music degree with an emphasis in music education. She enjoys working with younger students and believes that music-making should be available to all students regardless of age and ability level.

Matthew Chun Hoi Leung has been teaching violin in the San Jose Area since 2014. Leung earned the Grade 8 Distinction of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music and received the Grade 8 Merit of the Hong Kong Schools Music and Speech Association Music Festival in 2009.

Leung was a violinist in the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Hong Kong from 2005 until 2009, led by conductor Ray Tsoi, and studied with Tony Yeung. He graduated from San Jose State University with a Music BA degree in 2017, where he studied with violinist Diane Nicholeris and Dr. Sarah Jones.

Anthony Mora is a professional drummer from San Jose, California. He has studied technique under Symphony Silicon Valley's Principal percussionist Galen Lemmon, as well as theory and musicianship under Dr. Paul Setziol, earning him his music degree.

Anthony has experience playing live music in genres ranging from jazz, to orchestral, to metal, and continues to study drums and percussion today.

Elizabeth Neff is a native of Santa Cruz County where her piano studies began at age 5 with her mother. She then studied with Connie Fortunato and Elena Sharkova until she was 17, when she joined the studio of Irina Prilipko-Morgan, who inspired her to major in music.

Elizabeth attended Cabrillo College, working under Cheryl Anderson as a teaching assistant. She continued at San Jose State University where she earned her Bachelor's in solo piano performance under Dr. Gwendolyn Mok. Her Master's degrees, in Collaborative Piano and Solo Vocal Performance, were obtained at Notre Dame de Namur University.

Elizabeth is currently not accepting new students.

Charlotte Parque has been playing the piano since the age of 5, and has studied with various instructors in the Bay Area, including Haggai Niv and Machiko Kobialka. She has completed the highest level of the Certificate of Merit program in piano, and has competed and placed in local competitions, such as the United States Open Music Competition.

She holds bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Music from Santa Clara University, where she studied classical piano with Hans Boepple. Charlotte has experience teaching both group music and private piano lessons, and is excited to share her passion in music with students of all ages and ability statuses.

Marina Nikiforov has been teaching music for eighteen years. She has worked with students of a wide range of ages: from 6 to 66. She is a certified Waldorf teacher and has taught music to grades 1–8, giving her a unique perspective on the different stages of child development and the intellectual and creative needs associated with each.

Marina has been studying music since she was 6 years old. She continues to broaden her knowledge of musical styles and performing arts genres, including ensemble playing, historical dancing, classical opera, and musical theatre.

Karinda's love for music began at 5 years old, when she first joined a children's choir. Piano, choir, theory, and composition were all part of her high school and college education. She was classically trained under Susan Nguyen in the Certificate of Merit Program, and she graduated from Bethany University with a degree in teaching music.

Karinda has been teaching piano lessons since high school. Her passion is helping children and adults discover a love for music and developing both artistry and excellence in their musicianship.

Nadia Sokolova has been a beloved vocal, piano, and choir instructor at Opus11 for over four years, bringing more than a decade of teaching experience in both the U.S. and Russia. She holds degrees in Music Education and Teaching from San José State University (both with highest honors), along with a California music teaching credential.

Nadia has taught voice and piano in private and public schools, directed choirs for children and adults, and performed as a classically trained singer with the Russian Opera Theater in Sunnyvale. She currently serves as Choir and Vocal Director at Woodside Elementary and Middle School.

In her studio, Nadia creates an encouraging, inclusive space where students develop vocal technique, music literacy, and confidence through diverse repertoire. Drawing on Orff, Kodály, and Waldorf methods, she makes lessons active and engaging with movement, gesture, and collaboration.

Alla Nagorna holds degrees from Poltava Music College and Kharkiv Institute of Arts, specializing in piano pedagogy and collaborative performance. From 1991 to 2022, she served as a Senior Teacher at Alushta Music School in Crimea, while also working as an accompanist for the string ensemble "Virtuosos of Partenit" and the Crimean Tatar ensemble "Guller."

Alla has been recognized as "Best Accompanist" at international competitions, won a Performance Mastery Diploma among piano teachers in Crimea, and her students have received numerous awards at international contests. She has also led masterclasses and served as a jury member in international piano competitions.

Zachary White is a composer and classical guitarist from San Jose. He has studied at both De Anza College and graduated from San Jose State University with a degree in Composition in 2020. He has studied under Steven Lin (Guitar) and Pablo Furman (Composition).

Zachary's musical journey began producing electronic music and playing in metal bands throughout middle and high school before taking his musical studies more seriously in college. He currently writes music for animation and short films, and experiments with modular synthesis and sound design in his free time.

Liana Yavryan is a dedicated piano educator with more than 35 years of teaching experience. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and began her teaching career in Armenia, where she spent 15 years teaching at a music school in Yerevan before establishing a successful private studio.

Liana specializes in working with students ages 6–16 and brings a warm, patient, and structured approach to every lesson. Her teaching is rooted in the traditions of the Eastern European classical piano school, with a strong emphasis on proper technique, healthy posture, musical discipline, and artistic expression.

Through carefully selected classical repertoire and individualized instruction, Liana helps students build a solid technical foundation while developing confidence, musicianship, and a lifelong appreciation for music.

Madhu Murali is an enthusiastic teacher with a passion for helping young students develop their talents and build a lasting love for music. He teaches vocals, guitar, and public speaking, tailoring his approach to each student’s interests, goals, and learning style.

Madhu has been singing since the age of nine and grew up surrounded by music, inspired in large part by his mother, a powerhouse singer. He also has more than five years of experience playing guitar.

Madhu believes learning music should be both fun and engaging. He takes a collaborative approach to teaching, getting to know each student’s musical interests and helping them find songs that keep them excited to learn while developing strong fundamentals.

In vocal lessons, Madhu emphasizes healthy technique, breath support, and pitch accuracy. In guitar lessons, he focuses on proper fretting-hand technique, rhythm, and building the foundation students need to continue growing as musicians. Above all, his goal is to help students develop confidence, enjoy the learning process, and build skills they can carry with them throughout their musical journey.