Cosmo School of Music Piano Teachers

Composer and pianist Jeff Vidov first gained recognition by winning the SOCAN Composer’s Award for his orchestral work Awaken in 1994. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music as a scholarship student at Eastman School of Music and his master’s degree at Manhattan School of Music. Vidov studied privately with Pulitzer Prize-winning composers Christopher Rouse and Joseph Schwantner, along with Samuel Adler, Warren Benson, Richard Danielpour, and Robert Morris. He also studied vocal technique for three years under Donald Neuen, a student of renowned conductor Robert Shaw.

Vidov has composed and recorded scores for 13 films, two television shows, and two theatre productions. His classical works include compositions for orchestra, chamber groups, and various solo and duo pieces. Over the past two decades, Vidov has worked as a conductor and pianist for multiple choirs in Toronto. As a classical pianist, he has performed a wide repertoire, including piano concertos by Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Mendelssohn, and Liszt. He has also accompanied numerous opera singers and instrumentalists. Vidov is the owner of H.of.C Recording Studios in Toronto

Kai Yan graduated from York University with a degree in music and is currently pursuing graduate studies in education at the University of Toronto. His areas of specialization include classical voice and classical piano. He was awarded a scholarship for his academic performance. Outside of school, he has also gained experience in musical performances, through which he has developed a deeper understanding of musical aesthetics. He believes that understanding the beauty of music is an enjoyable process that helps improve one's musical performance. As the famous opera singer Luciano Pavarotti once said, "You must hear it before you sing it!" Years of music study have made Kai understand that music is not only sensual but also rational. It is meant to be beautiful and natural, but it must be based on good technique. This is a philosophy he implements in his teaching.

Nikki Puchkov is an RCM-certified teacher and specialist who has taught piano, theory, history, and harmony since 2013. She regularly prepares her students for RCM practical and theory exams, as well as music festivals.

Nikki continually explores new teaching methods, paying particular attention to the individual learning styles of her students. Kodály, Orff, Dalcroze, and Suzuki are among the methods she uses to make music education fun and accessible to all learners. She aims to guide her students' musical development by exploring various musical genres beyond classical repertoire. She especially enjoys teaching history and harmony.

In addition to performing and teaching, Nikki conducts research in performance science. In 2023, her study on the effects of group singing on children’s mental health was presented at the SysMus Conference in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Nikki holds a master of performance science degree from the Royal College of Music and a bachelor of music degree in piano with a double minor in historical keyboard (harpsichord and organ) from the University of Toronto.

Jacqueline Huang is an experienced performer and passionate music instructor offering private lessons in piano, violin, and music theory. She has led group classes and ensembles, fostering musical excellence and creativity. In addition to her teaching, Jacqueline has starred in Snoopy the Musical and served as the chorus leader in The Drowsy Chaperone. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, she provides a rich, inclusive learning experience for students from diverse backgrounds.

Jacqueline holds a bachelor’s degree in music performance from Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music, where she specialized in violin performance and participated in piano performance classes. Her university experience also includes conducting and rehearsing with instrumental bands, refining her skills as a performer and educator.

Her dedication to music education, combined with extensive performance experience, makes Jacqueline a committed educator, inspiring a deep appreciation for music in her students.

Jacqueline Rose Javier-Natividad has been training and performing piano and singing since the age of seven. She obtained Honours in the Royal Conservatory of Music Practical Examination in Rudiments in 1994. Jacqueline then studied vocals, history, harmony, and counterpoint while completing her music degree from York University in 2007. Upon graduation, she developed a strong affinity and passion for teaching piano to students of all ages, taking great joy in watching her students succeed and progress in their development. Jacqueline can teach piano and vocals across different genres, including classical, Broadway musicals, pop, and rock.

During her spare time, she attends concerts, musicals, church choir, and recitals. Jacqueline is currently recording and writing her own songs but also enjoys performing for weddings. Most importantly, she understands the importance of building confidence by encouraging her students to learn, perform, and enjoy music. Jacqueline truly believes music can heal the body, mind, and soul.

Jisu Lee is a pianist, composer, and piano instructor with years of experience teaching jazz piano, classical music, pop, and R&B, among other genres. Her musical journey began over a decade ago. In the last five years, she has produced and composed songs for commercials. Since 2019, Jisu has released singles and albums, collaborating with various artists in Canada, Korea, and the United States as both a keyboardist and a composer. She studied piano and art performance at Centennial College. Additionally, she has been teaching Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams to students aged 6 to 12.

One of her most valuable qualities is her genuine love for sharing her musical passion and knowledge with her students. She finds immense joy in witnessing her students' growth and improvement as they progress on their musical journeys. Jisu is a fun and engaging teacher who provides her students with practical advice, making it easier for them to understand their assignments.

Laia Park's musical expertise is grounded in her masterclass certification from the renowned Mozarteum University in Salzburg and a bachelor's degree in piano performance from Sook Myung University, Seoul, Korea. Her experience as a performer is wide-ranging, including concertos, solo recitals, and accompanist roles for singers, choirs, and other musicians in Europe, South Korea, and the United States.

With a passion for both classical and modern pop music, Laia adopts a serious yet fun approach to teaching. Having started playing piano at a young age, she understands the importance of a solid technical foundation, which she is eager to build with each of her students.

Laia aims to make learning piano an enjoyable journey for her students, focusing on enhancing their skills and knowledge through her guidance and upbeat encouragement. She believes that the discipline of learning piano transcends music, helping students develop qualities like determination and perseverance that are valuable in all aspects of life.

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes that while her students take their musical growth seriously, they should also enjoy every moment of their learning experience through fun and personalized lesson plans tailored to each individual student.

A registered Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) instructor, Jada Alexiou holds a bachelor's degree in voice performance from York University. She has studied with professional performers, conductors, stage directors, répétiteurs, and sound engineers. With a focus on classical performance, she has extensive knowledge of styles ranging from the baroque to modern music periods. Jada also has experience analyzing vocal anatomy and pedagogy as it relates to singing in various languages, including English, Italian, German, Spanish, French, Latin, and Czech. This expertise is applied to the popular and universal genres she teaches her students.

Jada brings a fresh and updated approach to both theoretical and practical music training. She emphasizes theory fundamentals as the foundation for musical discovery and is passionate about helping her students unlock their musical potential. With a focus on performance confidence and self-expression, Jada creates an environment for growth and development through customized teaching techniques that ignite her students' passion for learning.

In her own practice, Jada is committed to developing her artistic intuition and refining her expressive abilities. She aspires to pursue a master’s degree in operatic voice and explore performance opportunities abroad. Jada has significant experience as a solo performer, including her role as Cornelia in Handel's Julius Caesar with Summer Opera Lyric Theatre, and in collaboration with choral ensembles, such as Voicebox: Opera In Concert for Verdi Unbound. She has organized and performed in her own feature recitals and has participated in festivals (Kiwanis, Newmarket, Durham, ORMTA, OMFA), masterclasses, competitions, ceremonies, and exhibitions across Ontario. Jada is proud to share her years of musical training to empower her students and inspire future generations of singers.

Laurie D'Alessandro brings over 27 years of teaching experience to Cosmo Music, having taught individual and group piano, music theory, preschool music classes, and band programs at the elementary school level. She teaches students aged two and up.

Laurie has spent many years performing and has held the role of music director with community theatre groups and churches. She has prepared numerous students for The Royal Conservatory (RCM) exams with consistently excellent results.

Above all, Laurie enjoys instilling a passion for music in her students, no matter where it takes them in their future.

Antonio Iglesias has over 15 years of experience in live music and more than ten years of teaching piano and percussion. He draws upon his expertise to help students develop strong skill sets and explore opportunities beyond the classroom. With a Bachelor of Arts from the Conservatory of Music in Havana, Antonio utilizes his educational background to ignite his students' passion for music while fostering good habits.

With a high level of musical competence and professionalism, Antonio plans lessons and teaches theory based on students' individual goals, preparing them for performances and examinations. He is passionate about teaching instrumental techniques and dedicates time to evaluate student work, promoting growth. Antonio values both classical and contemporary music, focusing on essential concepts such as rhythm, tempo, and pitch. He believes that having fun is fundamental to learning.

Wei Yin Lu, going by the English name Kay, began learning piano at the age of three. Kay originates from Taiwan, immigrating to Canada when she was 14. An experienced teacher, she has taught music since 2009, much of it with young children in both one-on-one settings and music camps.

Kay’s training and education have culminated in a bachelor of fine arts in music from York University, after briefly attending Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Prince Edward Island. As a pianist, Kay has performed on stage in Taiwan, Prince Edward Island, Halifax, and Hong Kong. In addition to piano, she is a talented composer and flautist. Kay wishes to bring the joy of music to anyone she can with her outgoing teaching style.

Meet Emma Della Rossa! She is a flute, voice, and piano teacher at Cosmo School of Music. Emma has been teaching both private and group music lessons for over five years and is comfortable working with all ages. When studying with Emma, students can expect to build a strong foundation in the fundamentals of tone, rhythm, technique, and music theory, as well as develop independence in musicianship skills such as style, phrasing, and ear training. She tailors her lessons to students’ learning styles and musical goals and is always willing to adjust her approach to better meet their needs. By incorporating a variety of musical genres and modes of instruction into her pedagogy, Emma hopes to lead students to discover their own passions and personal connections to music, as well as skills that transcend far beyond the music classroom. Above all, she believes that studying music should be a fun and exciting experience and loves to incorporate movement and musical games into her teaching to foster curiosity and enthusiasm in the music-making process.

Emma is a recent graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, where she studied music education, music technology, and flute performance. In addition to flute and voice, she plays guitar and ukulele and has achieved grade 9 RCM level in piano. When Emma is not recording original music and performing as a singer-songwriter, she is involved with campus theatre and has played in the pit band for multiple productions. As a flutist, she has performed in various festivals and concerts in Ontario, including the 2019 Kiwanis Festival, where she achieved first place in her category, as well as the 2019 OMFA Provincial Finals, where she received an honourable mention. From 2019 to 2022, she played flute and piccolo in the University of Toronto Wind Symphony and currently sings in the University of Toronto Chamber Choir. Emma is an avid collaborator and regularly performs with her colleagues at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music in classical, jazz, and pop collaborations.

Kristina Zapanta’s goal is to help students find their own voice. Her lessons are catered to fit her students’ interests while pushing their boundaries and limits, allowing confidence and self-expression to flourish through musical performance and extend into all aspects of life. She has had many experiences that have shaped the artist she is today, and she is excited to share what she has learned with her students. Her commitment to music and music education is her passion, and she hopes to keep it alive by sharing it with her community.

Kristina began taking piano and vocal lessons as a child and has always been immersed in a musical lifestyle. At age 16, she learned how to produce and record her own music, which led to recognition from American labels such as White Room Records and Soulection. Through this opportunity, she professionally recorded, wrote, produced, and toured across North America as an independent artist. She has been involved in many songwriting workshops for SOCAN, Magkaisa Filipino Centre, and Universal Music Canada. Kristina continues to create, perform, and release music as an independent artist and has much more to share.

Sebastian Dumitrescu began playing piano at the age of four and achieved his Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT) when he was 15. He has participated in several music festivals for piano performance and composition, winning gold numerous times at the North York Music Festival. Sebastian sang as a member of the Toronto Children's Choir for a few years, performing at renowned venues such as Roy Thomson Hall and Carnegie Hall. He was also a keyboardist in his jazz quartet and played at multiple venues across Toronto. Today, Sebastian spends his time writing songs and aspires to work in music production.

Sebastian strongly believes that music is one of the best ways to bring people together and improve well-being, so he enjoys passing his learning experience on to young minds that are just beginning their musical journey. He is accepting students aged 5 to 18.

Alexandra Spyrakos is also a classroom teacher in the public school system and currently teaches private and group piano lessons to students of all ages, even as young as four years old. She loves to teach and share her knowledge of music with all her students.

Alexandra is energetic, insightful, resourceful, and dedicated to helping children reach their full musical potential. Being a diligent educator is important to her, as she firmly believes that music enables students to build a solid foundation for lifelong learning and establish craftsmanship, imagination, and motivation.

David Toms has over 45 years of musical experience and is currently completing the final year of a bachelor's degree in music, majoring in jazz piano performance from Humber College in Toronto. Throughout his career, David has performed as a solo pianist and as a multi-keyboardist, leading duos and trios, and plays hundreds of public and private events each year.

David was an early adopter of technology related to keyboards and designed and established a very advanced home project studio. If you’re looking to learn new piano, organ, or synth musical ideas; intermediate to advanced jazz, pop, blues, or Motown styles; or how to use multiple keyboards live, David can help you on your musical journey, leveraging his real-world experience.

Vicentiu (Vince) Dumitrescu grew up in a family of musicians in Romania, with his father being a composer and music teacher and his mother an opera singer. At the age of six, he began studying music and playing piano under the guidance of his parents. Vicentiu has developed an extensive career performing and arranging music in various styles, collaborating with many artists, and touring Romania and Norway. In 2005, Vicentiu embarked on a teaching career, helping prepare students of all ages for Royal Conservatory of Music exams, as well as performances at various festivals and recitals.

Vicentiu is a firm believer in the lifelong benefits of music education. He motivates his students to achieve their best musical abilities while attaining a deep understanding and appreciation of music.