Teacher Profiles


Doris Ngai

Piano Instructor

Doris Ngai is the co-founder of Opus 1 Music studio and a full time piano instructor. Her passion of music was inherited from her father, a professional violinist and a former member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Doris has won various piano competitions at Hong Kong Schools Music Festival in her early age. 

In 1997, she continued her piano study in Vancouver, Canada under Yang Yunlin, who is a current Music Professor at Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Doris received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She has studied with Robert Silverman and Sara Davis Buechner.

Doris is a member of the Music Teachers' Association of California. She has also received trainings in different early childhood education program for music such as the Music for Young Children, Harmony Road Music and Music Together Programs.

 

Sici Tsoi

Music Theory and Piano Instructor

Sici Tsoi graduated from San Jose State University with a Master of Arts in Music and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Hong Kong Baptist University.  She has been involved in the music field for over 15 years with experience and training as a sound engineer, music theory and piano teacher, and conductor.

Sici has been teaching in over 30 pre-schools and elementary schools throughout the Bay Area, including Stratford San Jose, Stratford Sunnyvale, Norwood Elementary School, and more. Also, she has completed the Music Together certification program. Sici was also trained as a professional singer when she was a member of the Hong Kong Baptist University Chamber Choir, performing worldwide through various repertoires from Renaissance to Jazz.

 

Leah Liu

Piano Instructor

Leah Liu has had a very solid and complete classical music education since the age of six. She studied in the musically-talented student education program which was funded by the Taiwan Ministry of Education; she majored in piano performance and minored in double-bass. Leah received her BA degree in Soochow University, and then continued her piano performance study in USC.
Leah has won several music competitions, including the first place of Taiwan National Piano Competition at the age of 18. She is an active musician with tremendous performance experiences. She gives piano recitals, performs chamber music, and plays double-bass in orchestra year round. She used to be the bass player in Taipei Symphony Orchestra. Also, Leah is a very experienced music teacher. She teaches piano and music theory. Under her instruction, many of her students have won awards in various music competitions, passed college entrance examinations and different graded exams.

 

Zhou Qi (Cindy)

Piano Instructor

 

Cindy Zhou is a great pianist. She got her Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance in Sichuan Conservatory of Music, studying with Mr. Xu, the Chairman of Piano Department. After that, she came to America and received her Masters Degree at San Francisco Conservatory with Professor Sharon Mann. During her 20-year long piano career, she performed around the world and has won many different competitions. Some of her achievements include: Sixth place at the "Lira International Piano Competition" in St. Petersburg, Russia, Second place at the Chopin Competition in Hong Kong, Fourth place at the Chinese Music Competition in Hong Kong and many more...

 

Cindy is a very experienced piano teacher. She started teaching piano when she was in Sichuan Conservatory of Music. During her MM, she was teaching in Miss Tao's Studio and Opus 1 Music Studio. Now, she is enjoying the music time with all her students at Opus 1.

Cindy is a piano teacher who wants to lead children to love piano, and alllow them to enjoy music their whole life. Her first goal is to build children's interest in playing piano, while building solid foundations.

Here is Cindy's Recital:

 

Weonsun Joo

Piano Instructor

Pianist Weonsun Joo was born in Seoul, South Korea where she began her piano studies at the age of six. She received a Bachelor of Music degree from Yonsei University in Seoul.  In 2006 Ms. Joo moved to California, where she continued her studies at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in Belmont, CA, earning an MFA.  At NDNU, she assisted in music direction of Sondheim’s Company, Henry Mollicone’s Children of the Sun, and Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. She also studied organ and sacred music, and served as organist at the Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul, Westhope Presbyterian Church in Saratoga, CA and later at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church Parish in Santa Clara, CA.  She played piano for Evan Mack on the premiere of Angel of the Amazon. Also, she played with the Pocket Philharmonic for Mozart’s The Magic Flute and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Recently, she performed in the Duo Piano Concert tour around the Bay Area.

As a piano teacher, Ms. Joo has taught music lessons to children for over twenty years with all levels and age groups in Seoul, Tokyo, and San Jose. She believes that everyone is able to reach perfection based on her/his natural gift combined with hard work and that her role is to offer the strong fundamentals of piano basic skills and theory for a lifetime of music making.

 

 

Nina Hsu

Piano Instructor

Nina started playing piano when she was very young.  During her early years of school in Taiwan, she studied in the music program and participated in national orchestra, symphonic band and choir. In addition to piano, Nina minored in French horn and percussion.  Nina is currently in the Masters’ Program at Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU) in Belmont, CA under the instruction of Thomas LaRatta.  

Nina has more than 8 years of teaching experience in both private and group lesson. She has experience in preparing students for graded piano exams and competitions. As for herself, Nina is actively participating in many performances, both concert and recital, around the Bay Area.  


Jinnan Cao

Piano Instructor

Jinnan started to play the piano when he was three years old. He won first prize at the Chinese Children's Piano Competition at the age of 6. Since then he has continued to win competitions around the world including second prize winner at the 12th Hong Kong Piano Open competition and first prize at the International Piano Player competition in 2008. Jinnan received the highest score in auditions for the Wuhan Conservatory of Music in China, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree while studying with Professor Lian-Ping Zhu. Jinnan also has a Master’s degree with outstanding professional skill in piano performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with the world famous musician Dr. Sharon Mann.  

Since graduating, Jinnan has been actively teaching around the Bay Area and helping prepare students for various piano graded exams.

 

Irina Vorobyeva

Guitar Instructor / Group Class Instructor

IrinaMs. Irina's musical journey began at a young age. She studied guitar and piano at North Kazakhstan state University and now has experienced in teaching both private and group guitar and piano lessons for students of different age. 

Originally from Kazakhstan, Ms. Irina recently moved to the Bay Area where she performs and teaches. During her time in Kazakhstan, Irina attended seminars and done research on the methods, techniques, and philosophies of pedagogy. She also participated and assisted in student-teacher pedagogic training. 

Ms. Irina's teaching philosophy is not only to teach music theory and musicianship but to develop a sense of music in each student. She strongly believes in a flexible manner of instruction, responsive to the unique atmosphere of a class and individuality of the student. 

 

Anna Wang

Piano Instructor

AnnaAnna (Fangxin) Wang received her Master of Music in Piano Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music with Dr. Sharon Mann. During these years, she was not only a recipient of the Janet Rose Piano Scholarship, but also awarded the Outstanding Achievement of Piano Department. Before completing her undergraduate dual degree in Piano Performance and Electronic Organ Performance from Shanghai Conservatory of Music, China, she is a graduate of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music Prep Division.

Since age of 7, Anna has performed in piano recitals in many different venues across US, Japan and China. Besides her principal instrumental pursuits, she actively studied chamber music strings and piano with renowned Professor Paul Hersh. Her current performing projects include a piano trio in Bowdoin International Music Festival, ME, US and several concerts in San Francisco Conservatory.

Anna has maintained a piano studio since 2007. She believes that learning piano is not only the technical skills, but also to extract a deep emotional understanding and appreciation of the music.


Mark Wanless

Piano Instructor

Mark Wanless has been playing piano for 35 years, and has been teaching piano and music theory for 15 years. A graduate of Palo Alto High School, Mark ventured to San Luis Obispo, where her received his BA in piano performance and music theory. He
has received many awards for his performances including The Monday Club and Allied Arts competitions. After college, he was the music director of a professional theater, The Great American Melodrama and Vaudeville Theater, in Oceano, California, for 10 years. He is currently the Music Director of the ac capella group, Peninsula Harmony Chorus.

He also has a vast knowledge of non-secular traditional and praise music. He has been playing in Christian churches for 24 years, including Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Protestant denominations. Currently, he is playing for the Catholic and Protestant services at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital, and is the associate music director at Los Altos Luthern Church. Mark is pleased to be a teacher at Opus 1 Music Studio and looks forward to helping students achieve fluent levels of piano performance.

 

Carrie Zhang

Piano and Vocal Instructor

Recently performed as the Tango Singer with San Francisco professional chamber opera company - Ensemble Parallel in the production of The Great Gatsby. Ms. Zhang began learning the piano at the age of five, and holds a certificate with merit with the Trinity College London in piano. A classically trained singer, she has recently performed in the American premier of French composer Philippe Hersant's "Wanderung". Last year, Ms. Zhang performed the roles of Marzelline in Fidelio, Damigella in L'incoronazione di Poppea, Sesto in Giulio Cesare as a part of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music's opera scenes program. A divisional winner at the NATS festival in 2010, Ms. Zhang holds a degree from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and is currently completing her Bachelor's degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. An active performer and teacher, her up and coming engagement includes the World Premier of "Anosmia" by New York composer Neil Rolnick at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Chazz Alley

Saxophone, Clarinet & Flute Instructor

Charles Joseph Alley III was born in Palo Alto, CA. From his first glance at the Saxophone on a television broadcast, the obsession began. After a few years of playing, at 14, Chazz booked his first professional gig at Rickey’s Hyatt in Palo Alto weekly for 8 months. This would be the beginning of a string of gigs throughout his tenure at Gunn High School, including regular performances at the Embassy Suites, Crowne Plaza and Stanford Park hotels, the Los Altos Wine Festival, Rotary Club Festival, and Rancho concert series. In addition to these gigs, Chazz Alley Productions would book individuals, duos and trios independently at countless private parties and venues. Concurrently Chazz attended the Stanford Jazz Workshop from 1992 to 1999, before leaving for Boston to attend Berklee College of Music.

 

At Berklee, Chazz began to explore many types of music, playing in extra curricular groups in Hip-Hop, Blues, Jazz and Folk styles, recording and performing. He booked and held a regular weekly gig his first year at the Marriott Copley Plaza with a Jazz trio. Satisfied with his studies and experience, Chazz moved back to the Bay Area in 2002 to pursue his performance and teaching career.


Riley Noble Cook

Flute Instructor

Riley Noble is currently attending Cabrillo College to complete her Bachelor's degree in Flute performance major and intends to earn her Masters Degree at UC Santa Cruz. She began her music career at the age of ten, starting with flute and piccolo, then branching out to directing and composing all through high school. During that time she was involved with her school's concert, jazz, marching, and pep band, earning several awards and recognition as a preferred soloist. She is currently studying both classical and Celtic styles of music in her classes and privately.

Since 2006 Riley has been teaching both her peers and underclassmen, as well as young children. She strives to cultivate a love of music through rehearsal of technique and practice habits, as well as light theory and an understanding of musical expression.

 

James Pytko

Clarinet & Saxophone Instructor

JamesJames Pytko has dedicated his life to musical performance and education. He received his Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music in 2011, where he studied with Richie Hawley. James currently freelances in the Bay
Area as well as performing regularly with Symphony Parnassus in San Francisco. He currently teaches at the Community School of Music and Arts, the Veksler Academy and the Gorin School of music as well maintaining a private studio.

Richard Ngai

Violin & Viola Instructor

Richard Ngai started to learn Violin at age of 6.  In the early years of his music career, Richard has performed around the globe as a member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. His career as a music instructor spans from various music schools including violin instructor at Hong Kong's renowned Music Office of the Government Secretariat and St. Paul's International School. After relocating to the Bay area, Richard is continuing his music-teaching career and is currently a music instructor at The Harker School in San Jose. Mr. Ngai has also been a member of a few local orchestras including the acclaimed Nova Vista Symphony Orchestra.  Richard has more than 35 years of teaching experience.

 

 

Joseph Christianson

Violin & Viola Instructor

Joseph Christianson has studied violin performance at Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and San Francisco Conservatory of music. He is in demand as a violin teacher throughout the San Francisco / Peninsula area.
Growing up on the California central coast, Joseph started violin lessons at age 12 and soon began to perform at events throughout San Luis Obispo County. He became concertmaster of the San Luis Obispo youth symphony, and won the organization's concerto competition. He went on to perform as soloist in Bach's Double Violin Concerto with the San Luis Obispo Symphony, with Kent Nagano conducting. He is currently finishing his Bachelor's Degree at San Francisco Conservatory of Music, studying with Axel Strauss.
 

Joseph aims to provide a friendly and encouraging learning experience during lessons. His teaching emphasizes good fundamentals of violin technique, understanding of music reading/theory, and freedom of emotional expression.

 

Fan Hu

Violin & Viola Instructor

FanFan Hu has been teaching and playing violin & viola for over 15 years. He teaches Suzuki and other traditional methods depending on the student's level and interests.  As a violin teacher, he seeks to connect with each student as an individual and adjusts his curriculum to help them explore their areas of interest. In addition to classical music, Fan also likes to introduce students to alternative styles, such as jazz, blues, tango and much more to help them become a well-rounded musician.

Fan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Violin & Viola from the Wuhan Conservatory of Music in China. After he moved to the Bay Area, Fan was appointed as the Berkeley Symphony assistant principle viola by Kent Nagano. As a frequent performer, he has played with Monterey Symphony, Santa Cruz Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic Orchestra and Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra. Fan has accompanied many well-known musicians including Itzhak Perlman, Edgar Meyer, James Galway, Lang Lang and Rachel Barton Pine.

 

 

 

Vincent Montre

Guitar Instructor

Vincent studied at the French National Music School in Paris and performed with cover bands in France and abroad. He moved to Detroit, Michigan, in 2001 where he performed on a weekly basis. He also began teaching private guitar lessons in 1994 and was subsequently hired as a full time teacher in various music schools. Vince emphasizes that lessons should always be fun and interesting.  "There's enough variety in music that it should please everyone." Vince recently relocated to the Bay Area where he performs and teaches guitar to all ages.

 

Dennis Ngai

Violin Instructor

Dennis Ngai began learning the violin at the age of six under the guidance of his father; who is a former member of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Dennis has passed the Associated Board of Royal School Grade 8 violin exam when he was eleven years old.

In Hong Kong, Dennis was an active musician and performer. He was a member of the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, Shatin Philharmonic
Orchestra, and Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Symphony Orchestra. Dennis was a violin instructor at Liu Shih Kun Piano & Arts Centre.

After he relocated to United States, Dennis became a member of the Saratoga Symphony Orchestra. During his early music career, he studied violin under Professor Leung Kin-Fung and Wei He.

In 2006, he was invited to perform at the World Journal Center as a soloist.
He performed one of the most famous Chinese love song called the
"Butterfly Lovers". Dennis received his Associate Degree in Music from
Foothill College, and will continue his study in violin performance at the
San Francisco State University. Dennis values violin playing as an intrinsic
experience. However, he also believes that establishing good foundation is
the key to successful playing.

 

Mollie McReynolds

Vocal Instructor

MollieMollie Solow McReynolds, Soprano, has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from San Francisco State University where she studied with Sara Ganz and Dr. Alissa Deeter. She accompanied her teacher, Dr. Alissa Deeter, to The University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she continued her studies in Vocal Pedagogy earning both a Master's Degree and a Graduate Certificate. Mollie has been seen in the roles of The Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Ännchen in Der Freischütz, Mabel in The Pirates of Penzance, and Tytania in Midsummer Night's Dream. Mollie participated in Opera Classica Europa's apprentice program in Germany where she received the Licia Albanese Scholarship and was a featured artist. Mollie is also a certified yoga teacher and wrote her master's thesis on the benefits of yoga in the voice studio; she brings her knowledge of anatomy and body mechanics into her teaching.

 

Patrycja Poluchowicz

Vocal Instructor

When Patrycja launched her singing career in her native Poland at age 12, she focused mainly on the pop and musical-theater genres. Later on, however, she developed an interest in and everlasting love for classical music, graduating from the Music Academy in Lodz, Poland, with a master's of arts degree in vocal and acting. In 2001, Patrycja moved to the United States and earned a second master's degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Patrycja has been actively performed in many roles at opera and musical-theater productions around the bay area. Patrycja was also part of the Sarasota Opera's Young Artists Program in Florida. Her new CD, The Wonderful World of Opera and Operetta, was recorded with the Opole Symphony Orchestra and was released last year to great success.

Krista Wigle

Vocal Instructor

Krista Wigle, Voice Teacher, received her Bachelor and Master of Music Degrees in Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  She has been a professional singer for 20 years and a voice teacher and music director for 12 years.  As a singer, Ms. Wigle has performed in numerous operas, musical theater productions, cabarets, recitals, and concerts.  Some of the operatic roles that she has performed include:  Musetta in La Boheme, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Adele in Die Fledermaus, andYum-Yum in The Mikado.  Musical Theater roles include:  Cleo in The Most Happy Fella, Petra in A Little Night Music, andJennyin The ThreePenny Opera, among others.  In addition to these roles, she performed Carlotta in the long running San Francisco production of The Phantom of the Opera, and recently returned to the role in the Las Vegas production. 

As a teacher, Ms. Wigle has maintained her own private vocal studio in San Francisco for 11 years, and has taught musical theater and singing classes at the American Conservatory Theater for 12 years.  Also at A.C.T., she vocally arranged and music directed many fully staged musical productions including: Hair, Shed a Little Light, Dangling Conversations, The Ladies of the Canyon, Across the Universe, and Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.  In addition, she was the Assistant Music Director for A.C.T.'s mainstage production of A Christmas Carol.  Many of her students have gone on to have careers on Broadway, television and movies, including Darren Criss, who plays Blaine in the television show, Glee, and Julia Mattison, who is a cast member in the Broadway production of Godspell.

Administrative Team


Dennis Irina & May Chau


Employment Opportunity

Want to become an instructor with us?

We are always looking for motivated and friendly individuals to join our team of music education profession in conducting group/private lessons. We are committed to offering best-in-industry levels of compensation, and providing training and opportunities for career advancement.

If you are interested in teaching with us, Please email a cover letter and resume to:musicopus1@gmail.com, or call us at (650) 625-9955.

Teachers' Performances

Watch performances from our teachers


Dottie admires her piano teacher a lot. “Teacher Doris is the most patient teacher and never get mad no matter how many times I try”, she told me...