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Golden Key Paino School’s November 2021 Newsletter

Dear Manhattan Piano Academy Community,

I hope your fall season is going well! Here is our November newsletter:

1. Register for Annual Duet Recital

2. Thanksgiving Offering

We are truly grateful to achieve the most number of students we ever had in the history of our school. We are now past 150 students. Many of our new students came to us by referrals. We really appreciate you telling your friends about us.

As a token of thanks, this month of Thanksgiving, we are giving one free lesson to the students who refer us to friends. Use this lesson for your duet practice, or use it later.

In addition to that we will also waive the $35 registration fee for your friend.

This offer is valid through month of November only.

Help us bring more music to the community by introducing us to your friends.

3. Student Spotlight: Jasmine

Congratulations to Jasmine, student of teacher Chenyi, for passing level 5 with merit at Royal Conservatory Exam!

4. Farewell to teacher Michelle

We are sad to announce that teacher Michelle had to leave California for some family reasons. We are grateful to her very responsible work that she had provided while teaching at Golden Key Piano School. We wish Michelle all the best with her move and her family.

5. Welcome Teacher Babak

Babak Mahbaei

Originally from Iran, Babak Mahbaei is a talented pianist, composer, and music instructor. He began his musical education at age eight with violin lessons and then added piano lessons. He studied music under the supervision of Professors Asli Giray Akyunak and Marc Heeg in north Cyprus and graduated from Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) with a music degree in 2012. He also earned a certificate in jazz guitar from Komitas Conservatory in Armenia in 2006.

After moving to the United States, Babak studied classical and jazz piano with Deborah Cleaver and David Goldblatt for several years. He has collaborated with many bands and musical groups, and enjoys sharing his musical experiences with others and encouraging them to learn more about this art.

Babak’s positive attitude and energetic personality make his lessons fun for students, and his diverse musical background, passion for music, and enthusiasm for teaching make him a great addition to our roster of teachers.

We are thrilled to welcome Babak Mahbaei to our school starting November 2021.

6. Welcome Teacher Yekaterina

Yekaterina Afonasyeva

Yekaterina Afonasyeva began her piano studies as a child in Moscow. And graduated from A.Shnitke Music College with a Bachelor Degree in Piano Performance. After moving to the United States with her family she completed her music education by graduating from Towson University with Master of Music in Piano Performance Degree.

Ms. Afonasyeva worked at Baltimore School for the Arts, Peabody Preparatory, Goucher College, Towson University, and UMBC where she taught a variety of classes and lessons including piano, voice, choirs, ensembles and many more. Ms. Afonasyeva’s students are the winners of Peabody Preparatory Award, the 1 st place winner who was included in Baltimore Symphony Youth Orchestra, the winners of Piano Concerto Competitions, Talent Award Competitions, and many others. Ms. Afonasyeva is also a winner of Anne Arundel Notables Competition; 2004 Baltimore Music Club, Inc. Student and Senior Competition; Dr. Sidney Lieberman Awards Competition; New York String Competition; Talent Awards Competition at Towson University; Sixteenth Annual Award Ceremony at Peabody Preparatory of the Johns Hopkins University; and Piano Concerto Competition, where she competed as a soloist and as a

member of the ensembles. Yekaterina Afonasyeva is also a composer. Her compositions include piano music, arranged piano pieces, and songs. Her book ‘Scales Are Fun!” received an Award of Merit (creativity/originality) in Global Music Awards competition.

Her teaching experience includes 20 + years. She loves and enjoys teaching. It gives her the opportunity to share her passion and knowledge of music, and also gives her the chance to support students as they pursue what they love. In recompense, she, herself learns from them, and is motivated by new perspectives and ideas. We are thrilled to have Yekaterina as part of our strong team of teachers starting November 2021.

If you have any questions please call the school at (510) 665-5466 or reply to this email.

Yours truly,
Katrin Arefy

Contact

Katrin Arefy, Head Teacher
1809 University Ave., Berkeley, CA
510.665.5466

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— U. Galperina

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