Piano Lessons in Manhattan
“… talented teachers make students love the music…” — A. Artobolevskaya
Our piano teachers in Manhattan NY are willing to share their joy and appreciation of the great musical works with students.
Katrin Arefy is the artistic director and head teacher at Manhattan Piano Academy in Manhattan, New York. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the Gnessin School of Music in Moscow. Katrin also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Painting from Azad University in Tehran.
Katrin is the author of A Thousand Stories for a Little Pianist and the series My First Piano Book. She has translated Anna Artobolevskaya’s First Meet with the Music and Heinrich Neuhaus’ The Art of Piano Playing from Russian to Farsi. She has lectured on the Russian method and specifically Artobolevskya’s method abroad and at various universities in the US including the University of Oregon and Ohio University School of Music. Most recently Katrin delivered a well-received presentation at the Music Teachers Association Of California Conference in San Diego.
Her very first students are now professional pianists having graduated from leading music universities in Austria and Armenia.
Katrin won the Influential Businesswoman Awards in 2020, and has been named Most Inspirational Woman in Music Education (Northern California) by Acquisition International.
Christopher Richardson has received top prizes in numerous national and international piano competitions, including First Prize at the 2021 LA International Liszt Competition Budapest Division as well as First Prize and Best Chopin Prize at the 2016 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Competition. He most recently has won Second Prize at the 2022 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition Concerto Division and Third Prize at the 2022 Young Artist MTNA Competition. Throughout his career, he has performed in several notable venues across the United States, including the Liszt Museum in Budapest, the 2000-seat Music Tent in Aspen, Weill Hall Carnegie Hall, Finney Chapel, McCallum Theater, and Benaroya Hall. He has also performed with numerous orchestras, including the Minnesota Orchestra twice. Additionally, he has appeared on NPR’s “From the Top,” TV program PIE on KCTS 9, and King FM 98.1. In 2015, he presented at the TEDYouth@Redmond Conference in Washington, and in 2019 he released his debut album, titled Wizard of Oz.
Christopher is an active music educator, having served as faculty at the Golden Key Piano School in Berkeley since 2019. His students have received top marks on Royal Conservatory of Music examinations, and have performed in various concerts and fundraisers. They describe him as a very patient and encouraging teacher with great attention to technique and musicality.
Christopher graduated with honors at the University of California Berkeley, earning Bachelor’s degrees in Molecular/Cell Biology, Economics, and Music. During this time, he also served as the blog writer of the Steinway Society of the Bay Area, where he gave his thoughts on various aspects of classical music and performance. Christopher earned his Masters in Music at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music under renowned pianist and conductor Jeffrey Kahane. His previous major teachers include Mack McCray, Duane Hulbert, Craig Sheppard, Frederick Weldy, William Wellborn, and Robert Schwartz. Christopher is currently attending the MBA program at Cornell University.
JunZhao Deng, (Ryan) received his master’s degree in piano performance from Kent State University, and his bachelor’s degree in music education from Xinghai Conservatory of Music.
JunZhao has performed in various locations in the USA and in China, including at Kent State University’s open house and the Poly Real Estate Group Company in China. He has also performed in masterclasses with great pianists such as Cahill Smith, faculty at Lee University. JunZhao has also competed in prestigious piano competitions in China such as the Hong Kong Piano Association International Piano Competition and the DeYiShuangQing Piano Competition. He was a finalist in both competitions, and the winner of the Guangzhou Golden Award in 2006 and 2008.
JunZhao has been teaching privately for 10 years. His favorite part of teaching is watching his students grow as a musician. He has experience teaching in China and in the USA, teaching at various prestigious institutions. JunZhao’s lively personality and vast of teaching experience and music knowledge makes him one of our top teachers at Manhattan Piano Academy.
Stella is a passionate and considerate teacher and extraordinarily talented in piano education. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Hanse University in South Korea. She studied piano under the guidance of Soeun Lee and Igaki Hideyuki, famous pianists in South Korea. She has given several concerts: disciple recitals, master classes, collaboration with orchestras, etc.
Since graduation, she has been focusing on teaching students to play the piano. Stella has over 10 years of experience teaching piano. She has worked with students of all ages and levels and loves incorporating fun games and activities into lessons. She also holds a piano adventure certificate. Before she came to the bay area in 2022, she operated her music academy for six years (2015-2021). Her piano class was recognized for her students winning in the major-regional music competitions in South Korea.
Maryam Arvanaghi has a Bachelors of Art degree in piano performance from Tehran Conservatory of Music under Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian supervision. She has about ten years of teaching experience both online and in-perosn. Although still a young and ambitious musician Maryam has both the experience and the patience to work with students of all ages.
Maryam also has been active in the field of Iranian music and started a project in collaboration with Iranian classical and traditional musicians to bring the sound of traditional instruments such as Taar, Kamancheh and others in association with Piano as a western classical instrument. Maryam has participated in many festivals and radio programs since 2012 in Europe, Turkey and Iran. In addition to playing Piano, Maryam has studied music theory, harmony, ear-training and counterpoint with Mohsen Elhamian, Marina Aghabakian, Mehran Rohani, Kiawasch Sahebnasagh and Sharif Lotfi. Maryam is currently teaching Piano to younger generations and music lovers.
We are pleased to have Maryam as part of our strong teacehr’s team at Manhattan Piano Academy starting March 2023.
Alejandra Williams-Maneri is a passionate and dedicated pianist and educator. She has been studying piano for 19 years and is trained in both jazz and classical piano. Graduating with a degree in Jazz Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory, Alejandra was the recipient of the Conservatory Dean Scholarship and John F. Oberlin Scholarship Awards for the duration of her undergraduate experience. Since graduating from Oberlin, Alejandra has been working as a professional pianist in New York City while also pursuing her passion for teaching. Throughout her career, Alejandra has performed with music greats such as Avery Sharpe, Don Braden, Steve Johns, and Becca Stevens, and has been involved in multiple recording projects including those led by Grammy Award winning producer, Jay Ashby.
Alejandra has been teaching piano for 9 years, working with students ages 5 to 45, from beginner level to advanced. We are pleased to have Alejandra as a great addition to our teacher’s team at Manhattan Piano Academy Starting October 2022.
