OUR TEACHERS

Andriy Tykhonov (MMus, BMus) is a leading jazz pianist from Ukraine, renowned for his captivating performances and innovative compositions. With a career spanning decades, he shares his expertise as a dedicated educator, specializing in the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) method. His students consistently achieve high results on RCM examinations, reflecting his commitment to excellence. Beyond teaching, Andriy continues to push the boundaries of jazz music through his collaborations and compositions. A true virtuoso, he inspires aspiring musicians with his passion, creativity, and unwavering dedication to the art of jazz piano.

Olena Klyucharova (M.Mus, B.Mus) is co-owner of ACCENT PIANO STUDIO. She is

specializing in guiding advanced students from Level 6 to ARCT and LCRM from the Royal Conservatory of Music. Her students consistently achieve high marks in exams, a testament to her dedication and expertise in nurturing their talents. Passionate about chamber music, Olena is also a highly respected piano teacher, known for her commitment to student success in festivals and RCM examinations.

Since establishing herself in Canada in 2002, Olena has been a vibrant presence in the music scene, delivering captivating performances at renowned venues such as the K-W Chamber Music Society, Centre in the Square (Kitchener), Maureen Forrester Hall (Waterloo), River Run Centre (Guelph), and Roy Thomson Hall (Toronto).

Alla Lioudvinevitch (MMus) RCM certified teacher. She has over 20 years of experience in teaching. Lessons include music theory, ear training and sight reading. Her students achieved highest results in RCM examinations and KIWANIS. Alla’s goal is to provide quality private piano instruction for students of all ages to embody their full potential as musicians.

Isaac Wilton was born into an incredibly musical family in Saskatchewan, Canada. His talent and passion for piano was discovered at an early age. He has spent much time studying piano and music theory with Olena Klyucharova and Andriy Tykhonov, where he was influenced by the Russian Piano Tradition. During that time, Isaac was inspired to pursue a teaching career by his teachers. He was among the first to be admitted into Wilfrid Laurier University’s faculty of music, and has completed his exams with high grades. He plays for a few different events, such as weddings, accompaniments, and other entertainments. Isaac plans to pursue degrees in Education and Music, knowing that he wants to leave a legacy of education behind him. He is specializing in teaching younger beginners.

Ivan Tran is a great piano teacher and accomplished pianist currently studying at Wilfrid Laurier University. With a strong foundation in classical piano and Royal Conservatory of Music training, he brings both technical expertise and creative energy to his teaching. He specializes in working with beginner students, using structured methods like Alfred’s and the RCM curriculum while incorporating pop, jazz, and improvisation to keep lessons fresh and engaging. Ivan has taught at the Children’s Music Academy and the Beckett School, where he nurtured students’ musical growth by tailoring lessons to their interests and goals. With a background in jazz performance, musical theatre, and ensemble work, he creates dynamic, well-rounded lessons that inspire a lifelong love of music.

Alena Buinitskaya is a versatile vocalist and vocal coach with expertise in classical, jazz, and pop singing. She earned her Bachelor's in Theater Soloist and Vocal Teaching from the Belarusian Academy of Music in 2002. A laureate of the international Romansiada competition, she has performed across Europe. Passionate about vocal techniques, she blends multiple styles in her teaching. Alena inspires students of all ages, emphasizing technique, artistic interpretation, and confidence. Her dedication to music education ensures that each lesson is both enriching and inspiring.

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Yuliia Zaiats (BMus) born in Ukraine, was captivated by the piano and vocal from an early age and devoted over 12 years to perfecting her craft. Her musical journey took her to the Dnipropetrovsk College of Culture and Arts, where she honed her skills in both piano and vocals. Yuliia's exceptional talent and dedication were evident through her participation in numerous Ukrainian and international competitions, where she consistently achieved impressive results. In 2023, she expanded her teaching expertise to Poland, further broadening her impact. In addition to her success as a performer, Yuliia has made a significant contribution as a teacher, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for music with her students. With extensive experience and a commitment to excellence, she continues to inspire and nurture the next generation of musicians.

Vicky Dvorak earned her degree in music performance from the University of Toronto under Lorand Fenyves and continued her studies at McGill University under Mauricio Fuks.
She has been teaching violin for over 40 years and has prepared students for all 10 levels of  Royal Conservatory Examinations and for performance in the Kiwanis Music Festival. She has experience teaching all ages and levels and has adjudicated at music festivals and taught violin in music camps. 

As a performing violinist, Vicky has been a member of the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony for over 30 years and has performed in numerous orchestras and music festivals in Ontario and is also an experienced chamber musician.

Shakoor Henson (BMus), a violinist originally from Kingston, Ontario, now resides in Waterloo. His musical journey commenced at six years old under the tutelage of Denny Williams, co-founder of the Canta Arya School for Strings in Kingston. Transitioning to Deborah McFarlane at age ten after Williams' retirement, Shakoor embraced the Suzuki Method, engaging in private lessons, group classes, and attending the Southern Ontario Suzuki Institute. Pursuing a Bachelor of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University under Jerzy Kaplanek, he delved into music theory, history, musicianship, and composition. Currently, Shakoor teaches violin and guitar while also volunteering at Canta Arya.

Andrew Guerin is a guitarist and electric bassist currently pursuing a degree in music at Wilfrid Laurier University, with a focus on jazz and contemporary styles. With over a decade of experience across genres such as pop, R&B, rock, hip hop, classical, and musical theatre, he brings a versatile and dynamic approach to teaching. Andrew began teaching in 2022 at the Community Music School of Waterloo Region and has since worked with many students, offering personalized lessons tailored to each learner’s goals and musical style. His teaching experience includes private lessons, online instruction, and leading music workshops for beginners.

Andrew Laughton (BMus) is an emerging young musician from Waterloo, Ontario. He has been playing piano since the age of 5 in the studios of Roselyn Pepper and Jason White. Andrew later started guitar at the age of 10 in the studios of Dave Rogers and Mariette Stephenson. He went on to receive an honours with distinction in his grade 8 RCM practical piano exam before entering Wilfred Laurier University.

Andrew has received high acclaim as a soloist, chamber musician, ensemble player, and composer. He received a Bachelor of Music in Performance with Distinction and was the recipient of the Academic Gold Medal for highest average in an honors program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

He was awarded Finalist in the 2018 “WLU Concerto Competition” and Semi-Finalist in the 2018 “Ken Murray Concerto Competition”, as the first ever guitar player to compete in both competitions. In 2019, he was invited to play as a soloist with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada.

In August of 2019, Andrew joined the “Ekleipsis Guitar Trio”, taking over the position once held by renowned guitarist Terry McKenna, his studio professor at WLU. He is a founding member of Kitchener-Waterloo indie-folk band “Safe as Houses”.

Andrew is also a trained composer and has studied under Glenn Buhr, Linda Catlin Smith, and Cam McKittrick.

Howard Dyck is the founding Artistic Director and Conductor of Consort Caritatis as well as the Artistic Director Emeritus of the Grand Philharmonic Choir (Kitchener-Waterloo) and Conductor Emeritus of the Bach Elgar Choir (Hamilton), Mr. Dyck is also known across Canada as the former programme host of Choral Concert and Saturday Afternoon at the Opera on CBC Radio.

Eve Farber acquired her B.A. degree in Piano and Music Theory from Tchaikovsky musical college in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Since graduation in 1996 she worked for various music schools as a teacher of music literature and solfeggio with children of 6 -13 years old. In 2005 Eve completes her B.D. degree in Fashion Design at Shenkar, College of Engineering and Design in Israel.

Petro Churkin (BMus) is a fantastic saxophone player and a really good teacher. He studied music at a famous "R. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music" in Ukraine. Petro started playing saxophone professionally in 1994 with Jazz Big Bands. He's been playing music for a long time and knows a lot about different types like Jazz, Funk, and Smooth Jazz and more. Petro loves musicians like Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, Gerry Mulligan, David Sanborn and John Coltrane. He's played in many places around the world and is famous for his saxophone skills. Petro teaches saxophone too, helping lots of people learn to play music.