Ukrainian born, studied violin at Kiev Special Music School for Gifted Children from seven until graduation at eighteen.Continued studies at Tchaikovsky Conservatory, Kiev, graduated with Diploma as Orchestra Player, Chamber Orchestra Player, Quartet Player and Teacher. Played with Kiev Opera House for young people for eight years and toured Europe. Joined National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine for five years; touring extensively.Recruited by Christchurch Symphony Orchestra in 1996 as Associate Principal 2nd Violin, whilst touring with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Australia Violin teacher whose students have proven to high achievers in ABRSM examination in New Zealand.

Cameron Fairweather, a pianist and graduate of Ara Music Arts (2015-2017), holds a bachelor's degree in music with a focus on jazz piano performance and arranging. Going beyond jazz, he explores pop and modern genres, nurturing a particular fondness for Latin American styles.
As a teacher, Cameron imparts his nuanced understanding to students, emphasising comprehension as a catalyst for creativity. His broad-ranging musical journey, enriched by experiences in various bands, blends tradition and innovation in a balanced way, fostering an approachable exploration of musical expression.

Margot Button is an experienced professional performer, arts educator and arts administrator, having appeared extensively as a soloist in opera, oratorio, song recital, musical theater, and jazz in New Zealand, Australia, England, and the USA. She has recorded for radio, television and film. Margot currently maintains a private voice studio, teaches voice at St. Andrew's College and conducts the CPIT 'Voiceworks' Jazz choir in Christchurch.

Barrett is a Brass Teacher and Performer. He gained his Masters Degree with honours in Classical Performance Trumpet from the Royal Academy of Music in London and also holds his Licentiate to the Royal Academy of music for Brass Education. Currently Barrett performs regularly with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, he is Principal Trumpet of Orchestra Wellington, and performs around the globe with NZ Reggae band The Black Seeds. Prior to his study abroad Barrett gained a degree in Jazz Trumpet at the Victoria University, School of Music. Barrett is currently the Trumpet Teacher at the University of Canterbury, and recently has been an Artist teacher at the New Zealand School of Music, Wellington.

Principal Second Violin and Tutti Horn of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, Arna & Alex Morton are thrilled to be offering premium violin and brass lessons to passionate learners from their new studio at The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts.

Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki and Ngāti Rua (Te Whakatōhea)
Classical/Crossover Singer, Guitarist, Singer-Songwriter and Teacher

M.Mus(Dis)(Otago), M.CP(Ara), BA(Auckland), BMus(Auckland), LRSM(Classical Guitar) and LLB(Hons)(Sydney).

Born in Southland, New Zealand, Deborah has performed in operas, musical theatre, contemporary Māori music, arts festivals, proms, concerts, recitals, self-accompanied guitar and voice recitals, and special events throughout New Zealand and Australia, as well as in the UK, Asia Pacific Region, and South Africa.

Dr. Hannah Darroch has been Principal Flute of the CSO since 2020. She is the flute teacher on faculty at the University of Canterbury and also manages a private flute studio based at The Piano. Known for her diverse and genre-crossing career as a flutist, Hannah has performed around NZ and internationally.

In-demand as a teacher, she has given guest classes in a range of locations across NZ, Canada, the United States, South America, and Australia. She has a Doctor of Music from McGill University, a Master of Music from the University of Colorado Boulder, and an MBA through the Global Leaders Institute.

Equally established in arts management, Hannah has over 15 years of experience in NZ and Canada, with a particular focus on marketing, communications, grant writing, and project management.

maevon music is the vocal & guitar studio of singer Trix Maeder and guitarist Sascha von Kaenel.
Trix and Sascha specialize in private singing and guitar lessons for adults who want to develop their skills in playing and singing Rock & Pop music. Trix also offers the group singing sessions ‘SingMates’ to workplaces and the public.
Next to teaching, the studio is the home base of their event duo Joy Frank, as well as their own songwriting projects.

Trix can draw from a pool of over 20 years of performance experience,
as a lead vocalist on stage and in the studio, vocal arranger and songwriter. She honed her vocal & musical skills with various vocal coaches back home and in NZ.

Sascha has over 30 years of experience playing in bands, recording, performing and composing. He studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, where he had the chance to learn from some of the greatest guitar teachers in the world.

WORD Christchurch is all about storytelling and ideas, presenting an annual festival based largely at The Piano, as well as a series of events throughout the year all around the city. Local writers, thinkers and artists feature prominently in the programme, while Past international guests include such luminaries as Michael Palin, Julia Gillard, Jung Chang, Ian Rankin, Ruth Reichl and children’s sensations David Walliams and Andy Griffiths. WORD works closely with Tūranga, the Christchurch City Libraries team, and many other organisations around Ōtautahi to get communities excited about words in all their uses, be they written, sung, rapped or spoken. The core team in the WORD office is Executive Director Steph Walker, Programme Lead Kiran Dass, and Administration & Operations Manager Magda Lorenzo.

Raya has produced multiple prizewinning students, and her students consistently achieve highly in exams through the Diploma level.

Raya earned her bachelor’s degree in music in 2009 from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles, one of the highest-ranking music schools in the US, studying with internationally renowned pianist Bernadene Blaha. Raya further honed her expertise through additional coaching and masterclasses with many internationally acclaimed artists, including the legendary Earl Wild.

With numerous solo and chamber music performances, including live radio broadcasts, Raya appeared in venues including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Zipper Hall in Los Angeles. Recipient of multiple awards, Raya also acted as a piano competition adjudicator in Los Angeles.

Raya has taught piano since 2004 in Los Angeles, and now Christchurch. Always in pursuit of excellence, Raya provides rigorous training to dedicated pianists. Having tackled some of the most difficult standard piano repertoire herself, Raya effectively guides her students in cultivating healthy technique, enhancing their musicianship, and refining their artistry.

Alice Tanner is a professional singer performing around New Zealand. She performs in many groups, including covers bands, jazz bands, duos, originals bands and also solo.

She studied at CPIT Jazz School, and has a Bachelor of Musical Arts majoring in Jazz Vocals. A classical background in both cello and piano to high levels and tertiary study in jazz singing means she is a well-rounded musician with a breadth of knowledge in different styles and genres.

Alice is also a singing teacher, teaching in schools and privately for people at any age or stage. She creates a fun, comfortable environment for singers to learn in.

Jonathan Tanner is a passionate teacher and Associate Principal First Violin of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He studied violin at Victoria University in Wellington and Bern University of the Arts in Switzerland. Jonathan has worked in many of New Zealand’s professional orchestras including the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. He plays a wide variety of musical styles including Classical, Irish and Bluegrass. His teaching focuses on achieving high-quality results while maintaining the joy of music and of learning in general.

Jimmy Rainey is a saxophonist and composer based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Jimmy has completed study at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam (2017-2019) in The Netherlands, where he studied with Ben van Gelder, Dick Oatts, Simon Rigter and members of the Metropole Orkest. He also holds a bachelors degree from the Ara Music Arts programme in Christchurch (2013-2015). He has worked and performed with Scribe & P-Money, 2XM, Vallé, Tami Neilson and the Jong Metropole Orkest. His own projects include Yurt Party, Harmony & Rhythm, and Excellent Boys.

Tom Harris is a piano teacher and all-round sound hound. He has spent a lot of his life sitting behind a piano keyboard, or dabbling with percussion, accordions, effects pedals, small mysterious synthesizers and cuban guitars. He loves improvising a party into collective joy and can be found in the midst of a Yurt Party (https://www.yurtparty.space/), playing meditative solo piano at home, or enthusiastically teaching all ages and styles at his studio.