Classically trained excellence.
Amy Wolf
Classical Piano
B.A. Hamline University 1992
AMY WOLF grew up in Wisconsin and first started piano lessons at age 9, enthusiastically playing and performing through high school. The Romantic Pianoradio program which aired on NPR inspired Amy to continue studying classical piano for another 4 years under Ms. Kathy McLean while also attaining a degree in International Studies and Economics at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Amy took a hiatus from her musical studies to pursue a career in politics in Washington, D.C., but within a few short years Amy followed her true passion and started a piano studio in New Orleans, Louisiana. While living in the Big Easy, Amy studied classical piano for 3 more years with Ms. Shearon Horton.
In the summer of 1998, Amy embarked on a move to the Pacific Northwest and started teaching in-home piano lessons on the Eastside of Seattle, Washington. For over 17 years, Amy has shared her passion for the piano with hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to study music in college.
Currently, Amy teaches 30 students and continues sharing her love of music through successfully preparing students for recitals, competitions and adjudications.
Since college, Amy has performed for many private parties and events including the Dedication of the Women's Vietnam War Memorial and for Senator Robert and Elizabeth Dole at the United States Capitol.
In addition to teaching classical piano, Amy is President of the Gourmet Music & Culture Club, a local non-profit organization which promotes music through performance, scholarships and cultural events.
Amy also loves spending time with her husband and 2 boys as well as training for triathlons and skiing.
"Our daughter has been taking piano lessons from Ms. Amy for the past three years. Within those years, we have seen our daughter become more confident playing in recitals to playing piano in her first piano competition. Ms. Amy has taught her to play challenging classical repertoires, but our daughter's technical skills are where she has greatly improved. Ms. Amy's perseverance, patience and professionalism are some of the admirable attributes we have been blessed with. She is a great mentor and an inspirational teacher. Ms. Amy is the best teacher we have worked with and we highly recommend her."
- Cindy
"Amy Wolf is a GREAT teacher. She has a very positive and encouraging approach which makes her highly effective in teaching young ones. My 7 yr old son takes private piano lessons with her and my 4 yr old daughter has been in her group Music & Fine Art class. Both of them love Amy, and they look forward to their music sessions every week! Because I’ve had some classical training in the past, I am pretty selective on choosing a music instructor for my own kids. Amy teaches many different types and genres of music and is very well-rounded. I’ve been amazed by the stunning artwork that my 4 yr old has painted and brought home. Watching Amy in action, she is very patient, entertaining, and motivational whenever the kids start to lose focus. She creatively teaches and keeps their interest and finds ways to help them concentrate. She is firm yet fun and I highly recommend Amy Wolf!"
- Julia
"We have really appreciated Amy as our son's piano teacher. With her guidance his technique has improved so much. She has been consistent in her approach and teaching and has shown in many ways her passion, love, and commitment to music and our son's success. We are very happy with his growth in the four years he has studied with Amy. She has transformed his playing and technique!"
- Alison
Piage Wheeler
PIANO& COMPOSITION
B.A. UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONCLASSICAL PIANIST AND COMPOSER
PAIGE WHEELER grew up in Richland Washington and started playing the piano the minute one was brought into the house when she was about 9 years old. She was regularly picked to go as a finalist at the Washington Music Teachers Adjudication and placed each time. One year she was awarded a special acknowledgment for her composition. She accompanied choirs in junior and high school and rehearsed and conducted a triple trio that won honors in an adjudication.
She has taught piano and music theory for over 30 years and accompanied many students during performances. She has written three musicals for various theaters in Seattle, including the Empty Space and the Poncho Children's Theater. She wrote music for, and helped compile a production called Word of Mouth which had performances spanning over 6 years. It was a theater production of women speaking out for peace. She has written many pieces for piano, voice, and other ensembles.
Paige was part of the music faculty at the InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico where she accompanied choirs and coached and accompanied students.
She loves teaching beginning piano students and especially enjoys older adult beginners. She feels that her students have been her great teachers in her life, and for her part, she loves to help them to find joy in each small and large success. Music lessons provide a place to share in a common goal, and in the process, make a meaningful connection with others and produce something unique and beautiful in each expression.
Paige teaches with gentleness and humor with a strong focus on the musical quality of performance. She loves to share her enthusiasm for music and the joy that it brings to others. She often performs her own piano compositions in various venues.
Jeff Messman
JAZZ & CLASSICAL PIANO
INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED STUDENTS
INSTRUCTOR - TBA
PIANO
B.A.
Li-Cheng Hung
Piano, Chamber orchestra
Doctor of Musical Arts, University of washington
A native of Taiwan, LI-CHENG HUNG is in her fourth year at the University of Washington School of Music, working toward a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance under the tutelage of Dr. Robin McCabe. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the National Taipei University of Education, and her Master of Music degree from the National Taiwan Normal University. Her past principal teachers include Chia-Chi Hsu, Ming-Hui Lin and Miyoko Lotto.
The recipient of numerous awards, Li-Cheng has been the 1st prize of the 2014 Bradshaw and Buono International Piano Competition, which led to a solo performance in Carnegie Hall, Weill’s Hall; a top prize winner at the University of Washington Concerto Competition, and performed with the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra. Last year, she was invited to perform with the Burmese Orchestra at National Concert Hall in Taiwan, and received a scholarship from American Taiwanese Charity and Education Association, which also made her solo debut in Washington D.C.
In addition to her solo repertoire achievements, Li-Cheng enjoys collaborating and is an active chamber musician. She has been the accompanist for numerous master classes and has accompanied for David Cooper, the principal Horn of the Dallas Symphony, and Denise Tryon, the fourth Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She currently performs with Trio Andromeda, which serves as the official scholarship chamber group at the University of Washington.
Yimo Zhang
CLASSICAL PIANO, performance & concerto
B.M.A. university of cincinnati
m.M.A. texas christian university
YIMO ZHANG, Chinese pianist, has been studying piano since an early age. Currently pursuing her Doctrate of Musical Arts program under the tutelage of Dr. Robin McCabe, Yimo has served as the Teaching Assistant of piano for the school of music in University of Washington for three years. Her passion and dedication in playing the piano has led her to study in the class of Dr. Tamas Ungar in Texas Chrsitian University where she did her masters, and Mr and Mrs. Pridonoff in University of Cincinnati where she completed her undergraduate. In China she has studied in the prestigious Middle School Attached to the Central Conservatory of Music, in Beijing. To further pursuit music, Yimo went to Interlochen Center for the Arts in 2007, with scholarship. Yimo is actively performing in local festivals and communities, where audiences acclaim her sensitive and expressive artistry. As she is studying in University of Washington, she has appeared as a soloist and collaborator in Meany Hall, with the Seattle Piano Institute and UW modern ensemble. She has had lesson with pianist composer Paul Schoenfeld on hispiano music “Peccadillos”. She is the gold medalist of the Bach Festival of Seattle International Festival and Competition and the silver medalist for the Northwest Chopin competition. Yimo has performed in the master class of Daniel Shapiro, Veda Kaplinsky, Arthur Greene, Craig Sheppard among others. Her career goal consists of two folds: to bring high standard classical music to most of the world populations, and to pass on her knowledge of music to the younger generation of students.
Robin DeLanoy
HARP & PIANO
B.M. OBERLIN CONSERVATORY
M.M. SHEPARD SCHOOL OF MUSIC AT RICE UNIVERSITY
ROBIN DELANOY grew up in the Midwest and began studying the piano at the age of 5. Through her love of music she continued to perform piano at a competitive level throughout high school. Simultaneously she began to study harp and again excelled at a second instrument. Robin went on to receive a Bachelor's of Music from Oberlin Conservatory and a Master's of Music from the Shepard School of Music at Rice University.
After gaining her degrees, Robin continued to play both the piano and harp, freelancing in the Washington DC area performing orchestral, chamber and solo background music. At a pinnacle, she was able to perform at Carnegie Hall with the Bethesda Orchestra conducted by John Rutter.
Throughout her career, Robin performed with various orchestras across the U.S. and New Zealand including the Houston Symphony, Omaha Symphony, Eerie Philharmonic and Dunedin Opera Orchestra to name just a few.
Throughout Robin's musical career, she has sporadically taught and performed both the piano and the harp. Eventually, teaching has become more center stage and in the past 10 years she had maintained a full piano studio in Omaha, NE where her students enjoyed various recitals and competition opportunities. Robin also taught at the University of Nebraska at Omaha as a Professor of Harp.
Most recently Robin moved to the Seattle area and is looking forward to sharing her passion and knowledge of the harp and piano with current and prospective students.
She also enjoys hiking and mountain biking with her two beautiful children.
"We are lucky to have found Robin, and she has been the perfect piano
instructor for our young daughters. She provides an appropriate mix of music theory and instrumental work, and has developed our girls' skills quickly.
Robin selects appropriate instructional materials for each student's level and experience. She relates well to such young students and they look forward to working with her each week!"
- Michael
Kevin Proudfoot
Classical Piano & JAZZ STUDIES
B.M. University of Washington 2013
KEVIN PROUDFOOT is a professional pianist based in the Seattle Metropolitan area. In 2005, he received an outstanding soloist award at the Essentially Ellington competition in New York. Kevin has performed in several capacities, including as the accompanist for the Wellspring Ensemble choir and as the house pianist for Mo' Jam Mondays at the Nectar Lounge. He has been teaching elementary general music for three years in public schools and currently teaches in the Renton School district. Kevin holds two Bachelor's Degrees, in Piano Performance and Music Education, from Central Washington University, where he studied with Dr. John Pickett. In 2012, he earned a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied with Dana Landry. When he's not teaching or making music, Kevin is an avid Sounders fan.