At Académie Piano Vertu, we take a holistic approach that builds on students' ambitions. It's a rigorous music education that fosters creative growth in students of all ages and musical backgrounds. Our highly structured, performance-based program enables students to receive tailor-made instruction that guarantees effective learning and often outstanding results.
Regarding young learners, we believe that strong parental involvement in the learning process yields better results. Our teachers are graduates of reputable music conservatories and experienced educators highly regarded in their respective fields. Working in collaboration with students, we nurture their perseverance and self-motivation, ensuring they reach their goals.
We offer theory and harmony courses to develop a profound understanding of music, enabling students to navigate the world of music more freely and confidently - some even compose their own pieces. Discover and reach new musical heights at Piano Vertu Academy.
We have teachers who can instruct in French and English, as well as in Spanish, Russian, Mandarin, Persian... Feel free to ask us if we can accommodate your needs!
Alberto Peña, D.Mus
Colombian pianist Alberto Peña has performed at prestigious venues in Austria, Italy, Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Panama, Canada and the United States, demonstrating a sustained commitment to the solo piano, concerto and chamber music repertoires of all periods. He has appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the Bogota Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Panama, the Meadows Symphony Orchestra, the UW-Madison Symphony Orchestra and the Camerata Dallas.
Alberto has won piano competitions in Colombia, Venezuela, Costa Rica and the United States, receiving numerous prestigious prizes and scholarships. He holds diplomas and distinctions from the Université de Montréal, the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Southern Methodist University and the Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas (Bogota). His principal teachers were Dang Thai Son, Boris Slutsky, Christopher Taylor, Joaquín Achúcarro and Pilar Leyva. He has taken part in numerous master classes and advanced training programs around the world.
Drawing on decades of experience, Peña has developed a rigorous yet flexible pedagogy that adapts to pianists of all ages and levels.
Mehdi Ghazi, D.Mus
Mehdi Ghazi has been described as a "sensitive pianist" by The New York Times, with a power to "communicate emotions comparable to Wilhelm Kempff" according to Claude Gingras from La Presse, Montreal.
As the winner of the Campillos International Piano Competition in 2020 and a medalist at the Hilton Head International Piano Competition in 2014, as well as the recipient of the second prize and the Audience Prize at the Orford Music Prize in 2018, Ghazi has been recognized for his exceptional talents. In 2015, he was selected as one of the "30 classical musicians under 30" by Radio-Canada, and he received the Sylva-Gelber Foundation Music Award in 2014.
As a soloist and chamber musician, Mehdi Ghazi has graced concert halls worldwide, including a performance at the Grand Hall of UNESCO in Paris at the age of 12. In 2011, he was selected by the Glenn Gould Foundation to perform in front of the Governor General of Canada as part of a tribute to the late Glenn Gould.
He has worked and collaborated with renowned conductors such as Daniel Barenboim, Yoav Talmi, John Morris Russell, Pavel Baleff, and Raffi Armenian. He is frequently invited to appear on radio and television channels, including CBC and Classical 96.3 in Toronto, and has been featured in prominent newspapers such as The Globe and Mail, among others.
Ghazi holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Algeria, an Artist Diploma from the Conservatoire de Montréal, an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School in Toronto, and a Master's degree from the University of Montréal. He recently earned a doctorate under the guidance of Jean Saulnier at the University of Montréal.
Beguentch Gueldyev, M.Mus
Beguentch Gueldyev, hailing from a family of artists, was born in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, where he began his piano studies at the age of seven. He went on to study at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow under the guidance of Professor Valery Kastelsky, one of the last students of the legendary Heinrich Neuhaus. In 1996, he earned a master's degree in piano performance. In 1997, Mr. Gueldyev won the first prize at the international competition "XX Century per a Piano" in Girona, Spain, and subsequently started working as a piano teacher at the Central Music School of Moscow.
In 2000, he was appointed as a piano professor at both the Royal Gendarmerie Conservatory and the Royal Guard Conservatory in Morocco. He frequently performs as a soloist with the Royal Symphony Orchestra and the Philharmonic Orchestra of Morocco. His students have achieved numerous awards in national and international competitions. Since 2012, residing in Montreal, Mr. Gueldyev currently works as a piano accompanist at the École supérieure de ballet du Québec.
Olga Dourova, M.Mus
Olga Durova was born in Tajikistan. She began playing the piano at the age of seven. After completing her studies at the Duchanbe College of Music in Tajikistan as a pianist and musicologist, she entered the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory in Moscow, where she studied under the renowned Yuri and Valentina Kholopov. She later pursued postgraduate studies and earned a master's degree.
Olga Durova has taught piano, music theory, solfeggio, counterpoint, and harmony at various institutions, including the Duchanbe College of Music in Tajikistan, the Beethoven Music School in Moscow, Russia, and the Royal Conservatory of Rabat in Morocco. Alongside her teaching activities, she has accompanied a wide repertoire of chamber music, including works for piano duet (four hands).
Rayna Slavova, D.Mus
Rayna Slavova completed her doctoral studies in vocal accompaniment at the Université de Montréal under the direction of Francis Perron. She holds a Master's degree in Vocal Accompaniment from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, where she studied with Eileen Cornett, and pursued graduate studies in Collaborative Piano at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rayna is an active performer and teacher. She has performed as a soloist and in chamber ensembles in Colombia, Ecuador, the United States and Canada. She has collaborated with the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and Oper'actuel: Works in Progress in Montreal, the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and the symphony choirs of the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College and the Madison Festival.
She is currently working as an accompanist at the University of Montreal. She served as the Music Director of the Peabody Opera Outreach Program during the 2012-2013 season. She has worked as an opera and diction coach at the Fundación Universitaria Juan N Corpas in Bogota, Colombia. At UW-Madison, Rayna taught music theory and accompaniment to undergraduate students. Rayna received the Sarah Stulman Zierler Award for Accompanying at the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. In 2017, she won the Irvin Shein Wind Piano Duo Competition in Madison, Wisconsin.
Changchun Du, M.Mus
Pianist Changchun Du is currently pursuing his doctorate in performance at McGill University's Schulich School of Music under the direction of Professor Hashimoto. He obtained his Master's degree in performance at the Manhattan School of Music in New York before coming to Canada. At the age of eight, Changchun Du embarked on piano as a profession, attending the affiliated elementary school of the Wuhan Conservatory of Music. He was then among the first generation of participants at the Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, where he obtained his Bachelor of Music degree. His awards include first prize in the Shanghai International Piano Competition and the Zhejiang Provincial Piano Competition. He has taken master classes with Robert Levin, Frank Braley, Boris Slutsky, Marian Hahn and HaeSun Paik. In addition to solo repertoire, he has also performed in large ensembles and chamber music ensembles at McGill University. Mr. Du has extensive experience in piano teaching, working with beginners through to conservatory students. His study "Exploration of Cultivating Children's Musical Expressiveness in Piano Playing" won 1st prize in the doctoral division of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Associations (CFMTA) 2024 essay competition. In addition to piano lessons, Mr. Du also teaches music theory and ear training.
Vinicius Costa, M.Mus
Vinicius Costa is a talented Brazilian pianist who has cultivated his musical career throughout Brazil, North America and Europe. He has performed as a guest pianist with prestigious ensembles such as the Young Euro Classic-Ensemble during the Year of Germany in Brazil-Tour and the "Young Euro Classic Music-Dance and Bundesjugendballett". With the São Paulo State Youth Orchestra, he has performed in renowned concert halls such as the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Alice Tully Hall in New York, Muziekgebouw in Amsterdam, Sala São Paulo in Brazil and the Konzerthaus in Berlin.
As a collaborative pianist, Mr. Costa has contributed to various renowned institutions and festivals, including the Académie de Chant de Trancoso in Brazil and the Domaine Forget International Music Festival in Canada. He is a graduate of several notable international festivals, including the Orford Academy of Music, the Académie Internationale Vocale Lachine, ICAV and the Solti-Peretti Repetiteur Course 2023. Recent engagements include work as a repetiteur for productions of The Magic Flute Mozart at the University of Michigan-SMTD and Cinderellaby Massenet at the McGill Opera Studio.
Vinicius Costa has been mentored by influential artists such as Fernando Tomimura, Nahim Marun, Daniel Matos, Alexandra Mascolo-David and Martin Katz. He holds a Bachelor's degree in piano performance from the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita-Filho, Brazil, and a Master's degree in piano performance from Central Michigan University, USA. He is currently a member of the 2023-2024 cohort of UdeM-McGill's Résidence en accompagnement piano-voix, under the direction of Francis Perron and Michael McMahon.
Alexey Shafirov, M.Mus
Alexey Shafirov is an Israeli pianist born in Russia. He holds degrees in piano performance from the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Israel, as well as from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Canada, where he is currently pursuing his doctoral studies under the direction of Ilya Poletaev and Michael McMahon. His former teachers include Eitan Globerson, Chana Shalgi, Yaron Rosenthal and Inna Lerner.
Alexey has received various solo piano awards, including the McGill University Piano Concerto Competition 2023-2024. However, Alexey also devotes significant efforts to music as a pedagogue, piano accompanist, vocal coach and, more recently, researcher, focusing on the correlation between vocal and instrumental music across different musical eras. He frequently participates in opera productions and vocal festivals, including IMVAJ, the Lyric Opera Studio in Jerusalem, the Vocal Academy in Lachine and the Franz-Schubert Institute in Vienna. Back in Israel, Alexey worked as a choral conductor and teacher with the Ankor girls' choir, with whom he toured Israel, Germany and Japan. Last year, he graduated from McGill-UdeM's prestigious Piano-Vocal Arts residency, where he learned from the world's leading vocal coaching experts.
Liliya Bayarashova
Liliya Bayarashova, originally from Russia, began her musical studies at a very young age. After completing her college-level education at the Music School, she graduated from the Kazan Conservatory in 1997. In 2005, Liliya continued her studies at the University of Montreal, where she pursued a master's degree in music (performance) under the guidance of Maneli Pirzadeh. She furthered her education with a specialization in chamber music (DESS) under the instruction of renowned professors like Jean-Eudes Vaillancourt.
The musical ensemble has always been at the center of Liliya's professional interests. In 2000, she co-founded the ensemble Duo Piacere. As a member of the clarinet-piano duo, Liliya regularly participates in regional, national, and international competitions. In 2003, the duo won the national chamber music competition in Syzran, Russia. Their participation in the international competition in Boston (2008) also added two awards to the musician's active professional career.
For over 15 years, Liliya has been sharing her passion for music not only with audiences but also with her students. She has taught piano in both Kazan and Montreal. Her commitment to creative, rigorous, and collaborative work has made her a highly regarded teacher among aspiring musicians.
Negar Moradi
The Persian pianist Negar Moradi has embraced numerous opportunities to share her musical ideas in solo, chamber, and collaborative performances. Born in Tehran, Iran, Negar began her musical journey at the age of 5. Her talent was acknowledged in early stages, prompting her to seek guidance from renowned international pianists like Dorothy Khadem-Missagh, Sarah Bryans, and Peter Ovtcharov. The desire to pursue music as a profession led Negar to leave her previous engineering profession to pursue her musical dreams.
Earning her degree in piano performance at McGill University under Professors Kyoko Hashimoto and Marina Mdivani, Negar excels in solo and collaborative music, leaving a distinct mark in concert halls across Austria, Canada, and Iran. Collaborating with renowned musicians, Negar had the privilege of performing with the Allegro Moldo Orchestra in Austria under the direction of Christoph Ehrenfellner. She also accompanied international instrumentalists and vocalists during her studies at McGill University.
Negar's commitment to excellence extends to various competitions. Guided by Professor Gagik Babayan, she secured the first prize at the "Javan Music Festival" in Iran in 2017. After immigrating to Canada, Negar earned recognition for her exceptional abilities, receiving awards and scholarships such as the Paul-Marcel Gélinas and Verna-Marie Parr Gélinas Piano Prize (2020), the Anna Paull Gertler Scholarship (2021), and the Luba Zuk Piano Scholarship (2022).
In addition to her performance prowess, Negar holds a minor degree in music education from McGill University. Leveraging her early teaching experience, she has become a dedicated instructor, skilled at adapting her approach to diverse student needs. Negar Moradi's musical odyssey encompasses performances on international stages, a commitment to education, and serving as an educational bridge between Iran and Canada.
Quang Nguyen, M.Mus
Pianist Quang Nguyen (Nguyen Dang Quang) was a prize winner of many international music competitions, including First Prize at Val Tildone Competition in Piacenza, Italy (2012), Gold Medal and Special Prize at ASIA International Piano Festival Competition in Seoul, South-Korea (2014), First Prize, Best Vietnamese Contestant and Best Performance of a Concerto at 3rd Hanoi International Piano Competition in Hanoi, Vietnam (2015), Second Prize at Lansum International Music Festival in Los Angeles, U.S.A (2016). Most recently, in 2020, Quang won First Prize at the Malaysia Virtual International Music Competition.
Quang’s recent concert highlights include Toyota Concert Tour 2023 in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with conductor Honna Tetsuji and the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, playing Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, as well as performance in diplomatic concerts for the Embassy of Japan, Embassy of Canada, and the Danish Royal Family. He has appeared in many concert halls such Zipper Hall (Los Angeles, USA), Salle Claude-Champagne (Montreal, Canada), Concert Hall of University of Guangxi (Nanning, China), Diocesan Museum of Brescia (Brescia, Italy), Hanoi Opera House (Hanoi, Vietnam), Saigon Opera House (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), Grand Hall of Vietnam National Academy of Music (Hanoi, Vietnam), St. Joseph Cathedral (Hanoi, Vietnam). He has also worked with Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Orchestra, Saigon Symphony Orchestra, Inspirito Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of conductor Tran Vuong Thach, Nguyen Thieu Hoa, Nguyen Phu Son.
Quang Nguyen, born in 1998 in a family with music traditions. Quang started his first piano lessons at the age of 9. In 2016, with the guidance of Prof. Tran Thu Ha, Quang graduated the 9-year pre-college program with excellency at the Piano Faculty – Vietnam National Academy of Music. In 2020, Quang obtained his bachelor’s degree, majoring in Classical Piano Performance at the University of Montreal, Canada, under the guidance of Pianist Dang Thai Son with a full scholarship from the Vietnamese Government. In 2022, at the same establishment, Quang completed his master's degree in the studio of Professor Jean Saulnier. He also has masterclasses with famous pianists such as André Laplante, Armen Babakhanian, Jimmy Brière, Marina Mdivani and Hae-Won Chang. Currently, he is pursuing his doctoral studies at the University of Montreal under the guidance of Charles Richard-Hamelin, Henry Kramer, and Jean Saulnier.
Johan Struyve
From a very young age, Johan Struyve spent hours improvising on the keyboard. Originally from Belgium, he began his piano training at the Ostend Conservatory, then earned awards for composition at the Antwerp Conservatory and a Master's in Music at the Lemmens Institute in Louvain. He continued his journey in France, Germany, and the Netherlands, taking interpretation courses and settling in Paris in 1998 to further his studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique. Always passionate about music, dance, and theater, he enriched his work through collaborations with musicians, choreographers, and directors.
Since then, he has been teaching piano privately and working as a ballet accompanist in various conservatories in the Paris region. He actively participates in classes, exams, and performances by adapting repertoire, improvising, composing, singing, and editing soundtracks. In 2012, he moved to northern France where he gave a series of solo concerts, interpreting a selection of Romantic repertoire followed by various piano-vocal creations centered around French songs, including a tribute to Jacques Brel.
He simultaneously joined the Maubeuge Conservatory as head of the piano department on a full-time basis and the Higher School of Music and Dance in Lille, this time professionally contributing to pedagogy classes and certification exams for future dance teachers. In 2019, he chose Quebec as his new destination while continuing to pursue his two passions. He teaches piano at home to children as young as 4 and at the Les Mélèzes International School in Joliette. Affiliated with UQAM, he has prepared numerous children for theoretical, auditory, and instrumental exams. Additionally, he serves as an accompanist at the Higher School of Ballet, Collège Jean-Eudes, and Ballets Jazz.
With 30 years of experience, a broad knowledge of repertoires (classical, jazz, dance, and song), and a deep understanding of all technical and artistic aspects of piano learning, Johan will guide and accompany you at your own pace, regardless of your level or age.
Tom Liu
A person with a deep passion for music, Tom likes to explore the varied genres and styles it has to offer with a focus on the classical and Jazz periods. But as an avid explorer of all things music he is able to give commentary and analysis of an in-depth level on a variety of musical styles. Born in China, Tom started his musical journey with his first steps into Classical music studying at the Tianjin music academy at age 4. After moving to Canada in 2010, he studied under multiple renowned teachers from the Vancouver music scene with the aim to diversify his skills. Most notably with Dr.Henri-Paul Sicsic, who’s tenure of 5 years greatly matured Tom’s musical capabilities. In addition, he has also partook in masterclasses with esteemed educators like Mr.Jerome Lowenthal and Garry Graffman. Currently under the tutelage of Mr.Jimmy Briere at the Universite de Montreal, Tom aims to continue his education to further deepen his musical understanding and capabilities. With a myriad of experience on-stage, both competitive and personal, Tom had a long relationship with the spotlight since 2009. He partook in many competitions starting with the Zhongsin International Music Competition held in China, in which he placed 2nd at the age of 8. After arriving in Canada he has also participated and achieved consistent top placements in the Kiwanis competition, the VIMC, the Steinway competition and the crescendo international music competition, where after passing the preliminaries he had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie hall, New york. Over the last few years Tom quite regularly performs in local events back in British Columbia, including various charity performances. Now in Montreal for his Post-Secondary studies, he wishes to share his passion with any who wish to explore the world of musicianship.
Charles Dufour
Charles Dufour is a pianist who is passionate about music, born with a natural harmony in his fingers and a keen ear for sonic nuances. His musical journey began at the Vincent-d’Indy School of Music, where he delved deeply into the art of piano. Currently, he continues his education at the Faculty of Music at the University of Montreal, broadening his horizons and deepening his understanding of music. Concurrently, he shares his knowledge as a teacher at the Vincent-d’Indy School of Music, thus inspiring future generations of musicians. Throughout his path, he has had the privilege of studying with renowned mentors such as Antoine Joubert, Jimmy Brière, and Justine Pelletier, who have enriched his playing and nurtured his passion for the piano. With every note played, Charles Dufour seeks to convey the emotion and beauty of music to all who are fortunate to listen to it.
Minh Khanh Duong
Minh Khanh Duong is a pianist from Hanoi, Vietnam.
She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in piano performance at the Université de Montréal. Minh Khanh began learning the piano at an early age, and officially entered a professional music stream at the age of 9. She studied at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, where she obtained her intermediate diploma in 9 years and her university diploma in 4 years, graduating at the top of her class. During her studies, she took part in master classes with renowned teachers from all over the country.
Alongside her studies, Minh Khanh has taken part in numerous stage performances. She has also taught piano for many years to students of all ages and levels, at prestigious music centers in Hanoi such as Music Talent and Sense Arts. Piano and music are indispensable elements of her life. She loves teaching, as it enables her to pass on her love of music to everyone.
Molly Murong Guo
Molly Murong Guo's musical journey began in her native China, where she was introduced to music by her great-grandfather. Under the tutelage of Professor Li Qing, she received formal training in piano, earning her diploma in arts. Seeking to broaden her musical horizons, she ventured to Europe, enrolling in the Conservatory of Vienna to specialize in collaborative piano. Subsequently, Molly pursued her passion for music management, earning a master's degree from Danube University in Austria
Throughout her time in Europe, she actively engaged in both classical and jazz performances, collaborating with esteemed musicians at renowned festivals such as Summa Cum Laude in Vienna, as well as events in Bad Goisern and the Teenagers Festival in Vienna. In addition to her performance endeavors, Molly Murong Guo dedicated herself to teaching, imparting piano and music theory lessons at an academic middle school in Vienna. Furthermore, she enriched her musical journey by participating in various museum and concert hall programs, contributing to the vibrant cultural landscape of her surroundings.
