Faculty

Maya Djafarova, BA, MA - Piano

Maya Djafarova, founder of Alania Music and Director of World Academy of Music.
She is an experienced classical piano teacher and performer from Moscow, Russia (Master's Degree, Professor, Class Piano) member of Ontario Registered Music Teacher Association. Maya has over 35 years of experience teaching Russian classic piano style with attention to composition, sound and hand techniques; specializing in 7- ARCT grades and university level. The majority of Maya's students, upon graduation, continued with their careers in music and many went on to major in music at the University level. Maya's students have always had the best performances at piano competitions and received the highest ratings at piano exams. The classes always had a special atmosphere of warmth and friendliness.

Helena Holl, MA - Vocal

Helena Holl began her vocal studies at Moscow’s Gnesins Musical Academy, after which she was accepted into a private class of Boris Pokrovsky, of the prestigious Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
Following completion of her studies, Ms. Holl performed in numerous productions with the Moscow Operetta Theatre, and the Moscow Stanislavsky Opera and Ballet Theatre. After moving from Moscow to Budapest, Ms. Holl performed with Interoperett Ltd., sang at the Xanten Arena Theatre in Germany and the Bromberg “Opera Nova” Theatre in Poland. Strausse’s The Gypsy Baron and Sonya of Lehar’s operetta Tsarevitch have been performed during tours across Germany, France, Austria, Holland and Switzerland.
Ms. Holl made her North American debut in Gala Benefit Concert at the Ford Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto. She sung for the performances of the “Salute to Vienna” Concert Series where she appeared with Jerry Hadley. Ms. Holl had a great success at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver and at the Boettcher Concert Hall in Denver. She performed in concerts at the Arlene Schnitzer Hall in Portland, Oregon, the Cerritos Centre in Los Angeles, the Copley Symphony Hall in San Diego and the Chrysler Theatre in Windsor with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. She sang Tatiana in Yevgeny Onegin at CBC Glenn Gould Studio.

Oxana Samokhina, BA, MA - Piano

Oxana has eleven years of experience working in music schools, colleges
and conservatories with children, adolescents and adults. She has
taught classes in piano performance, piano duet and concertmaster.
Oxana prepares students for participation in piano concerts, competitions and festivals, and has performed as an accompanist to a diversity of instrumentalists, singers and choirs. She easily connects with every student in order to interest and involve them to the full
extent in music creation.

Josephine Juaneza - Music Teacher for Young Children

Josephine is a mother of three kids who has recently passed her Grade 10 RCM practical exam. She is currently taking up Elementary and Intermediate pedagogy under the tutelage of the very well-respected and multi-awarded musician and adjudicator, Ms. Ella Poret. Josephine was taught piano from a very young age and comes from a music-loving family. She brings with her a genuine love for music and teaches children with warmth, care and attention to detail. She teaches privately out of her home. Josephine is also a teacher of the popular program called, "Music For Young Children" - a child-centered music learning program that incorporates keyboard, rhythmn, creative movement and other fundamental music skills.

Daria Bukhman, MA Vocal

Daria Bukhman is an opera singer and a teacher of vocal. She has Master Degree in History of Arts and Musical Education from Saratov State Institute of Pedagogical Education and Bachelor Degree in Opera Singing from Saratov State Conservatory. Since 2001 to 2005 she worked at Saratov State Operetta Theater ( she started as a chorus member and after a year became a soloist). During her studying at Conservatory Daria was a member of Opera Studio and participated in different opera performances. Also she sang in many recitals.
Daria is experienced vocal teacher with strong knowledge in History of Music. Her students participated in many vocal competitions and were awarded.

Jason Lee, ARCT Violin, ARCT Piano

Jason Lee started taking piano lessons at the age of 4. By age 13, he has completed the final level of the Royal Conservative of Music practical examination in piano. Jason was granted The Diploma of Associate of the Royal Conservative of Music (ARCT) Piano Performer in Jan, 2008. He started playing the violin when I was in Grade 7 and I will be completing my ARCT Violin Performer examination in January of 2010.

Jason Lee has attended various competitions where he have won first place medals and awards in both piano & violin. In 2007, Jason won the American Guild of Music 106th National Competition All-Around Violin Trophy and the Concerto Senior Division Violin Championship as well as the North American Age Achievement Final Championship Trophy on violin. In 2008, he won the American Guild of Music 107th National Competition North America Invitational Championship Finals in Violin. Currently, Jason is a member of the Ontario Cross-Culture Music Society Youth Symphony Orchestra and also play in their Philharmonic Orchestra. He has some experience in teaching music in Coledale Public School through the co-op education program.

Kirill Fondler - Composition

Kirill is an active Toronto musician and artist educator. He graduated Samuel Rubin Academy of Music as a Piano Performer. He writes music and designs sound effects, theater, radio programs and film. His works are used in production in North America and China. He has created original scores that were performed by Running River Orchestra in Toronto Equity Showcase Theater, 2006. His compositions are also played as a part of children and youth performances in Toronto community theaters.

He has performed with the Canadian singer-songwriter, children’s performer and visual artist Jack Grunsky (www.jackgrunsky.com) – multiple JUNO and all of the most prestigious awards winner in children's media both in Canada and the US.

Kirill Fondler’s Specialties: Keyboard, Music Composition & Sound Design / Audio Engineering.

Henry Ban - Piano

University of Toronto, Piano Performance. Henry is teaching class piano for beginner and intermideate level.