Mr. Darin Varbanov graduated as a violinist from The State Musical Academy-Sofia, Bulgaria in 1991 with a Master of Arts, under Prof. Anton Hadjiatanasov. For the next 12 years, he worked as a violin teacher at The National School of Music-Sofia, Bulgaria. Studying and working at both of these institutions has provided him with opportunities to gain and enhance his professional experience, which enabled him to perform as a violinist, since 1978 till now, in many concerts - solo recitals, chamber music concerts and orchestras in
different cities in Bulgaria, Greece, Germany, England, Singapore and Thailand.
Darin Varbanov has acquired extensive experience and possesses a wide repertoire as a violin player.Additionally, he has enriched his qualifications in the area of chamber music. In 1997, he completed a two year Chamber Music Master Class under Prof. Maia Patroneva - at The State Academy of Music “Pancho Vladigerov” - Sofia, Bulgaria.
In 1997,his name was listedin the first edition of “Who’s Who in Bulgaria”
Darin Varbanov worked as a violin teacher at The National School of Music “Lubomir Pipkov”, Sofia, Bulgaria, for 12 years, where, he was responsible for the organization and production of more than one hundred students’ concerts, which included recitals, orchestra soloists, chamber music and appearances. Moreover, he assisted Lubomir Baharov in teaching the violin at his Private Violin Studio. During this time, he prepared violin students to compete in different violin competitions in Europe, as “Klassisk Musikkonkurrence” - Copenhagen, Denmark, “Kozian International Violin Competition”, Czech Republic, Young Music Talents - Sofia, Bulgaria. He was a co-organizer of The National Contest for children violinists – Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria from 1993 till 1996. Some of his students participated in the following music festivals- The 1st (1993) and The 2nd (1994) “Orpheus International Music Festival”– Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria, The International Music Festival “Varna Summer” – Bulgaria.
In 2003 Darin Varbanov was appointed violin teacher at Seimpi School of Music, Singapore, where he set up and taught violin classes till October 2006. Additionally, he has been teaching violin classes for young children at Queenstown and Alexandra Childcare Centres, since June 2003.
In October 2006, he established his own Violin Art Studio, which was registered as a school of music with MOE in November 2008 and named MUSICAL ART STUDIO. Darin Varbanov is a Violin Teacher (Adjunct) at the School of the Arts, Singapore since January 2008.
Mr. Matthias Oestringer graduated from the “Akademie fur Tonkunst” Darmstadt (Germany), with a higher performance degree (Kunstlerische Reiferufung). He has taken master and chamber music classes with his teachers Miss Dorothee Birke, Michael Hahn, Prof. Rainer Hoffmann, Matthias Graff-Schestag, Lavard Skou Larsen and Prof. Valery Gradow. In 1991 Matthias was first prize winner in a German National Youth Competition. He was appointed concertmaster in the University’s Symphony Orchestra and appeared with it as a
soloist in the final concert to the celebrations of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 250 Birthday in 1999 in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
In 2001 and 2002 Matthias was guest player (violist) with the “Ensemble Carolina”, performing Mozart’s Piano Quartets in several concert halls in Germany.
Since 1996 he has given many concerts and solo recitals in Poland (with a series of concerts of W.A. Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante on the Viola), France, Germany, Switzerland and Turkey.
Matthias regularly participated in “Tage fur Neue Musik” (Festival for Contemporary Music) in Darmstadt, where he was active in performing and premiering music. In 1999, the composer Gordon Kampe wrote the piece “Echarde” for solo violin for Matthias, which he performed during his graduation concert in 2000. He often appeared with his wife, a Singaporean pianist.
From 1996 to 2002 he was a violinist and violist in the “Taunus-String-Orchestra” (Frankfurt/Main, Germany), appearing with it in 1997 as a soloist in Paris, performing Antonio Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The “Four Seasons”.
Matthias’ teaching career started in 1993. After graduation in February 2000, he was lecturer at the “Emmerich-Smola Musikschule”, Kaiserslautern, Germany.
After settling down in Singapore in 2002, Matthias continues to perform as soloist, in chamber music groups (Oxley Quartet, Viola) and as an orchestra player with SLO.
Since teaching in Singapore, Matthias brought many students from the beginning of learning the Violin to an advanced level of music making. Several of his students were invited to play at the “High Scores Concert”, organized by ABRSM/ Singapore.
In 2006 Matthias received the Cristofori Teacher Award for his dedicated and successful teaching.
Maya Nova is an accomplished jazz vocalist from Bulgaria who has extensively toured around Europe and Asia. Maya moved to Singapore in 2002 and has held residencies at hot night spots and jazz aficionado clubs. A familiar face in the live music scene, Maya continuously performs at concerts, festivals and corporate events around the region. Singapore’s Mosaic Music festival and BMW’s “World of Fascination” being examples that repeatedly feature her sultry voice.
Currently Maya is found in the studio working on a project in collaboration with guitarist and composer Rick Smith. The anticipated debut album will play host to only original tunes and will feature some of the finest musicians from the region.
Maya’s music comes from the jazz standards tradition and improvisation. She does however integrate some mix of bossa nova tunes, 70ties soul and R&B and contemporary classics in her repertoire, always inducing them with her unique way of improvisational attitude and storytelling. She is currently holding the position of an Adjunct Voice Lecturer at LaSalle College of The Arts.
WHAT MAYA SAYS ABOUT HER TEACHING METHOD
My passion in “voice capabilities” led me to introduce myself to numerous contemporary vocal techniques and pursue teaching to further expand my development as a vocalist and musician.As I have struggled myself with tension and limited range in the early stages of my performance career, I have become very passionate about introducing proper and healthy vocal technique to my students. True love for singing and expressing someone’s “soul” is a big drive for any performer, but can be frustrating, when lacking a well build instrument.
Through a special set of exercises I concentrate of connecting the vocal registers when keeping the larynx relaxed and stable. Making adjustments in the “breath flow” when needed to ensure that the vocal folds can do the proper transitions without interference from the outer muscles when singing through bridges – the entire vocal range. The important aspect for me is the balance between stable larynx and relaxed breath flow, thus this brings the freedom for greater resonance awareness and expression. Some of the contemporary vocal technique I truly appreciate are: Speech Level Singing Technique (SLS) created by the renowned US instructor Seth Riggs, Berkley College of Music Guides, Approach, Singing Success.
My knowledge in the field of jazz and pop music styles gives me the right tools in coaching students who would like to pursue contemporary music.
Piano improvisation, composition, and arranging are how Isaiah conceptualizes musical theory. To him, music theory is an integral component of music performance, allowing one to further discover the composer’s intent, thus playing with educated interpretation.
Isaiah Koh attained a Bachelors of Music (magna cum laude) in Composition from Taylor University (USA). As an undergraduate, Isaiah was already tasked to tutor fellow students in music theory.
He became the Director of Music at LeTourneau University, directing the college’s choir and jazz band. It was at this juncture that Isaiah developed an immense interest in choral works, having arranged and composed several for his choir. A classically trained pianist, Isaiah is intrigued by the intricacies of jazz harmonies, thus often experimenting them on church hymns.
Isaiah also believes in the integration of ear training in music theory for the application of music theoretical understanding in daily practices.
Elena Metodieva is a Bulgarian pianist, who graduated from The State Academy of Music, Sofia, Bulgaria, with a Master Degree in Piano. After graduation, she held the position of Assistant Professor in chamber music and piano at The State Academy of Music and The National Academy of Theatre and Cinema in Sofia, Bulgaria.
She has expanded her expertise by completing a two year Master Class in chamber music at The State Academy of Music, Sofia.
Furthermore, in 1999, she again participated in a Master Class which was dedicated to French Music and conducted by Jermain Mounie.
From an early age, Elena has participated in many concerts, playing in chamber music ensembles and performing as a soloist in both her own recitals and as a guest soloist with orchestras in many cities in Bulgaria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Singapore and Thailand. She has also performed in recording sessions for The Bulgarian National Radio and Television, and for Radio Berlin. In 2007 Elena performed as a soloist the Concerto for left hand by M. Ravel with Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra (Singapore) at Victoria Concert hall.
Moreover, Elena has composed music for puppet shows, which were presented in Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Germany, Romania, Moldova and Spain. For some of these puppet shows, her compositions were awarded prizes.
Elena Metodieva has been teaching Piano in Singapore since 2006.
Currently, she is a Piano teacher at Musical Art Studio and the School of the Arts.
Zhivko received his secondary education at The National High School of Music “Dobrin Petkov”, Plovdiv, Bulgaria under the noted Bulgarian pianist Julia Girginova, who was a student of Lyuba Encheva (a student of Marcel Ciampi and Edwin Fisher).
He graduated with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Piano Performance and Musical Pedagogy from The Academy of Music and Dance Art – Plovdiv, under the renowned Bulgarian pianists – Prof. Todor Kyuvliev. Moreover, Zhivko was one of the quite a few private students of professor PhD Penka Mincheva
who is the only author of all Bulgarian manuals for solfege, music theory and methodology of musical education. He was conferred his degree “With distinction” from the Academy.
Zhivko’s creative headway further developed simultaneously in two main realms – music and visual arts, often merging them into an organic entity being a Cinematographer of many music videos, a lot of TV nation-wide broadcast concerts and of several feature movies.
He has been teaching the Piano all along for the last 10 years and this has given him the opportunity to introduce many others to the magic of the Music. Playing Piano should be a joy and he always tries to help his pupils to overcome the boredom of practicing and really feel satisfied with their music studies. Zhivko flees away from the routine, attempts to create new teaching knacks and to approach to every student individually. His ability to draw out the precision and emotion of the music has resulted in his piano students being prizewinners of many international competitions.
Apart from his Bachelor degree in Piano, Zhivko has obtained qualification as a Music Teacher in Kindergartens during his studies. The course Kids’ Musicianship at Musical Art Studio conducted by him, introduces the most essential musical components to young children (3-4 years old) in order to prepare them for further Instrumental Course.
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