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, “Kocian 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.
Chen Yihong began to study violin since 5 years old in China. She won several awards in various competitions. She obtained her Grade 8 certification of All-China Grade Examination of Instrumental Playing at age 15. One year later, she attained the Grade 9 certification in Violin from the Grading Committee of China Conservatory of Music.
In 2003, she joined the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) Diploma course under the tutelage of Tan Peng Tow. She was awarded a Diploma in Music in 2006 and Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Music at NAFA in 2007. Bachelor with Honors in Music majoring in violin with specializations in Music History, Contemporary Music and Instrumental Teaching. Yihong has participated in various performances as an orchestra player during her years in NAFA. Including concerts with world-renowned violinist Lee Hui Min in 2003 and male-soprano Michael Miniaci in 2004 at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
Upon graduation, Yihong dedicates herself to violin pedagogy in well-known music schools. She has shared her skills and performing experience during the years of teaching violin. Under her guidance, students joined string ensemble, mini concerts and annual student’s concerts.
With vast professional performing experience she’s both a soloist, chamber musician and Orchestra player.
Chooi Jing Yen started playing the violin at the age of 8. He obtained his ABRSM Grade 8 certification in 2007. Thereafter, he began his career as a violin teacher by offering lessons to young children in his neighborhood.
Under the guidance of Mr Darin Varbanov, Jing Yen went on to complete his ABRSM Diploma in Instrumental Teaching (Violin), which he obtained in 2010. He has studied the methods used by notable 20th century violin teachers, including Carl Flesch and Ivan Galamian. His teaching philosophy places an emphasis on strong fundamentals, favoring long-term goals over short-term achievements.
Jing Yen played with the Anglo-Chinese Junior College String Ensemble from 2007-2008, which included performances at venues such as the Victoria Concert Hall and the Esplanade.
An avid musician, Jing Yen also plays the classical guitar in his free time.
Christina Xinxue Zhou started violin at the age of 4 under Sui Yuelong, and later, under Zhang Zhen Shan, Principal second violins of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. She obtained her ABRSM Grade 8 certificates in violin and piano at the age of 10 and 11, respectively. In 2001, Christina won the third prize in the violin junior category of the National Violin and Piano Competition in Singapore. In 2007, Christina was accepted into the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York, studying violin under Distinguished Professor Zvi Zeitlin, who is a student of Louis Persinger, Sacha Jacobsen, and Ivan Galamian. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music (with distinction) from the Eastman School of Music at the age of 21.
During her study at Eastman, Christina performed a wide range of chamber and orchestra repertoire. She has served as Concertmistress and Principal second violins of the many different Eastman school ensembles. In 2009, she won the concerto competition and gave her debut concert with the school orchestra at Eastman Theatre.
Christina has attended prestigious summer festivals, such as Bowdoin International Music Festival in 2008, where she studied under Sergiu Schwartz and the Music Academy of the West (MAW) in Santa Barbara during 2009–2011. Christina has been a fellow of MAW under Zvi Zeitlin for 3 consecutive years, where she played in the Festival Orchestra, Academy Opera, and Chamber Orchestra under the baton of many well-known conductors. She has also served as Principal second violins in the Academy Festival Orchestra and performed in a faculty concert. Her chamber experience includes performing in masterclasses and concerts. She was also a mentor and teacher for 2 summers at MAW for the Merit Program, teaching and coaching music ensembles with children between ages 7–18.
Upon graduation in 2011, Christina came back to Singapore, where she has played with OMM (Orchestra for the Music Makers) with conductor Christopher Adey and pianist Albert Tiu, and TPO (The Philharmonic Orchestra) under Lim Yau. She is currently playing in the Singapore Festival Orchestra and Singapore Lyric Opera orchestra, performing in various concerts at the Esplanade Concert Hall.
Eva Lin Chun Yi began learning piano at the age of 7 and cello at the age of 9. She obtained ABRSM Grade 8 piano and high distinction in cello at her last year in secondary school. She immediately joined Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) upon graduation from secondary school. She obtained Diploma in Music
Performance Cello Major in 2010.
She has been performing in all kinds of ensembles and chambers ever since she started learning the cello. She was also the assistant principal cellist and sectional leader in secondary school string ensemble. She has also more than four years of Symphony Orchestra experience and has played with The Philharmonic Orchestra regularly in Singapore; participated in a few big projects such as Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro, Mendtelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Handel’s Messiah in the Esplanade Concert Hall and Theatre.
She is currently playing in the NAFA orchestra as an alumna. Apart from performing, she had more than five years of teaching experience, including more than two years of teaching experience in schools as a cello teacher. She had been trained professionally to conduct string ensembles and to coach young children as musicians as well. She is also a freelance
performing cellist, and also appointed in the German-European School as the string ensemble instructor, Instrumental Programme tutor and cello consultant for teaching young children.
Erina Seah started learning piano at the age of 5 and has been exposed to many playing and singing performances in school and church. Singing in church has molded her passion for singing. After her graduation from secondary school, she joined Lasalle College of the Arts and took majored in Jazz vocals. She graduated with a Diploma in Jazz Music Performance Voice Major in 2010.
She is exposed not only to Jazz music, but also to Pop, Broadway, R&B, Gospel and Funk. She is versatile and has many performing experience. She has performed at the Esplanade in a trio and is a regular singer at 15 Minutes Café. She was commissioned by the embassy of the United States of America to perform the Singapore national anthem at Ritz Carlton Hotel to commemorate Independence Day in July 2009. In March 2011, she was featured in a musical play, “More Than A Woman” to celebrate International Woman’s Day for NTUC at Suntec.
Erina believes in the importance of proper singing techniques and maximizing the students' potential as a singer and a performer. She has 2 years of teaching experience teaching students from a young tender age of 10 to adults.
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 Girginov 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.
Zufar Shagimardanov was born in 1965 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and started to learn the flute when he was 11, in the Republic Specialised Music School, in Tashkent. When he was 17, he won the Uzbekistan Republic Music Competition which was for students of specialised music schools and musical colleges. Upon completion of the study at the school, he entered the Tashkent State Conservatory. During his study, he was accepted as a part-time flutist to the National Symphony Orchestra in Tashkent. During his time in the conservatory, he won the 2nd prize in the music competition among students of music conservatories in Central Asia, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
After graduation from the conservatory in 1990, he started teaching flute, and performed occasionally. Then he worked in the Uzbek President's Military Band, whilst continuing to teach in the Uspenky Music School. In 1995, he performed as a soloist in the concert, performing Bach Suite no 2 and Mozart Flute Concerto with the Uzbekistan National Symphony Orchestra; and had recorded a flute concerto with the Chamber Orchestra of the Uzbekistan National TV and Radio Company. In 1997 he had returned to the National Symphony Orchestra. In 1998 he performed in the International Festival of Contemporary Music, in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. In December 1998 he came to work and live to Singapore. Since then, he has been teaching in private music schools and performed at several occasions.
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