Our Piano Teachers

Victoria was born into an artistic family where her father was an art critic and her mother was an artist. Along with the other arts, she was exposed to music, and at a very early age, she fell in love with music the most. She played many instruments, including flute, piccolo, and guitar, but she always returned to the piano. From the beginning of her adolescence, she knew that she wanted to be a musician. She was fortunate to have many good teachers and was eager to learn from all of them.

At the age of 18, Victoria clearly understood that she was passionate about children and their development, so it was very natural to combine this with her love of music and become a music teacher. Being the mother of eight children herself has given her the incredible ability to understand children and their needs. She has a unique way of connecting with each one of them and opening up their horizons with music.

Victoria feels lucky to be able to work closely with Tamriko Siprashvili at Inspire Academy and shares her passion and inspiration that help students to achieve musical success.

Debbie Boyden

My goals in teaching are to develop both sides of the child's brain in a loving and nurturing environment. Music is a powerful tool to foster logical thinking in tandem with creative expression. Developing both sides of the brain in children is what creates successful and happy people. Most importantly, what brings me the most joy is to plant a seed in children that instills in them the love of music.

Debbie was introduced to music at the age of seven. She fell in love with music from the beginning and took her studies seriously because she found that music fed both her analytic side and her creative side. She studied music with some of the best teachers in the Chicago area, including Vladimir Leyetchkiss. She studied at both Valparaiso University and Purdue University. Early in her career she discovered her love of music could be combined with her love for children. She has 35 years of teaching experience, with several of her students becoming teachers themselves.

Thomasin Dewhurst

With a dual background in art and music education, I believe in the power of creative problem-solving to overcome individual challenges. Recognizing that each student has a unique relationship with music, I approach teaching as a collaborative effort, fostering an environment of patience, kindness, and open communication. By encouraging students to express their ideas and concerns, I work closely with them to develop solutions and refine their musical expression. The ultimate goal is to help every student discover the joy of making music in a way that is personal and meaningful to them.

Thomasin Dewhurst has been a dedicated piano teacher for over fifteen years, inspiring both children and adults in their musical journeys. Beginning formal piano training at the age of nine, Thomasin has achieved advanced qualifications through the MTAC Certificate of Merit program (State Honors) and Trinity College of Music, London (with Merit). Additionally, Thomasin holds a Master’s Degree in Art and Art History (with distinction) and has a rich background in teaching art and leading youth in community public art projects throughout the Tri-Valley. An active member of the Valley Concert Chorale and the Livermore Commission for the Arts, Thomasin brings a wealth of experience in solo piano performance, accompaniment for solo instrumentalists, and collaboration with youth jazz groups. Thomasin is thrilled to be part of the teaching faculty at Inspire Academy.

Joshua Hart

My goal as a teacher is to inspire a passion for music in my students, and to help them reach their fullest potential. I believe that music develops invaluable skills, such as logic, coordination, focus, and perseverance, that will help students in all aspects of life. In my teaching, I strive to give my students knowledge, technique, and skills necessary to become fluent musicians, and to help them towards discovering their unique musical identity.

Joshua began taking piano lessons at age five, studying for several years with Tamriko Siprashvili. He won several solo piano competitions while studying with Tamriko, including top prizes at the FSO’s Young Recitalist Competition, the Liszt Festival’s Young Artist audition, and 2nd prize at the CMTA’s U.S. International Music Competition. He also completed the MTAC’s Certificate of Merit program with Panel Honors in 2016. After finishing high school, he continued his musical education at the Eastman School of Music, studying with Alan Chow to earn his Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance.

Along with his training in solo piano performance, Joshua has extensive accompanying experience, having accompanied numerous instrumentalists and singers of all ages. He also has experience in chamber music, piano ensembles, choral and musical theater accompanying, composition, and choral singing. As a teacher, Joshua has taught both individual and group lessons at Inspire Academy

Sookyung KoSwanson

I am a strong believer of “enjoyment of music above all things considered.”  Unless you enjoy the music you are singing, listening, expressing or discussing then I think you are doing injustice to the music itself.  It is the attitude I have embraced toward music all my life that I hope it will have a tremendous contagion effect to all of my students.  

Soo is very excited to be teaching piano to our youngest students in the Little Mozarts program.

Joseph Nazareno

Music has the power to inspire personal growth, creativity, and connection. It provides a space for expression, mental flow, and skill development, sharpening both dexterity and emotional intelligence. I believe that learning music enhances the ability to learn quickly, communicate effectively, and empathize deeply. Most importantly, music offers an endless journey of growth and self-discovery. My goal as a teacher is to help students develop their own unique relationship with music while fostering creativity, confidence, and enjoyment along the way.

Joseph began his piano journey at age six, receiving a decade of classical training before expanding his repertoire to include jazz and R&B. He participated in the National Guild of Piano Teachers for eight years and has four years of teaching experience. His musical accomplishments include performing at Carnegie Hall, showcasing music at the Midwest Clinic for Composers in Chicago, and serving as the lead conductor of Amador Valley High School's marching band. Joseph recently graduated from the University of Washington with a minor in Music. His deep passion for music has led him to explore composition, which he sees as both a creative outlet and a way to challenge his musical abilities.

Christine Tay

To me, music connects with our body, mind and emotion in mysterious ways. A beautiful piece of music can speak profoundly to our hearts. Classical music, especially, transcends language, culture and time. Learning to play a musical instrument well requires focus, discipline, and patience. It fosters expression of thoughts and emotion. These qualities all reflect many of the life skills we want our children to build.

My goal is to help students discover the joy of music, improve their own ability, and to gain confidence through their accomplishments. I look forward to being a part of your child's musical journey, just as my teachers have been to mine.

Christine was born in Hong Kong. Her mother taught music at an elementary school. She began formal piano lessons at age six. She was involved and was awarded with high achievement by the Associated Board of The Royal Schools of Music. During most of Christine's school years she competed in the annual Hong Kong Schools Music Festival, as solo and duo pianist, and won several awards. She has been under Tamriko Siprashvili's coaching for years. In addition, she is an accomplished accompanist.

Joshua Umaña

I believe that a student can tell when their teacher loves the subject they’re teaching, and it really can make all the difference. My goal is that my love for music can transmit through my teaching to my students, to keep them engaged, and help them to understand the importance of music in our lives.

Joshua was born on the East Coast and lived in several states across the country, but he always felt most at home when seated at a piano. From the age of six when he first began taking piano lessons, Joshua fell in love with music, and it was the one constant wherever he went.

At age 17 after graduating high school, Joshua moved to the Bay Area to pursue music as his full-time passion. Joshua is currently majoring in Piano Performance at Ohlone College. Recently he has performed concerts and recitals in the Bay Area and is delighted to be teaching at Inspire Academy.

Shreyas Verma

My goal as a teacher is to help students develop not only a solid technical foundation but also a genuine love and appreciation for music. While not every student may choose to pursue music as a career, I believe that learning to play the piano is an invaluable skill that fosters creativity, discipline, and self-expression.

Music has the power to communicate emotions in ways words cannot, and I hope to guide my students in discovering the joy of musical expression. It brings me great pride to be a part of each student’s unique journey, helping them build confidence and a deeper connection to the music they play.

Shreyas Verma began his musical journey at the age of seven and quickly developed a deep passion for the piano. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at San Jose State University, where he studies under Namiq Sultanov.

Throughout his studies, Shreyas has been particularly drawn to the expressive and virtuosic works of Romantic-era composers, especially Chopin and Rachmaninoff. His dedication and artistry have earned him recognition in numerous piano competitions, including the United States Open Music Competition and the American Protege Competition of Romantic Music.

Most recently, Shreyas participated in the Art of the Piano Music Festival in San Francisco, where he had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses with renowned pianists Vladimir Feltsman and Marina Lomazov.

Jessie Ku

I believe music is a universal language that speaks beyond words—and because of this, music is truly for everyone. Regardless of age, ability, or life experience, every child deserves meaningful access to music as a source of joy, confidence, and self-expression.

As both a music therapist and piano teacher, I am deeply committed to creating a nurturing and encouraging learning environment where each student feels seen, supported, and successful. I meet every child where they are, approaching lessons with patience, flexibility, and creativity while honoring their individual strengths, needs, and learning style.

Jessie Ku is a board-certified music therapist with a master’s degree in Music Therapy from NYU and a bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance, bringing extensive experience working with children, adults, and older adults across a wide range of clinical and educational settings. This broad experience allows Jessie to thoughtfully tailor music therapy interventions and piano instruction to meet each individual’s emotional, cognitive, social, and physical needs. In addition to her clinical work, she teaches piano to children and adults of all levels, including adapted lessons for students with diverse learning needs. Jessie is also an accomplished author and international presenter, with publications in Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy and Music and Medicine, and presentations at conferences worldwide, including in Berlin, Germany, reflecting her ongoing commitment to excellence in music education and music therapy.