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M. Riccardo "Leónida" Boeretto - VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO

M. Riccardo "Leónida" Boeretto received the Bachelor Degree in Violin at the prestigious "B. Marcello" Conservatory of Music in Venice (Italy) and was immediately active as a violinist, solo violinist, and concert master in various orchestras and chamber ensembles.

In 2005 began his career as conductor at the same time as the creation of the Veneto Philharmonic Orchestra in which he was the Artistic Director and the Conductor until 2019. With the same organization he organized and produced courses and master classes for young musicians and opera singers with the aim of creating activities and opportunities for the training of new generations, collaborating with important artistic institutions such as the Fondazione Teatro la Fenice in Venice (Italy).

He has also collaborated with some of the most important music schools in Venice (Italy). Thanks to his experience as a musician and as a music teacher and trainer, he has developed a personal musical educational path in which the main characteristics are the joy of making music, expressiveness and interpretation also through the promotion and organization of ensemble music for young musicians.


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ELENA BOWES - Piano

Elena Bowes was born and raised in Russia where she studied at the Zheleznodorozhniy Music School in Moscow for seven years. She currently holds a MBA degree from Moscow and a Bachelor’s degree in piano from the University of New Orleans. For the last fifteen years, she has been instructing students of all ages and levels in piano. She can assess student’s skills and musical knowledge during the initial meeting and provide appropriate instruction in music theory and instrument technique so that students can progress toward their musical goals. Elena Bowes actively participates in recitals, concerts, and works with several music directors in religious organizations in the area. She is a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Music Teachers National Association.

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Vickie Dinh - PIANO

Victoria “Vickie” Dinh is a Marrero, LA native. After graduating from the Academy of Our Lady high school, Vickie briefly studied radiology at Holy Cross college before realizing that she could not ignore her true passion: Music. She then went on to earn her BA in Music Studies from the University of New Orleans in 2019 after completing a senior piano recital featuring pieces by Mozart, Chopin, Debussy and more.

Vickie has been around music since a young age. She was a part of the Chim Non “Young Birds” group at Mary the Assumption Church where she learned to read and write music. The group had many opportunities to perform during special holidays throughout the year. Eventually, Vickie started taking piano lessons at the age of seven. By the time she was eleven, she was accompanying masses with her dad. Currently, she is the accompanist at Saint Joachim church where she started the youth choir and at Saint Lê Thị Thành church.

Vickie understands that students are busier than ever and while practicing at home is still an important aspect to learning any instrument or skill, Vickie creates an environment where students can thrive at their own pace. She believes in building a welcoming space for students to express their creativity.

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Jing Gao - Piano, Voice

Jing Gao, a Chinese doctoral student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, brings decades of training in voice and piano, coupled with fifteen years of teaching experience. She has developed a piano pedagogy focusing on high-finger and arm-weight techniques, aiming to make piano playing effortless with better note control. With a decade of voice training and three years of teaching, Gao prioritizes building students' interest in singing, employing a "strength to strength" approach. She integrates the Italian Bel Canto technique with modern anatomy for efficient voice learning, focusing on tension release. Jing recently performed in the American Guild of Organists recital on November 20, 2023.

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Dr Candice Holley - Piano

Dr. Candice Holley, a native of Louisiana, began piano lessons at the age of three. Candice earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies and Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of New Orleans, where she graduated magna cum laude and summa cum laude, respectively. In 2019, she completed her Ph.D. in Fine Arts with a concentration in Musicology from Texas Tech University. Her dissertation, which contains over 600 pages, won the Outstanding Dissertation Award in the categories of Humanities and Fine Arts. Dr. Holley has served as a both private piano instructor and music history faculty member at Delgado Community College and the University of New Orleans. In addition to her academic pursuits, she trained as a professional ballerina, served as a classical ballet instructor and is a certified Pilates instructor.

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DR CHIA-HSING LIN - Piano

Dr. Chia-Hsing Lin has received his Doctor of Musical Arts from University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music. Currently, he is a piano instructor at Lafargue Music School and a Piano Faculty member at the University of New Orleans Music Department.

Dr. Lin is the winner of the International Arlington Competition, the OMTA Piano competition, the Taipei Philharmonic Piano Competition, the First Taiwan Concerto Competition, and the Taiwan National Piano Competitions.

Dr. Lin’s performance activities include Moisés Kaufman's"33 Variations", a Broadway Hit and recipient of 2014 New Orleans Big Easy Awards. In addition, a fundraising concert for Blackwater Methodist Church Choir to perform at the Lincoln Center in New York, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art performance, French Quarter Festival, Bach Around the Clock Marathon Concert at Trinity Church, the Saint Louis Cathedral performance, Deutsches Haus performance, Snug Harbor performance, WWLTV (CBS affiliates) performance, an opening concert of the autumn season in the Arlington Philharmonic Concert Series, Music 2007 Festival, Grandin Festivals, Chicago Flute Club Competition, Indiana State University 43rd Contemporary Music festival (Midwest premier of a new Piano Concerto by Judith L. Zaimont, Composer and Guggenheim Fellowship Recipient), 2011 CCM Bassoon Concerto Competitions as well as the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, broadcast live on WFMT. He has performed as soloist with the Central Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing, the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, the Taiwan National Symphony Orchestra, the National Institute of the Arts Chamber Orchestra, the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra, and Indiana State University Music Band.

As an advocate of contemporary music, Dr. Lin has collaborated on both chamber and vocal works by Samuel Zyman, Christopher Mayo, Michael Ippolito, Laurie Anderson, Lee Hoiby, Jake Heggie, and others. In 2006, he was recognized as the best accompanist in the Grandin Festival. He has performed in master classes for leading musicians such as Alan Chow, Barry Snyder, James Tocco, Les Noumov, William Winstead, Kenneth Griffiths, Donna Loewy, Warren Jones, Jake Heggie, and Sergio Fiorentino. His past teachers include Sung-Jen Hsu (A renowned conductor, pianist and musicologist in Taiwan), Mei-Ling Wang, Boris Lvov, Sergio Fiorentino, William Black, and Frank Weinstock (2010-2011, Dean of University of Cincinnati, CCM).

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DYLAN TORRANCE - GUITAR, UKULELE, PIANO

Dylan Torrance is originally from the surrounding New Orleans area. He attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) where he studied with New Orleans greats such as Michael Pellera, Jason Marsalis, Michael Rihner, and Chris Severin. Dylan received his Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance at the University of New Orleans. He studied with guitarists Steve Masakowski, Brian Seeger, and Hank Mackie. While attending UNO, Dylan also took instruction on guitar and piano from other great musicians such as Ed Petersen, Victor Atkins, Brent Rose, and many guest artists including Peter Bernstein, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Lionel Loueke, Ron Carter, and many more.

Currently Dylan plays around New Orleans in many different groups including Tyler Kinchen and the RIght Pieces, Hector Gallardo's Cuban Jazz Trio, Fraulein Francis' Orchestra, various jazz ensembles, solo jazz guitar settings and more. His students have performed in a wide variety of settings that range from jazz ensembles, classical recitals, rock shows, blues jams, and many others.


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Hunali Shohe - PIANO

Hunali Shohe was born and raised in India, where she received her Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from Margaret Shishak School of Music. While still in school, Hunali taught piano and was the pianist for the school choir which won several national inter-school choir competitions. Following her graduation, Hunali become an accompanist and a piano tutor at Mehli Mehta Music Foundation in Mumbai. There she had the opportunity to collaborate with musicians from across the globe in different genres and context. Hunali's teaching experience in New Delhi catered to both national and international audiences. She believes there is no specific age to begin learning an instrument, as she has taught both young and older keen students. Hunali incorporates both creative and technical elements in her teaching method and tries to implement and encourage the importance of efficient practice in her class. Hunali is currently undergoing her Masters of Music in Church Music with a concentration in Piano Performance at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.



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Linden Uter - Voice, Piano

With a Master's in Vocal Performance and Minor in Piano Performance, Linden enjoys teaching young children and helping people of all ages find their musical potential! Linden is also the music coordinator and organist at St. Francis Xavier Church in Old Metairie. Since her move to New Orleans in 2015, she has been singing and providing accompaniment for weddings and funerals all over New Orleans. On her off time, you might see her in curls and dressed in 1940's military wear, performing as a Victory Belle for the National World War II Museum!

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Joy Valui - Piano

Joy was born and raised in North East India. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a minor in Piano from Patkai Christian College in India, and a Master of Music in Church Music Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans. She began playing the piano at a young age and was the pianist at her local church in India for several years. Joy has given piano lessons to students of different ages for many years now. She enjoys teaching her students the fundamentals of music and believes music education is vital in the all-round development of an individual.

Joy moved to New Orleans in 2015 and serves as a pianist and worship leader at a church in Uptown New Orleans. She is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary under the supervision of Dr. Ed Steele and Dr. Michael Sharp. Her area of focus is in Ethnodoxological Studies.