Meet the passionate instructors who bring artistry, discipline, and inspiration to every class.
Instructor
Tianlin Xu is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and jazz artist who blends contemporary, R&B, and improvisational styles in both performance and teaching.
Instructor
An-Chi Lin is a Taiwanese violinist and music educator with a DMA from Boston University and over six years of experience teaching violin to students of all ages.
Instructor
Dane Bennett is a Boston-based oboist and K–8 music educator with an MM from NEC, where he was a Presidential Distinction recipient and active ensemble performer.
Instructor
Bota Chen is a Berklee-trained jazz drummer who blends modern rock influences with creative improvisation while helping students build strong rhythmic skills and musical confidence.
Instructor
Elena Winell is a composer and versatile music educator who teaches piano and voice in multiple styles, as well as rock and jazz guitar.
Instructor
As a guitarist, music producer, composer, and educator, Yixin Zhang is passionate about helping students discover their unique musical voice and personal expression.
Instructor
Yueyang (William) Shi is a percussionist, composer, and music educator who loves helping students grow as creative, confident musicians. With his conservatory training, hehas led music projects and performances across the U.S. and China, fostering a truly global perspective. He is the director of music and arts at Mass Island. He also held the title of Artistic Director for the Beijing Rotary Marching Percussion ensemble. He primarily teaches in the metro-Boston region.In his teaching, William emphasizes strong rhythmic foundations, musical sensitivity, and ensemble awareness. He works with students of all ages and levels, tailoring his approach to support both technical development and artistic expression. Drawing from his diverse performance and educational background, he integrates classical percussion, contemporary techniques, and collaborative music-making into his lessons. William is dedicated to creating an encouraging learning environment where students feel motivated to explore, perform, and grow through music.
Instructor
Troy Caruana is a Boston-based music instructor and professional multi-instrumentalist with over 15 years of teaching and performing experience. He works with students of all ages, designing lessons tailored to each student’s goals, interests, and level. Troy teaches guitar, pedal steel, lap steel, and dobro, and also works with students on additional string instruments. While versatile across styles, he specializes in American roots traditions including country, folk, blues, bluegrass, and Americana. His teaching emphasizes strong fundamentals, musical understanding, improvisation, and practical skills that support steady progress—helping students become self-directed learners on their instrument, prepare for performances, and develop the skills needed to play confidently with others. In addition to teaching, Troy is an active live and studio musician throughout New England. This real-world experience informs his instruction, helping students connect practice to playing with other musicians, recording, and performance. He brings a systematic approach focused on steady progress and long-term musical development.
Instructor
Pianist and composer Liz Sinn is an active performer and educator based in the Boston area. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, she specializes in jazz piano while working across a variety of styles including classical, Latin American music, musical theater, and pop. Her broad musical background allows her to connect with students of many different interests and goals. Liz has performed with artists such as GRAMMY Award winners Neal Smith and Charlie Rosen’s 8-Bit Big Band, as well as Il Divo, Chloë Agnew of Celtic Woman, Bill Pierce, Carl Allen, and Rafael Barata. Her performance credits include the Arlington Jazz Festival and LA Disneyland, and she regularly collaborates with musicians on both the East and West Coasts. Liz is on faculty at New England Conservatory’s Preparatory and Continuing Education programs. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and experience levels, and focuses on building strong musical fundamentals, creativity, and confidence at the piano in a supportive and engaging environment.
Instructor
Peter Zhaoyang Han (b. Tianjin, China) is a composer, conductor, and vocalist whose music bridges the Western classical tradition and Chinese traditional performance arts. Born and raised in Tianjin—a city known for its vibrant and humorous spirit—and later moving to Diamond Bar, California, Peter’s work is infused with imagination, playfulness, and a deep reverence for both historical and contemporary sound. Now based in Boston, he continues to shape a distinctive musical voice that honors his cultural heritage while embracing innovation. Peter holds a Bachelor of Music in Composition from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where he studied composition with Timothy McCormack and conducting with Larry Isaacson. He also pursued piano studies with Carlos Vargas and voice with graduate colleagues. While at BoCo, he was a frequent performer in ensembles such as Pierre Hurel’s Improvised Music Ensemble and the Conservatory Chorale. During his studies, he was often selected to write for large ensembles as well as various guest ensembles, including the Hinge Quartet, and he was also commissioned by the Hemenway Strings led by violinist Lynn Chang. His works were also selected to be performed by local high school ensembles.
Instructor
Qianhui Yin is a lyrical soprano with a master’s degree in vocal performance. She is a member of the Boston Chinese Musicians Association, the Hebei Provincial Musicians Association, and the Tangshan Musicians Association. Qianhui has performed on many prestigious stages, including appearances on CCTV programs and at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China. She has participated in major concerts, opera productions, and cultural events, and has collaborated with professional ensembles such as the Beijing Opera and Dance Theater and the Beijing Music Association Choir. As an educator, Qianhui is passionate about working with children. With prior teaching experience and as a mother of two, she brings patience, warmth, and a deep understanding of young learners. She is dedicated to helping students build strong vocal foundations, develop musical expression, and gain confidence both on and off the stage.
Instructor
Zachary has a strong background in both classical and contemporary music and received professional training at Berklee College of Music. He teaches through both private and studio lessons, working with students of all ages, from children to adults. Specializing in beginner classical piano with elements of jazz, Zachary focuses on building strong fundamentals, including music reading and technique. His teaching style is relaxed and supportive, emphasizing enjoyment and confidence while helping students achieve their goals without unnecessary pressure. Inspired by his own musical journey, he prioritizes creating a positive learning environment where students feel comfortable, engaged, and motivated. With a background in jazz, classical, and Afro-Cuban music, and performance experience at venues such as Jazz at Lincoln Center and Birdland, Zachary brings both professionalism and real-world insight into his teaching.
Instructor
Composer and flutist Carmen Rojas _MS Music Therapy, BS Music Pedagogy, Orff Schulwerk certified teacher, Founder of Liliflute Music, Latin American Music Self-Publisher. Carmen acquired a deep familiarity with the musical roots of her native Colombia at a very young age. Carmen taught music and conducted children’s ensembles in Batuta (young Orchestras of Colombia). She was awarded the coveted Mono Nuñez award for best Colombian chamber music ensemble in 2003 with her chamber quintet Camaradería. She won a Second prize at the Composers of the second Century in Bogotá, 2000. She has been a guest at many flute conventions in the USA, among having premieres and performances of her methodical and chamber works in Flute festivals around. Her music has been reviewed by PAN (the Journal of the British Flute Society), the Flutist Quarterly (the National Flute Association of USA, magazine) and the Solo Flauta (the Spanish Flute Association magazine).
Instructor
Lily Chang is a pianist trained at the doctoral level (DMA studies in Piano Performance) with extensive experience in both performance and teaching. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Lee University and has served as a Teaching Assistant for Keyboard Skills at George Mason University. Originally from Taiwan, Lily has taught students of all ages—from young beginners to adults—and across a wide range of levels, from foundational training to advanced performance preparation. Her students benefit from a structured yet personalized approach that builds both technical skills and musical understanding. As an active performer, she has appeared as a soloist and collaborative pianist, including concerto repertoire such as Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. She is also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda. With training at the graduate and doctoral level, Lily is dedicated to helping students not only play well, but also develop expressive, confident musicianship.
