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.

Ann Palowitch

My priority as a teacher is to provide my students with a foundation for a life-long awareness and appreciation of music and the arts. I am inspired by the unique way each student approaches the piano, and I am dedicated to individualizing their musical journey to meet their style of learning.

Ann is a Pleasanton native and has benefitted from the amazing Pleasanton school music programs and from private study with Tamriko Siprashvili. Ann went on to study piano performance, pedagogy, and accompaniment at the Penn State School of Music under Dr. Timothy Shafer. She has enjoyed performing in symphonic bands, small ensembles, musical pits, and a multitude of other settings. She continues to perform with local choirs and is delighted to be part of the Inspire community.

Pooja Shah

Pooja believes that musical education goes beyond technical mastery of an instrument. For her students, it is also a journey of self-discovery and creative expression. When teaching, Pooja aspires to empower her students with the realization that they possess the innate ability to craft something beautiful and significant. She believes the language of music can serve as a bridge to connect, ignite inspiration, and foster self-confidence. Pooja's goal is to provide a nurturing environment, where her students are free to recognize the potential within themselves to create art, enriching their lives and those around them.

Starting violin at age four and piano at age seven, music has always been a big part of Pooja Shah’s life, from being a member of the San Jose Youth Symphony to performing at Carnegie Hall. Pooja’s experience includes performing in chamber ensembles, orchestras, and symphonies, as well as contributing to the production of two short films. In her off-hours you can find Pooja making music with friends, composing new pieces, or playing classical music scores from her favorite films.

An alum of the Certificate of Merit Program, in addition to her music experience, Pooja holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley.

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.

Nyomi Zinga

I believe in empowering students to learn and grow in their musicality through positive reinforcement and engaged learning. By creating an active and supportive learning environment, I ensure that each student feels confident and motivated to explore their musical potential. I am passionate about instilling a love of music in my students, believing that every child has the potential to become a confident and expressive musician. Through my teaching, I strive to cultivate not only technical skills but also a lifelong appreciation for the art of music.

Nyomi holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Azusa Pacific University and has a rich background in both performing and teaching. Throughout Nyomi's time at APU, she was an active member of their various vocal ensembles, including their East End Vocal Jazz Choir, their University Choir, and their Gospel Choir, showcasing her versatility and passion for music.

In addition to performing, Nyomi has a deep commitment to music education. She has extensive experience teaching music fundamentals to young children through the Azusa Conservatory's Tiny Tunes program. Her approach includes hands-on activities and carefully crafted lesson plans, designed to engage both children and parents, making the learning experience both fun and educational. At San Marino Music Center, Nyomi further honed her teaching skills, guiding children in vocal technique and helping them discover the joy of music.

Robert Zuromski

My teaching philosophy is rooted in inspiring a genuine love of music in my students. I listen respectfully to each student to understand their individual needs, aspirations, and goals. I focus on helping my students build a strong musical foundation, while also recognizing that learning the piano nurtures essential skills like problem-solving and communication—skills that extend far beyond music and are valuable in all areas of life. Through my guidance, students not only grow as musicians but also as well-rounded individuals.

Originally from Poland, Robert began his musical journey after immigrating to the United States, where he found his passion for the piano through his early fascination with synthesizers. His formal training includes studying under renowned pianists such as Professor Frank Whienes (University of Pacifica), jazz expert Mark Levine, Samuel Goodwin (a pupil of Claudio Arrau, whose lineage traces back to Beethoven), and jazz harmony specialist Don Haas. Robert holds an A.A. from Diablo Valley College, a B.A. in piano performance from Hayward State University, and an M.A. in piano pedagogy from California East Bay University. A seasoned performer, Robert has played in jazz bands across the San Francisco Bay Area, Mexico, Canada, and Europe. He has released six CD albums and collaborated with George Sakelarious from George Lucas’ company, Industrial Light and Magic.