A musician from a very artistic family, Lisa Bing enjoys being instrumental in bringing music into the lives of our students. She is passionate about getting students to think about the roles music, lessons, and practice play in our everyday lives.

A philosophy degree in aesthetics [BA ‘99] gave Lisa the opportunity to explore projects such as What is Art, Aesthetic Experience in the Natural World, How Music Came from Nature, and Are Concert Conventions Necessary? Her music degrees in Piano Performance [BMus ‘02] [MMus ‘04] allowed her to transfer these ideas about art into activities that she enjoys sharing with her own students in both private and group workshop settings.

Lisa worked as a private piano teacher up until 2012 when she founded Musical Thought Studios, a specialized piano and guitar school that brought music and art to the public as well as encouraged students to think “outside the box” of regular music lessons.  Music in the Community (MIC) and Creative Workshop were two programs that were a result of these goals. Since her acquisition of Manotick School of Music in 2014, specialized programs inspired by Lisa’s original school have become a part of the school’s Musical Thought Musicianship Program (MTMP).

Lisa has spent time at the Banff Center and the Orford Arts Center in the classes of pianists Robin Wood, Kevin Fitzgerald and Richard Raymond. While studying at the University of Alberta and the University of Ottawa, her piano teachers included Stephane Lemelin, Ayako Tsuruta, Jean-Paul Sevilla and Andrew Tunis. Post graduation she studied with Jean Desmarais.

Born in Toronto, ON, Naomi is a classically-trained pianist from southwestern Ontario. She has been studying and playing the piano since the age of 4, trained primarily through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music History, Theory, & Critical Analysis [BMus ‘19] from Wilfrid Laurier University, where she studied with Elaine Lau, and a Master’s Degree in Law & Legal Studies [MA ‘21 from Carleton University. She also holds piano pedagogy teaching certifications from the Royal Conservatory of Music and enjoys playing for local musical theater groups, church, & choir ensembles in her free time. Away from the keys, her hobbies include cross-stitching, reading, swimming, and volunteering!

Louise Cheung has her ARCT in Piano Pedagogy with the Royal Conservatory of Music and completed her undergraduate studies in Science and Teacher Education at the University of Toronto.  She has more than 20 years of school teaching as well as private piano instruction experience.  Prior to her recent move to Ottawa, she worked as a full-time high school science teacher with the Toronto Catholic District School Board and taught piano at Euromusic Center in Markham.  She has prepared students for RCM practical and theory exams, recitals, music festivals and concerts.  Her teaching philosophy is to inspire and educate the young generation to love and enjoy what they learn. She enjoys teaching students of all ages and levels.  Being the choir organist in church and at school, Louise is also an active participant of various community events.

Connor de Laplante started learning music in the seventh grade on saxophone and quickly developed a love for expanding his knowledge of musical instruments. He graduated from the Canterbury High School winds program and is currently studying piano at the University of Ottawa [BMus candidate ‘22].  

He studied piano on his own for one year until he decided to audition for university, which he then prepared for with only one year of private lessons.  He has since worked with Lawrence Ewashko at the University of Ottawa and has studied with Mauro Bertoli, Leopoldo Erice and Frédéric Lacroix.  

Connor has performed in numerous wind ensembles, choirs and chamber ensembles. Not only is he well versed in multiple instruments, Connor has a great musical theory foundation and enjoys teaching all different levels of understanding. 

Connor has a great respect for the arts and knows very well that it is never too late to start learning music. He has a bright and enthusiastic personality that allows him to connect with anyone he teaches.

Saira was born in the Ottawa valley into a very musical family and this passion has followed her since. Throughout middle school she was a part of every music group she could participate in, which fostered her love and dedication to music.

She attended Canterbury High School’s Instrumental music program where she focused her time on the trombone and piano. While in high school she was the teaching assistant for the grade nine music class where she found her passion for teaching others. One of her students is now on her own way to Canterbury for trombone!

Trained classically and in both pop and rock music, Saira has been teaching piano for two years. For the last few years she has also been a volunteer teacher with Girls+ Rock Ottawa where she taught keys for both beginner and intermediate levels. Saira is full of energy and passion for music and loves sharing it with musicians regardless of their abilities.

Bethany is a young musician with advanced piano skills; and has placed multiple times both in the Ottawa Piano Festival and the Kiwanis Music Festival.  She is studying under Gabe Tam-Poudrier and has also studied with Ryan Phelps.  She looks forward to passing on the unique knowledge from her teachers to you!

Anna Dalvi is a multi-instrumentalist with a love of Jazz, Folk, Pop and Rock. She has performed as a solo instrumentalist, as a member of various groups/choirs, and accompanying various choirs and solo performers. She has studied piano, voice, accordion, guitar, ukulele and loves to pick up new instruments.

As a graduate of Carleton University, Daniel has a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with honors in composition. He’s studied piano for approximately 18 years within the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum completing his grade 8 certification, receiving First Class Honors for each of his examination results, with additional post-secondary studies in grade 9, 10 and ARCT Royal Conservatory repertoire and technique.

Daniel’s passion for music and piano has seen him perform extensively at Cornwall’s Kinsmen Music Festival, as well as Ottawa’s Canadian Music Showcase and Gala, and Carleton University Chamber Ensemble concerts to even achieving provincial finalist in the Ontario Music Festivals Association competition. He has also composed original music for over 10 years for media projects in film/TV and video games, some of which has been featured in Saskatchewan’s Yorkton Film Festival and on CBC. Additionally, he has directed music with a church ministry choir of 10-15 people, leading rehearsals and Sunday music services. These areas of performing, composing and directing have allowed him to view music in many different lights, gaining unique perspectives that span a wide range of musical avenues that he applies in his lessons. It is his hope that his students find these perspectives useful when understanding their own music, so that they may experience the reward and joy of progress and expression.

Qirui (“Chee-ray”) Su has been playing piano since the age of three. He is an advanced piano player with over 20 years of extensive training and performance experience, and a music educator with 8 years of teaching experience. He is currently in advanced study for the Master’s degree in Music in Piano Performance at the University of Ottawa. Before pursuing further studies, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree double major in Music and Arts Administration with distinction from Bishop’s University, won Howard Brown Memorial Scholarships from 2019 to 2022 and BUMS Album of Prominent Pianist Reward in 2022. He also obtained two Education Diplomas from KLC International Institute in Singapore and Jiangsu Second Normal University in China. He has travelled (and performed in some of these countries) throughout America, Canada, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China.

As a music segment content creator, Qirui created and published 30+ original piano-playing videos and shared them on social media platforms including Youtube, Tiktok and WeChat. Acquired a total view of 50K + across all accounts up to now. He has been recognized as a ‘Music field Influencer’ on Tiktok and NetEase.