Piano Lessons

Laura Tyrrell, B. Mus. Director

Laura Tyrrell holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of British Columbia and has been certified as an Advanced Music Specialist in Piano by Toronto's Royal Conservatory of Music. Her teachers have included John Dupuis, Dr. Sara Davis Buechner, and Miranda Wong. She is a member of the Vancouver Bach Choir, the BC Registered Music Teachers’ Association and has maintained a vibrant following of students since she began teaching in 2004.

In 2014, Laura Tyrrell became the Director of West Point Grey School of Music where she assembles the talents of inspiring music teachers who also share her vision of community and connection through a love of music. She delights in organizing performance opportunies that challenge the status quo, inspire students to rise above their limitations, and create a stir with their audiences.

Tiffany Tse, B. Eng., ARCT

Tiffany Tse began her piano studies in Toronto at the age of five and has since received numerous scholarships and awards from piano competitions and festivals. She completed the ARCT in Piano Performance Diploma at the Royal Conservatory of Music, receiving First Class Honours with Distinction, and has performed twice in Weill Recital Hall at CarnegieHall. Tiffany is a second prize winner and four-time national finalist at the Canadian Music Competition, and first prize winner at the Ontario Music Festival Association Provincial Finals. Furthermore, she has performed with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra, as a winner of both Solo and Concerto categories at the Ithaca College School of Music in New York.

Currently, she is completing her Master of Applied Science in Biomedical Engineering at The University of British Columbia. She continues her classical music journey through teaching, performing, and accompanying a variety of instruments. Tiffany is passionate about sharing her love for music with others, creating classical music content for an audience of over 20,000 followers on Instagram. She is committed to creating art while supporting others on their journey through musicianship and mentorship.

Joseph Stacy, M. Mus.

Joseph Stacy is an American pianist based in Vancouver, BC. An accomplished soloist, collaborator, and chamber musician, he has performed across the United States, Canada, and Austria. A recipient of the Faculty of Arts Graduate Award, he graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC) with his Master of Music in Piano Performance in 2021. Prior to his master’s degree, he graduated summa cum laude with his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance/Pedagogy from Ohio University, where he was recognized with the award for Undergraduate Achievement in Performance. In addition to his attainments in performance, Mr. Stacy has also presented sessions at multiple national conferences throughout the U.S., including the Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) Conference, the MTNA Collegiate Chapters Piano Pedagogy Symposium, and the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. He also participated in the highly selective Eastman Leadership Academy in 2020. Families of former students have described him as being “one of the most attentive and patient instructors [they] have ever witnessed” as well as having “a natural gift for understanding the learning challenges as seen from the perspective of the student.” His former piano teachers include Steinway Artist, Mark Anderson at UBC, Yamaha Artist, Christopher Fisher at Ohio University, as well as brief studies with Michelle Mares and Stephanie Wu. Additionally, he studied collaborative piano with Rena Sharon and organ with Paul Barte. A native of North Carolina and long time resident of the Appalachian community of Pulaski, Virginia, Mr. Stacy enjoys the novelty of west coast living, however, he vows to never lose that southern charm.

Janina Gevers, B. Mus. ARIAM

Nina Gevers is a classically trained Irish pianist with nine years of enthusiastic piano and music teaching experience. Having begun her musical journey with the piano at age 8 on a honky-tonk piano her dad bartered for on a building site, she now holds a Music Education Bachelor's degree from Trinity College Dublin/RIAM and an ARIAM in Piano Pedagogy. Her teaching style blends those of her own learning, her emphasis of musical joy and understanding with a touch of the pedagogical approach of Kodály, having studied at the Kodály Institute in Hungary in 2016. Musical connection is at the heart of her teaching purpose, and she adores supporting student’s musical development and love of piano, finding satisfaction in the balance of quality musical touch and the story it tells. She believes that communication, encouragement and compassion are just as essential elements to imparting musical knowledge as technical skill, and that music is for everybody.  

Leah Bruno

Leah Bruno (BMus ‘24, UBC) is a Vancouver-based pianist and music educator who is committed to developing confidence and independence in budding musicians. Approaching learning from the ground up, she consistently trains her students to think critically and problem-solve while at the piano. Leah has played piano for 19 years, as well as having studied violin, voice, percussion, and composition—creating a unique nuance and diversity to her practice. Leah teaches beginning through advanced piano lessons, as well as beginning voice lessons. 

In 2024, Leah will graduate with her Bachelor of Music from UBC, where she studied piano with Terence Dawson and Rena Sharon. As a pianist, she specializes in dance collaboration and new music performance.