Pianist and Piano accordionist TATIANA LANCHTCHIKOVA (MMus, IRMTNZ) was born in USSR (Russia). She started playing piano and accordion at the age of 6 and was graduated from the Novosibirsk State Conservatory (Novosibirsk, Russia). Tatiana's teaching experience has been started in 1989 and includes judging at several International competitions held in Italy, England, Australia & New Zealand. Tatiana moved to Auckland in 1996 and apart from her full-time teaching in Epsom Music School she is a member of such groups as VIVO, BRAVURA, Don MacGlashan and an associate player with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Violinist DIANNA COCHRANE is currently Principal Second Violin of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and Concertmaster of the Auckland Chamber Orchestra. She manages her busy schedule around a few special students, of intermediate to advanced level (grade 6 and up), who are serious about their studies.
   She has studied in New Zealand ( BMus (perf) Hons) from the University of Auckland, the U.S.A. [ Advanced Studies Certificate with honours) from the University of Southern California and Europe (private studies and masterclasses in Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom).
   Dianna has worked under and with many outstanding artists and conductors, including being Concertmaster of the Pacific Music Festival Orchestra under the baton of Leonard Bernstein and Sir Michael Tilson-Thomas. She has both won jobs and been invited to be Concertmaster and/or a Principal player in many and varied orchestras in Austalasia, the U.S.A., Europe and Japan, as well as also being invited guest soloist with as many varied orchestras in all these countries.
   She was a founding member of the Kandinsky String Quartet, which was tutored by both the Amadeus and Kronos String Quartets and has played in solo masterclasses with David Takeno, Vicktor Liebermann, Alberto Lysy and Mark Lubotsky.
   She comes from the highly regarded violin teaching lineage of Heifetz. She was student and teaching assistant to Eudice Shapiro, who herself was a student and long-time teaching assistant to the great master himself. Dianna joined Epsom Music School in 2011.

Flautist KATHRYN MOORHEAD (MMus) is currently the Associate Principal flautist in the Auckland Philharmonia. She completed her music degrees at the University of Melbourne and Brabants Conservatorium in the Netherlands where she studied with Leon Berendse from the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Andreas Blau from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Kathryn is currently completing a PhD in Music at the University of Adelaide. She has appeared with many professional orchestras across Australia, in the Netherlands, Malaysia and New Zealand and has been involved in the education programs with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Auckland Philharmonia. A recipient of numerous awards, Kathryn has won prizes in the Leslie Barklamb Flute Competition and the Australian International Solo Flute Competition. She has recorded several solo and chamber music CDs on the Move Records label. Kathryn joined Epsom Music School in 2011.

JENNIFER WU (BMus, Grad.Dip. Tchng ECE) started playing piano at the age of 7 in Taiwan and later continue her music training in New Zealand from 1990. Jennifer was graduated from University of Auckland Bachelor of Music major in Musicology in May 2006. Since 2004 she started her piano and theory teaching career at Amateur Music School in Howick, then she joined Epsom Music School from 2006. In 2009, besides teaching theory she also assist office administration in Epsom Music School.

Classical Guitar player JOHN WAKELIN (MMus) has been playing the guitar since 1984. He studied under Gunter Herbig at Auckland University and completed his Masters degree with first class honours in 2001, after completing his Bachelor's degree with a performance/composition double major. During his time at university he was awarded both a scholarship for guitar performance & a prize for composition. He was awarded 1st prize in the Classical Guitar Society of Auckland's annual guitar competition in 2000, & has appeared as soloist with the Auckland Youth Orchestra's performance of Vivaldi's Lute Concerto in D at the Viaduct Basin. John joined Epsom Music School in 2010.

Trumpet player HUW DANN (BMus) is currently the Associate Principal trumpet with the Auckland Philharmonia . Huw completed his BMus at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia. Huw was a member of the Sydney Sinfonia ,a training program run by the Sydney Symphony from 2005-2007 and from 2007-2009 studied at the Center for Advanced Musical Studies (USA), where he studied with trumpeter’s Hakan Hardenberger, Thomas Stevens, Mark Gould and Edward Carroll. Before moving to Auckland in 2009, he worked with the Melbourne Symphony’s education program and was Head of Brass at Presbyterian Ladies’ College (Melbourne). He has been teaching privately for over ten years. Huw joined Epsom Music School in 2010.

Singer TIZANE McEVOY (BMus) completed her BMus in performance voice, with first class honours from the University of Auckland, and is currently studying for her Masters degree. Tizane has won many scholarships and awards for her singing including the Marie D'albini award and the Evelyn M Harrison scholarship. In 2009 Tizane was one of a small group of singers chosen to fly down to Nelson to sing with Kiri te Kanawa at the Sealord festival. Last year Tizane took part in the professional production of Olvier! And will be performing in Sweeney Todd later this year. Tizane also teaches Drama and Dance through Onshow, where she won the Onshow staff award for her teaching. Tizane joined Epsom Music School in 2009.

JOHN GLUYAS (MMus) is a graduate of the Rotterdam Conservatory of Music where he studied with Jorgen van Rijen, the solo trombonist of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. He is an internationally experienced musician having played with the Netherlands Ballet Orchestra, the Macao Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Klangform Wien and the Auckland Philharmonia. John has also worked in the commercial music scene performing in Dusty Springfield the Musical, My Fair Lady and has recorded for film tracks and TV advertisements. John is an enthusiastic educator having held the positions of Head of Brass at St Michaels Grammar and Head of Lower Brass at Caulfield Grammar Schools in Melbourne. As well as teaching, he has arranged and composed music, and conducted various ensembles from training bands to the senior Symphony Orchestra. John has held summer schools for Melbourne Youth Music and has been the lower brass tutor for Orchestra Victoria’s education program Move. Although trombone is his specialty John is experienced in teaching lower brass instruments including euphonium and tuba. John joined Epsom Music School in 2011.

Cellist YOU LEE (MMus) graduated from the Guangzhou Conservatory in China, and performed for nine years with the Symphony Orchestra of the Pearl River Film Production, Guangzhou, becoming principal cello of the Orchestra in 1985. He was also appointed as cello teacher of   the Guangzhou Conservatory from 1990 to1992. Since settling in New Zealand in 1993, You Lee has gained an Honours Degree in cello performance from Victoria University, and played with the NZSO and Wellington Sinfonia. He has been a cellist with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra since 1997, is also active as a free-lance cellist, having made many recordings, as well as chamber music, solo  playing and teaching. You joined Epsom Music School in 2010.

Violinist Dr. ELENA ABRAMOVA (DMA) began her music training at the age of 4 in her native Russia and later graduated from the State Conservatory of St Petersburg. Between 1996 - 2002 Elena lived in Seoul, South Korea where she played with a number of professional orchestras and performed as a soloist throughout the country. Elena moved to Auckland in 2003. She gives solo and chamber music recitals regularly, has taught at the Academy of Music, and has played with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia, Auckland Chamber Orchestra and the International Chamber Music Ensemble. Elena is the Concertmaster of Waitakere City Orchestra and regularly appears with them as a soloist. Elena's pupils have been awarded prizes at various Violin competitions, both in New Zealand and overseas. Elena completed her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree (in Violin Performance) in 2009 at the University of Auckland.  Elena joined Epsom Music School in 2006.

Clarinet and (all) Saxophones player ZINOVI SIMONGAUZ (MMus) was born in 1954 in Moscow. He started playing clarinet in his early childhood. Zinovi was graduated from Music College of Impolitow Iwanow (Moscow) an later complete his education from the Academy of Music in Moscow (Russia). In 1991 Zinovi moved to Israel, where played in the Tel Aviv Opera Orchestra and had a big studio for teaching private students. Zinovi has wide experience in teaching and orchestra performing, as working with Bolshoy Theatre in Moscow (Russia), many other major orchestras around the world and teaching in various musical colleges and schools. Zinovi joined Epsom Music School in 2006.

Pianist IRINA KAPLUNSKY (MMus) began her musical training in Ukraine at the age of 5 at the Harkov Talent Music School .
She later studied with and received high honors from the Rostov Music Conservatory in Russia. During her extensive education she has worked under such teachers and players as Horovich, Perelman, Hilles, Zaharenko, Artobolevski and Sklovsky. As an active performer from the beginning Kaplunsky appeared in solo recitals and with various chamber groups and cultural organizations worldwide (Ukraine, Russia, USA, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Israel and New Zealand).
She has won several competitions, scholarships and awards such as Czerny Piano Competition in Ukraine, "Exceptional Talent Scholarship" from the Harkov Colleague Foundation, The Ukrainian National Piano Competition and Best Etude Performance Competition.
At present Irina Kaplunsky is involved in children programs, accompanies for various instruments. Irina joined Epsom Music School in 2006.

Viola player ROBERT ASHWORTH (MMus) has most recently held the position of Assistant-Principal Viola with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in Canada. Since then he has worked with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House as Principal viola. He is currently the violist with the Jade String Quartet in Auckland, has previously held Section Leader position with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and since 2007 is Viola Section Leader with Auckland Philharmonia as well as guest with the contemporary ensemble Stroma. Robert has had the honour to study with violists Thomas Riebl and Veronika Hagen at the Universitaet Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria and with Gerald Stanick at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. Robert joined Epsom Music School in 2006.

Violininst MIRANDA ADAMS (MMus) was born in Dunedin and studied violin with Pamela Bryce, Elsa Jensen, and Charmian Gadd. She is currently associate concert master with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and has performed concertos with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and many Regional orchestras. She has vast chamber music experience within NZ, leading the Nelson String Quartet, Blue Quartet, Manifesto Trio, Tasman Trio, Bravura with Jonathan Besser, and the successful Vivo with Tatiana Lanchtchikova. Miranda has commissioned several NZ compositions including works by Eve de Castro, John Elmsly, Nigel Keay, and Jonathan Besser. She enjoys innovating with the violin, whether through improvising or premiering new music. Miranda joined Epsom Music School in 2006.