Professors

Lambda Professors (2020 Faculty)

The Lambda faculty comprises a team of fine musicians and artists, who are outstanding in their area of expertise, as well highly experienced in teaching. Our professors are passionate in sharing their love for music and arts with their students. We also have an established track record of helping students succeed, far exceeding their expectations.

Jacinta Ionno - Fine Arts (Oil Painting)

Jacinta Ionno is the founding professor and advisor of the Lambda Graphics Arts program since 2008. Jacinta has been a professional artist for more than 23 years, has been actively involved in the art community and is a member of the Canadian Federation of Artists and the Artist Association of Dollard. She participates in numerous juried and non-juried shows. She has also held solo exhibitions at Pierrefonds, Kirkland, Beaconsfield and Roxboro libraries. She has received several awards for her works.

Prof. Ionno holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Commercial Arts Degree. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts at Concordia University.

Jy Hyeon Lee - Piano, Music Theory, Ear training

Jy Hyeon Lee was born and raised in Seoul, Korea. She started learning piano at the age of four. When she was in middle school, she was taught by the pianist Han Tong-il. She demonstrated outstanding aptitude in piano performance and has been chosen for gifted education from an art high school.

Jy Hyeon moved to Montreal in 2005, and continued her piano studies with Hei-kyung Bang at Vincent-d’Indy. She won numerous prizes from Concours Inter-Élève de Vincent-d’Indy and from Festival de musique classique de Montréal.

Jy received her Bachelor in Music performance (class of Professor Maneli Pirzadeh) at the University of Montreal. She has been teaching piano since she was at the Marianopolis College in Music program. With a rich background in music, Jy Hyeon helps and encourages her students to develop their basic techniques and musical expressions. Jy has many successes in her teaching, including helping students win the Gold Medal in RCM examinations, and paving students for a solid foundation and subsequently helping them win prizes at international competitions.

Dora Cojocaru - Music Theory, Harmony, Music History, Composition

Dr. Dora Cojocaru completed her studies in Romania and Germany, where she received her Ph.D. degree in musicology and stylistics. As a composer, Dr. Cojocaru has received numerous prizes and grants, including the Paul Sacher, Socrates, Gaudeamus, D.A.A.D., European Community, Heinrich Böll grants, as well as several grants from Canada Council for the Arts and Conseil des arts et des lettres du Quebec.
Her compositions have been published by Müller&Schade AG in Bern/Switzerland, and are performed worldwide (“World Music Days”-I.S.N.M./Luxembourg, Schoenberg Centre/Vienna, Marianischer Saal/Luzern, Deutschlanfunk/Köln, Sumida Triphony Hall/Tokyo, CUMS Conference/Lethbridge, UNAM/Ciudad de Mexico etc.)
As an associate professor at the Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, Dora Cojocaru has taught composition, music history and theory. She has also been invited to give lectures, workshops and conferences in major Canadian universities as well as in Europe. Dora Cojocaru has published two books, and a number of articles in various musical journals. She has also adjudicated many musical competitions and collaborated with the “Westdeutscher Rundfunk” in Germany.

Jesse Plessis - Piano, Music Theory

Hailed as "a force of nature" with "a skilled hand at crafting textures that pulse with life," Jesse Plessis, born in Sparwood British Columbia, regularly appears in concert series and music festivals across Canada, England, and continental Europe, performs as a guest artist with several ensembles in Canada, and has garnered numerous awards in both piano and composition. As a composer, his works have been called “ardent and incredibly well-structured” and have been performed by many musicians and groups in Canada including the Land’s End Ensemble and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. In 2013 he founded the Centric Festival, a classical music festival that continues annually in Lethbridge, Alberta. Having a particular affinity for several contemporary composers, he has given premieres of works by Arlan Schultz, Marcel Bergmann, Kaija Saariaho, John Corigliano, Nico Muhly, and Kjartan Olafsson.

Plessis obtained a Master of Music degree from Brandon University where he studied piano with Megumi Masaki and composition with Patrick Carrabre. His Bachelor of Music degree is from the University of Lethbridge where he studied piano with Deanna Oye and composition with Arlan Schultz, and he currently resides in Montréal where he studies with Paul Stewart at the University of Montréal. His recordings can be sampled on his channels on sound.com and youtube.com

Leo Bae - Piano (Classical and Jazz), Music Theory

Leo is a jazz pianist and composer. His biggest jazz heroes are Bill Evans and Kenny Wheeler. He has earned his graduate degree in Jazz Composition in University of Oregon, and Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Performance from Capilano U in Vancouver, BC.

Mr. Bae was born in South Korea but has been a Canadian since he was 16. He’s studied with great Vancouver jazz musicians such as Bob Doyle, Ross Taggart, Bill Coon, and Brad Turner. In Oregon, he studied with Steve Owen and Idit Shner. His debut album “between orange and grey” is an original contemporary jazz composed for 7 piece jazz band.

Hugo Duguay - Piano, Music Theory

Hugo Duguay started the piano at the age of 9 before studying at the École de musique de l’Outaouais and the Conservatoire de Gatineau. He completed his Bachelor and Master Degree at the Ottawa University with David Jalbert. Through his studies he participated at numerous masterclasses with artists like Malcom Bilson, Marilyn Engle and Jean-Paul Sevilla as well as participing at the summer programs of Orford Music Academy and Domaine Forget Music Academy. Among his public performances Hugo Duguay played for the Maison de la Musique of Sorel-Tracy, the Nexus music Festival of the Ottawa University, Oasis Musicale Concert Serie and had, in 2016, the second prize in the Canadian Music Competition. He is currently doing Doctorat Degree in music at the Université de Montréal with Maneli Pirzadeh and Jimmy Brière.

Tian Zhuang
Piano Performance (Classical), Music Theory, Ear Training, Sight-reading

Tian Zhuang earned her first Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from Bowling Green State University, where she studied with Laura Melton. Tian completed the second Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma, where she studied piano with Jeongwon Ham and piano pedagogy with Jane Magrath and Barbara Fast.

As a piano soloist, Tian performs recitals in China, the United States and Austria. Through the years, Tian has played in masterclasses for great pedagogues and pianist such as Jane Magrath, Peter Mack, Alan Chow and Jeremy Samolesky.
Tian is also an active chamber pianist, including playing piano trios, piano duet and duo recitals in China and the United States. As a passionate and patient piano teacher, Tian aims to help students of all ages and levels to develop a comprehensive understanding of music that let them play the piano with enjoyment and musicality.

Ruihan Wang - Piano, Music Theory, Note reading

Ruihan Wang, originaire de la Chine, débute l'étude du piano à 5 ans. Arrivée au Québec en 2012, elle poursuit ses études de piano avec Justine Pelletier, Jean Saulnier et Jimmy Brière ainsi que de théorie avec Thierry Montpetit. Diplômée de l'école de musique Vincent-d'Indy et présentement à l’Université de Montréal dans la classe de Jimmy Brière, elle a eu la deuxième place au concours de musique de la Capitale en 2016, le premier prix au Concours de musique du Canada en 2017 et le quatrième prix au concours de Lanaudière classe concerto-provincial en 2018. Elle a aussi obtenu la bourse d'excellence Archambault, le prix Monik Grenier, le prix Monique Labadie, la bourse de la Fondation Fournier-Éthier, le prix de programme de musique, Fonds de Bourses des étudiants de la faculté de musique de l'Université de Montréal et le prix Christine Harkness et Pierre Lapointe.

Kimberly Durflinger - violin

Originally hailing from San Diego, California, Kimberly Durflinger holds a Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from the Schulich School of Music of McGill University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Violin Performance from the world renowned Eastman School of Music. Her teachers include section leaders of major orchestras such as Andrew Wan, Alexander Read, Mikhail Kopelman, Lynn Blakeslee, and Jing Yan. While studying at McGill, she was selected as one of the five members of the 2018 Canadian Opera Company Orchestra Academy and performed with a professional orchestra for one month. In 2017, she was chosen as the soloist and concertmaster with the Vermont Mozart Festival Orchestra. Due to her love of orchestral playing, she has held numerous leadership positions including Principal 2nd Violin of the McGill Symphony Orchestra and Associate Concertmaster of the Eastman Philharmonia. Kimberly has performed at various international music festivals such as Académie Orford, Bowdoin, and PRISMA where in 2013 she won 3rd prize in the concerto competition. Additionally, she has had the opportunity to play in masterclasses for famous violinists such as Irvine Arditti, Hae-Sun Kang, Soyoung Yoon, and member of the Julliard String Quartet.
Kimberly is also passionate about being involved with genres of music outside the realm of traditional classical music. She has performed contemporary music with the Ossia New Music Ensemble and the Empire Film Music Ensemble at Eastman, been hired to play in Eastman jazz concerts, can be heard on the soundtrack for a Star-trek episode, performed punk-rock music at the House of Blues in San Diego, played in the orchestra for Montréal's 375th Anniversary concert (which included artists like: Rufus and Martha Wainwright, Patrick Watson, Isabelle Boulay, Coeur de pirate, Pierre Lapointe, DJ Champion and Diane Dufresne), performed in the orchestra for a Klô Pelgag concert, has been concertmaster for several musical productions, recorded the theme song to the video game Renaine which will be released on the Nintendo Switch, and is currently composing and recording violin parts for the rock band Vaerisa, based in Toronto.
Kimberly’s teaching career is relatively new as upon graduation from McGill she has begun teaching students from ages 3-70 whom she teaches according to their individual needs and personalities. Kimberly’s teaching philosophy is that she hopes to inspire students to build confidence in themselves through their musical progress, and that through their own self-expression they may flourish in all aspects of their lives.

Stef Jackson - Saxophone

Finding his passion for music at the age of 7 when he started piano with Jacques Harvey, Stef discovers classical music at a young age. Opting for the saxophone at the age of 12 years old, he discovers a new world of music all over again and takes pleasure in learning about jazz and instruments like percussion, drums, electric bass, the guitar, and even softwares for sound and composition. Stef has 3 years of self taught experience when he passes the audition at the Conservatoire de musique de Montreal, to study with Claude Brisson, student of the renowned Marcel Mule and Daniel Deffayet.
Stef Jackson has since completed his Bachelor's Degree in music, completed his 'Concours' recital at the Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal with a distinctive '1er Prix à l'unanimité avec distinction' and has worked with great masters of the saxophone like Arno Bornkamp, Vincent David, Jan Schulte-Bunert, Jean Yves-Fourmeau, Marie-Bernadette Charrier and Peter Weniger. He has also participated in various competitions and has won nearly a dozen awards, including a 2nd place at the well known Canadian Music Competition and has been a recipient of the Bourse de la Fondation du Conservatoire. Aside from his projects of electronic music, chamber music, recording and composition, Stef Jackson is preparing a unique program for the International Saxophone Congress of 2015 in Strasbourg and is working as a teacher and artist in residence for the Fondation Musicart.

Fairouz Oudjida - Voice (Classical, Pop), Music Initiation

Fairouz est reconnue pour son timbre exceptionnel et sa maîtrise de plusieurs répertoires, dans différentes langues, dont le français, l’italien, le russe, l’espagnol, le berbère et l’arabe. Elle excelle dans le répertoire classique universel. Elle a interprété les opéras de grands compositeurs, dont ceux de Mozart, Rossini, Donizetti, Tchaïkovski, Bizet et Massenet, en Italie, notamment, où elle a eu l’honneur d’être choisie par la famille de Luciano Pavarotti afin d’interpréter Arie religiose antiche, à la Parocchia San Marco de Milan, en mémoire du grand ténor.
Récompensée par plusieurs distinctions à l’international et sacrée « Diva » par le public algérien, Fairouz a un parcours exceptionnel. Cette ancienne soliste de l’Orchestre symphonique national est la première Algérienne à représenter son pays en Russie et en Italie dans le domaine du chant classique. Elle est également la première femme à interpréter l’hymne national algérien (lors du Sommet africain 2016). Interprète universelle fière de son héritage, elle se distingue par ses créations et par le puissant hommage qu’elle rend aux chants traditionnels algériens, maghrébins et arabes. Son concert intitulé Fairouz chante Fairouz a été présenté à guichets fermés devant un public enthousiaste dans le cadre du Festival du monde arabe de Montréal.
Établie à Montréal, Fairouz collabore avec le talentueux pianiste et accompagnateur Dominic Boulianne, avec qui elle forme un duo exceptionnel.

Anna Ivanova - Violin, Viola, Music Theory

Dr. Anna Ivanova was born in a small city of Russia, Yoshkar-Ola. She began to play the violin at the age of 6. Ms. Ivanova, received her bachelor and master’s in Russia, at the Saratov Conservatory. She studied with honored artist of Russian Federation and a professor Edward Gavrilenkov. After graduation she was invited to work with Syktyvkar Philharmonic String Quartet. Later Ms. Ivanova decided to continue her education in the USA. In August 2018 Ms. Ivanova received her Doctorate degree in the viola performance from Louisiana State University where she studied with Dr. Elias Goldstein.

Dr. Ivanova participated in different festivals, including international festivals in Finland and Norway, Marrowstone music festival, and Brevard music festival. In 2016 Anna was invited to play with the International Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico, and in 2018 Anna won an associate member position with CIVIC orchestra of Chicago. She has performed the recitals in different cities of Russia and USA, and also she is a winner of international and national competitions. Besides performing Dr. Ivanova has an extensive experience in teaching children and adults. She worked with such organizations as Music Tree Prep School, Kids Orchestra, and AWSOM music school.

Olga Murysina - Violin, String Ensemble

Olga Murysina began teaching in 2002 in Helmer Sinisalo Musical School in Petrozavodsk (Karelia, Russia). From 2009 until 2012 she was a Head of String Instruments department. In 2010 she has worked during 3 months in Oslo, (Norway) in Russian-Norwegian Cultural Center.
In 2012 Olga was invited to Jinan (China) to the private musical school to organize violin class. Some of her students are continuing their education in Central Musical School of the Conservatoire in Beijing, in Tchaikovsky Moscow musical college of the Conservatoire and also in Petrozavodsk musical college.
In her opinion, even if a person won’t be a professional musician, music could be their passion through all their life. Olga teaches in the best Russian violin school traditions.
Olga has a lot of performing experience at the various concerts and festivals in different places, as a member of an orchestra as well as a soloist.

Justine Ledoux-Hutchinson - Voice, Flute, Ukulele, Guitar, Introduction to Piano

Justine is currently pursuing a Bachelor degree in classical vocal performance at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal. Justine started studying voice at a very young age, allowing her to acquire a taste for many different instruments, such as piano, rhythmic guitar and flute, which she played in a youth orchestra for 6 years. Although her technique is primarily classical, she has mastered other genres: jazz, Broadway and pop.

Justine believes that music should be a way of expressing your emotions, while always improving your technique. She loves to share her passion with others, and does so by teaching voice as well as other instruments, such as flute, ukulele, guitar and piano. Her lessons focus on having fun, singing fun yet challenging songs, and also discovering new techniques and repertoire. She listens to her students’ needs and is open to suggestions. She believes that, while maintaining a healthy and comfortable technique, voice should be about having fun and getting out of our comfort zone.

Andrew Wong - Introduction to Piano / Beginners' Piano Program

Andrew took an interest in piano after having heard his sister play for years. At the age of 6, he started learning classical music. He studied with Michael McAuley for 11 years. During his musical education, he has successfully completed his RCM practical and theory examinations. He has performed at numerous concerts hosted by St. Columba church most notably the Kids Helping Kids concert. Andrew enjoys teaching because he wants to pass on his knowledge to other students. He focuses on developing students’ hand technique, tone and musical expression while incorporating energy into lessons. Andrew has a strong passion for classical music and still enjoys playing and learning new pieces.

Aside from music, Andrew also has a passion for physics and mathematics. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering at Concordia University. He is also working towards becoming an actuary. Andrew has participated in the Troitsky Bridge Building Competition 2018 and has won 10th place with his team of five, which is the current highest record for Concordia.

(Ballet & Contemporary Dance, Chinese Classic and Folk Dance)

Professional dancer, choreographer and dance teacher for over 16 years. Cynthia Deng began her performing Career as professional dancer and choreographer in famous art group of Guangxi in China. She has many years of experience teaching children and adult focus on fun and musicality while introducing basic technique of Classical Chinese dance.

Cynthia Deng established her Dance Studio in 2017 and became President and artistic director of the Sanyuesan Artist Troupe of Canada since 2018. The Troupe started on the Montreal scene with an excellent original dance score by her choreography.

Over one year, more than a dozen original dance choreographed by Cynthia Deng have been performance in the major stage and -large-scale events in Montreal . The new original Dance "Millenary Tour" won The Dance Creation Gold Award and the Group Performance Diamond Award in the Canadian Parliament Hill Chinese - Canadian Cultural Festival and the 2019 Canadian National Youth Music and Dance Festival .

Cynthia Deng was also awarded the 2019 Outstanding Artistic Contribution Award. Recently, she is engaged as Artistic Director of YMDF Canada National Youth Arts Festival.

Michel Salvail (Guitar, Music Theory) - Bio coming soon