Instructors - Seattle Piano Academy

INSTRUCTORS

The rewards for learning to play an instrument are endless. It is a process which stimulates mental and physical awareness, encourages discipline, and instills sense of accomplishment. For anyone at any age, we at Seattle Piano Academy teach our students far beyond the "basics" of music. Our creative and progressive approaches help build a strong foundation for a lifelong enjoyment of music.

All instructors at SPA are dedicated pianists with a passion for teaching and have degrees in Piano Performance.

Jinhwa Chon, DMA		U. of WA, Indiana University, Eastman School of Music
Johnson Gouvea, DMA		U. of WA, Georgia State U., U. do Estado de Minas Gerais
Rachel Huang, DMA student		U. of WA, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, UC San Diego
Ruochen Liao, DMA		U. of WA, University of Michigan, Univ. of South Carolina
Seyoung Park, DMA		U. of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory, U. of South Florida
Tina Kouratachvili, Masters		Georgian State Cons., Paliashvili Music School
Tomoko Maki, DMA		U. of WA, Central Washington University, Kunitachi College of Music

Jinhwa Chon, Founder and Teacher. After having worked with students of all ages and levels for over a decade, Jinhwa founded Seattle Piano Academy in 2003 with the goal of providing a unique teaching environment where all students may have a chance to experience a fundamental understanding of piano playing at all stages of learning. Jinhwa encourages students to come with an open mind and a willingness to explore music far beyond learning to read notes, developing the skills to listen for subtle nuances in sound while developing an awareness of their entire body as they play. Jinhwa teaches students to decipher the subtlest differences in sound as they become aware of the physical sensations involved in producing that sound. She strives to help students acquire the necessary tools they need to appreciate music making for life.

From the first lesson, students need learning tools that synthesize the physical aspects of playing the piano with the technical and mental challenges of making the sound "sing." In her doctoral dissertation, Jinhwa presented a fresh look at the fundamental pillars of teaching piano: fluidity and continuity of sound utilizing proper posture. Learning to play classical piano is a life long journey requiring patience, dedication, and, above all, awareness of the challenges, both physical as well as mental. With her passion for teaching piano, Jinhwa encourages and hopes to develop in all students an understanding of the beauty of sound, instilling natural approaches to playing the piano.

Jinhwa holds her Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in piano performance from Eastman School of Music, Indiana University and the University of Washington, respectively. Jinhwa has studied with Craig Sheppard and Bela Siki at the University of Washington. Her teachers also include Nellie Tholen (Lewis & Clark), Rebecca Penneys (Eastman School of Music), Martin Canin (The Julliard School), and Enrica-Cavallo Gulli (Indiana University).

Member, MTNA, Seattle Chapter
Member, National Guild of Piano Teachers
Board member, Seattle Piano Institute

Johnson Gouvea is a Brazilian-American pianist, holding a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from the University of Washington, where he also served as Lead Teaching Assistant. Originally from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Johnson earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais. He later moved to Atlanta, where he completed two Master of Music degrees, in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, at Georgia State University.

Johnson has extensive experience working with students of all ages and backgrounds, both in private and academic settings. He has taught individual and group piano lessons as well as chamber music. With his vast interests and talents, Johnson has also taught "A Portrayal of Brazilian Society through Music" and Portuguese language classes in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese Studies at the University of Washington, in addition to actively engaging with the local community, and sharing his music through performances at churches, music schools, and with orchestras.

While at Georgia State University, he served as Artist in Residence at the Community Music Centers of Atlanta for three years. His performance highlights include winning the 2019 Brumby Concerto Competition and being selected for the GSU Honors Recital, receiving the Dean's Award. He has also participated in masterclasses through the Chopin Society of Atlanta and earned scholarships to international festivals in France and Spain.

As a performer and pedagogue, he is passionate about culturally responsive teaching that highlights diverse musical voices and expands the repertoire beyond the standard canon. Deeply committed to helping students develop their own artistic voice and musical identity, he encourages students to approach music with curiosity, creativity, and authenticity.

Rather than focusing on imitation, Johnson guides students toward artistic playing that reflects their individuality, while building a strong technical and expressive foundation. His teaching emphasizes deep listening, musical connection, and intentionality--an approach also reflected in his doctoral research, Shaping Sound: A Pianist's Guide to the Journey Through the Lifecycle of Notes and Musical Connection. His research interests also include pedagogical applications of Latin American piano music, especially the works of Heitor Villa-Lobos as a bridge to impressionistic repertoire like Debussy, as well as topics such as touch and release in relation to key spring cognition, and the role of emotion and storytelling in collaborative settings. Fluent in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, Johnson enjoys traveling, cooking, baking, and exploring coffee shops and restaurants.

Rachel Huang is a doctoral candidate at the University of Washington School of Music studying with Dr. Robin McCabe. She taught for several years in the Los Angeles area before moving to Seattle, where she hopes to further her performance and pedagogical skills. Huang received her Master's in Piano Performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at CSULB studying under Dr. Shun-Lin Chou and her Bachelor's of Arts in Piano Performance at the University of California San Diego, where she worked with Aleck Karis and was honored with the Dr. Milton H. Saier, Sr. Memorial Award for her senior honors recital performance. She previously studied with Dr. Marina Grozdanovic and achieved the Certificate of Merit Advanced Level. Huang is two-time MTAC Junior Bach Festival winner and has performed in Virtuoso Piano Studio recitals and salons. She has also performed at the Miami Music Festival during the 2017 Piano Institute and in masterclass for Christopher O'Riley. Recent performances include virtual performances with the Virtuoso Piano Studio, BCCM chamber and solo recitals as well as the MTNA Youth Professionals on Stage showcase.

With teaching Huang strives to promote a solid technical and musical foundation and believes in catering each learning experience to the specific needs and creative interests of her individual students. Enjoyment and understanding of the creative process is the first step to a lifetime of learning at the piano. She hopes to share her passion for music and continue to expand her own learning with the SPA community.

Ruochen Liao, born and Raised in China, holds a Doctoral of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Washington, where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Robin McCabe. During the journey of her study, Ruochen has won prizes from the Beijing International Youth Piano Competition, Burgos International Music Festival Concerto Competition, and MTNA Senior Performance Competition.

Ruochen earned her Bachelor's degree and graduated cum laude from the University of South Carolina under the supervision of Dr. Marina Lomazov with full scholarship. She also holds dual Master's degrees in Piano Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater and Dance, where the studied with the chair of piano, professor Christopher Harding.

As a teacher, Ruochen considers teaching an art of communication with no dogmatic ways of implementation. She believes the most important goal in piano lessons is fostering an enjoyment for music that lasts a lifetime. Ruochen' mission within the music community is to nurture the artistic spirit in each student and a lifelong love of music and learning, as well as to help each student achieve their highest musical potential.

Seyoung Park, a Korean-born pianist, is an active performer and dedicated educator with engagements across the United States, Europe, and Korea. She holds degrees in piano performance from Dongduk Women's University in Seoul (BM), the University of South Florida (MM), and the University of Missouri - Kansas City Conservatory (DMA). She began piano studies at the age of seven and was accepted into the Seoul Arts Center's prodigy program at eleven. At thirteen, she made her orchestral debut performing Saint-Saëns' Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Jeonju Symphony Orchestra.

Seyoung has appeared in distinguished concert series such as the Steinway Series' Late Beethoven Sonata and Art of Fugue programs, and has performed at notable venues including the Franz Liszt Academy Concert Hall in Budapest, White Recital Hall in Kansas City, and Youngsan Art Hall in Seoul. Her festival appearances include the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, Atlantic Music Festival, and Liszt Academy International Festival.

As an experienced and passionate teacher, Seyoung has worked with students of all ages and skill levels, helping them develop a solid technical and musical foundation. She has served as an adjunct faculty member at Benedictine College and as a teaching assistant at the UMKC Conservatory.

In addition to her solo and teaching work, she is an active chamber musician and collaborative pianist, frequently involved in contemporary and interdisciplinary projects. Her collaborations with composer Hyekyung Lee explore the fusion of traditional piano performance with electronic music, highlighting her commitment to innovation and artistic exploration.

Tina Kouratachvili is a native of Tbilisi, Georgia, where she graduated with a Master's in piano performance and pedagogy from the Georgian State Conservatory in 1989. At age 7, she started attending the Paliashvili Music School for Gifted Children, and graduated with distinction in 1984.

Tina has extensive experience both as a soloist and a collaborator. In Georgia, she performed with the Georgian Symphony Orchestra, National TV Orchestra, Georgorian Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Georgian Conservatory. She also performed the world premier of Rakov's Second Piano Concerto. In the Pacific NW, she has been featured as a soloist with the Olympic Chamber Orchestra, performing Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto in G minor and Beethoven's Piano Concerto in C minor. As a chamber musician, she has participated in the Brahms Festivals. In addition to being a dedicated performer, she was on the piano faculty at Seattle University for two decades, and is currently a professor emeritus.

Tina teaches students of all ages and levels, from beginner to advanced. Some of her former students have continued their studies and received doctoral degrees in piano performance, and are now teaching in colleges. Tina stresses deep understanding of each musical piece, technique, and musicality to motivate students with challenging and well-rounded individual programs. She believes teaching "how to practice" is one of the most important roles of a teacher.

Tomoko Maki, born in Tokyo, Japan, is a solo piano performer, collaborative musician, and teacher. She holds her Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Kunitachi College of Music and her Master of Music degree in piano performance from Central Washington University. In addition to having attended Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, France, Tomoko has recently received her Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree at the University of Washington under Prof. Robin McCabe. Her dissertation, titled Connections Across Oceans: Debussy, Impressionism, and "The Floating World (Ukiyo-e)" of Japanese Art, focuses on the Japanese art world which Debussy loved and its influence on his creativity as a musician and composer. Tomoko has performed in master classes for Dmitri Alexeev, Stephen Drury, and Malcolm Bilson at the UW School of Music, where she has been a recipient of Helen Crowe Snelling Music Award and Ruth Sutton Watters Endowed Scholarship.

Tomoko is passionate about teaching both children and adults. The two main focuses of her piano teaching are developing good practicing habits and providing a positive learning experience.

FORMER INSTRUCTORS : Please click here for a list of former teachers.