Kellyn Quek

Principal/ Senior Piano/ MEP/ A-Level/ IB Music/ Advanced Theory Instructor

Music LifeStyle Academy is the brainchild of Kellyn Quek, a qualified teacher of piano and music theory over 30 years. Among her alma maters are Kingston University in London, from which she graduated with BA(HONS)MUS, as well as a Diploma in Music.

Besides teaching, she also volunteers her coaching and music arrangement services for the Choir at a non-profit organization and has personally spearheaded numerous performances and fund raising efforts over the years.

As an ardent lover of music and a firm believer in its enriching effect on one's emotional development and spiritual well-being, Kellyn started this academy with the intention of sharing her passion with those around her, hoping to teach others to think of music not merely as a form of entertainment or leisure, but as a way of life. The aim of the academy is to cultivate a genuine love and appreciation for music that extends beyond examinations and paper qualifications.

As a teacher, Kellyn believes in making music lessons both accessible and enjoyable for her students. Therefore, at Music LifeStyle, one can expect a structured and well-organized curriculum that has been carefully crafted with the goal of providing a holistic musical education in mind, as well as being tailor-made to meet the diverse requirements of all students.

Khachatur Khachatryan

Cello Instructor/ Concert Cellist/ Composer/ Performer

Khachatur earned his Master Degree from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. At the age of 13 he received a special prize in the Adult Section of the International Music competition "Virtuoses of XXI Century" in Moscow. In 2008, Khachatur won first prize in the International Italian Art Competition 2008 in Napoli. He worked as a consultant at the invitation of the city of Harbin, China for the performance quality of the Harbin Symphony Orchestra. He has 13 years of experience teaching cello for all levels up to diploma.

Since 1993, he has been an award recipient of prestigious music institutions such as the New Names, Aram Khachaturian Foundation and the Vladimir Spivakov Foundation. He considers the cycle of Bach's six suites for solo cello his specialty and often plays them in one sitting.

Apart from performing, he also actively composes professionally symphonic works, chamber music and orchestral arrangements. One of his more accomplished works would be the arrangement for orchestra of Rachmaninoff's Preludes.

He has been producing distinction students since his teaching at the academy on ABRSM Exam Preparations.

Tchomoeva Tchynar

Senior Violin / Viola/ Piano/ Theory Instructor/ Performer

Tchynar is a senior, caring and passionate instructor at Music LifeStyle, she is well-versed in Violin, Viola, Piano and Conducting. Tchynar has an impressive legacy of work experience and academic qualifications. She graduated with a master degree from the best music conservatory in the world Saint-Petersburg Conservatory, Russia.

Her qualifications trained her as an orchestra player, chamber orchestra player, music teacher and an artiste for chamber ensemble. She has a keen interest in imparting knowledge to her students and strives share her experience with her students. As of now, she has over 30 years of music teaching experience for both piano and strings.

As a music professional at the academy, Tcynar's teaching philosophy is to provide fun and enjoyable music lessons both for leisure and examinations certification from beginners to diploma levels.

Dominic Wan

Senior Guitar/ Recorder Instructor/ IB Music/ Composer/ Performer

Dominic is a two-time winner of the Yamaha Guitar Festival, in the Classical (Open) section in 1981 and the Pop (Open) section in 1990. He was also the winner of the Guitar (Open) section of the National Music Competition in 1982. While still in his teens, he had appearances on television with the Yamaha Guitar Orchestra and radio along with his recorder consort, The Pipers' Guild. After a diploma in music from LASALLE College of the Arts he went on to a BA (Hons) (Mus) from Kingston University, England, majoring in classical guitar.

In addition, he spent his post-graduate year at the Royal College of Music, England, where he obtained an ARCM in Early Music, this time majoring on the recorder. His teachers include Ernest Kwok, John Mills, Jochen Schubert, Michael Schneider, John Sharpley, Carlos Bonell, Elizabeth Page, Philip Thorby, Walter van Hauwe and Philip Pickett. Recordings with local musicians include Mark Chan ('Nature Boy', 'Traveling under the light of the full moon' and 'Lear') and Peculiar Remedies. Other notable appearances include playing recorder in Theatreworks' 'Broken Birds' and guitar on 'Mortal Sins', mandolin with the Singapore Festival Orchestra on Howard Shore's 'The Lord of the Rings' Suite and Rodion Shchedrin's 'Anna Karenina'. As a composer, he composed music for local stagings of Arthur Miller's 'The Crucible', 'Grimm Tales' and independent film 'Bipolar'.

Mr.Dominic, currently teaches guitar and recorder as well as IB Music Programs at Music LifeStyle Academy apart from composing music.

Lanice Lim

Piano/ MEP/ O-Level/ A-Level/ Theory Instructor/ Performer

Miss Lanice Lim is a passionate, patient, caring and fun-loving person. With over a decade of experience in classical Western music, she has completed her ABRSM grade 8 in piano and music theory as well as a Diploma in Piano.

During her time at Dunman High School, she also enrolled in the Music Elective Programme (MEP). Subsequently, in her Junior College years, she took the GCE Advanced Level Higher 2 music and the GCE Advanced level Higher 3 music as part of her A level curriculum, allowing her to gain more knowledge in numerous aspects of music, including composition, music history and world music.  

Throughout her studies, she managed to score distinction in her A Level Music. Besides being well trained in western music, her passion for music led her to further explore Traditional Chinese music where she discovered how to play the Pipa. Not only has she successfully completed her Diploma in Pipa performance, she also has a decade worth of experience in Chinese Orchestra, participating actively as a member and as a leader during her schooling years.

Her time at National University of Singapore (NUS) refined her skills and knowledge, empowering her to become a highly proficient and dedicated music educator at Music LifeStyle Academy.

Alex Soh

Violin/ Theory Instructor

A Mechanical Engineering graduate from NUS (National University of Singapore), Alexander has been playing violin for over 20 years and holds an LTCL, ATCL, ABRSM Grade 8 Practical, ABRSM Theory Grade 8 and Suzuki Violin Level 6.

Alexander aims to pursue FRSM at some point in the near future. Passionate and student-centric, he is proficient in teaching various syllabi such as Suzuki, ABRSM as well as Trinity Guildhall.

Steven Chong

Senior Harmonica Instructor/ Performer

A multi-talented harmonica player, Steven currently plays lead at the Singapore Broadway Harmonica Ensemble. He picked up harmonica in 1975 during his secondary school days. He plays the chromatic harmonica, tremolo harmonica, bass harmonica as well as the chord harmonica.

In 1977 he joined Rediffusion Chinese Drama and in 1982, he became the group instructor and Assistant Conductor for their Group Harmonica Orchestra. In 1984, he joined the Hainan Association Harmonica Orchestra and started to do score arrangement for the orchestra and was also responsible for leading the percussion section. In the year 2005, he became a soloist and he played " Endless Love" at the Victoria Theatre and in 2006 and played as lead soloist for "Butterfly Lovers Concerto" at Esplanade Concert Hall.

He received many compliments for his superb playing skills. Among his achievements was 1st Place in Harmonica Orchestra Competition for 2nd APHF(Malaysia) in 1998. In 2005, he represented Singapore and won a championship with Gold Award in HangZhou(China) INT Invitation Orchestra Competition. He is also the Champion with Gold Award NHC(Singapore) for Chromatic Solo in 2008.

Having the 1st position Lead Player, he also actively arranges harmonica music scores. In 2014, Steven co-wrote 'Harmonica Method Book 1' with Ms Kellyn Quek (Principal, Music LifeStyle) to simplify and enhance harmonica learning methods.

Steven has performed many classical pieces, such as 'Besame Mucho' and 'Hora Staccato'. He also collaborated with World Class Violinist & Pianist Dr. Ayke Agus as well as Nicholas Quek (pianist) in performing 'The Swan' for the 'Future & Hope Charity Concert 2015' at the Victoria Concert Hall.

Narine Gevorgyan

Violin/ Viola Instructor/ Performer

Narine earned her Master Degree from Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory. She began her musical education in Gnessin State Musical College when she was 8 and almost immediately took part in a stormy musical life. She participated and became laureate of the 2nd prize at "New Generation Award 1999" International music competition, 1999 Moscow, Russia and 1st prize at the "Young Talented Musicians of Russia" music competition back in 2002 in Moscow, Russia. With her family, she moved to Armenia in 2002 and entered the Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory in the class of famous Armenian violinist and teacher Victor Khachatryan (student of Leonid Kogan).

While studying at the Conservatory she had participated in many national festivals of chamber and orchestral music as a soloist and a team leader and was laureate of numerous international chamber music competitions in Europe and Russia. From 2007 to 2009, she continued training at the Graduate School of Yerevan State Conservatory in class of Artashes Mkrtchyan (another student of Leonid Kogan). While studying at the Conservatory, she had the opportunity to improve her violin technique and skills in several music academies in Germany and Austria.

During her education, Narine played at various recitals in the chamber halls of Bucharest, Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Kiev. She also actively participated in festivals in Germany, Malta, Spain, Armenia, Russia and China. She is often invited as a concertmaster of touring festival orchestras, such as "Traveling Notes", "I, Culture Orchestra" etc. In 2014 she was invited to China to Harbin Symphony Orchestra as a foreign specialist, where Narine actively took a part in its musical life. She plays chamber music concert series in China at music festivals, such as Harbin Summer Music Festival, Harbin Russian Music Festival, Beijing Chamber Music Festival. Along with her orchestra and ensemble career in China, she had violin masterclasses in several colleges and universities. As an artist of the orchestra, she has worked with famous conductors of our generation as Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Charles Dutoit, Yang Yang and Chen Xieyang.

She is very passionate and proficient in teaching for both violin and viola on ABRSM and Trinity Exam Preparations.

Angeline Valencia

Cello/ Piano / Theory Instructor

Angeline Valencia's impressive music journey is proved by her deep commitment to both musical and academic excellence. Winning a full scholarship to study at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory is a testament to her talent and dedication to music.

It is so wonderful to see how her leadership in organising school events and establishing a music ensemble reflects her initiative and love for community engagement through music.

With Angeline Valencia's extensive background and passion, she brings incredible value to Music LifeStyle Academy. Her journey from an outstanding, accomplished student before to a skilled professional and educator highlights her dedication.

Angeline's leadership in music projects and her expertise in both performance and composition inspire her students to connect with music on a deeper level.

Her piano, cello, and theory achievements, culminating in distinction on her ABRSM certifications, underscores her dedication to a comprehensive musical education. This background, combined with her professional experience in composition and collaborative work, truly enriches her teaching. Her commitment to sharing the joy of music and inspiring others is incredibly valuable, especially in an educational setting like yours.

Learning music with Angeline at Music LifeStyle would definitely benefit the most from her experience and enthusiasm for music!