Faculty & Teachers
Teachers at Musica are known for their strong teaching profile and talent. All the Yamaha Teachers are certified by Yamaha Canada, and the Private teachers have or are pursuing their ARCT from RCM or equivalent.
Our faculty is very energetic and easy-going which allows them to build a fantastic rapport with the students. Passionate and well-trained, our staff members work very hard at making the lessons as engaging and as rewarding as possible.
If you'd like to join our team, please visit our Careers page.
The following are short biographies of our current teachers at Musica Academy. You can click on each teacher's picture to view their extended biographies.
Looi Tan (Piano)
Anna Pompeeva (Voice/Piano)
Ben Carson (Guitar/Ukulele)
Caroline Cui (Piano)
Ellie Kim (Piano)
Javier Carril (Piano)
Juan Cacho (Guitar/Bass Guitar/Ukulele)
Lindsay Suliaman (Clarinet/Piano)
Sherwinn Chiew (Piano)
Tam Nguyen (Piano)
Typhen Chan (Violin)
Looi Tan
Teaching: Since 1999
Courses: Private Piano, Yamaha Group Classes
Qualifications: Bachelor of Music Education (University of Calgary), ARCT in Piano Performance (Royal Conservatory of Music), Authorized Yamaha Examiner
Looi is presently the director of Musica Academy. She is a seasoned musician (Piano and Trumpet), and loves all aspects of running a music school: from summer camps to festivals, adjudicating music exams, and teaching all levels; she does it with utmost enthusiasm.
Looi is passionate about music education and has operated two Music Studios in Calgary since 2001. She has written education articles and blog posts for local magazines and sites. Her leadership in teaching and pedagogy has evolved into starting TeachMusic.Academy for mentoring young teachers in the music industry. She recently held a presentation on Career choices for Musicians at the University of Calgary (Sept 2024).
Looi is also actively involved in the local community. She was a judge for a local talent show (Fairchild TV 2012 Singing Talent Show). Looi and her students regularly perform at a local senior center. She is currently actively involved in local Arts organizations, like The Alcove Centre for the Arts, Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association (ARMTA), Grow Your Biz, as well as being a music director for a local music play “Remember Also Me” (March 2025). Looi continues to be an influence in the local music community.
Anna Pompeeva
Teaching: Since 2004
Courses: Private Voice, Piano
Qualifications: PhD Specialization in Musical Arts (Kharkiv I.P. Kotiyaravsky National University of the Arts)
Anna has extensive experience in teaching children of all ages and adults. She worked in a children's music school, where she taught vocals and piano. After graduating from the Conservatory with honors, she received her PhD in Musical Arts (2017).
Anna is a speaker and participant of many international conferences on pedagogy, the author of 6 articles on the history of music and methodological recommendations on singing.
As a practicing opera singer, Anna has been the lead soloist of the Kharkov Opera and Ballet Theater since 2013, and has been on tour in the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Austria, Poland, and Germany. Winner of two international opera singing competitions, the last of which was in Montecatini Terme in 2022 (Italy).
Currently working with the Сalgary Opera as a member of the opera choir, and very happy to be part of the musical team of Yamaha Musica Academy!
Ben Carson
Teaching: Since 2008
Courses: Private Guitar/Ukulele, Yamaha Group Classes
Qualifications: Bachelor of Music and MBA (University of Victoria)
Ben began teaching guitar at Musica Academy in 2008 while attending the University of Calgary. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education degree, Ben taught Music and Phys Ed in the Calgary Board of Education for 2 years.
After completing his MBA at the University of Victoria, he worked at the Victoria Symphony as Senior Community Relations Officer, managing the Education and Outreach program and large public events. Ben’s passion for teaching guitar led him to continue teaching during his time in Victoria.
Ben is currently teaching at Connect Charter School and is a seasoned Guitar teacher at Yamaha Musica Academy.
Caroline Cui
Teaching: Since 2021
Courses: Private Piano, Yamaha Group Classes
Qualifications: ARCT (Royal Conservatory), Yamaha Group Class Certified
Caroline is a passionate pianist and teacher who has been playing for 19 years and teaching since 2021. She completed her RCM ARCT in Piano in 2015 and has been teaching students of all ages, children and adults, and all levels ever since.
As a performer, she particularly likes Bach's Preludes and Fugues as well as Beethoven. As a teacher, she guides her students with their goals in music in mind. She has extensive experience teaching young kids and keeping them engaged in class.
Her philosophy is to inspire kids to love and enjoy music while also laying proper musical foundations so that her students may go on to pursue whatever kind of music they want. In the fall, Caroline is excited to be teaching the Yamaha curriculum. Aside from music, Caroline also enjoys taking long walks with her cute Daschund-mix and crocheting with her massive box of yarn.
Ellie Kim
Teaching: Since 2018
Courses: Private Piano
Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (Korea Baptist Theological University), Piano Grade 8 (Royal Conservatory of Music)
Ellie is a passionate and dedicated pianist and teacher who began her musical journey at the age of 4 and has over 20 years of experience in music. She has won multiple awards in national competitions and earned her Bachelor of Music from Korea Baptist Theological University in 2022.
Following graduation, Ellie performed as a guest artist in recitals across Korea, worked as an orchestral accompanist, and played as an ensemble pianist. She also ran her own music studio for three years, gaining extensive teaching experience with students of all ages. As an RCM Certified Teacher, she has guided her students to achieve excellent results.
Ellie is known for her strong emotional connection with her students and her dedication to their growth. She is committed to helping students of diverse abilities improve their skills and fostering a lifelong love of music. She is excited to join the Musica Academy team and looks forward to inspiring students on their musical journey.
Javier Carril
Teaching: Since 2010
Courses: Private Piano, Yamaha Group Classes
Qualifications: Masters of Arts in Musicology (University of Calgary), Bachelor of Music in Piano (National Autonomous University of Mexico)
Javier Carril received his Bachelor’s degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 2011. He has received his training from well-renowned piano instructors in Mexico, such as Monique Rasetti and Elias Morales Carino. He has performed on Several Stages in Mexico, accompanying school choirs and as a soloist. His interest in the history of Western music encouraged him to obtain a Master's in Musicology at the University of Calgary (2019).
Javier Carril has experience teaching both young children and older adults, and has been involved in the Yamaha Music Education System since 2010 - First in Mexico City, and later in Calgary. He has lived in Calgary since 2017.
Javier Carril is a very motivated and patient instructor with strong analytical skills, which is useful in solving students’ piano techniques and difficulties. Although he was classically trained, he enjoys playing pop and film music, and is open to learn from his students’ musical interests. In his free time, he enjoys watching movies and swimming.
Juan Cacho
Teaching: Since 2019
Courses: Private Guitar/Bass Guitar/Ukulele, Drums, Trombone
Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (University of Calgary)
Juan is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary instruments are guitar, bass, and drums. He completed a Bachelor of Music studying bass trombone at the University of Calgary and performed in the U of C Orchestra, Jazz Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble.
Currently, he is a performing drummer for hip-hop bands: The Blue and Hip Hop Thursday. Additionally, he is a guitarist and bassist for many other bands and artists around Calgary. He also produces and performs original music under the stage name Tobi Sinclair.
In between performances, Juan hosts music workshops and open jams at The Alcove Centre for the Arts. In doing so, he has grown a passion for teaching theory, improvisation, and performance, which he hopes to pass along to budding musicians
Lindsay Suliaman
Teaching: Since 2023
Courses: Private Piano, Clarinet
Qualifications: Bachelor of Music (University of Calgary) 2nd year, Intermediate Level (Royal Conservatory of Music)
Hello! My name is Lindsay, and I’m currently entering my second year of a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Calgary.
I specialize in clarinet, but I also play piano and electric bass.
During my time at the University of Calgary, I’ve performed with a variety of music ensembles, including symphonic band and studio shows. I’ve also had the privilege of studying for the past two years with Stan Climie, principal bass clarinetist of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra.
Music has always been a major part of my life, and it continues to inspire both my personal and academic journey. I’ve been teaching music for the past two years, and as a teacher, I strive to create a supportive and engaging learning environment where students can build confidence and develop their skills. I’m passionate about helping others discover the joy and creativity that music can bring.
I am currently under Ms. Looi’s mentorship in the TeachMusic.Academy in the student teacher program.
Sherwinn Chiew
Teaching: Since 2023
Courses: Private Piano
Qualifications: Piano and Theory Grade 8 (Royal Conservatory of Music)
Sherwinn has been involved with music classes since she was 2. Consequently, she has been inspired to explore other areas of music, including piano, choir, flute, and ukulele. She is fascinated by the ability music has for universal expression in her students.
She has completed her Education Degree from the University of Calgary, with a focus on music. She also graduated from the student-teacher program of TeachMusic.Academy under the guidance of Ms. Looi Tan. She and her siblings were students of Musica Academy, and she is now back to pass down her passion for music to the younger students.
Tam Nguyen
Teaching: Since 2025
Courses: Private Piano
Qualifications: Piano Grade 10 (Royal Conservatory of Music), Student Teaching Program (through TeachMusic.Academy)
Tam has a unique approach to music teaching, blending his background in STEM with a strong passion for creative expression. As a student at the University of Calgary majoring in Astrophysics, he appreciates the significance of structure, problem-solving, and discipline, which he applies to teaching. At the same time, he believes that music should be a personal and enjoyable experience, and he strives to create a supportive environment in which students will be encouraged to pursue their own musical path.
Based on his background in classical piano, jazz performance, and tutoring academic subjects, Tam tailors each lesson to meet the individual needs of his students. Whether they are studying for an exam or playing music for fun, his goal is to help grow their confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of music. Tam is currently in the Student Teacher program with Ms. Looi Tan and is excited to share his passion and skill with the Musica Academy community, where he hopes to help students with their musical journey.
Typhen Chan
Teaching: Since 2021
Courses: Private Violin, Yamaha Group Classes
Qualifications: Advanced Performance Program (Mount Royal Conservatory)
Typhen Chan was a member of the Advanced Performance Program (APP) at the Academy Program for Young Artists hosted by Mount Royal University. He started playing the violin at the age of 5 under the guidance of Jeremy van Diemen and studied with the prestigious Professor William van der Sloot.
He has won several prizes in his thirteen years of playing the violin locally, provincially, and nationally. He is a two-time winner of the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) and was presented with the Grande Prairie & District Encana Music Festival scholarship by the Alberta Music Festival Association (AMFA). Typhen was one of four winners of the Rotary Calgary Concerto Competition (RC3) in 2019 and performed Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the Calgary Civic Symphony. He also won the Frank Simpson Concerto Competition by the Calgary Youth Orchestra in 2019 and performed Paganini's Violin Concerto No. 1 in 2022, which was delayed due to COVID-19.
He has gone on community outreaches throughout the city through various programs such as the Advanced Performance Program, the Back to Bach project, and the Dick Matthews Young Artists Development Program, playing in homes for both the elderly and elementary schools.
Besides his violin, he enjoys travelling, playing the piano and guitar, swimming, and arranging music. He is excited to be a part of Musica Academy's faculty.
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