Kaori started taking piano lessons from Ritsuko Watanabe when she was 3 years old. After graduating from Senzoku Gakuen in Japan, she moved to Minnesota to study Piano under Yakov Galfand at the Mac Phail Center of Honors, University of Minnesota. She received 1st place for Mac Phail Center of Honors Audition Performance for Piano Symphony.
Kaori is an active member of the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA), American College of Musicians / National Guild of Piano Teachers (Piano Guild), and certified Piano Marvel instructor.
Click here to watch one of Sean's performances
Sean has been surrounded by music for as long as he can remember. At age 5, he had the chance to play on a practice violin, and has loved the instrument ever since. Starting at age 8 he began learning the Suzuki method of violin with Pamela Wiley at Hungry Monk Music in Charleston, SC. His desire for music continually grew, and he began to learn fiddle as well.
Thanks to a military upbringing, he was able to travel all across the United States and learn many different methods and styles, from classical and contemporary to bluegrass and gypsy jazz. He has had many different instructors and was lucky to learn from and meet some of the greatest players in their styles, including bluegrass fiddle composer and artist Andy Reiner, and the founder of the Mark O'Connor American Fiddle method. He has played with over seven different youth orchestras and now sits as concertmaster of the Hawaii Pacific University Symphony Orchestra.
Rachel has always been intrigued by the intersection of music and language. She began studying - and singing! - Japanese in high school, eventually going on to graduate with degrees in Japanese Studies and Linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. She is currently certified at level 3 of the JLPT. Rachel began playing piano at age 5. At age 9, she began studying under the instruction of Vanlapa Boon Long, continuing until her acceptance into UH Hilo. She has always loved to sing, and has been in and out of choirs for most of her life, most notably the UH Hilo Kapili Choir. Rachel was certified as a Music Together teacher in August 2016.
Aiden fell in love with music at age 9 when he heard a classmate play their violin after school. Inspired to learn himself, Aiden was trained in the Suzuki Violin Method and was the First Chair at Mid-Pacific’s Orchestra. Since then, Aiden has expanded his musical knowledge to play different styles of guitar and ukulele, including Pop, Rock, Jazz, and Fingerstyle, as well as basic music production and recording techniques using Logic Pro X.
Aside from teaching at SoKnow Studio, Aiden volunteers at the Hawaii Theatre, and is a live gig/wedding guitarist in his three-piece band, “Made To Order,” performing at multiple venues across the island including Kahala Hotel, Aston Waikiki, Moku Kitchen, Kona Brewing Co, and more."
Click here to watch one of Elisabeth's performances
Elisabeth first found joy in music at the age of 6 when she started piano lessons. In middle school and into high school, she accompanied for church and the school choir. Determined to take steps toward her love of music, she received a BA in music from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and was recognized with a merit achievement in piano performance. Her passion for music involvement has led her to play for school plays, weddings and prison ministries.
In addition to teaching piano, Elisabeth teaches music classes at The Toddler Program and continues to accompany for church.
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