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Piano Faculty

School of Music

Click on the profiles below to read each instructor’s full biography


Dr. Robert Michael Best

Piano
Pianist and composer Dr. Robert Best teaches piano, composition, improvisation and theory. In his early years as a pianist, he was a regular winner in various festivals such as the Kiwanis Music Festival, Canadian Music Competition and the Toronto East Festival. Robert’s interests broadened from...Learn More


Michael Coburn

Piano
Michael Coburn is a piano teacher, adjudicator, and performer with nearly two decades of experience. He fosters self-confidence, musical artistry, and fluent self-expression by helping students develop more control over their thoughts. His energy and enthusiasm support students of all levels in creatively searching for solutions and celebrating their successes.


Timothy Crofts

Piano, Improvisation

Tim received his Bachelor of Music in Composition and Piano from Dalhousie University in Halifax [2001], and a Masters of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston [2004]. In Halifax, Tim has been active in both the performance and teaching of improvised and...Learn More


Max Fleischman

Piano

Max Fleischman took his formative training in piano with Beatrice Allen (a student of James Friskin and Nadia Reisenberg). He then pursued further piano studies with Nelita True, Gabriel Chodos and Carmen Vilá, and historical keyboard studies with David Breitman, Malcolm Bilson ...Learn More


Esmée Gilbert

Piano

Esmée Gilbert is a pianist and teacher from St. John’s, NL. She holds a BMus from Memorial University, a MMus from uOttawa, and an Artist Diploma (DEPA in collaborative piano) from The University of Montreal. Her teachers have included Tim Steeves, Leopoldo Erice, Peter Allen, Francis Perron & Liz Upchurch. Esmée has a keen interest in string repertoire and enjoys playing chamber music. In past years, she has performed at festivals ...Learn More


Jessica Hansen Wheaton

Piano
Jessica Hansen Wheaton is an active member of the NS Registered Music Teachers Association (NSRMTA) and has been teaching piano students of all ages and levels for over twenty years. She comes from a musical family – both of her parents are pianists & teachers - and as such, has been playing the piano since ...Learn More


Rosemary Kristof

Piano
Rosemary Kristof’s early studies took place in Jamaica, W.I. with Isabelle Hicks leading to the L.R.S.M. Diploma in Performance, and one year later she obtained the Performer’s A.R.C.T. in Toronto with teachers Douglas Bodle and Pierre Souvairan. After this she had 7 years of post-graduate study with University of Toronto Faculty of Music Professor Greta Kraus, who was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 1992...Learn More


Cheryl McCarthy

Piano
Cheryl McCarthy is an experienced teacher, festival adjudicator and choral director. She works with students of all ages and levels in both piano and voice, adapting to the needs and skills of the individual....Learn More


Gregory Myra

Piano
Halifax pianist Gregory Myra received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance in 2009 from Dalhousie University where he studied with Professor Peter Allen. Upon graduation he accompanied the students of Professor Lucy Hayes-Davis at Dalhousie for two years. In 2011 he began studies at the University of Manitoba under Dr. Laura Loewen and graduated in 2013 with a Master of Music in Collaborative Piano. He has been a staff pianist at Dalhousie since 2013 playing for the voice studio of Professor Marcia Swanston and playing for Dal Opera and the Dalhousie Chorus. He has played for the Halifax Summer Opera Festival for many years and has also performed with Opera Nova Scotia and the Dalhousie Chamber Series....Learn More


Natalia Pavlovskaia

Piano
Natalia Pavlovskaia is a professional music educator and performer with over 25 years of experience in teaching, performing and adjudicating piano in Canada and Russia. Natalia holds a Master Degree with distinction in Piano Pedagogy and Piano Performance from Gorky Conservatoire and Diploma of Professional Development Program from St.Petersburg Conservatoire of Music, Russia. She has appeared as a soloist with Nova Sinfonia and as a chamber musician. ...Learn More


Betty Ro

Piano
Originally from South Korea, Betty Ro has been teaching in Nova Scotia since 1992. After culminating her studies in Korea, she completed a M.M. from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA, with piano studies under Gabriel Chodos and Jacob Maxin, and...Learn More


Frances Royle

Piano, Music Theory
Frances is an active performer, who has played for numerous opera and musical theatre productions as well as in solo and chamber music recitals. She has served as an accompanist for the School of Dance and the Suzuki Department as well as many private voice, string, and wind students. She teaches students of all ages and levels and particularly enjoys teaching adults. (Also Theory, private lessons only.)...Learn More


Tara Scott

Piano
Tara Scott is one of Atlantic Canada's most renowned collaborative pianists. Her love of teaching and performing has led her to pursue staff accompanist positions at Western, Dalhousie, Acadia, and Mount Allison Universities. She has performed extensively with singers, instrumentalists and choirs across Canada...Learn More


Dr. Cindy Thong*

Piano
Canadian pianist Cindy Thong leads a polyvalent career as a pedagogue, researcher and performer. She has performed throughout Canada, in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy, and has also been a finalist and prizewinner in numerous competitions such as the Concours Hélène-Roberge...Learn More

Dr. Robert Michael Best

Piano
Pianist and composer Dr. Robert Best teaches piano, composition, improvisation and theory. In his early years as a pianist, he was a regular winner in various festivals such as the Kiwanis Music Festival, Canadian Music Competition and the Toronto East Festival. Robert’s interests broadened from...Learn More

Michael Coburn

Piano
Michael Coburn is a piano teacher, adjudicator, and performer with nearly two decades of experience. He fosters self-confidence, musical artistry, and fluent self-expression by helping students develop more control over their thoughts. His energy and enthusiasm support...Learn More

Timothy Crofts

Piano, Improvisation
Tim received his Bachelor of Music in Composition and Piano from Dalhousie University in Halifax [2001], and a Masters of Music in Contemporary Improvisation from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston [2004]. In Halifax, Tim has been active in both the performance and teaching of improvised and...Learn More

Max Fleischman

Piano
Max Fleischman took his formative training in piano with Beatrice Allen (a student of James Friskin and Nadia Reisenberg). He then pursued further piano studies with Nelita True, Gabriel Chodos and Carmen Vilá, and historical keyboard studies with David Breitman, Malcolm...Learn More

Esmée Gilbert

Piano
Esmée Gilbert is a pianist and teacher from St. John’s, NL. She holds a BMus from Memorial University, a MMus from uOttawa, and an Artist Diploma (DEPA in collaborative piano) from The University of Montreal. Her teachers have included Tim Steeves, Leopoldo Erice, Peter Allen, Francis Perron & Liz Upchurch. Esmée has a keen interest in string repertoire and enjoys playing chamber music. In past years, she has performed at festivals...Learn More

Jessica Hansen Wheaton

Piano
Jessica Hansen Wheaton is an active member of the NS Registered Music Teachers Association (NSRMTA) and has been teaching piano students of all ages and levels for over twenty years. She comes from a musical family – both of her parents are pianists & teachers - and as such, has been playing the piano since ...Learn More

Rosemary Kristof

Piano
Rosemary Kristof’s early studies took place in Jamaica, W.I. with Isabelle Hicks leading to the L.R.S.M. Diploma in Performance, and one year later she obtained the Performer’s A.R.C.T. in Toronto with teachers Douglas Bodle and Pierre Souvairan. After this she had...Learn More

Cheryl McCarthy

Piano
Cheryl McCarthy is an experienced teacher, festival adjudicator and choral director. She works with students of all ages and levels in both piano and voice, adapting to the needs and skills of the individual...Learn More

Gregory Myra

Piano
Gregory Myra: Halifax pianist Gregory Myra received his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance in 2009 from Dalhousie University where he studied with Professor Peter Allen. Upon graduation he accompanied the students of Professor Lucy Hayes-Davis at Dalhousie for...Learn More

Natalia Pavlovskaia

Piano
Natalia Pavlovskaia is a professional music educator and performer with over 25 years of experience in teaching, performing and adjudicating piano in Canada and Russia. Natalia holds a Master Degree with distinction in Piano Pedagogy and Piano Performance from Gorky Conservatoire and Diploma of Professional Development Program from St. Petersburg ...Learn More

Betty Ro

Piano
Originally from South Korea, Betty Ro has been teaching in Nova Scotia since 1992. After culminating her studies in Korea, she completed a M.M. from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA, with piano studies under Gabriel Chodos and Jacob Maxin, and...Learn More

Frances Royle

Piano, Music Theory
Frances is an active performer, who has played for numerous opera and musical theatre productions as well as in solo and chamber music recitals. She has served as an accompanist for the School of Dance and the Suzuki Department as well as many private voice, string, and...Learn More

Tara Scott

Piano
Tara Scott is one of Atlantic Canada's most renowned collaborative pianists. Her love of teaching and performing has led her to pursue staff accompanist positions at Western, Dalhousie, Acadia, and Mount Allison Universities. She has performed extensively with singers...Learn More

Dr. Cindy Thong*

Piano
Canadian pianist Cindy Thong leads a polyvalent career as a pedagogue, researcher and performer. She has performed throughout Canada, in Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Spain and Italy, and has also been a finalist and prizewinner in numerous competitions such as the Concours Hélène-Roberge...Learn More

*Department Head