Our Instructors
All of Lumina’s teachers are classically trained concert pianists with many top prizes awarded to them in national and international competitions. They are experienced teachers with many years of private and collegiate-level teaching. They are adept at preparing students for ABRSM and NYSSMA examinations as well as college auditions, school recitals, and other competitions/performances. They are also active members of the Steinway STEP program, Music Teachers National Association, and Piano Teachers Congress of NY.
Since choosing a teacher is dependent on the “right fit” for both students and the teachers, for a limited time, we are happy to offer discounted 30-minute trial lessons with any of our instructors listed below, either in-person or online. Contact us today!
Head Instructor: Mr. Benjamin Dominguez
With a heart for reaching others through the art of music, Benjamin is a dedicated musician, concert artist, and teacher. Having studied the piano for well over two-thirds of his life, he continues to cultivate the passion that he received from his teachers and endeavors to communicate the vibrancy of music to his audiences and students.
Education:
MM Piano Performance, The Juilliard School (current)
BM Piano Performance, University of Kansas
Prizes:
Grand Prize Winner, Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artists Piano Competition
Grand Prize Winner, Naftzger Young Artists Audition
First Prize KC Symphony Concerto Competition (performance with KC Symphony)
Presser Scholar Award for musical and academic achievement
2021 performance at Lincoln Center as part of Restart Stages alongside Emmanuel Ax
(and more…)
Head Instructor: Dr. Mai Li
An accomplished Chinese pianist and pedagogue, Mai Li is an artist dedicated to sharing the poetic and emotional qualities of music with audiences around the world. As an avid soloist and chamber musician, Mai has performed frequently throughout the United States, England, and China, presenting recitals in major cities such as Washington D.C, New York City, Cincinnati, Hastings, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and many others.
Education:
DMA Piano Performance, University of Kansas
MM Piano Performance, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music
BM Piano Performance, Xinghai Conservatory of Music
Prizes:
Top Prize Winner and Special Chinese Prize, International Young Artists Piano Competition (invited performance at the Kennedy Center for the Arts)
Top Prize Winnner, KU Piano Concerto Competition (performance with KU Symphony Orchestra)
Top Prize Winner, World Piano Teachers Association (WPTA) International Piano Competition
Many solo and collaborative performances across China, the USA, and England
Published a highly regarded doctoral dissertation, “A Pedagogical and Performance Analysis of Francis Poulenc’s Works for Two Pianos and Four Hands”
(and more…)
Born in Toronto, Ontario, pianist Roseanne Yu has made a triangular path across North America. Raised in Irvine, California, Roseanne started playing piano at the age of 8. At the age of 13, she began studying with Pamela Worcester, a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and teacher at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, and made the definitive decision to study classical piano performance at the age of 15. During her time with Pamela Worcester, Roseanne became a multiple time semi-finalist and finalist in the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, as well as winning a small handful of other local competitions.
Education:
Professional Studies Diploma in Piano Performance, Mannes School of Music (current)
MM Piano Performance, Mannes School of Music
BM Piano Performance, Carnegie Mellon University
Ms. Roseanne Yu
Ms. Efrat Berestizhevsky
Efrat Berestizhevsky is an accomplished pianist and music academic, teaching and performing classical and contemporary music. She is a recent graduate from the Steinhart School at New York University, receiving her second Masters of Music in Piano Performance. Alongside her graduate program at NYU, Efrat served as piano faculty, teaching group and private piano sessions to undergraduate students at all levels.
Education:
PhD musicology, University of Aberdeen, Scotland (current)’
MM Piano Performance, New York University
MM Piano Performance, University of Aberdeen, Scotland
BM Piano Performance and Pedagogy, Florida Atlantic University
Jianzhi Wu is a pianist and educator currently pursuing a Master of Music in Piano Performance at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Kansas, where she actively performed as a soloist and chamber musician. She has performed concertos by Grieg and Saint-Saëns and collaborated with wind, brass, string, and vocal musicians in various chamber music
settings. Ms. Wu is passionate about teaching, adapting her approach to each student’s needs and seeking to foster a supportive and engaging learning environment that encourages exploration and
creativity.
Education:
MM Piano Performance, New York University (current)
BM Piano Performance, University of Kansas
Ms. Jianzhi Wu
Ms. Lin Ye
Ms. Lin Ye (叶琳老师) gained her Master of Music in Classical Piano with President's Award from Manhattan School of Music in 2023, and she graduated summa cum laude from Ohio State University with Dual Degrees in Piano Performance and Psychology in 2021. She has taught students at different levels, from young children to adults in both English and Chinese. Ms. Ye has experience as a professional and strictly trained classical pianist for the last 25 years and as a piano teacher for the last 12 years, incorporating various techniques and practice methods from Asian and Western methodologies.
Education:
MM Piano Performance, Manhattan School of Music
BM Piano Performance & BA Psychology, Ohio State University
Matthew Greene is a classically trained pianist from Massapequa, NY. In 2020, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Delaware in Classical Composition with a concentration in piano performance. In 2022 he then pursued a masters degree in Media Scoring (a broad term for film, TV, and video game composition) at Brooklyn College where he received his degree this past June. Now back at Brooklyn College for their advanced certificate in music education, he has aspirations of becoming a middle or high school band director in public schools.
Education:
Advanced Certificate in Music Education, Brooklyn College (current)
Masters of Music in Media Scoring, Brooklyn College
Bachelors of Music in Classical Music Composition, University of Delaware
Mr. Matthew Greene
Matthias Meyer is an award-winning multi-instrumentalist and dedicated educator. He earned his bachelor’s degree in music at the Berlin University of the Arts before completing his master’s degree at the City College of New York. In his still young career, he has had the privilege of working and learning alongside world-renowned musicians such as Carl Allen, Steve Wilson, and John Clayton. As an educator, Matthias is committed to recognizing each student’s unique strengths and needs, creating a personalized and inspiring learning experience that fosters both skill and creativity.
Education:
Master’s Degree in Jazz Studies, City College of New York
Bachelors Degree in Jazz Studies, Berlin University of the Arts
Interdisciplinary Bachelor’s Degree: Music, Politics and Pedagogy, College for Music, Theater and Media in Hannover, Germany