Our Music Teachers in Bukit Timah

Nina Brankovanova
Violin Teacher

Nina is an experienced violin educator with a rich background in performance and teaching. She began her musical training at an early age. She graduated from the National School of Arts in Ruse, Bulgaria. Later, she earned her Master’s degree in violin performance from the Bulgarian National Academy of Music in Sofia.

During her studies, Nina refined her artistry through masterclasses with distinguished musicians. These included Mincho Minchev, Vanya Milanova, Jury Jislin, and Michael Frischenschlager.

Her professional career spans over a decade of orchestral experience. Nina spent five years performing with the New Symphony Orchestra and served as Assistant Concertmaster of the Orpheus String Chamber Orchestra. In addition, she led the National Academy’s Student Orchestra as Concertmaster.

This passion for ensemble playing took her across Europe where she performed with the Youth Orchestra of the Netherlands and the Ruse Festival Orchestra.

Internationally, Nina has performed in the USA, Argentina, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. After relocating to Asia, she continued her musical journey in the Philippines, Thailand, and now Singapore.

Since 2011, Nina has been a dedicated violin teacher at Tanglewood Music School. She guides students of all ages. Her teaching has helped many young violinists achieve excellent results in competitions, music examinations, and auditions for programmes such as the School of the Arts (SOTA) and the Music Elective Programme (MEP).

In 2022, Nina created the Musical Fairytales concert series to inspire children and families to explore classical music together.

“I believe that as musicians, we have a mission to bring people into concert halls and connect them with music. As teachers, we nurture a lifelong love of music in every student.”

Komila Izatulloyeva
Violin Teacher

Komila is a passionate violin instructor who brings international experience to her teaching at Tanglewood Music School in Singapore.

In 2019, she graduated from the Musical Lyceum named after Victor Uspensky in Uzbekistan, where she achieved numerous awards in international violin competitions held in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Italy. She also performed regularly in weekly charity concerts titled “From Children to Children,” sharing music with young audiences.

The following year, Komila continued her education at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore, under Professor Zuo Jun. She expanded her musical skills by attending masterclasses with renowned violinists such as Xi Chen, Ilya Konovalov, Nadir Khashimov, Amalia Hall, Krzysztof Wegrzyn, Christoph Schickedanz, Shlomo Mintz, and Qian Zhou..

Alongside her work as a violin teacher, Komila is also an accomplished pianist. She enjoys helping children and adults up to Grade 5 develop their piano technique and musical understanding.

At Tanglewood Music School, she teaches:

• Violin lessons for beginners to advanced students
• Piano classes for children and adults
• Music Theory
• ABRSM exam preparation and performance coaching

Ms. Komila is committed to helping each student achieve their musical goals with patience, encouragement, and a focus on strong technical foundations.

Veronika Sakhno
Violin and Viola Teacher

Veronika is an internationally trained violist and violinist and dedicated music educator with a Master’s Degree in Music Arts from the S.S. Prokofiev Donetsk State Academy of Music in Ukraine. She graduated with distinction from leading music institutions, achieving outstanding academic results throughout her studies.

With extensive experience as both a performer and teacher, Veronika has worked as an orchestral musician, chamber ensemble performer, viola and violin instructor. Her rich performance background allows her to bring a deep understanding of technique, musical expression, and ensemble collaboration into her teaching.

She is passionate about nurturing each student’s musical potential and guiding them to develop strong technical foundations, confidence, and a genuine love for music. Her teaching approach combines structured classical training with creativity, emotional awareness, and a supportive learning environment. She has extensive experience preparing students for performances and helping them grow both musically and personally.

As an active performing musician, Veronika continues to expand her professional interests toward music therapy research and the role of music in emotional well-being and personal development.

Her lessons are known for being engaging, student-centred, and inspiring, helping students build discipline, artistry, and joy in music-making.

Veronika is currently teaching both Viola and Violin at our music school in Bukit Timah.

Patricia Krug
Cello Teacher

Patricia is an experienced cellist and music educator dedicated to nurturing students of all ages, from young beginners to advanced musicians.

She earned her Master in Music Education at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich, Germany. Over the years, Patricia has developed a strong reputation for her work in early childhood music pedagogy and violoncello instruction. She helps students develop solid foundations and confidence in their playing.

In addition to her teaching career, she has worked extensively with grammar schools and higher education institutions, sharing her expertise with diverse learning communities.

Patricia is also an accomplished performer, having gained valuable orchestral experience in Germany, the UK, Italy, Russia, Brazil, and Argentina.

At Tanglewood Music School Bukit Timah, she offers:

• Cello lessons for children and adults
• Music enrichment programmes

Her teaching approach combines technical excellence with a warm, supportive environment that inspires confidence and a lifelong appreciation for music.

Shang Hua Chou
Cello Teacher

Shang Hua is a passionate cellist and music educator with many years of teaching experience. She is committed to fostering the musical growth of students at all levels, from early learners to advanced musicians.

She began her musical training in Taiwan, graduating from the Taipei National University of the Arts. She then pursued advanced studies, earning a Master’s Degree in 2017 from the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen in Germany.

Her professional career includes significant orchestral experience as a cellist at the Erfurt Theater in Germany. Since returning to Taiwan, she has been actively engaged in the National Taiwan Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Academy of Taiwan Strings.

For several years, Shang Hua taught at Ivy Collegiate Academy and many Music Elective Programme (MEP) schools in Taiwan. Her teaching achievements are recognized by the musical community, and she successfully helped numerous students to gain admission to national universities.

In 2025, Shang Hua settled in Singapore, where she looks forward to inspiring and supporting individuals who love music.

Wang Yafen
Piano Teacher

Yafen is an accomplished pianist and music educator with a diverse performance background. She is experienced in classical and pop music, music composition, recitals, piano accompaniment, and chamber music. She also has a strong interest in music activity planning.

In 2006, she earned her Master’s Degree from the Graduate Institute of Collaborative Piano at Tainan National University. In 2009, she continued her studies at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, further expanding her musical expertise.

At Tanglewood Music School, Yafen teaches:

• Piano lessons for children and adults
• Music Theory and Aural skills
• Piano Accompaniment coaching

Her lessons focus on building strong technique, musical expression, and confidence in performance.

Ong Xin Yee
Piano Teacher

Xin Yee is a distinguished pianist and a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where she was awarded a prestigious scholarship to pursue her Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Piano Performance. During her time in the UK, she refined her artistry under the tutelage of celebrated professors including Graeme McNaught, Aaron Shorr, Fali Pavri, and Sinae Lee.

Her performance career spans the United Kingdom, Europe, and Malaysia, with notable appearances at Glasgow City Hall, the Bentley Music Auditorium, and the Angela Burgess Recital Hall. An active chamber musician and soloist, Xin Yee has participated in numerous international festivals and masterclasses led by world-renowned artists such as Nikolai Lugansky and Steven Osborne.

With over eight years of international teaching experience, Xin Yee specializes in preparing students for graded and diploma examinations, as well as high-level competitions. Her pedagogical approach is deeply rooted in her conservatoire training, focusing on a solid technical foundation, refined tonal control, and stylistic awareness. Whether working with beginners or advanced diploma candidates, she provides a structured yet personalized curriculum designed to unlock each student’s musical potential.

Xin Yee is currently available at Tanglewood Music School for Piano, Theory, and Piano Accompaniment

Mi Maw Li Awng
Piano Teacher

Maw Li began his musical journey at the age of seven. Prior to relocating to Singapore in 2023, he gained over five years of teaching experience in Myanmar, working with students across a wide range of ages and skill levels.

In 2023, he enrolled as a Piano Performance major at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music, National University of Singapore. Under the tutelage of Professor Ning An, he continues to develop both his artistry and pedagogical skills.

In addition to his teaching, Maw Li is an active performer with a deep passion for music-making. He enjoys creating music content for social media and regularly collaborates as an accompanist with instrumentalists from diverse musical backgrounds.

Maw Li is currently teaching Piano, Theory and provides Piano accompaniment in Tanglewood Music School Bukit Timah.

Yi Kai, Sim
Piano Teacher

Yi Kai is an accomplished pianist and music teacher with expertise in both solo and collaborative piano at Tanglewood Music School Bukit Timah.

He earned his Master of Music degree in 2013 at the University of California, Santa Barbara. There, he studied under acclaimed Curtis alumni Robert Koenig and Paul Berkowitz.

In 2006, he was unanimously awarded Second Prize in the Open Category at the International IBLA Piano Competition.

After a competitive nationwide audition at the Metropolitan Opera, Yi Kai was invited to join the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar in New York. During this time, he worked with renowned mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and pianist-composer Alan Smith.

His background blends performance excellence and dedication to inspiring the next generation of musicians.

Jacob Leong
Guitar Teacher

Jacob Leong is a dedicated classical guitar teacher and performer with a strong passion for sharing music.

He studied classical guitar under Singapore Cultural Medallion recipient Mr. Alex Abisheganaden. He holds a Diploma in Guitar Music Performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK).

In 2013, he was a semi-finalist at the 6th Singapore International Guitar Competition, showcasing his skill and artistry.

Jacob has written a series of classical guitar methods titled “The Musical Strings,” developed for Singapore government schools. His materials help young learners build solid foundations in guitar playing.

He has taught at various music institutions in Singapore and conducted guitar ensembles that participated in Singapore Youth Festival competitions.

Outside of teaching, Jacob actively performs in concerts and on YouTube. He has also taken individual masterclasses with world-renowned guitarists Shin-Ichi Fukuda (Japan) and Miguel Trápaga (Spain).

His lessons focus on clear technique, musical expression, and inspiring confidence in every student.

Liew Wee Sing
Voice Teacher

Wee Sing is a respected lyric tenor and dedicated voice teacher known for his warm, distinctive tone. Over the past two decades, he has served as a choirmaster in church choirs and performed regularly as a solo artist. Furthermore, his approach to vocal training is systematic and holistic. Instead of relying on shortcuts, he teaches the Italian Bel Canto technique, helping students develop a healthy, pure, and unbroken chiaro-scuro vocal tone.

Holding the LTCL diploma in Singing Recital from Trinity College London, Wee Sing has also earned a Master’s degree in Music Performance (Classical Singing) from the University of West London. In 2018, he sang Schubert’s Lieder for the National Art Gallery Sonic Blossom project. That same year, he was awarded the Gold Prize in the Vocal Bel Canto category and became the Overall Champion at the Singapore Raffles Cultural & Arts Festival Talent Competition.

Moreover, in August 2019, he won the Gold Award at China’s Yantai-Penglai Asia Pacific International Chorus & Solo Arts Festival. His lessons focus on building solid technique and confidence, guiding each student to discover their unique voice.