Meet our music tutors | Cherry Music Studio

Mary Chun

BMus in Music Performance with Honours, The University of Melbourne
Master of Music Performance Teaching, The University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary), La Trobe University
Australian Registered Qualified Secondary School Music Teacher
Former Performer of Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra
Former Performer of GSOV Orchestra

“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent” – Victor Hugo

Mary began learning the violin and piano at the age of three, which gave her deeply rooted passion. Progressing fast as a pianist, she achieved many awards in several competitions in her early teen years, in South Korea.

Mary chose to study abroad in Australia; she actively performed at school and received an Award Certificate of Most Likely to be the Next Mozart and Award for piano at Queensland Catholic Schools & Colleges Music Festival. She completed Bachelor of Music (Hons) Performance on Piano at the University of Melbourne in 2011 and continued to study in Master of music Performance Teaching which gave her great insight into the rich pedagogy for students. As a soloist, Mary has had experiences in performing as a solo, chamber group and orchestra.

She arranged her own chamber music from scores of the original ensembles and received an Alan C Rose Memorial scholarship in 2011. Her chamber group awarded second prize in the Musical Society of Victoria Chamber Music Competition in 2012.

With over 10 years in-depth experience in the practical, theoretical and technical aspect, Mary is passionate about teaching children and adults’ instrumental techniques, scales, sight reading and music theory. She is skilful in assisting students prepare for music examinations, auditions and performances.

Mary will conduct each lesson with the balance of music theory and learning piano. Mary believes that music helps to build a good character by developing musical abilities and enhances the complete person by improving both and aesthetic sense and the ability of express; it can help students to mature into a full musical growth.

Ideal Teacher for:

Beginners to advanced learners in all ages
Students who want to prepare for exam and scholarships

Elizabeth Yik

ABRSM Grade 8 Piano (1987) & Grade 6 Music Theory (1985)
Yamaha Electon Organ Grade 6
LCM Jazz Graded Syllabus teaching Grade 1-5
Specializes in Christian Music & Worship Training
Music Director / Pastor - Vision Life Centre Auckland
Former Judge for Piano / Singing / Children Talents Competitions (Malaysia)
BTheol (Hons.) - Bible College of Malaysia
BCom - University of Canterbury Christchurch

Starting her musical journey at the age of six, Elizabeth progressed promisingly as a young musician. During her early teen years, she performed on piano, organ and violin at concerts, recitals, musical plays, charity events, Malaysian National TV and National Radio Station. She has experiences in accompanying vocalists, instrumental soloists and choirs. Elizabeth first taught piano at the age of twelve and dedicated her life in music education upon completing her university. She coaches young children to adult learners piano, keyboard, music theory, and conducts aural training, music appreciation and church worship training. Many of Elizabeth's students established a lifelong relationship bonding with her.

With 20 years of teaching experiences at an awards-winning and distinguished Music Academy in Malaysia before moving to New Zealand in 2019, Elizabeth believes that musical instructions should be tailored and adapted to suit students' age, interest, need and potential, at a pace and in a learning style that will help them learn more effectively. Her teaching goal is to enrich students' lives with love and understanding of music through their musical journeys. Although mastering an instrument requires time investment and hard-works, the process should also be fun, adventurous, fulfilling and rewarding. Helping her students succeed in their musical endeavour and seeing their growth in life is her greatest joy of teaching!

Ideal Teacher for:

Beginners to advanced learners
Students preparing for exams - piano practical and music theory
Students who wish to develop or improve their piano/keyboard skills
Students who wish to learn improvisation, chord progression, accompaniment technique and enjoy playing their favourite genres
Church musicians desiring to improve their musicianship skills & worship techniques

Weihong Yi

Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance student at the University of Auckland
Trinity College London Diploma LTCL in Violin Performance
ABRSM Grade 8 in Piano Performance
2021 Spring Prize for Top in Strings at the University of Auckland
2021 Royal Overseas League (ROSL) and Pettman Scholarship
APO Young Achiever

Weihong began playing the violin at age 5 under Christina Yu, and has since studied with Elizabeth Holowell and Yuri Cho, and is currently studying Violin Performance at the University of Auckland with Mark Bennett.

Throughout her teenage years, Weihong won many competitions within the Auckland region. By the age of 16, she had already gained her Grade 8 in Piano and LTCL with Trinity College London, both with Distinction. As well as her solo endeavors, Weihong has been a member of the Auckland Youth Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra for several years. She is also passionate about Chamber Music, having won a Gold Award in the National Finals of the NCZT Chamber Music Contest, and her string quartet is set to tour Europe in 2022.

Weihong has been a violin teacher since 2015 and loves watching her students grow and learn. She is experienced in teaching children of all ages between 5 and 18, and is dedicated to knowing and adapting to each student’s learning style personally.

Ideal teacher for:

Violin students of all ages and levels
Students preparing for exams or assessments
Beginner piano students

Jono Stewart

Studying Bachelor of Popular Music at the University of Auckland
Trinity College of Music Grade 8 Singing - 2014
Trinity College of Music Grade 5 Theory - 2011
Smokefree Rockquest 2018 National Finalist
Smokefree Rockquest 2017 Highly Commended Solo/Duo

Jono has been singing since age 6 and playing piano shortly after this. He is also a competent guitar and ukulele player. He is currently studying Popular Music at the University of Auckland, alongside Law.

He started out his musical journey singing in the Christchurch Cathedral Choir, where he learned musical theory, singing, and piano. Shortly thereafter, Jono completed his Grade 8 singing.

He then took a popular music approach and started writing songs as this is what excited him more. Over his high school years, Jono wrote dozens of songs, played in a band that won the Smokefree Rockquest Canterbury regional finals, as well as a duo, which now has over 230 thousand hits on Spotify. Jono taught songwriting in the school’s band programme, which he found a passion for.

Jono teaches songwriting, including piano, guitar, voice, and ukulele. He is a down-to-earth young musician, who works well with both children and adults and can craft a fun learning environment.

Ideal teacher for:

Beginner to advanced songwriters of all ages.
Those looking to compete in Smokefree Rockquest or Rockshop Band Quest.
Students who are studying/preparing to study music in high school or University.

Kelly Kim

ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory (2015)
ABRSM Grade 8 Piano (2016)
Trinity Performance Diploma ATCL (2022)
AUT - Primary Teaching (The third year 2023)

Kelly is a Korean teacher who started to learn piano when she was 8 years old. During her early teen years, she performed piano at church festivals and also volunteered to play piano for her church worship team. She has many experiences playing piano for other people as she also used to be a piano teacher for her friends. Kyungmin is studying her third year in AUT Primary teaching so she also has the ability to get along well with the students. She likes working with children and helping with their piano learning. Kyungmin has also achieved the Trinity Performance Diploma in 2022.

Ideal Teacher for:

Piano beginners and primary level students (young children) & (adult beginners)
Students who want to get to know piano
Piano students who want to play piano as their hobby

Minrui Yang

ABRSM Grade 8 Piano Performance
ABRSM Grade 5 Music Theory
Duo First-Cup in Piano Forte (NSPAF)
BFA(Hons.) University of Auckland
BA University of Auckland
TEFL-TP Certificate in Teaching

Minrui began playing the keyboard at the age of 5 and later transitioned to the piano at 7. She was taught by Wenli Ma and participated in several Auckland competitions in her teenage years. She won various cups in the North Shore Performing Arts Festivals and passed ABRSM Grade 8 with distinction.

She has served as a pianist for over 15 years in several local churches and was previously appointed the Music Director at Somervell Presbyterian Church.

Minrui also has orchestral experience since high school and participated in the annual KBB festivals. She currently plays the viola in hopes of being more involved in an orchestral community.

Minrui has taught piano since 2017 and has taught at multiple primary schools across Auckland, from ages 5 to teenage and adult years. She can teach in both English and Mandarin.

She treats each student with care and patience and develops a personal understanding of their individual needs.

Minrui is very passionate about sharing her love of classical music and is always on the lookout to encourage children to play to the best of their abilities.

Ideal Teacher for:

Complete beginners on the Piano
Students who wish to learn piano in Mandarin
Students who wish to participate in graded exams
Students with a keen interest in Classical and Baroque music

Anria Breytenbach

Anria has studied BEng - Electronic Engineering at the University of Pretoria and completed her MSc in Electronic Engineering at the University of cape Town
Anria has completed her Grade 8 music (Piano) with Distinction from UNISA (University of South Africa) and Grade 6 music theory also from UNISA

Anria recently moved to New Zealand from South Africa and is very passionate about music – both playing and teaching the piano.

Anria has been playing the piano since she was 5 years old and has over 11 years of teaching experience. She also has 20 years’ experience as Musical Director at several churches, leading the ensembles and bands and being responsible for all arrangements. She also has over 20 years of experience in piano accompaniment. Instilling the love for music in children is a passion of Anria, and she strongly believes that music should always be fun and that the art of making music is a gift that should be nurtured.

Ideal Teacher for:

Beginner students of any age wanting to learn the piano
Intermediate or Advanced students who have a love for music and the instrument
Students that do not only want to focus on classical music but also want to learn to play from chord charts and by ear

Jiwon Kwon

Gyeonggi Arts High School, in South Korea
BMus at Sungshin Women's University, in South Korea
Former Member of the Umberto Giordano Orchestra, in Italy (2018)
Former Member of Artel Philharmonic, Beha Philharmonic, and United Philharmonic orchestra

Jiwon is a creative, warm, passionate violinist and teacher. Jiwon has played the violin since she was six years old in Korea. She was a concertmaster at Ei-Hyun Middle School and went to Gyeonggi Arts High School. She won first and second prizes at the Ye-eum Competition, the KCO Competition, and the Neo Musicica Competition. Jiwon performed solo at the Young Artist Concert in 2016 and 2017. She entered Sungshin Women's University at the top of her class and studied under Professor Ho-young Pi. In 2018, Jiwon went to the Umberto Giordano Conservatorio in Italy as an exchange student, where she toured as a member of the Umberto Giordano Orchestra. Jiwon also received a master's class from Oleksandr Semchuk. After returning to Korea, she constantly challenged herself by applying to the German Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival orchestra. Jiwon performed as a guest member of KBS Symphony Orchestra and Mahlerian Orchestra.

She is also interested in people's psychology and educating students, so she obtained a certificate as a music psychologist in 2020 and a certificate as a culture and art education teacher in 2021. Jiwon continued to work as an orchestra member at the Artel Philharmonic, Beha Philharmonic, and United Philharmonic. Jiwon is currently taught by Professor Mark Bennett and will study for a master's degree at Auckland University. She started to teach students at Music De Foret Academy in 2017. She has taught students of all ages, from 4-year-olds to 55-year-olds. She helped students to win prizes in competitions by teaching more precise and improved techniques to those who had the ability. She teaches her students with passion and love.

Ideal Teacher for:

Beginners to advanced learners of all ages
Students who want to prepare for the exam (ABRSM, Trinity)
Students who want to take advanced technical lessons

Ana Jeon

Trinity College London Grade 7 endorsed with Distinction 2014
Trinity College London Grade 8 endorsed with Merit 2015
Trinity College London Diploma ATCL endorsed with Distinction 2018
NZQA Scholarship in Music 2019 (Outstanding)
NZQA Scholarship in Music 2020
Massey High School Arts Prefect 2020
Currently Studying as a Third year student in BMus at University of Auckland
( Bachelor of Music, Classical Performance Piano)

Ana is currently in her Third Year studying Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Performance Piano in the University of Auckland. She has played the Piano since the age of eight years old, she has competed in many different Piano competitions since she began Piano until recent years. Ana has developed her knowledge and years of Classical Piano training into learning Jazz, Gospel, Contemporary music and singer-songwriting. This later helped her to produce and write her own music and is releasing music on streaming platforms. Ana was the Arts Prefect for her High School attaining an Outstanding scholarship in NZQA Music in Year 12 and Year 13. She has many experiences of performing on stage and competing in different competitions. Ana has prior experience in teaching young students from beginning stages to intermediate level, individually and also in groups. Ana values the attitude to learn as a teacher and as a musician, having fun and giving students a core motivation to endure their walk as a musician or to support their journey in music!

Ideal Teacher for:

Beginner students of any age wanting to learn the piano
Intermediate or Advanced students who have a love for music and the instrument
Students wanting to participate in beginner-graded exams
Students who want to play Piano as a Hobby

Sumi Kwak

Bachelor of Music Teaching – Jeonbuk National University (1998)
Bachelor of Music Therapy – SookMyung Women’s University (2004)
Bachelor of Music (Major in Violin)- KangNung National University (2012)
Bachelor of Theology – Alphacrusis College in NZ, (2002)

Sumi has studied Bachelor of Music Teaching, Violin, Singing, Piano, and Music Therapy in South Korea.
Sumi has extensive experience teaching children at her private music academy in South Korea for over 20 years, from beginner level to college students who want to major in music at the University.
Sumi loves sharing her love of music with children, and she taught numerous students who want to learn how to play the violin, piano, or vocal. Since coming to Auckland in 2013, she has tutored musical instruments in Newmarket and guided many students to enjoy their musical path.
Along with her music teaching career, Sumi has also studied Bachelor of Theology to serve youth people at the church. Sumi is now a Youth pastor and keyboard player at the Victory Church.
Sumi always looks forward to making the harmony of love with anyone having a music lesson with her.

Ideal Teacher for:

Beginner-intermediate level students of any age wanting to learn the piano
Beginner- Advanced level students of any age wanting to learn the violin
For anyone interested in Singing, especially in breathing and vocalization techniques.