Instrumental Teachers Bios
Kenji Higashihama
Piano Instructor
Kenji is a native of Detroit, MI where he grew up singing and playing gospel music. Throughout his career he has had the privilege of music directing a number of shows and groups in Michigan, Illinois, Hawai’i, and California, Hope Galas for the American Cancer Society, assistant music directing for a national tour of The Music Man, and working with wonderful talent from Broadway’s Wicked, Newsies, and Phantom of the Opera. He did his undergraduate studies in music at the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa and holds certification in Chinese-Mandarin from the Defense Language Institute. He has been at TRIS since 2014.
Alice Kubo
Piano Instructor
As a dedicated pianist with a strong performance background and a passion for teaching, I’ve had the joy of working with students as young as four and as experienced as eighty, across all levels of ability. I hold both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance from San Francisco State University and studied at the Pre-College Division of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music for six years. My performance experience includes venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, as well as participation in international festivals like MusicAlp in France.
I serve on the Board of Directors for the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) and currently hold the position of Director of Masterclasses. I also have private students who participate in MTAC programs such as the Certificate of Merit, recitals, masterclasses, and other opportunities.
My teaching philosophy centers on cultivating a supportive and engaging environment tailored to each student’s learning style. I integrate ear training, music theory, and performance to develop well-rounded musicians and foster a joyful connection to music.
György Vass
Guitar Instructor
George (György) has been teaching classical guitar at TRIS since 1998. He received his Pedagogy diploma from the Zoltan Kodály Conservatory of Music and his Masters in Music Performance at the acclaimed Franz Lizst Music Academy in Hungary. In addition to learning the classical repertoire, he also performed in rock and folk bands and has a deep appreciation for all kinds of music. György feels that classical training frees the students to explore their own musical path. He loves to find the spark that brings out the special talent of his students. His guitar students have followed their dreams to Berklee College of Music, Yale, and beyond, and have the tools to enjoy playing music their entire lives.
Emanuela Nikiforova
Violin Instructor
Emanuela was born in Varna, Bulgaria. She graduated from music middle and high schools in Varna and Sofia, Bulgaria. She has a Pedagogy diploma from the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Music Performance from LSU, Baton Rouge, and The San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Emanuela is a member of the Oakland, Berkeley, Marin, Santa Rosa and Silicon Valley Symphony orchestras, and a music director of the formation Antika Slavic Strings. In her spare time, she likes to be outdoors, do yoga, and, teach violin! Emanuela started teaching at TRIS in January of 2014.
Zai Wang
Flute Instructor
Zai Wang is a classically trained flute teacher based in Oakland, CA who studied classical repertoire at the University of Maryland School of Music. Her exploration in improvisation, world music, and cross-genre musicianship has guided her teaching to focus on playing the flute as a voice for artistic expression with a classical background in teaching fundamental technique, music theory, and aural skills. Zai’s mission is to guide students in learning to play the flute as an extension of their voices, play the songs that they like to listen to, and be able to broadly apply what they learn in the classroom by playing music with others. Through gentle guidance, and adapting to each student’s needs and interests, Zai’s flute students become well rounded musicians who find joy in playing the flute.