[{"id":"8","name":"Anahita Khorsandi Koosha","profile":"blogs\/01JQ4XZGPZ4V6VB73GRKACGQ03.jpg","email":"anahita_bk19@yahoo.com","rate":null,"level":"All","sort":"5","description":"Anahita Khorsandi is a pianist living in DC area. She started playing piano at age 6 with Mr. Pardis, who was one of the best teachers at the time. After that she started taking lessons from Mojgan Salehi who was also one of the best teachers. She has also studied piano in a conservatory of Tehran for several years. She moved to the USA at age 18 and started to teach piano to kids. After a while, she decided to study marketing to open her own business. She has studied marketing in University of Massachusetts. As a result of her life-long study of both music and marketing, Anahita Khorsandi founded the Ava Music School in 2017 based on the philosophy that developing emotional depth, artistic maturity and a genuine love of music is the essence of musical study. Ava Music school and Koosha Piano have been merged and now is Manita Music Center. ","styles":"CEO & Piano Instructor","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-03-24 15:34:09","updated_at":"2025-03-24 15:37:19","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"9","name":"Niloofar Rahmanzadeh","profile":"blogs\/01JQ504B4H8QW67ETBXBYMC99E.jpg","email":"niloofar.rk1989@gmail.com","rate":null,"level":"Beginner & Intermediate ","sort":"5","description":"Niloofar has always been passionate about the arts and began her musical journey studying piano under the guidance of Amirreza Kardar Tehran, a highly respected piano teacher based in Iran. He provided her with a strong foundation, instilling essential skills and a deep appreciation for music. She later continued her training with Anahita Khorsandi, the founder of Manita Music Center, further honing her craft.Her dedication and talent have earned her recognition as a prize winning pianist. Now, Niloofar proudly serves as both a piano teacher and the executive manager at Manita Music Center, where she inspires and nurtures the next generation of musicians. She also teaches group piano lessons, creating a collaborative and dynamic learning environment for her students to develop their musical skills.","styles":"Group Piano, Classical & Persian","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-03-24 16:08:44","updated_at":"2025-05-31 12:22:19","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"10","name":"Farhad Tehrani","profile":"blogs\/01JQ50WX8XQSNJY3MCPY4XAE2K.png","email":"amirfarhad81@gmail.com","rate":null,"level":"Beginner & Intermediate ","sort":"5","description":"Farhad Tehrani graduated from Tehran Conservatory of Music with piano as his specialised instrument. He also has a master degree in Liberal Arts from Georgetown University where he concentrated on the significant role of music on children’s cognitive performances. He is a versatile piano teacher who can successfully teach several piano playing genres. Adept at teaching students to read music, and providing tailored piano lessons to students of all ages and abilities. Mr Tehrani never takes for granted the prominent role of parents in shaping their children’s learning processes and strongly encourage them to familiarise themselves with musical education in order to better accompany their children on their musical journey. As a music teacher, it is his belief that all students, regardless of socio-economic status, physical or intellectual ability, should be offered the opportunity to discover and explore their innate potential as musicians, and to increase these natural capacities through formal music instruction.","styles":"Piano Instructor, Classical & Persian","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-03-24 16:28:20","updated_at":"2025-05-28 13:58:35","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"11","name":"Dr. Nikan Milani","profile":"blogs\/01JQ510HJ6AYQZ6NYCM9C7B81J.png","email":"nikanmilani@yahoo.com","rate":null,"level":"Intermediate & Advanced","sort":"5","description":"Nikan Milani is an accomplished pianist, composer, conductor, and music instructor. He has studied in London and the United States. His teachers include Haynush Makarian and Eda Shlym. He has performed US piano recitals in Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, Boston, and in Cambridge at Harvard University. Nikan Milan studied Piano and Composition at The Longy School of Music. When not composing, performing, or teaching, Nikan conducts a choir. Being extremely well-rounded enables Nikan to be a phenomenal music instructor.","styles":"Piano Instructor, Classical","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-03-24 16:30:19","updated_at":"2025-05-28 13:57:49","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"12","name":"Behnaz Raouf","profile":"blogs\/01JQ515K0MYZX6G32S0414CBD0.png","email":"behnazrh30@gmail.com","rate":null,"level":"Beginner & Intermediate","sort":"5","description":"Behnaz Raouf was born in Iran. She has been playing piano for over 20 years. She has a Master’s degree in teaching and a profound understanding of children’s cognitive development, Behnaz brings a passion for exploring various musical genres. Her two-decade journey in piano, marked by continuous learning, performance, and teaching, caters to diverse learning styles and paces. Whether guiding young beginners or helping adults fulfill their piano dreams, Behnaz tailors her approach. She recently joined Ava Music School as a piano instructor.","styles":"Piano Instructor, Classical & Persian","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-03-24 16:33:04","updated_at":"2025-05-28 13:59:07","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"13","name":"Pendar Kordnavahsi","profile":"blogs\/01JQ518PZXP4SM3GRRMKJRWPV4.png","email":"Music.Pendar@gmail.com","rate":null,"level":"All","sort":"5","description":"Pendar Kordnavahsi was born in August of 1989 in Tehran, Iran. He started to learn keyboard at age 5 and then the Flamenco style of guitar performance at 13. Once he turned 17, he solely focused on the Classical piano studies and thus took lessons from the best Iranian and Russian teachers. He became a private instructor at 18 and began his solo concerts as well as ensemble performances, activities that he has been doing ever since. Due to the systematic religious persecution of the Bahais in Iran, imposed by the government, he moved to America with his family in 2013. Since then, he has been a private piano instructor in Northern Virginia and an active performer in DC, Virginia, and Chicago. He dedicated specific performances to honor his American citizenship in 2019. Pendar got his bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from George Mason University and is currently working on his first solo piano album.","styles":"Classical","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-03-24 16:34:46","updated_at":"2025-03-24 16:34:46","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"14","name":"Peter Ghobrial","profile":"blogs\/01JWBYWCEAD3Q9AJMA1KRFPQE1.JPG","email":"peterfikry11@gmail.com","rate":null,"level":"all","sort":"5","description":"Peter Ghobrial is a seasoned classical guitarist and passionate music educator with over 15 years of experience. He graduated from the Arabic Music Institute’s Free Studies Department in Egypt with a “Very Good” rating, reflecting his strong foundation in classical guitar performance and music theory.Peter has spent more than a decade teaching students of all ages and skill levels in Egypt, guiding them in both technical development and musical expression. His teaching is enriched by his diverse performance background — he has played in various bands and choirs, performed live across multiple venues, and made appearances on Egyptian TV shows. These experiences bring a dynamic, real-world perspective to his lessons, helping students connect classroom learning to live performance.Having been immersed in music since childhood, Peter’s passion for the guitar runs deep. He describes playing the guitar as the most joyful and fulfilling part of his day.Now based in the U.S., Peter brings his rich cultural heritage and musical expertise to his teaching. His approach is marked by warmth, dedication, and a deep love for the instrument, inspiring students to grow both musically and personally.","styles":"Guitar Instructor , Classical & Pop","students_ages":"all","created_at":"2025-05-28 12:26:15","updated_at":"2025-05-28 12:27:36","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"15","name":"Dr. Yiran He ","profile":"blogs\/01JWC41PMMPHVFM0F6SHBFBNSC.jpg","email":"yhe26@gmu.edu","rate":null,"level":"Upper Intermediate & Advanced","sort":"5","description":"Dr. Yiran He, a native of China, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from George Mason University in 2025, studying with Dr. Linda Apple Monson. She began playing the piano at the age of four. She graduated with a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Wright State University in 2020 and studied for a second Master of Music Degree in Music Education in 2021, with a 4.0 GPA. Prior to attending Wright State University, she attended Xi’an University in China and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Musicology. Dr. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Irene Romanowski Piano Award at Wright State University in 2020.Dr. He has also given many solo recitals and participated in many solo piano performance events through George Mason University, including Mason’s Grand Piano Celebration, Arts by George, and the Dewberry School of Music Honor Recital. Additionally, she performed for the OLLI Reston Center, Sherwood Community Center, Woodlands Senior Living Community, and various Friends of Music at Mason events. Her recent performance was a doctoral piano lecture recital at George Mason University in April, 2025.  ","styles":"Piano Instructor, Classical","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-05-28 13:56:32","updated_at":"2025-05-28 13:57:26","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"16","name":"Juan Carlos (JC) Alegre ","profile":"blogs\/01JWC5827VFXE8M8SE27J0VNXN.jpg","email":"jcalegre2025@outlook.com","rate":null,"level":"Upper Intermediate & Advanced","sort":"5","description":"Juan Carlos (JC) Alegre began his musical journey at the age of 7, playing piano in his hometown of Lima, Peru. By the age of 9, he was formally studying classical piano at the prestigious National Conservatory in Lima, where he developed a deep appreciation for composers such as Chopin, Schubert, and Mozart.In 1987, JC moved to Washington, DC, where he began offering private piano instruction across the DMV area. His passion for education was paralleled by academic pursuits, and in 1990, he earned a master’s degree in Operations Research from the George Washington University. Over the next three decades, he built a successful career in Global Health, traveling extensively across Asia, Africa, and Latin America & the Caribbean.Despite his demanding career, JC never strayed far from music. He continued to play classical piano and expanded his repertoire to include genres such as Latin jazz and pop. In the early 2000s, he toured with Bio Ritmo, a classic salsa band rooted in Richmond, Virginia, showcasing his versatility and passion for performance.Today, JC has returned to music as a full-time career, sharing his expertise as both a piano teacher and piano technician. A proud husband and father of two James Madison High School (Vienna, VA), JC's love for music runs in the family—his daughter is a professional trumpet player in the U.S. Army Fife and Drum Corps, and his son plays the guitar.JC’s teaching philosophy is rooted in his lifelong belief in music's power to inspire, connect, and transform lives. Whether through nurturing new talent or ensuring the perfect pitch of a piano, JC brings his dedication and joy to every note.","styles":"Piano Instructor, Classical","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-05-28 14:17:29","updated_at":"2025-05-28 14:17:29","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0},{"id":"17","name":"Hossein Jazayeri","profile":"blogs\/01JWC77BPADNGK77CWSH3R11J9.jpg","email":"hossein.jaz@gmail.com","rate":null,"level":"All","sort":"5","description":"Hossein has been singing for as long as he can remember, growing up surrounded by music thanks to a talented family—his father, grandfather, and aunt all passed down their love for it. From an early age, he was drawn to Iranian traditional vocal music, especially after discovering the legendary Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian. Inspired by Shajarian, Hossein set out to learn the Iranian vocal repertoire, \"Radif,\" studying with Ms. Naghme Gholami and Mr. Hamidreza Nourbakhsh, both of whom were students of Shajarian himself. This experience has really shaped Hossein’s unique style and deepened his appreciation for the roots of Iranian music. In addition to singing, Hossein is also a versatile musician. He’s learned to play the Tonbak (Iranian percussion) from Bahareh Mirmoghtadaei and is picking up Piano lessons with Farhad Tehrani. He has also self-learned Setar (an Iranian string instrument). ","styles":"Vocal Instructor, Persian ","students_ages":"All","created_at":"2025-05-28 14:52:04","updated_at":"2025-05-28 14:52:04","deleted_at":null,"num_cm":0}]