Keys & Pipes Music Studio
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Teacher biographies
Lilit Papoyan,
Piano and music theory teacher, accompanist.
Classically trained in the Russian and European tradition, Lilit began studying the piano at the age of six. She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Piano Performance & Pedagogy from the Armenian State Conservatory. During her time at the conservatory, she received several awards for her solo and chamber performances.
Lilit has over 20 years of teaching and accompanying experience. Her previous positions include a position as the piano teacher and vocal class accompanist at The School of Music and Arts named after Gh. Saryan in Yerevan, Armenia; piano instructor at the Humanitarian College in Armenia; and the piano instructor at The National Music Conservatory in Amman, Jordan.
While in Jordan she prepared many students for the international ABRSM exam, and found herself in high demand as a piano accompanist. Also, Lilit was regularly invited to perform the piano, and the harpsichord orchestral parts with the Amman Symphony Orchestra.
Since 2010, Lilit has been maintaining her private studio in Toronto as well as teaching at several music schools, including the Arcadia Academy of Music, the Advanced School of Music and Dance, and the Royal School of Music. She teaches students of all levels and ages, encouraging them to participate in local festivals, RCM exams, and to perform regularly at studio recitals.
Lilit has been involved in active accompaniment service for instrumental and vocal students, providing them with a great professional support at their rehearsals and on the stage.
Currently Mrs. Papoyan teaches the piano and music theory exclusively at Keys & Pipes Music Studio. She is an RCM Certified Teacher.
Suren Amirkhanyan,
Woodwind teacher
Suren earned a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance from The Belorussian State Academy of Music, and a Bachelor Degree with Honours in solo Flute performance, Chamber music, Pedagogy, and Orchestral Performance from The Armenian State Conservatory.
Suren has participated in several international music competitions, amongst them the Prague Spring International Music Competition in 1991, and the Armenian National Woodwinds Competition in 1986 - where he won the 1st prize.
Mr. Amirkhanyan is a highly experienced solo and orchestral musician. He appeared as a flute soloist with various orchestras, as well as performing solo and chamber recitals in Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Greece, Germany, Latvia, USA, and Japan.
Suren has held positions of Principal Flautist and Piccolo Player with the Armenian State Philharmonic Orchestra, the Symphony Orchestra of the Armenian Opera, the Kislovodsk State Philharmonic Orchestra (Russia), and the Amman Symphony Orchestra (Jordan).
After moving to Canada, Suren continued his successful performing career as a freelance flautist. He performs regularly with chamber groups and orchestras across the GTA, including Sinfonia Toronto, the Casa Loma Symphony Orchestra, the Italian Canadian Symphony Orchestra, the Oakville Symphony, the Opera Belcanto of York, and the Markham Symphony.
In addition to his work as a performing musician, Suren is a dedicated and passionate teacher. His 30 year-plus teaching service record includes faculty positions as the Flute and Woodwind instructor at Music Schools and Universities in Armenia, Russia, Jordan and Canada.
Currently Mr. Amirkhanyan serves as a Music Teacher and Band Director at a private high school in Toronto, as well as teaching the flute and other woodwind instruments at his busy Home Studio, which he established in 2010 with his wife, Lilit.
Suren is an active member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers' Association (ORMTA), and an RCM Certified Teacher.
