Lilia Kushnir
Lilia Kushnir is an instructor of piano, music theory and ensemble singing. She is the founder and director of the Harmony of Music and Art School. With over 30 years of teaching experience, she has developed a very successful methodology that helps students develop a love and an understanding of their instrument. Within the Ukranian music community she is known for her creativity, technical skill and her ability to support students to progress as far as their determination and desire will take them.
Educated in music in Ukraine at the Sichynsky State College of Music, she continued her higher education in the US in the field of elementary education. Prior to settling in the US in 1995, she taught piano at a specialized music school in Ukraine. Since joining the Ukrainian Music Institute at the NYC branch in 2000, Ms. Kushnir has been an integral part of the school. Continuing the proud tradition of the organization, she is the founder and director of the Whippany, NJ branch (2008) and Stamford, CT branch (2015), co-founder of the Yonkers, NY branch (2012).
Ms. Kushnir is also an active member of the National Guild of Piano Teachers, the New York State School of Music Association (NYSSMA), the Music Educators Association of New Jersey (MEANJ), and the Royal School of Music of England (ABRSM).
Nadiia Shushura
Nadiia is a professional violin teacher from the Ivano-Frankivsk region in Ukraine.
She successfully completed musical education from the D. Sichynsky College of Music and the V. Stefanyk Music School of Ivano-Frankivsk Precarpathian University in Ukraine.
From 2006 to 2020, taught at the M. Antonovych childrens’ school of music in Ukraine.
Since 2021 has been a teacher of violin and voice of Harmony of Music and Art School in Stamford, CT.
Nadiia has an ensemble experience in Ukrainian folklore orchestra "Gherdan” Ivano-Frankivsk Region of Ukraine, Folk band "Harmony" in Ukraine, Fairfield County Symphony Society Orchestra in Norwalk, CT, successfully performs at concerts and festivals in the greater CT area for the Ukrainian community.
Nadiia enjoys teaching and has great experience in tutoring students of all age groups. As an experienced teacher she adapts her teaching methods, both European and American, to the needs, age, and character of each student. She can help with mental and focus technique, personal improvement, or preparing for any specific goals, such as school programs/youth orchestra auditions.
Oksana Tokar
Oksana Tokar is an instructor of piano and voice in Clifton, NJ. She had successfully completed her musical education from the S. Ludkevich State College of Music in Lviv and the V. Stefanyk Music School of Ivano-Frankivsk Precarpathian University in Ukraine.
Oksana has more than ten years of experience working with children of various ages, who successfully participate in various concerts and festivals.
Since 2012, she has taught at the M. Antonovych childrens’ school of music in Ukraine. Her technical ability as well as her energy has earned her a reputation as a leading accompanist at the school for solo, ensemble and choral performances.
Since 2016 she is a member of Ukrainian Music Institute at the Whippany, NJ branch and a member of the Music Educators Association of New Jersey (MEANJ).
Since 2019 Oksana has been the active conductor of the church choir in the St Marry Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Clifton and the music teacher at the N. Hirnyk Ridna Shkola in Passaic, NJ.
She has also performed at concerts and festivals in the greater NJ area Ukrainian community.
Sofiya Vorobets
Born in Ukraine and raised by a family of musicians, Sofiya Vorobets received her professional music education at D. Sichynsky College of Music with dual diploma in Piano and Music Theory (1994-1998) and Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Teaching at Carpathian University, in Ivano-Frankivsk Ukraine (1998-2001). Since moving to the United States in 2002, Sofiya completed Graduate Endorsement Program in Special Education at William Paterson University and is certified as Teacher of Students with Disabilities.
Sofiya's first classroom teaching experience was as a teacher of music at a local music school in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, where she worked for six years. During that period, she taught children of different age groups, specializing in music literature, solfege and piano.
Sofiya Vorobets joined the Ukrainian Music Institute of America, Whippany NJ branch in 2018. She currently works as private piano instructor and uses both European and American methods teaching her students. Passionate about music, Sofiya offers individualized support and provide positive encouragement to ensure that each student succeeds.
Olesya Palyha
Olesya Palyha is an instructor of bandura, voice and music theory. Her professional experience is over 35 years and she presents as an exceptional teacher who knows her students and teaches them at any level and age. Olesya successfully completed her musical education at Solomiya Krushelnytska Music College and graduated from Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University in Ukraine.
Olesya loves music and has been teaching children since 1985. She played bandura for ensemble, provided musical background for live shows such as musical theater, organized bandura ensemble “Sribni struny” in Ternopil, Ukraine. Olesya established new innovative program for bandura classes at TOCESA. Her goal is to develop good relations with students, discover individual talents and to improve various music techniques.
Olesya was welcomed to join Ukrainian music team is Stamford, CT in 2022. Everyone can see her perform at the concerts and festivals within Ukrainian community in Fairfield County, Connecticut. Olesya is highly experienced bandura teacher and is currently working on getting her credentials in the USA.
Maria Kurchak
Maria Kurchak is a piano, vocal and choral singing teacher. After graduating from a music school, she entered the Chortkiv Pedagogical School in the piano class O. Barvinsky, majoring in "Music Education". In 1988, having received the qualification "teacher of music and singing and music educator" she returned to work in her native secondary school as a teacher-organizer. She worked as a music teacher and music director in the kindergarten "Wreath" with Trybukhivtsi, Buchatsky district.
Having 25 years of teaching experience, in 2013 she moved with her family to America to the city of Yonkers, New York. Here she began her active teaching activities at the school of Ukrainian studies and kindergarten "Barvinok".
Maria is an active member of the church choir at St. Archangel Michael in Yonkers. On the initiative of the parishioners, a childrens’ ensemble was created under her leadership in 2015 "Kraplinka", participating in concerts and educational events dedicated to state, religious and church holidays and other events.
Maria is a member of the SUA branch 30, SUM and "Mothers in prayer" of the Ukrainian community in the city of Yonkers. In 2018, she joined UMI, Yonkers, New York branch as a piano and vocal teacher.
Olga Demchenko
Olga Demchenko is an instructor of piano, music theory and a children choir. Her professional experience is over 35 years. She has a Master's degree in Pedagogical studies and her teaching methodic is based on the classical Ukrainian as well as the Russian traditional and modern schools.
Olga graduated from The Kherson College of Music, and The Kiev National Pedagogical University for piano (Lysenko N.I. class), vocal and choral conducting departments (national artist Avdievsky A.T. class).
From 1988-2015 she has been working as a piano teacher at Children School of Art and Music in Ukraine.
Among her students, there are many laureates of the Piano Competitions, diploma winners, and graduates who have devoted their lives to music.
Over the years of teaching, she developed her method for early child development, which helps the child to practice the musical instruments from the age of three. She has the talent to raise the child's interest not only in playing the piano, but also in music in general, and to contribute to his overall harmonious development.
Currently, Olga works also as a piano teacher at the Ukrainian Institute of Music and Art in New York City.
Lyubov Pechenyuk
Lyubov Pechenyuk is an instructor of piano, music theory and choir. She completed her musical education in the Music Department of the Kolomyya Pedagogical College and Chernivtsi National University, from where she graduated in 1986. She moved to the United States in 1995, settling on Long Island, in Riverhead, New York. She is a member of the Saint John the Baptist Church in Riverhead and has been active in the parish choir for the past 25 years.
She has extensive experience teaching students, from teaching piano and musical history, to teaching Ukrainian language and running children's choir at the St John the Baptist parish Saturday school. She is able to work with students of all ages, including beginners from the age of 5. She has helped organize concerts at the Holy Family Ukrainian School in Lindenhurst. Likewise, Lyubov has helped organize concerts and festivals in the Ukrainian community in Riverhead.
She has been a member of the New York City branch of the Ukrainian Institute of Music and Art since 2018.
Halyna Zhukevych
Halyna Zhukevych is an instructor of piano, voice, music theory, choir and bandura. She successfully completed her musical education from the V.BarvinskyState College of Music in Drohobych and the I.Franko State University of education in Drohobych in Ukraine. With over thirty years of experience, she is known as an exceptionally patient teacher who is able to teach students at any level. Since 2006, Halyna has been an instructor at several music schools of New Jersey including Silver Keys of Music та Mila’s Debut.
Since 2010, Halyna has been a teacher at the Ukrainian Music Institute of America at the Whippany, NJbranch. Her students have participated in prestigious music competitions, concerts and festivals. One of her student became the youngest member of the newly formed Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America and has performed multiple times in the tri-state area. Halyna is an active member of the Music Educators Association of New Jersey (MEANJ) and a vocalist for the Dumka Chorus of New York and parish choir for the Saint John the Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.
Lesia Shufliada
Lesia Shufliada is an instructor of bandura, voice and music theory. She successfully completed her musical education from the Teznopie V. Hnatyuk National Pedagogical University, Faculty of Arts. Lesia worked for 10 years at the V. Barvinsky Ternopil Music School as a vocal teacher. Her students have won prizes in regional competitions, participated in various school performances and concerts. She is founder and director of the children bandura ensemble “Evfonia” and musical director of children musical theater at Stamford, CT. Her methodology is based on an individual approach to each student, considering the character, temperament, and ability of a child. Her main goal is to open up the unlimited potential of a student.
Since 2018, Lesia has also taught bandura and voice at the Ukrainian Institute of Music and Art, at Stamford, CT. She has also performed at concerts and festivals in the greater CT area and Ukrainian community.