Michelle Wong
About
Michelle Wong began playing the piano at the age of four under the Yamaha Junior Music Course in her native Malaysia. She has successfully performed as pianist, collaborative artist, and violinist in many solo, chamber, and orchestral performances in Asia and the United States. She has appeared as guest soloist twice with the Houston Sinfonietta during their 2015 and 2016 seasons and is currently a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Illinois State Music Teachers Association (ISMTA), and the North Shore Music Teachers Association (NSMTA).
Michelle has worked with internationally renowned artists such as Enrico Elisi, Roberto Plano, Anderson and Roe, Dorian Leljak, Gleb Ivanov, violinists Antonella Hayes, Ted Pople, and composer Hanna Kulenty. Michelle is the recipient of numerous awards and competitions including placing 1st in the 2012 Missouri Music Teachers Association (MMTA) Piano Competition, 1st and 2nd place finishes in the 2012 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Young Artist Piano Competition in the West Central Division in 2011 and 2012, 1st in the 72-Hour Composition Competition at Missouri State University, and a competitor in the 1st ASEAN International Chopin Piano Competition. She has also frequented as soloist and collaborative artist at music festivals including the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival, University of Houston International Piano Festival, and the Texas State International Piano Festival. Prior to her studies at the United States, she completed Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music (LRSM) in piano performance and the Diploma of the Royal Schools of Music (DipABRSM) in violin performance.
As a full scholarship student, Michelle received her Masters of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, where she studied with renowned pedagogue Nancy Weems. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Missouri State University under the tutelage of Dr. Wei-Han Su. During her undergraduate studies, she studied violin and composition with Dr. David Hays and Dr. Michael F. Murray respectively. Her past piano teachers include Chong Lim Ng, Jun Lin Yeoh, and Katherine Kok.
Michelle has extensive experience teaching for the past 10 years to students from ages 3 and above, including special needs students. Having grown up from the Yamaha Method, she is versed in both Classical and Popular Genres, giving her students a well rounded and fun piano education. Her teaching philosophy takes a holistic approach that focuses not only on performance skills, but also music theory, music history, ear training, improvisation, composition, and song arrangement. Michelle also teaches violin as well as teaching students how to sing and play simultaneously. Her teaching curriculum is individualized based on students’ musical interests. Michelle has also successfully prepared students for state and internationally recognized festivals, examinations, and competitions including the local Illinois Achievement in Music Program (AIM), the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM), and the Trinity College of London. She has also served as a judge at the Texas Music Teacher's Association (TMTA) All-Star Festival in Houston, Texas.
Individual Private Piano, Violin, Composition, and Song Arranging lessons are offered. You can also learn two instruments in one hour of lessons so for more information about lessons, including trumpet lessons, please do not hesitate to contact me!
*Exclusively for young beginners, I do a lot of ear training aside from teaching them how to play and read notes. I use my own method for training beginners and will supplement other materials as we progress. My young ones are usually able to play a song on their first lesson and it has always been fun!
If you have any questions about my method of teaching, I would be more than happy to answer them for you.
Thank you for your interest and I hope to talk to you soon,
Michelle