Our Team
Melissa Stolarz, HBA, BMus is a music educator and author that holds a Bachelor of Musical Arts (BMus) from the Don Wright Faculty of Music specializing in voice and Honors Business Administration (HBA) from the Richard Ivey School of Business. She received the Honours Certification and the UWO Gold Medal Award having the highest cumulative average in her program.
Stolarz continues to expand her musical and teaching knowledge through the Royal Conservatory of Music having completed certifications in both Teaching Beginner Piano and Teaching Intermediate Piano. She also completed the Music Teachers Course through the Associate Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) to develop her teaching methods. In 2021, Stolarz had the privilege of studying with the celebrated Doug Goodkin in his Orff Master Class workshop; to look at the details of how to bring a musical flow, shape and design to each musical activity so that the very process of learning brings a pleasure as deep as the music itself. She continues to expand her knowledge through the Frances Clark Centre studying the various pedagogical foundations for teaching piano and music. She hopes to continue to inspire all her students as they learn and grow through music.
Stolarz has written and published several music theory books for her young learners called Theory Monster that support the development of understanding the musical language. Stolarz also plays guitar, flute, and violin.
Monika Stolarz, MBA, BMus
Monika holds an Honours Bachelor of Music Education Degree (BMus) from Western’s Don Wright Faculty of Music, majoring on the piano. Prior to post-secondary education, Monika is a graduate from Cawthra Park’s S.S for the arts, majoring on the piano, where she was a lead pianist for musicals including Les Miserables and the Sound of Music. Monika has a passion for teaching and has guided students from beginner to advanced levels in preparation for all levels of Royal Conservatory of Music Examinations (including theory and history) as well as post-secondary music auditions for over 25 years. Many of Monika’s students have successfully passed post-secondary auditions in music programs across Canada who continue to share the same passion in music. Monika is an examiner with the Royal Conservatory of Music. She also holds an MBA from the Degroote School of Business at McMaster University.
Leslie Ashworth, MMus, BMus Described by Toronto Concert Reviews as “a mature artist and a budding superstar”, Canadian violinist Leslie Ashworth has performed in France, Italy, Canada, and the United States and in acclaimed venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, The Banff Centre’s Rolston Hall, and Toronto’s Koerner Hall. A Tim and Frances Price Scholarship recipient, she graduated with her Bachelor of Music Performance from The Glenn Gould School under Barry Shiffman and Paul Kantor. She is pursuing her Master’s of Music on The Dorothy Richard Starling Foundation Full Scholarship at Rice University in Houston.
In addition to her violin studies, Ashworth is a pianist, violist, and composer, achieving her ARCT Violin, Viola, and Piano Performance, earning the Royal Conservatory’s National Gold Medal for ARCT Viola. A passionate writer, Ashworth participated in the Emerging Arts Critic Programme with publications in WholeNote, Opera Canada, and Dance Current. She received the Ontario Lieutenant Governor’s Community Volunteer Award for founding Suite Melody Care, which shares over 100 themed, interactive, volunteer performances annually with hospital patients and the elderly in Canada and the U.S. Ashworth plays on a 1696 Albani violin on loan from a generous benefactor and released her third CD/DVD. Leslie enjoys sharing her passion for music in teaching the violin, piano, and music theory to students of all ages and levels, including the Suzuki Method and preparing students for Royal Conservatory Examinations.
Krista Earle learned how to be fluent in all styles of music from an early age, growing up in a family of performers. She was encouraged to embrace her full range of her talents, as she trained with renowned Toronto vocal coach Elaine Overholt, turning in impressive showings at several international singing and songwriting competitions. Krista’s success has been recognized with “Female Artist of the Year”, “Songwriter of the Year”, “Single of the Year”, and “Rising Star” nominations by the Country Music Association of Ontario. In recent months, Krista has collaborated with producers Roy Hamilton III (Michael Jackson, Britney Spears) and the Emmy-nominated Glenn Morley. As well, Krista has spent significant time in Nashville working with some of Music City’s top writers, including Robert White Johnson (Faith Hill, Celine Dion). Krista’s music has been building up to have a collection of songs that touch on her deep love of vintage pop and soul, along with country music.
Sabrina Kiung holds her Level 10 Piano with First Class Honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music and has been a piano student at OSMPA since the age of 4. Sabrina enjoys performing and sharing her passion in music through concerts, performances at retirement communities, and active involvement in her school’s holiday events. Sabrina enjoys composing music and duets with her sister Amelia, who shares the same passion in music. Sabrina plays a variety of instruments including piano, flute, ukulele and singing; and is actively involved in her school’s musicals, choirs and band festivals. Sabrina enjoys integrating music into her everyday life and sharing her passion with others. Sabrina teaches both piano and theory at OSMPA, and leads masterclasses as students prepare for seasonal concerts at OSMPA.
Amelia Kiung began her piano studies at the age of 4 at the OSMPA, and complete her Level 10 Piano with First Class Honours through the Royal Conservatory of Music. Amelia has performed at the OTMH, retirement homes, and was also invited to perform on a Yangtze River cruise in China. Amelia also extends her love of music through her school assemblies and other gatherings where she also plays duets with her sister. During the pandemic, composition and songwriting has become a calming hobby, which she has shared with the OSMPA community and beyond. In addition to piano, Amelia also plays the trumpet and ukulele. “To me, music is a way to destress and let my mind wander, almost like escaping to a different world. It doesn’t matter if I’m playing music or listening to music, it makes me feel content.”-Amelia Kiung. Amelia currently teaches elementary music and has helped launch the online learning chapter at OSMPA. She can be found teaching the online preliminary course for inspiring young pianists.
Ada Quach holds an Honours Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Western Ontario, where she majored in Piano, and is currently obtaining her Bachelor of Education Degree specializing in Music and Biology. She has also completed her RCM 10, obtaining First Class Honours with Distinction. Ada spent her undergraduate years studying under Tina Yanchus - a Juilliard graduate and student of Jacob Lateiner - and performing in weekly masterclasses and studio recitals while engaging in community outreach through music education. A recipient of the David Greenslade Music Scholarship, Ada is a passionate educator who finds immense joy in helping others succeed in their goals. A music teacher since 2019, Ada is no stranger to the musical classroom and strives to create an environment where each student can experience the joy of music and celebrate their achievements, no matter how big or small.
Aining Wu holds an Honours Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance and an Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Western University. Aining began her musical journey in China at the age of five and continued her piano studies after moving to Canada, progressing through the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) system. Throughout high school, she performed in school musicals and concerts and gained additional collaborative experience accompanying a local church choir. Aining first became part of the OSMPA community as a co-op student through the St. Mildred’s-Lightbourn School Co-op Program, where she contributed to research initiatives, student programming, and award ceremonies. As a piano educator, Aining has prepared students for Royal Conservatory of Music examinations, with students achieving First Class Honours. She is passionate about creating a supportive and engaging learning environment where students can build strong musical foundations, develop confidence, and pursue their individual goals and interests. Aining is excited to continue sharing her love of music with students at OSMPA and to help each student grow as both a musician and an individual.