Meet Our Teachers

Helia Azar

Flutist, songwriter, and pianist, Helia Azar, was awarded outstanding talent prize in Fadjr International Festival three times in Tehran, Iran. She had the opportunity to work with so many great musicians in the United States, Canada, and Iran and also as a teacher at different universities and music institutes such as the University of Minnesota, Boise State University, and the University of Tehran.

She has more than 20 years of experience in the music industry and recently got her certificate in Digital Music Production from Langara College. She studied as a doctorate candidate in flute performance and teaching assistant at the University of Minnesota in the United States. She got her Master's degree in Music from Boise State University in the United States and her Bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Tehran.

She is the founder, piano and flute teacher at Azars Music School and Certified Teacher of Royal Conservatory of Music.

Nila Azar

Nila Azar, a cellist and pianist from Vancouver, BC, earned her Bachelor's degree from the UBC School of Music, receiving multiple scholarships. She began her musical journey at the Tehran Music Conservatory and has over ten years of cello experience. Nila has performed with orchestras and ensembles in Iran and Vancouver and worked with esteemed musicians such as Eric Wilson, Liane Langton, and Miranda Wong.

She is an active instructor, teaching cello, piano, music theory, and children's group classes for more than ten years, and performs with the UBC Symphony Orchestra directed by Jonathan Girard. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes structured lessons with a focus on accuracy, technique, theory, and musicianship, tailored to individual learning styles.

Helia Tootoonchi

Helia is a classical Singer, Violinist and Violist. She started learning music from an early age. She graduated from Tehran Conservatory of Music in Iran as a Violin and Viola major. After moving to Canada she studied classical singing and graduated as a voice major from Capilano university. She has taught Music Theory, Sight-Singing and Ear Training, Kids Music and also Violin and Viola classes to kids and adults.

From an early age, she had many performances with the Iranian kids' Orchestra at Vahdat hall, Rudaki hall and Azadi Hall in Tehran and Hafiz Hall in Shiraz. She also had performances with The Tehran music school String ensemble, The Tehran music school Chamber Orchestra as a violinist and viola player and The music school of Tehran choir as a Mezzo-Soprano. She also had many performances with the Capilano singers choir at "BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing".

Elahe Naghavi

Elahe Naghavi, a skilled pianist and dedicated piano instructor, earned her Bachelor's degree in Musical Art from Komitas Conservatory of Music in 2016, followed by her Master's in Piano Performance in 2018. Her career as a piano instructor began in Tehran, and she distinguished herself by passing the rigorous examination at the prestigious Pournazery Music Academy, becoming the sole piano instructor at the institution.

Elahe also collaborated as a pianist with renowned musicians from Tehran's symphonic orchestra in the Scheherazade quartet. Beyond her musical talents, she possesses a deep passion for art and literature, having earned a Bachelor's degree in French literature.

Tannaz Kompany

Violinist and classical singer, Tannaz Kompany, graduated from Shiraz Music and Art University. She has 18 years experience teaching violin, solfege, and music theory. She is highly educated in the Suzuki method and has taught Violin with Suzuki method at many music institutes in Shiraz and Tehran.

Tannaz collaborated with Iranian TV and radio stations. She was one of the jury members of the music section of the Shiraz public school's art and cultural competitions.

Tannaz's bachelor degree's thesis was on music therapy and she worked in music therapy sector for about two years.

Tannaz had performances with Tehran symphony orchestra, Pars Contemporary Orchestra and conducted the Arshe womens orchestra.

She has continued her studies in Canada, and she is a member of the Paragon Singers choir and St. John's church choir.

Kiarash Etemadseifi

Kiarash Etemadseifi is an experienced guitar instructor, composer, and performer with more than 10 years of teaching experience at the Tehran Conservatory of Music. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and has taught electric and acoustic guitar to students from beginner through advanced levels, with a strong focus on technique, music theory, performance, and musical expression.

Throughout his teaching career, Kiarash has worked with hundreds of students and is passionate about helping each student develop confidence, creativity, and a strong technical foundation. His teaching approach is tailored to each student’s individual learning style, interests, and goals, creating lessons that are both structured and inspiring.

In addition to teaching, Kiarash has an extensive professional background as a composer and performer. He has contributed to more than four officially released albums, created original music for over 15 theatre and film productions, and performed in numerous concerts and live stage productions. ​

Farzaneh Daneshmand

Santoor instructor and painter, Farzaneh Daneshmand, has been teaching Santoor for more than 15 years at different music institutes in Shiraz, Iran where she has mostly focused on developing and tailoring educational methods targeted towards children and adolescents. She started taking Santoor lessons under supervision of one of the most renowned Santoor instructors in Iran.

Later on, She has the opportunity to be selected as the teaching assistant by Masood Shenassa who is the founder of the modern Santoor teaching method. Simultaneously, she built upon her skills by studying rhythm, harmony, and music theory. Iranian Traditional Radio became her passion from the very first years, on which she spent most of her learning time. She received her Master's degree in Painting from Azad University of Art and Architecture.