World of Music and Arts Richmond

🏆 Best Music Lessons in Richmond!

We are truly honoured to have once again been voted #1 for music lessons in Richmond in the Richmond News A-List Awards 2026!

This recognition belongs to our wonderful teachers who pour their hearts into every lesson, and to our students whose musical journeys inspire us every day — thank you. We are so grateful to be part of this incredible Richmond community. Here's to many more years of making music together. 🎵

See the full list of winners here: https://www.richmond-news.com/local-business/richmond-news-unveils-its-2026-a-list-winners-12367288

A Busy and Inspiring Spring at Dr. Anna Vavilova’s Piano Studio 🎹✨

It has been a wonderful and very busy spring for Dr. Anna Vavilova’s piano students, filled with outstanding achievements, first-place awards, scholarships, prestigious performance opportunities, and provincial recognition.

At the Kiwanis Music Festival, students received multiple awards and honours:
Sonia Lau, Grade 9 RCM — two 1st place awards, scholarship, Top Mark, and Provincial Candidate
Anthony Tam, ARCT — 1st place
Scarlett Fung, Grade 8 — 1st place
Hugo Zhang, Grade 7 — 1st place (as well as 2nd, 3rd)

At the Crescendo Music Festival, students earned 1st place awards and had the opportunity to perform at the Chan Centre, one of Vancouver’s most prestigious concert venues:
Denise Lau, ARCT — 1st place
Sonia Lau, Grade 9 — 1st place
Kyle Wong, ARCT — 1st place
Scarlett Fung, Grade 8 — 1st place
Alicia Zhang, ARCT — 1st place
Austin Zhang, ARCT — 1st place
Ethan Wang, ARCT — 1st place, with an additional performance opportunity at Carnegie Hall, New York

We are also proud to celebrate Marcus Liu, ARCT, who was featured as a young artist in a professional ticketed concert.
A special congratulations goes to Denise Lau, ARCT, who was accepted into university music programs with scholarships from UBC and McGill.

Dr. Anna Vavilova brings a unique depth of experience to her piano studio. She is an accomplished pianist, a Certified RCM Teacher, an advanced piano adjudicator, a talented conductor, and an RCM Examiner currently completing her onboarding with the College of Examiners. Her students benefit from exceptional musical training, professional insight, and access to some of the strongest guidance available in Vancouver.

Congratulations to all students on your hard work, dedication, and beautiful achievements this spring! 🌟

✨ An Inspiring Conversation with a World-Class Pianist ✨

On May 23rd, around 20 students from World of Music and Arts and Mastery School of Music had the chance to sit down with Vincent Ong .ong_piano — 5th Prize Winner of the 19th International Chopin Competition in Warsaw.

Vincent opened the session by performing Schumann's Arabesque, then answered questions from students on everything from practice routines, daily life as a professional musician, how he approaches difficult repertoire, and his favorite pieces of music. 🎵

A huge thank you to Vincent for his generosity and candour. Hearing first-hand about the discipline and dedication behind world-class musicianship is a perspective students need and rarely get on their personal journey. We look forward to bringing more moments like this to our students. 🎹

✨ 与世界级钢琴家的精彩交流 ✨

5月23日，约20位来自World of Music and Arts和 Mastery School of Music的学生参加了一场特别的分享会，与第19届华沙国际肖邦钢琴比赛第五名获得者 Vincent Ong（.ong_piano）面对面交流。

活动以 Vincent 演奏舒曼Arabesque揭开序幕。随后，他耐心回答了同学们提出的各种问题，包括练琴习惯、职业音乐家的日常生活、如何攻克高难度作品，以及他最喜爱的音乐作品等。🎵

感谢 Vincent 与大家分享他的音乐旅程和宝贵经验。能够近距离聆听一位世界级钢琴家讲述成长历程，以及成功背后的坚持与投入，对年轻音乐学习者来说是一次难得而珍贵的经历。

我们期待未来继续为学生们带来更多这样充满启发与意义的音乐交流活动。🎹

🌞 Summer Registration is NOW OPEN! 🌞

Important: Spots are limited and our summer is expected to fill quickly—register early to ensure availability!

At World of Music & Arts, we believe in helping every student grow and shine.
✨ Let your talent blossom ✨

🎶 Private Lessons | Camps | Group Classes
📍 All ages & levels welcome

📲 Register online: www.worldofmusicandarts.com
📧 [email protected]
📞 778-297-5505

🎼 Competition Season Series (Week 3 of 4)

🎯 Preparing with Confidence, Performing with Purpose

At World of Music and Arts, we often remind students that strong performances go beyond just playing the right notes. 👉 Adjudicators are listening for musicianship, not just accuracy 🎶

What makes a performance stand out?

• 🎵 expressive phrasing and musical shaping
• 🎨 dynamic contrast and tone quality
• 🕰️ stylistic awareness (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, etc.)
• ❤️ genuine connection to the music

🏆 A performance does not need to be perfect to be memorable.
In fact, performances that communicate something meaningful often leave the strongest impression.

👨👩👧 Parents—encourage your child to express, not just execute.
Music is not only about precision—it is about communication 💬

🎹 Students—ask yourself:
👉 What story am I telling through this piece?

🎹 Preparing for competitions?
Our team at World of Music and Arts offers expert guidance and masterclasses with advanced instructors and adjudicators to help you perform with confidence 🎶

📞 778-297-5505 | 📧 [email protected]

🎼 Competition Season Series (Week 2 of 4)

🎯 Preparing with Confidence, Performing with Purpose

At World of Music and Arts, one of the biggest challenges we see during competition season is not how much students practice—but how they practice. 👉 Effective practice is focused, intentional, and goal-oriented 🎯

Students who improve the most don’t just play their pieces over and over—they approach practice with strategy:

• 🧩 break music into small sections
• 🐢 slow down challenging passages
• 🎧 listen critically (record yourself!)
• 🎯 set one clear goal for each session

👨👩👧 Parents—a simple shift can make a big difference:
Instead of asking “How long did you practice?”
try asking 👉 “What did you improve today?” 💡

🎹 Students—remember:
Consistent, thoughtful practice builds confidence…
and confidence leads to strong, secure performances ✨

🎹 Preparing for competitions?
Our team at World of Music and Arts offers expert guidance and masterclasses with advanced instructors and adjudicators to help you perform with confidence 🎶

📞 778-297-5505 | 📧 [email protected]

🎼 Competition Season Series (Week 1 of 4)
🎯 Preparing with Confidence, Performing with Purpose

At World of Music and Arts, we are often asked how to approach competitions—and the most important mindset shift is this: 👉 Competitions are not about winning—they are about growth 🌱

Year after year, we see that the students who gain the most are not necessarily the ones who place first 🏆 They are the ones who approach the experience with intention:
• 🎯 prepare thoughtfully
• 💡 stay open to feedback
• 🔍 reflect after performing

👨👩👧 Parents—your role is incredibly important:
Support effort, not just results ❤️

🎹 Students—your goal is simple:
Walk on stage knowing you have done your best.

🎹 Preparing for competitions?
Our team at World of Music and Arts offers expert guidance and masterclasses with advanced instructors and adjudicators to help you perform with confidence 🎶

📞 778-297-5505 | 📧 [email protected]

🎸 Meet Ash – Guitar, Bass, Ukulele Teacher at World of Music & Arts 🎶

We’re excited to reintroduce Ash, a dedicated teacher who brings a blend of performance, education, and real-world experience into every lesson. Ash holds a Master of Music in Guitar Performance and has worked as a teacher, audio engineer, and youth educator with the City of Surrey. He has led creative programs, mentored young musicians, and directed a youth pop band for BC Day celebrations—giving students real performance opportunities.

✨ What makes Ash’s teaching special?
Student-centered and adaptable lessons that balance strong technique with creativity—helping students play and express themselves.

🎵 Great for all ages and levels
From beginners to advanced, Ash creates a supportive, structured, and fun environment where students feel confident from day one.

💡 What parents can expect:
✔️ Positive, encouraging atmosphere
✔️ Strong foundations and technique
✔️ Creativity and self-expression
✔️ Exam/performance preparation (optional)
✔️ Clear communication with families

🌱 Ash’s goal:
To build confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of music.

📩 Contact us today to book a trial lesson! 📞 778-297-5505 📧 [email protected]

Graduation Alert!

Congratulations to WMA Advanced Piano Student Denise Lau, student of Dr. Anna Vavilova, on her acceptance to the University of British Columbia with a scholarship, where she will begin her Bachelor’s studies in a Double Major in Piano and Business this fall. Denise was also accepted to Simon Fraser University, an outstanding accomplishment that reflects her dedication, talent, and years of hard work.

For her UBC audition, Denise presented an impressive and demanding program featuring:
Franz Liszt – La Campanella
Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Sonata No. 21 in C Major, Op. 53 “Waldstein”
Johann Sebastian Bach – Prelude and Fugue in G Minor, BWV 861 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I
Igor Stravinsky – excerpts from Trois mouvements de Petrouchka

Denise has been studying with Dr. Anna Vavilova for the past seven years and, during that time, has distinguished herself as an exceptional young musician and scholar. She is the recipient of numerous local and international awards, and her artistic growth, discipline, and passion for music have made this next step especially well deserved.

We are incredibly proud of Denise and excited to see her begin this new chapter. Please join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement and wishing her continued success in all that lies ahead!

🎹 Teacher Spotlight – Julia Polissky

WMA is proud to highlight some of our outstanding teachers in March, ahead of the Spring Term. This week we are delighted to re-introduce piano teacher Julia Polissky.

Julia teaches beginner to advanced students, with her studio ranging from 3yr old beginners to advanced students preparing for RCM Gr10 exams.

Julia has a deep passion for teaching and genuinely cares about each student’s progress; she knew she wanted to become a piano teacher when she was a little girl.

In addition to being awarded the ARCT in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music, Julia completed her Bachelor of Music in the prestigious piano program at the University of Victoria, where she studied with renowned pianist Arthur Rowe. Her lessons are well structured, encouraging, and goal-oriented, helping students build strong musical foundations while enjoying learning.

✨
some of the achievements from Julia’s studio over the past year alone:

🏆 Exams & Certificates
• Christopher Chang – RCM Gr5 Piano Exam almost 90%
• Joyce Bian – RCM Gr2 90% 1st Class Honours with Distinction
• Hannah Xin – RCM Gr3 1st Class Honours
• Victoria Castillo – RCM Gr2 1st Class Honours
• Joshua Low – Performer’s Certificate, Chopin Marathon

🎼 Music Festivals
• Joyce Bian – Gold, Kiwanis Music Festival
• Karina Bains – 2nd Place, Kiwanis Music Festival
• Hannah Xin – 2 Gold Awards, BCCM Music Festival
• Christiana Estrella – Gold, Richmond Music Festival Contemp Class
• Aston Chan – 2nd Place, Richmond Music Festival Junior Prep
• Angelyn Ren – 2nd Place, Richmond Music Festival Level 8
• Ashiana Varma – 1st & 2nd Place, Richmond Music Festival

🌍 International Recognition
• Joyce Bian – Diploma of 1st Degree, International Mark Rothko Competition
• Victoria Castillo – Diploma of 2nd Degree, International Mark Rothko Competition

🎹 Competition Highlight
• Christopher Chang – 2nd Prize, Charleston International Music Competition

These accomplishments reflect both Julia’s dedication as a teacher and the hard work of her wonderful students. 👏

We are proud that Julia has been on our faculty for 7 years and grateful for all she brings to the WMA community!

To register for lessons:
📧 [email protected]
📞 778-297-5505