Mei Trill Zhou

Flute

Ms. Zhou earned her BM degree in flute performance from the Shanghai Conservatory Music and her MM from the University of Connecticut, Hartford. She taught flute for more than twenty-five years (15 years in the U.S.). She developed a unique, fun, and effective method of teaching the flute to ages ranging from five years old to retired adults. Many of her students have been accepted to the Junior/Senior High All-state Honors band as well as the North CA Honors band. Ms. Zhou is also an active performer and appears in the numerous concerts/recitals throughout the Bay Area. In addition, She was the first classical flute artist to record her performance on CD in China. Her CDs were sold not only in China, but also in Europe and the U.S. Ms. Zhou is well-known for her friendly manner.

shay Salhov

Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, Jazz Ensemble Coaching, Jazz Theory, Jazz & Classical Piano

Shay Salhov was born in Hadera, Israel. Salhov started to explore music by trying to imitate his sister’s piano playing as well as making the sound of drums on pots and pans. After a number of years studying both piano and alto saxophone, Salhov decided at the age of 16 to concentrate his energy on the saxophone by improvising and playing jazz music. He began playing professionally in Israel at the age of eighteen. Salhov joined the Israeli Air-Force Band, where he collaborated with Israel’s top musicians and performed in the International Red Sea Jazz Festival as well as on television.  After three years of army service, Salhov performed regularly in jazz clubs, festivals and concerts. He was a member in the Tel Aviv Big Band in addition to  various jazz, rock, and experimental projects.  He completed his diploma studies at Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music where he won the Jazz Player of the Year 2000 competition and went on to represent his school in the IASJ convention in Paris. After his arrival to the U.S. in September 2000, Salhov concentrated on his work as a performer, composer, and also as a music teacher in the greater Boston area and New York City.  He completed a Bachelor’s degree at Berklee College of Music Magna Cum Laude and a Master’s Degree in classical saxophone at the Boston Conservatory (Summa Cume Laude), where he received merit scholarships and graduated. Among his teachers were George Garzone, Hal Crook, Ed Tomasi, Joe Lovano and Ken Radnofsky. Salhov has developed an intriguing personal performance style and he is a sophisticated composer of original and exciting jazz for mixed ensembles. Salhov moved to New York City in June 2005 and became active in the local jazz scene. He performed with many of New York’s top musicians and at venues such as the Jazz Gallery, the Jazz Standard, Cornelia Street Café and the NYC Winter Jazz Fest. Salhov performed live on “Transfigured Night”, a late-night radio show on WKCR New York, with the free jazz trio 202. He taught daily in the greater New York area at various schools and music studios. Salhov moved to the Bay Area in June, 2009. Before leaving NYC, he made his debut recording of his jazz trio project with drummer Ronen Itzik and bassist Gary Wang who both played Salhov original compositions. Salhov is currently performing and teaching throughout the California Bay Area such as Monterey Jazz Festival and San Jose Jazz Festival.

Chiunglien liu

Flute & Classical Piano

Chiunglien Liu was educated in Taiwan, the  United States, and the United Kingdom. She received her master's degree in music education from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. She was a scholar of Cambridge Commonwealth, European, and International Trust. Before she moved to Cambridge, she was a lecturer at the Universities, a flute teacher and band director in high schools, middle schools, a director of the Magic Flute Trio, and an active flutist in Taiwan. She had her master's degree in music education with Kodály emphasis from the Conservatory of Music at Capital University. She obtained her master's degree in music performance from the City University of New York, where she studied  flute with Bernard Goldberg. 

Chiunglien had substantial music performance experience in the Chamber Ensemble for the Royal Family in the Senate House in Cambridge and the University of Cambridge Philharmonic Orchestra. She was a member of the Cambridge Philharmonic Society Choir and performed music in King’s College Chapel, Ely Cathedral in Cambridge, and Rudolfinum in Prague. She is an active member of the Fortnightly Music Club, a flutist, and a piano instructor in the San Francisco Bay Area after she moved to California. She is CEO of Our Music Time and authorizes numerous books, including felt story books for children and music books for teachers: Our Folk Songs & Rhymes for Children and Our Fabulous Music Plans for Private & Group Lessons. 

Chiunglien participates in teaching and diverse musical activities to keep her engaged with different groups. Her education and teaching have given her valuable experience with Eastern and Western cultures in music education and performance. She has learned to appreciate the differences and similarities produced by these two cultures. They expand her vision and stimulate some creative teaching methods. As a music teacher, she believes that Zoltan Kodály’s philosophy of music education will inspire her to impart knowledge in a meaningful and creative way to students.