Meet the Piano Teachers
Dr. Ying Zhang
President - Spotlight Arts and Culture Foundation
Director and Teacher - Spotlight Piano School
Kawai Medallion Educator
Rice University DMA
Indiana University MM
Oberlin Conservatory BM
Dr. Zhang has more than 25 years of teaching, and two decades of performance experiences. The culmination of her unique background led her to become one of the most sought after piano teachers in Houston, TX. Dr. Zhang is highly skilled in teaching piano students of all ages, many of her students are award winners on local, national, and international stages. In 2023, she has been awarded Top Piano Teachers by Steinway & Sons. Prior to founding the Spotlight Piano School in 2009, She has been on the faculty of the Alvin Community College, Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University. She also served as teaching assistant at Oberlin Conservatory and at Indiana University. Inspired by her participations with full scholarships in many of the world's most prestigious Summer Music Festivals, such as Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, Summer Piano Festival SUNY New Paltz, and the Las Vegas International Summer Music Festival, Dr. Zhang founded the Spotlight Arts and Culture Foundation to help young musicians to become better performers, and to organize outreach music events to build strong connections between performers and their audiences. She also volunteers to help other music organizations such as Mika Hasler Competition year after year. Her most recent project is working as the co-producer for “Heart Moved by Piano” and Southern “Chopin” International Piano Competition, It is a cultural exchange program between students of China and the U.S.A..
Jeremy Larson - BM, MM
Piano Teacher
Jeremy is an active collaborative pianist and teacher in Houston, Texas. He currently serves as a staff pianist at the University of Houston and is the organist and pianist at Beautiful Savior Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Jeremy earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Piano Performance and Horn Performance from Eastern Washington University. He holds a Master of Music degree from Western Michigan University and completed a second Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano at the University of Houston, where he studied with Timothy Hester. His principal teachers have included Dr. Jody Graves, Timothy Hester, and Kendall Feeney.
Jeremy is a prize-winner in the chamber music category at the 2021 International Friedrich Kuhlau Flute Competition. Performing alongside colleagues from Rice University, his ensemble was recognized at the international level in a competition traditionally held in Germany.
He was awarded the James Edmonds Collaborative Pianist Award for two consecutive years (2012 and 2013) and received the James Edmonds Scholarship at Eastern Washington University.
An experienced educator, Jeremy has taught students of all ages in private studio settings and at the university level, including coaching, masterclasses, and teaching methods courses. He is especially passionate about chamber music and collaborative artistry, and strives to inspire students through thoughtful musicianship and meaningful musical partnerships.
Kayla Henderson - BM
Piano Instructor
Kayla Henderson began studying piano at age six, first in Korea and continued later after emigrating to the United States. While studying under Dr. Rachel Park, an associate professor at Jacksonville State University, Kayla placed second at FWMTA Piano solo contest in Fort Worth, Texas, and began pursuing a career as a pianist. Kayla later received a bachelor's degree in piano performance from the University of Houston, under the tutelage of Timothy Hester and Dr. Tali Morgulis. With over ten years of teaching, Kayla has extensive experience accompanying recitals and competitions, including UIL, Solo, and Ensemble. Kayla primarily performs for charity organizations, churches and refugee centers, places where people may not usually be able to afford or attend piano performances. She hopes to provide young students instruction on how to work and play piano as a means of self-expression and enjoyment, sharing in the beauty of music.
Mini Hamm
Piano Teacher
I love teaching piano as well as my students, and parents always tell me I am an excellent piano teacher. Professional Piano Teacher/Performer: Educated by the UK’s prestigious rigorous Royal School’s of Music ABRSM: Piano Performance & Theory Experience: 10+ years of teaching piano Teaching Philosophy: To nurture the love of piano playing, in a happy, constructive environment, with an individualized approach, allowing each and every student to shine. The student leaves the lesson positive and motivated. Core Values: Respect, Kindness, Understanding, Integrity, Responsibility & Hard Work Continuous Development: Continuously working on self development, both personally and professionally. I regularly take piano teaching professional development courses. Skills & Expertise: Taking complex concepts and simplifying them, allowing a student to grasp the concept easily. I’m also capable of conveying a concept in multiple ways so that the student absorbs the concept. Lessons consist of various activities such as duets, sight-reading, auditory exercises, theory, etc.., so that the student is well developed and confident in all aspects of piano playing.
Ko-Ching Tai - MM
Piano Teacher
Ko-Ching Tai began piano studies at the age of five in her native Taiwan and has since developed a reputation for commanding performances and exceptional technical control. Described as a “lioness of the piano” following her United States concerto debut with Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26, she is recognized for her great power at the keyboard and her precision in even the most demanding repertoire. A first-prize winner of both the Tsinghua University Concerto Competition and the University of Northern Colorado Concerto Competition, Ms. Tai has appeared as soloist in performances of Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Franz Liszt’s Totentanz for Piano and Orchestra. She has performed under the batons of conductors including Andrés Felipe Jaime, Ching-Po Chiang, and Wesley Broadnax. In addition to her concerto appearances, Ms. Tai has held positions as Principal Keyboard in Symphony Orchestras and Symphonic Wind Ensembles. She is an active chamber musician and collaborative pianist, frequently performing with winds, strings, and voice for degree recitals at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Her repertoire spans from the English Virginalists and French Clavecin composers of the 16th and 17th centuries to the masterworks of Alkan, Bartók, Ginastera, Rachmaninoff, and Scriabin. Ms. Tai has participated in masterclasses with Alexander Kobrin, Dina Yoffe, Petar Klasan, Ilja Scheps, Boris Slutsky, and Alexei Volodin. She completed the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from Kaohsiung Normal University, where she also obtained a teaching certificate through its education program, and the Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Northern Colorado, where she held a Graduate Assistantship in the Piano Department. She is currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Houston, where she is a Fellowship recipient and a Lietzow Award honoree. Her most influential teachers include Chun-Chieh Yen, Chao-Yin Chen, Joanna Ting, Lei Weng, Deborah Throgmorton, Timothy Hester, and Andrew Staupe.