MEET OUR AWESOME TEACHERS:
Meet Darya Babenko-Sheppard - Classical and Contemporary Piano, Voice, Composition/Songwriting, Music Theory - a Ukrainian born and raised, whose home resonated with the vibrant sounds of Beatles, Queen, and ABBA, Tchaikovsky and Debussy. Growing up, she explored various art forms, from ballet to hip-hop dance to piano and voice lessons, embodying a love for music and movement from an early age.
In 2007, Darya embarked on an exciting journey to the United States through the reality show "American Chance," chasing her musical aspirations in Los Angeles. Despite leaving her studies at R. Glier College of Music in Kyiv, Ukraine, she secured a record deal with Ukrainian records- Universal, igniting her pursuit of a musical career.
Graduating from the Musicians Institute with a Vocal Performance Degree in 2011, Darya poured her heart into recording her band's first EP, "Don't See a Reason." Continuing her educational journey at Portland State University, she earned a Bachelor's in Music Composition in 2017.
But Darya's journey didn’t end there—she discovered a newfound passion for teaching music to children, inspired by her own musical experiences. From Los Angeles to Portland and back again, she shared her expertise as a Vocal and Piano instructor at various schools, including California Music Academy, Portland School of Rock, The Music Junction. Eventually she founded Elf Music Academy in July 2020.
For parents seeking to enrich their children's lives through music, Darya is not only a gifted singer-songwriter, composer, and arranger but also a dedicated educator with a heart for nurturing young talents.
Anna Stafford- Classical Piano
Anna’s passion for piano began at age 5 when she sightread her first song. Her professional training started even earlier, at age 4, at Moscow Children’s Art School. She earned a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from Moscow Regional College of Arts and a Master’s in Music Education from Moscow City Pedagogical University.
As a certified ESL teacher, Anna created a unique program combining music and language learning for young children, inspired by natural language acquisition and the Suzuki method. She also specializes in Suzuki piano instruction for students as young as 3.
After years of teaching and performing in Russia, Anna moved to the U.S. to fulfill her dream of opening a joyful, accessible music school. In May 2022, she joined Elf Music Academy’s founder, Darya Babenko-Sheppard, sharing the vision of a comprehensive and welcoming musical community.
Anna blends the Russian classical piano tradition with modern approaches to help students express themselves. She has graduated with Master’s in Piano Performance from California State University, Northridge in 2024 and has given a few solo concerts since.
Claire Chan - Classical Piano, Violin, Music Theory
Claire is a passionate and dedicated piano and violin teacher with a rich background in music. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Honors) from Hong Kong Baptist University and a Master of Music degree in piano performance from California State University, Northridge. Over the years, Claire has had the privilege of studying under renowned pianists Cherry Tsang, Dmitry Rachmanov, and Jason Stoll, and she has honed her skills through masterclasses with distinguished musicians like Warren Lee, Sabrina He, Derek Parsons, Peter Vinograde, and Victor Goldberg.
Her commitment to excellence is reflected in her impressive achievements, including a Trinity LTCL diploma in Piano Performance and multiple awards, such as first place in the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Solo Piano competition and the Prize for Best Liszt Performance at the American Liszt Society SoCal Chapter Festival. Claire has also been recognized in various competitions, including the Pasadena Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Scholarship Competition, the Santa Monica College Orchestra Concerto and Aria Competition, and the CSUN Concerto/Aria Competition.
In addition to her piano expertise, Claire has a well-rounded musical background, holding an ATCL diploma in violin performance. She has performed as a violinist in several esteemed ensembles, including the Hong Kong Youth Strings Orchestra, Kowloon Youth Strings Orchestra, and the YWCA Hioe Tjo Yeong College string orchestra.
Claire is passionate about sharing her love for music with students of all ages and levels. Her nurturing and patient approach fosters a supportive environment where students can develop their musical abilities while gaining confidence and a lifelong appreciation for music. Inspiring the next generation of musicians through her love and dedication for music is Claire’s main goal as a music teacher!
