Prior to joining ISA, Mark was Founding Vice Principal & Music Principal, The Yehudi Menuhin School Qingdao, sister school of The Menuhin School, UK, founded by the world-renowned virtuoso violinist, conductor, and international statesman. The School provides specialist training for the finest young Chinese students aspiring to work in the music profession.
From 2015-2022, Mark was Senior Executive & Director of Music at Wells Cathedral School, one of the world’s most eminent specialist music and choir schools; he was also Managing Director and Artistic Director of Cedars Hall, a major UK performance venue. Previously, he held senior posts, including Acting CEO and Executive Director, at Trinity College London. Mark was also an Adjunct Professor of Music at James Madison University, Virginia, USA and has lectured at the University of London. Mark has also taught music in primary and secondary schools in the state and private sectors in the UK. He has worked extensively worldwide as a music examiner and adjudicator.
Formerly a professional performing musician, for many years Mark was Master of the Music and Director of Concerts at The Royal Parish Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in London’s Trafalgar Square, conducting and playing for numerous services and concerts involving members of the Royal Family and stars of stage, film, and TV. He regularly performed live and recorded TV/radio broadcasts for the BBC and a wide range of international media networks.
Mark studied at The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, gaining an Honors degree in Music and postgraduate study followed at The Institute of Education University of London. He also holds professional qualifications from the Royal College of Music, the Royal College of Organists and is a Fellow of Trinity College of Music (Masters equivalent). He is also an Honorary Fellow of Trinity College London, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Honorary Licentiate of Rock School.
Karena Wang
Coordinator of Music Centre
Master’s degree in composition, full scholarship winner, University of Mismiso-Kansas City, USA, under the study of Professor Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Paul Rudy, Yotam Haber.
Enrolled in the Piano Department and Composition Department of Wuhan Conservatory of Music from the Attached Middle School, won the first prize of the composition major and National Scholarship, and was selected into the first level of the National Top-notch Innovative Talent Training Programme.
She is responsible for teaching A-Level music, IGCSE Music, composition 1-2-1 class, and directing the academic portfolios of students majoring in music composition.
Sophia Levandis
Music Teacher
Graduated from Eastman School of Music in New York with a Master of Music in Performance and Literature. She also holds a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology and Music Pedagogy from Aristotle University in Greece.
With 23 years of teaching experience and an active performing career, she is an expert in choir, band, orchestra, mixed ensembles, piano, general music, music theory and appreciation, song composing, instrumental and vocal coaching, ethnomusicology, music technology, and sound engineering. Her students have received offers from European and American Universities. She is also an elected member of the European School Radio administrative committee, coordinating a large network of schools on a common radio program, organizing song contests, and inspiring students with creativity and academic and artistic excellence.
Simon Zhang
Music Teacher
Simon Zhang graduated from the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna in Austria, obtaining a Master of Arts in Orchestral Conducting. As a member of the Guangdong Musicians Association and Guangdong Piano Society, he serves as a professional judge for various national and international music competitions and grading examinations.
Simon possesses extensive musical teaching and performance experience, having collaborated with numerous renowned singers and musicians. He previously worked as a piano accompanist and instructor at the Vienna International Opera Academy, People’s College in Austria, and the Vocal and Opera Department of Xinghai Conservatory of Music. Currently, he serves as a piano teacher at ISA and conductor of the ISA Performing Arts Institute Orchestra, and is also the conductor of the ISA Liwan Concert Band.
His teaching style is flexible and engaging, adept at incorporating fun into education and providing targeted guidance for students of different levels. In 2014, he won First Prize in Orchestra Conducting at the 2nd HSYM International Music Competition in Italy, demonstrating his exceptional musical talent and professional expertise.
Alan Liu
Music Teacher
Graduated from the School of Arts of South China University of Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance. His major is trombone performance, and he has been studying trombone for 14 years.
He has extensive performance experience and has performed with various ensembles since a child (wind ensemble, symphony orchestra) and continued to do so until he graduated from the university. After graduating from university, he began to focus on orchestra management, orchestra formation, and instrumental education.
