Sergei Pavlov's students

Sergei Pavlov piano school Debut Piano Studio welcomes students from the eastern part of the Greater Toronto Area. Our students achieve top ratings in RCM piano examinations in Toronto and win top prizes and scholarships in music festivals and competitions. Some of the piano studio's alumni went to further accomplishments: scholarships from the Glenn Gould School of Music, the Ben Steinberg Musical Legacy Award and appearances with symphony orchestras in the Greater Toronto Area.

For hundreds of video recordings of our students in recitals please visit Sergei Pavlov's Youtube channel.

Our student Johann Derecho won the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association's Young Artist Competition and theEsther Su Memorial Award for the most promising talent.

At the North York Music Festival, Johann Derecho won the Founder's Award Class and Scholarship which entitled him to attend the Peter de Grote Festival and Summer Academy in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in July 2015. There he won a further participation to a music festival in Spain, where he performed solo and with orchestra.

Emily and Julia won first prizes at the North York Music Festival. At the ORMTA Spring Auditions of the Scarborough Branch Emily won the First Prize in the Intermediate level and Maria was promoted to participate in the GTA Zone Instrumental Competition.

The Scholarship and Awards Auditions of the North York / York Region Branch of ORMTA concluded with scholarships and prizes for Emily, Julia, Justin, Chris and Johann

At the CCC Toronto Piano Competition, Chris won the second place in the ARCT level category with Partita by Bach.

Warm congratulations to all of Sergei Pavlov's students who participated in music festivals and auditions in the first part of 2015!

Featured below is a performance of the first movement of Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor delivered by Johann Derecho, winner of the Second Prize and a scholarship in the Canadian Music Competition in June 2013. He plays here with the Symphony on the Bay at the 'Schumann and the Young Musicians' concert on November 3, 2013, at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Johann was also the winner of Symphony on the Bay’s 2013 Young Artists' Competition, in the Junior category.

Past Students | Honour alumni

Past Students

Johann Derecho - RCM, ARCT

CCC Toronto Piano Competition, 2014: First Place in the Age Achievement category with Prelude and Fugue by Bach and Basso Ostinato by Shchedrin. He also received the Third Place with Partita in C Minor by Bach.
Two First Places, Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2013. Performed at the Gala Concert in the Richmond Hill Centre for Performing Arts
Second Place in the Canadian Music Competition national finals in Quebec, June 2013
Winner of Symphony on the Bay’s 2013 Young Artists' Competition, Junior category. Invited to perform with the Symphony on the Bay in concert at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on November 3, 2013.
Gold standing in North York Concerto Competition, 2013, promoted on the shortlist for Symphony Orchestra performance selection
First Place in Concerto category with a mark of 91, Markham Music Festival 2013
First Place in the Artist category, North York Music Festival, 2013
First Place in the Artist category, Newmarket Lions Music Festival, 2013
First Place and Ann Hulbert Award in the Advanced category with a mark of 96, ORMTA Auditions, 2013. Promoted to the GTA Zone competition.
Passed two rounds of elimination and placed seven out of fourteen in the finals of the Canadian Music Competition 2012
First Place with the best mark of 91, and another First Place with a score of 90, at Mandarin Lions Music Festival 2012
Ann Hulbert Award with best mark of 93 in the senior category, ORMTA Auditions, 2012
First, Second and Third Place, Newmarket Lions Music Festival, 2012
First Place, Markham Music Festival, 2012
Second Place and Third Place, CCC Music Competition, 2012
Second Place and Third Place, Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2011

Kevin F. - RCM, ARCT

First Class Honours and mark of 86 at the examination for the ARCT Diploma
Qualification for the zone competition, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
First Place (mark of 92) and Third Place at CCC Competition 2012. Invited to perform at the Rising Stars concert.
Second Place and Third Place at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2011
Ann Hulbert Award and scholarship for highest mark of all competitors, ORMTA Spring Auditions 2011. Graduated to the zone competition, where he placed third.
Graduated RCM Grade 10 with a mark of 92
Achievement Ribbon and mark of 88 at the ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2010. Performed in the Honours Recital.
Two First Places with a Best Mark of 91 at the Kiwanis Music Festival of 2010

Chester Deng - RCM, ARCT

ORMTA (Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association) Auditions, 2010

Graduated RCM Grade 10 with a mark of 88
Ann Hulbert Award for the Best in the Seniors Category with best mark of 92.
Qualified for the 2010 Greater Toronto Area ORMTA Competition where he placed second

ORMTA (Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association) Auditions, 2009

Ann Hulbert Award for the Best in the Seniors Category with a mark of 93.
Qualified for the GTA Auditions of May 2009 where he won Second Place

Second Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2009, in Concert Group

Ashlyn- RCM, Grade 10

Second and Third Place at Markham Music Festival, 2013
Third Place at Richmond Hill Music Festival, performed at the Gala Concert, 2012
Second Place for Concert Group at Kiwanis Music Festival, 2011

Amit - RCM, Grade 10

Kiwanis Music Festival 2010

Two Second Places and marks of 89 and 87

Amy - RCM, Grade 10

First Class Honours with a mark of 92 - RCM exam for Grade 7

Catherine - RCM, Grade 10

First Place at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, performed at the Gala Concert, 2012
Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
Two Third Places, Markham Music Festival, 2012

Chris - RCM, Grade 10

Was admitted at the Arts Unionville Program as a piano solo student after passing a very tight selection
Performed at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2013
Performed at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
First Place at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2011
First Place at Kiwanis Music Festival, 2010
Achievement Ribbon at the 2009 ORMTA Honours Recital
Shared Second Prize and mark of 87 at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2009
Mark of 85 at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007
Second Prize at the Lions Festival of Newmarket, 2007
Second Prize at the Lions Festival of Newmarket, 2006

Hailey - RCM, Grade 10

Was admitted at the Arts Unionville Program as a piano solo student after passing a very tight selection
Mark of 93 and performed at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2013
Age Achievement Award, North York Music Festival, 2012, invited to perform at the Gala recital
One Second Place and Two Third Places at the Markham Music Festival, 2012 and mark of 91 for Rondo by Kabalevsky
Achievement ribbon and qualified for the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
First Place and Second Place at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2011, invited to perform at the Gala Recital
Two Second Place at the Mandarin Lions Music Festival 2010
Passed the qualifying rounds in the Canadian Music Competition, obtained a scholarship, and in the Canadian finals placed in 6th out of 16, with a mark of 99 from the head adjudicator.
The Christine Loach Award for Best in the Intermediate Class with a mark of 95 at the 2009 ORMTA Auditions
Second Place, Mandarin Lions Festival, 2009
First Place and Second Place, Yip's Music Festival 2008
First Place, Mandarin Lions Festival, 2008
First Place, Richmond Hill Music Festival, 2007

Jackie - RCM, Grade 10

Second Place, Markham Music Festival, 2012
Achievement Ribbon at the ORMTA Spring Auditions of 2011. Performed at the Honours Recital.
Third Place at Kiwanis Music Festival, 2011

Jasmine - RCM, Grade 10

Two First Places, Kiwanis Music Festival, 2010
Third Prize, Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007, in Concert Group
Second Prize at the Lions Festival of Newmarket, 2007
Second Prize at the Lions Festival of Newmarket, 2006
Second Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2006
Third Prize at the Lions Festival of Newmarket, 2005

Stephanie - RCM, Grade 10

Invited to perform at the Honour Recital, mark of 92, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2013
Second Place at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2012
Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
First Class Honours, RCM examination for Grade 9
Mark of 87 at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2011

Elain - RCM, Grade 9

First Class Honours, RCM examination for Grade 7

Helena - RCM, Grade 9

Best mark for her age group, qualified for the GTA Zone competition, ORMTA Spring Auditions 2013
First and Second Place at North York Music Festival, 2013
Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
Second Place at Markham Music Festival, 2012
First Class Honours, RCM examination for Grade 7
Second Place at Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011

Jalen - RCM, Grade 9

Second Place with concerto at Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011
Marks of 85 and 86 and Achievement Ribbon at the ORMTA Spring Auditions of 2010
Third Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007

Justin F. - RCM, Grade 9

First Place and scholarship in duet with Jason, Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011
Oceanna Music Publications Award, 2011
Christine Loach Award and scholarship at the ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2011
Achievement Ribbon and mark of 88 at the ORMTA Honours Recital, 2010
Kiwanis Music Festival 2010

Second Place in duet with Jason
Third Place for Ancient Tale by Flitz
Third Place in Concert Group

Achievement Ribbon at the ORMTA Honours Recital, 2009
Mark of 85 (Gold) at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2009
First Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007
Third Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007 with Concert Group
Second Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2006

Maria - RCM, Grade 9

Third Place at Euromusic Markham Music Festival, 2013
Maria and Sophia: First Place with duet at Mandarin Lions Music Festival, 2012
Two Third Places, Markham Music Festival, 2012
Second Place, Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011
First Class Honours, RCM examination for Grade 7

Steven - RCM, Grade 9

First Class Honours, RCM examination for Grade 8
Second Place with Concert Group at Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011

Andy - RCM, Grade 9

First Class Honours and mark of 86, RCM examination for Grade 7

Christine - RCM, Grade 9

Performed at the Honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2013
Was awarded three Second Place at Richmond Hill Music Festival, 2013
Performed at the Honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
First Place with mark of 91 and Third Place at Arts Richmond Hill Music Festival, November 2011, invited to perform at the Gala Recital
First Place at Kiwanis Music Festival, 2011
First Place at Richmond Hill Music Festival, 2010

Sofia - RCM, Grade 8

Shirley Knautz Award with best mark of 95 overall, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012.
Maria and Sofia: First Place with duet at Mandarin Lions Music Festival, 2012
Second Place, Markham Music Festival, 2012
Second Place, Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011

Eugene - RCM, Grade 8

Best mark of 92 in his age group and Shirley Knautz Award, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2013
Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012

Leon - RCM Grade 7

Performed at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2013
Performed at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012

Jason - RCM, Grade 7

First Place and scholarship in duet with Justin, Kiwanis Festival of Music, 2011
Oceanna Music Publications Award, 2011
Achievement Ribbon at the ORMTA Honours Recital, 2011
Achievement Ribbon and mark of 90 at the ORMTA Honours Recital, 2010
Second Place in duet with Justin, Kiwanis Music Festival 2010
Achievement Ribbon at the Honours Recital of the ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2009
Third Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2009
First Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007
Second Prize at the Kiwanis Music Festival of Greater Toronto Area, 2007, with Concert Group

Rachel - RCM Grade 5

Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012
Third Place, Mandarin Lions Arts Festival, 2012

Nathan - RCM Grade 4

Sheila Kendall Award, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012

Emily - RCM Grade 4

Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012

Julia - RCM Grade 4

Achievement ribbon at the honours recital, ORMTA Spring Auditions, 2012

Honour alumni

Sarah Silverman, ARCT, scholarship graduate of the Glenn Gould School of Music and winner of Ben Steinberg Musical Legacy Award, working on her PhD at Manhattan School of Music in New York City
Susan Hall, ARCT, piano teacher, Uxbridge
Beverly Foster, ARCT, piano teacher and accompanist, Port Perry
Alisa Auger, ARCT, piano teacher and accompanist, Uxbridge
Eleonor Hu, ARCT, piano teacher, Scarborough
Katya Khoyetsian, piano teacher, working on her ARCT at York University, Toronto
Isen Widjaja, ARCT, Newmarket
B.J. Byers, ARCT, Uxbridge
Isidora Romantini, piano teacher, Aurora