Bio

About Grace Ho

Grace Ho Toronto Pianist and teacherGrace enjoys her career as an active piano teacher, music festival convener, and freelance musician in Toronto. She is currently the President and Audition Convener of the ORMTA North York/York Regional Branch. When she started her studies in piano pedagogy with Mary Tickner, she began her teaching career, passionately working with students at various music studios. She had completed the Royal Conservatory of Music’s elementary and intermediate piano pedagogy certifications under Tickner’s tutelage. When she later moved to Toronto, she then finished the Advanced certification with the help and guidance from Susan Hamblin Dennis. She finds immense enjoyment through learning various teaching methods and styles for all diverse levels and ages. She devotes her time to help students explore their musical growth and appreciation, whether it is through their private studies, group activities, or involvement within music communities.

During her graduate studies, she went to Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, and worked as a Graduate Teaching Fellow. She had the honour of working with other graduate fellows and faculty members, teaching both private piano and group lessons at the SMU Piano Preparatory Department. In addition, she taught class piano semesters for both music and non-music SMU undergraduates. After graduation, Grace formerly taught group piano lessons at the West Vancouver Community Centre and at a couple of local music schools in the Greater Toronto Area, teaching introductory musicianship skills and keyboard activities with young students and teens before students transition towards private piano lessons.

Grace Ho performing on pianoGrace received a number of scholarships from universities and music festivals, including the SMU Meadows Artistic Scholarship, and UBC School of Music Erzsebet Gessler Memorial Scholarship. She had previously performed at solo recitals and summer music festivals, including highlight performances at the Atlantic Music Festival in Maine, and Orford Musique Festival in Québec. She performed in several piano masterclasses, including those of Sergio DeSimone and Robert Weirich. Other former performance experiences include ensemble concerts from Contemporary Music Ensemble SYZYGY at SMU, UBC Chinese Ensemble, and piano accompanist for school choirs at music festivals and competitions within British Columbia, Canada and abroad.

Grace holds a Master Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts in Texas, a Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of British Columbia (UBC) School of Music, and both Performance and Piano Pedagogy ARCT diplomas from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has adjudicated at local music festivals, including the auditions at the ORMTA Central Toronto, and Scarborough and Pickering branches. Her students have achieved great success in their practical and theory examinations, performed at provincial competitions, and have won numerous scholarships and awards at music festivals. Her music inspiration towards performance artistry and teachings are influenced by former piano mentors Dr. Carol Leone, Alice Enns, Edward Parker, and piano pedagogy mentors Dr. Catharine Lysinger, Susan Hamblin Dennis, and Mary Tickner