CEO & Master Piano Technician

Mani Koosha

Mani Koosha, is a master piano technician and piano expert. Mani is a member of IMU, which itself is member of international Federation of Music (IFM). He is founder of Koosha Piano, which is a technical training complex that activity woks in the field of repair, service, rebuilding and renewal. 

Piano is a very attractive and at the same time complex mechanical device that with a better understanding of the complex world inside it we will become a better musician. In 2025 Ava Music school and Koosha Piano have been merged and now is Manita Music Center. 

CEO & Pianist

Anahita Khorsandi Koosha

Anahita Khorsandi Koosha is a pianist living in DC area. She started playing piano at age 6 with Mr. Pardis, who was one of the best teachers at the time. After that she started taking lessons from Mojgan Salehi who was also one of the best teachers. She has also studied piano in a conservatory of Tehran for several years. She has studied MBA in University of Massachusetts. As a result of her life-long study of both music and marketing, Anahita Khorsandi founded the Ava Music School in 2017 and now Ava Music school and Koosha Piano have been merged and now is Manita Music Center. 

Office Assistant

Nyjah Harris

Nyjah Harris, a graduate from Old Dominion University, is a passionate violinist with over a decade of experience. She began her musical journey at the age of 11 through the Shirley Heim Middle School Orchestra. Nyjah’s early training was shaped by influential mentors such as Mr. Macdonald and Mr. Barriclow, and she continued her musical development in college under Dr. Kim at ODU's Symphony Orchestra. She strives to create a warm, patient, and supportive environment where students feel inspired to grow not only as musicians, but as individuals.

Piano Gallery Assistant

August Stamper

August Stamper is a current student at George Mason University, studying music performance on the French horn under his professor Dr. Caroline Steiger. On the horn, August has and continues to perform in the GMU Symphony Orchestra and Wind Symphony, as well as the Capital Horns French horn choir.
At Manita Music Center, August is working as our Piano Gallery Assistant, where he works to perfect his skills as a piano technician under his mentor Mani Koosha. 

​

​

​

​

​

Piano Instructor

Niloofar Rahmanzadeh

Niloofar has always been passionate about the arts and began her musical journey studying piano under the guidance of Amirreza Kardar Tehran, a highly respected piano teacher based in Iran. He provided her with a strong foundation, instilling essential skills and a deep appreciation for music. She later continued her training with Anahita Khorsandi, the founder of Manita Music Center, further honing her craft.

Her dedication and talent have earned her recognition as a prize winning pianist. Now, Niloofar proudly serves as both a piano teacher and the executive manager at Manita Music Center, where she inspires and nurtures the next generation of musicians. 

Piano Instructor 

Dr. Nikan Milani

Nikan Milani is an accomplished pianist, composer, conductor, and music instructor. He has studied in London and the United States. His teachers include Haynush Makarian and Eda Shlym. He has performed US piano recitals in Chicago, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, DC, Boston, and in Cambridge at Harvard University. Nikan Milan studied Piano and Composition at The Longy School of Music. When not composing, performing, or teaching, Nikan conducts a choir. Being extremely well-rounded enables Nikan to be a phenomenal music instructor. He also studied music at Harvard university in Boston.​​

​

​

Piano Instructor

Dr. Yiran He

Dr. Yiran He, a native of China, earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance from George Mason University in 2025, studying with Dr. Linda Apple Monson. She began playing the piano at the age of four. She graduated with a Master of Music Degree in Piano Performance from Wright State University in 2020 and studied for a second Master of Music Degree in Music Education in 2021, with a 4.0 GPA. 

Dr. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Irene Romanowski Piano Award at Wright State University in 2020.

Dr. He has also given many solo recitals and participated in many solo piano performance events through George Mason University, including Mason’s Grand Piano Celebration, Arts by George, and the Dewberry School of Music Honor Recital. Her recent performance was a doctoral piano lecture recital at George Mason University in April, 2025.  

​

​

​​​​​

​

Piano Instructor & Piano Tuner 

Juan Carlos (JC) Alegre

Juan Carlos (JC) Alegre began his musical journey at the age of 7, playing piano in his hometown of Lima, Peru. By the age of 9, he was formally studying classical piano at the prestigious National Conservatory in Lima, where he developed a deep appreciation for composers such as Chopin, Schubert, and Mozart.

In 1990, he earned a master’s degree in Operations Research from the George Washington University. 

Despite his demanding career, JC never strayed far from music. He continued to play classical piano and expanded his repertoire to include genres such as Latin jazz and pop. In the early 2000s, he toured with Bio Ritmo, a classic salsa band rooted in Richmond, Virginia, showcasing his versatility and passion for performance.

Today, JC has returned to music as a full-time career, sharing his expertise as both a piano teacher and piano technician. 

JC’s teaching philosophy is rooted in his lifelong belief in music's power to inspire, connect, and transform lives. 

Piano Instructor

Farhad Tehrani

Farhad Tehrani graduated from Tehran Conservatory of Music with piano as his specialised instrument. He also has a master degree in Liberal Arts from Georgetown University where he concentrated on the significant role of music on children’s cognitive performances. He is a versatile piano teacher who can successfully teach several piano playing genres. Adept at teaching students to read music, and providing tailored piano lessons to students of all ages and abilities. Mr Tehrani never takes for granted the prominent role of parents in shaping their children’s learning processes and strongly encourage them to familiarise themselves with musical education in order to better accompany their children on their musical journey. As a music teacher, it is his belief that all students, regardless of socio-economic status, physical or intellectual ability, should be offered the opportunity to discover and explore their innate potential as musicians, and to increase these natural capacities through formal music instruction.

​

​​​​​​

​

​

Guitar Instructor

Peter Ghobrial

Peter Ghobrial is a seasoned classical guitarist and passionate music educator with over 15 years of experience. He graduated from the Arabic Music Institute’s Free Studies Department in Egypt with a “Very Good” rating, reflecting his strong foundation in classical guitar performance and music theory. Peter has spent more than a decade teaching students of all ages and skill levels in Egypt, guiding them in both technical development and musical expression. His teaching is enriched by his diverse performance background — he has played in various bands and choirs, performed live across multiple venues, and made appearances on Egyptian TV shows. Peter’s passion for the guitar runs deep. He describes playing the guitar as the most joyful and fulfilling part of his day.

Piano Instructor 

Behnaz Raouf

Behnaz Raouf was born in Iran. She has been playing piano for over 20 years. She has a Master’s degree in teaching and a profound understanding of children’s cognitive development, Behnaz brings a passion for exploring various musical genres. Her two-decade journey in piano, marked by continuous learning, performance, and teaching, caters to diverse learning styles and paces. Whether guiding young beginners or helping adults fulfill their piano dreams, Behnaz tailors her approach. She recently joined Ava Music School as a piano instructor.

​​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

Vocal Instructor (Persian)

Hossein Jazayeri

Hossein has been singing for as long as he can remember, growing up surrounded by music thanks to a talented family—his father, grandfather, and aunt all passed down their love for it. From an early age, he was drawn to Iranian traditional vocal music, especially after discovering the legendary Maestro Mohammad Reza Shajarian. Inspired by Shajarian, Hossein set out to learn the Iranian vocal repertoire, "Radif," studying with Ms. Naghme Gholami and Mr. Hamidreza Nourbakhsh, both of whom were students of Shajarian himself. This experience has really shaped Hossein’s unique style and deepened his appreciation for the roots of Iranian music.

​

​

​

​​​

​

Vocal Instructor (Classical) 

Dieer Hu

Dieer Hu is a dedicated and passionate voice teacher who enjoys helping students of all ages discover their unique musical voices. Originally from China, she began her musical journey with piano at age five and soon developed a love for singing through her experience in a children’s choir. Since then, music has been at the heart of her life.

Dieer holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) in Vocal Performance from The Catholic University of America, a Master of Music from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from the China Conservatory of Music. She has performed leading roles in operas such as L’elisir d’amore, The Magic Flute, Serse, and Norma, and has given solo recitals across the United States. Her performances have earned her top honors in international competitions, including the Classical Music Award and the Apex International Music Competition.

Piano & Vocal Instructor 

Dr. Seyoung Jeoung

Dr. Seyoung Jeong is a soprano and pianist. Currently, she is a member of the voice faculty at University of Maryland, Baltimore County and music director of Virginia Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA. Previously, she was a lecturer/principal opera/vocal coach at Catholic University of America and George Mason University.  She also served as an assistant professor of piano at Northern Virginia Community College and a piano faculty at Community Arts Program at West Virginia University.

Dr. Jeong earned her Master’s degree in Voice Performance and Literature from Eastman School of Music. Before attending Eastman, she earned her Doctoral degree in Piano Performance from WVU; a Master’s degree from Duquesne University; and another M.M. and a B.M. from Ewha Women’s University in Seoul, Korea.

​

​

Piano Instructor

Hallie Marie Schlaffer

Hallie is a graduate of the University of Colorado in Denver with a degree in Music with an emphasis on vocal performance. She has experience providing voice and piano instruction to elementary and middle school age children.  Hallie is a professional recording artist with songs she has written and recorded under her stage name “Hallie Marie.” Her vocal performances and original songs have received positive reviews in several music publications.  Prior to relocating to the Washington DC area in August 2025, Hallie spent three years performing in various music venues throughout Colorado both as a solo performer and as lead vocalist and piano player for the blues rock band Direville.

​

​

​

​

​

Piano Instructor

Dr. Pei Hsuan Lin

Pei received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the National Taiwan Normal University, dual Master’s degrees in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano, and a Graduate Diploma in Vocal Accompanying from the Peabody Conservatory, where she served as rehearsal pianist for productions including Pride and Prejudice, The Hiding Tree, La Rondine, and Così fan tutte. She is the recipient of the 2018 Clara Ascherfeld Award and the 2021 Sarah Stulman Zierler Prize in Accompanying from Peabody, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano at the University of Maryland. Lin has served as music staff at Wolf Trap Opera.

.

​

​

Violin Instructor

Anna Hallett Gutierrez

Anna Hallett Gutierrez is a violinist originally from York, Pennsylvania.  Growing up, she was an active member of local youth orchestras and was awarded top prizes in local concerto competitions.  She received her BA in violin performance from Bard College Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Weigang Li of the Shanghai Quartet. Ms. Hallett Gutierrez aims to bring the love of music to the next generation through teaching, coaching, and concertizing.

Since moving to Leesburg, Virginia in 2025, she has been privileged to perform with Laudare Music as a soloist and section leader, Main Street Chamber Orchestra as Principal Second, NIH Philharmonia, Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra, Shippensburg Festival Orchestra, Gettysburg College Sunderman Conservatory Orchestra, Shippensburg University Community Orchestra.