Our Teachers
Bradford Alderman
Brad is the owner and founder of North Shore Piano Studio. Graduating in 2006 from Berklee College of Music with a B.M. in Piano Performance, he has been playing piano for 34 years and teaching piano lessons for over 20 years. Brad has extensively studied classical, jazz and contemporary piano. After his studies he founded a pop music group called Gentlemen Hall and which had great success and was signed by Universal Records from 2014 to 2017. After departing the band in 2018 he created North Shore Piano Studio in Lynn, Massachusetts with the goal of creating an inspiring environment to share his love of music with the others. His teaching philosophy is to help students learn to play piano quickly, combining traditional and modern approaches and most importantly helping others have fun discovering the joy of music.
Mengyao Zhao
Mengyao earned her Bachelor's degree from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, her Master's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music, and two Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Michigan State University; one in Piano Performance and another in Collaborative Piano. She has received numerous competition awards, including First Prize in the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition (with a performance at Royal Albert Hall), First Prize in the Golden Classical Music Awards (with a Carnegie Hall performance), and awards in the German Irmler International Piano Competition and Asia International Piano Art Competition.
As both a solo and collaborative pianist, Mengyao has performed extensively across the U.S. and Asia in prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Harris Concert Hall in Aspen, and major concert halls in Shanghai and Cleveland. Her collaborative piano expertise spans instrumental and vocal repertoire, having served as vocal studio pianist at Michigan State University and as collaborative pianist at the Aspen Music Festival.
Beyond performing, Mengyao is an accomplished arts leader. She founded and organized the Cleveland International Music Festival and Piano Competition in 2018. During the pandemic, she initiated Cross-Cultural Virtual Conversations with Shanghai Conservatory of Music, creating meaningful international cultural exchanges.
Mengyao has served on the piano faculty at Alma College, Michigan State University, and the Flint Institute of Music. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes encouraging students to think independently and discover the joy of music-making through varied approaches.
Mark Muzeroll
Mark Muzeroll has been playing piano since 1983 and attended Berklee College of Music from 1994-1997 graduating with a B.M. in Piano Performance and Composition. He began teaching piano lessons after graduating and has been teaching throughout the North Shore community for over 25 years. He has extensive performance experience both as a solo pianist and working with various small music combos throughout the New England area.
Mark’s teaching philosophy emphasizes a balance of fun and discipline sparking an enthusiasm for regular practice. He encourages his students to explore their musical interests and use different techniques to achieve their unique goals. Mark’s students will be encouraged to progress at reading music, improving technique and understanding music theory. He also aids students not just in musical ability, but also in their personal growth by learning to use music to create happier and more fulfilling lives.
Barbara Eliason
Barbara discovered her passion for music through her mother, a performing pianist and piano teacher who nurtured her early love of classical music. Barbara studied piano throughout her childhood, beginning with her mother and continuing with other piano teachers who expanded her musical horizons to include jazz and popular music alongside classical repertoire.
Barbara brings a unique combination of musical and educational expertise to her teaching. She earned her degree in Mathematics from Tufts University, where she maintained her musical involvement through the Tufts choir. Her 18-year career in public education includes eight years teaching K-6 students in the Acton-Boxborough school system and ten years in special education at Lexington High School.
As a piano instructor, Barbara has taught students of all ages at her home studio, working with both children and adults. She is an active member of the Salem State Community Chorus and enjoys composing original music, keeping her creative spark alive.
Barbara's teaching philosophy centers on motivation and enjoyment, believing that students learn best when lessons are both fun and engaging. Her background in education and special needs instruction allows her to tailor her approach to each student's unique learning style, ensuring that every student can discover and develop their own musical voice while building strong foundational skills.