Pianist Anna Vavilova, the recipient of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Top 25 Music Alumni Award, is the director and founder of the World of Music and Arts academy. She is also the recipient of the Vancouver Foundation and the BC Arts Council Scholarships, as well as the finalist of the Pacific Spotlight Competition on CBC Radio Two. Ms. Vavilova is on the board of directors of Music Encore Concert Society and alumna of BCRMTA (BC Registered Music Teachers Association) & CFMTA (Canadian Federation of Music Teachers Association).
Anna Vavilova was raised in a musical and cultural environment of teachers, composers, and performing artists in the direct lineage of Chopin. While pursuing her M.Mus. degree at the University of BC, her teacher Henri-Paul Sicsic was a grand disciple of Alfred Cortot, one of the most prominent musicians of the 20th century. Cortot himself was a grand pupil of Frédéric Chopin. Among other distinguished teachers were prof. Kum Sing Lee, Dr. Sara Davis – Buechner (UBC) and Dr. Eugene Skovorodnikov (UBC). During her university years, Ms. Vavilova took masterclasses from world-renowned musicians: V. Monastyrski (Israel), Aquiles Delle Vigne (Argentina), Martha Noguera (Argentina) and attended piano summer festivals in the US, France, and Russia. In 2002 Anna appeared with the Vancouver Island Symphony (Marlin Wolfe, conductor). In 2005 Anna Vavilova was a finalist at the Pacific Spotlight Competition on CBC Radio Two and has been awarded the Vancouver Foundation Scholarship (2005) and the BC Arts Council Scholarship (2006) to continue her graduate studies. In 2021 Anna Vavilova conferred her Ph.D. candidate degree from MSU which is recognized as Ph.D. in North America.
In September 2009, Dr. Vavilova opened the “World of Music & Arts” academy to provide the community with a place for music instruction that offers a consistently high standard. From 2011 to 2014 Anna was voted “Best Teacher” by Richmond Review readers four years in a row. As an experienced pianist and adjudicator, Dr. Vavilova was invited to be a part of the faculty at Tsar’s Village International Music Festival and competition in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2012. Later that year Anna Vavilova has launched the 1st season of “Concerts at the Pier” at World of Music and Arts with a piano recital by American-Italian pianist Paolo Vairo. Currently, World of Music and Arts is home to 22 teachers and 450 students and has become the most prestigious and highly desirable music school for K1-12 in Richmond, BC.
Throughout all of her years in Canada, Anna Vavilova has been continuously performing solo and chamber music collaborating with international and local musicians: Rimsky-Korsakov String Quartet, Bo Peng (cello), Lee Duckles (cello), Alvin Tran (violin), and Dr. Eugene Skovorodnikov (piano). Among the most beloved performance venues are: Abbaye de Pontlevoy (France), Chan Centre (Vancouver), VAG (Vancouver), Silk Purse (West Vancouver), World of Music and Arts (Richmond), KPU (Langley), Port Theatre (Nanaimo) and many others.
Possessing a great skill in working with young and already accomplished performers, Anna is also a beloved and highly sought-after piano teacher and mentor. Her students not only rank highly in local and international festivals and competitions but also learn to work hard and follow their career dreams.
