MAC Camp 2024 Faculty
Joshua Chua
Born in Malaysia, Mr. Chua was awarded the “A.B.R.S.M Grade 8 music theory” in 2003 and the “Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music diploma certificate” (L.R.S.M) in 2005. He received his Master of Music in Collaborative Piano Performance from the University of Houston under the tutelage of Timothy Hester. With more than 16 years of piano teaching experience, Mr. Chua has helped numerous students achieve excellent results in A.B.R.S.M piano and theory exams. He also has over 15 years of experience in collaborative piano performance, and has worked with numerous vocalists and instrumentalists in diploma exams, concerts, and competitions. As a church pianist and keyboardist, he has extensive experience serving in worship teams and has taught workshops in churches throughout Houston and Asia.
Samuel Cho
Mr. Cho was born in San Francisco and grew up in Taipei. His early musical experiences were primarily with drums, guitar, piano, and vocals. However, he discovered that his greatest satisfaction was in playing and teaching the cello, which led him to pursue a music career. Mr. Cho received his Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from Georgia Southern University, and was awarded the Master of Musical Arts from the Conservatory and Dance at the University of Missouri - Kansas City, where he was a member of the Graduate Fellowship String Quartet. As an educator, he has served on the music faculty at St. Mary's Academy in St. Mary’s, the String Sprouts program in Kansas City, Missouri, the Savannah Country Day School in Savannah, Georgia, and Triplains public school in Winona, Kansas.
Dr. Yi-Chiu Rachel Chao
A native of Taiwan, Yi-Chiu Rachel Chao received her Doctorate of Music under the guidance of Alan Chow from Northwestern University. She has received awards at the Taiwan National Piano Competition, MTNA Competition, Sorel Medallion Piano Collaboration Competition, and Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition. She has also performed at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Cultural Center, and the Houston Hobby Center. Dr. Chao has extensive experience teaching at the New Heart Christian School of Music and has also taught at Camp Encore-Coda in Sweden, Maine, and in California State University. As a collaborative pianist, she serves as the staff pianist for the voice program at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, and collaborates with the Houston Ballet and the Houston Grand Opera.
Ester Yoshimoto
Born and raised in Brazil, Ms. Yoshimoto received her bachelor's degree at the University of Sao Paulo and won the Cora Pavan national piano competition. She went on to obtain her Master of Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Houston under the tutelage of Dr. Tali Morgulis and Dr. Todd Van Kekerix, where she was also a graduate assistant. She has experience teaching in various music schools and settings, and is a Suzuki trained and licensed teacher. Passionate about creative teaching, she aims to meet each student's needs and help her students achieve their musical dreams.