Our Highly Qualified Music Instructors
A passionate and experienced team is the backbone of a robust academy.
Louisa Foong, BMus
FOUNDER & PIANO
Originally from Malaysia, Louisa Foong is a pianist, composer, and music producer based in Los Angeles. As the founder of Pine Music Academy, she fosters a welcoming environment where students explore their musical voices. Starting in Yamaha Music School’s gifted program, Louisa earned distinctions in ABRSM graded exams by age 15 and a Diploma in Music Performance from Trinity Guildhall London. She graduated with first-class honors from Berklee College of Music in Contemporary Writing & Production, blending classical and modern music expertise.
Louisa’s career includes collaborations with Grammy-winning artists like Chris Tomlin, Pentatonix’s Matt Sallee, and mixing engineers Alvin Wee and Soya Soo. She was the opening conductor and arranger for Wang Leehom’s "Open Fire" concert at Boston Symphony Hall, highlighting her versatility. As a member of Starlight Astronauts, Louisa performed at Shanghai’s JZ Festival. Her work spans live arrangements, music production, and international performances, bridging classical artistry with contemporary creativity. Her debut album, "Whispers Within," released in winter 2024, captures her unique artistry.
At Pine Music Academy, Louisa integrates classical foundations with innovative techniques and ear training to help students build resilience, self-expression, and confidence. She creates a personalized, enriching learning experience that empowers students to embrace their artistic journey.
Louisa’s dedication to music education earned her the Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award in 2024, celebrating her commitment to fostering excellence in her students.
SARA MAENG, BMus
PIANO
Sara Maeng is an award-winning composer, accomplished pianist, and dedicated educator with over 10 years of experience in music education. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Sara brings a wealth of expertise and creativity to her teaching, making her a standout mentor for young musicians.
Her impressive career spans musical theater, film, and video games, including contributions to globally renowned titles at Blizzard Entertainment such as World of Warcraft, Diablo IV, and Hearthstone. Sara also serves as the Music Director for The Blue Blind, premiering in November 2024.
Sara’s talents have been recognized internationally, with accolades from the Fem Festival and the Federico Cesi Festival in Florence, Italy. She was also a finalist in the 2023 Musica per Archi Competition, where her composition was performed by the Ukraine Philharmonic.
In the classroom, Sara’s Berklee training shines through her vibrant and innovative teaching style. She believes in fostering a love of music through a blend of structure, creativity, and fun. Sara’s approach encourages students to discover their unique potential while building a solid foundation in technique and artistry.
Parents appreciate her warm, approachable demeanor, and students thrive under her guidance, finding joy and confidence in every lesson. With Sara, music becomes a journey of exploration, creativity, and self-expression!
Christine Noel, BMus
VOICE
Hailing from Sacramento, California, Christine began piano lessons at age 5. She then started singing at age 7 in church and hasn’t stopped since. Her childhood and teenage years were filled with choirs, musical theater productions and small Christian contemporary tours across California. Christine continued her education at Berklee College of Music where she graduated with her degree in Contemporary Writing and Production. Upon graduation, Christine moved to Los Angeles where she has continued teaching and pursuing her own artistry, as well as helping others develop theirs.
She has had the opportunity to sing alongside many notable artists such as Andy Grammer on his 2019 “Don’t Give Up on Me” Tour; Natasha Bedingfield, Jojo, Israel Houghton, Bilal and more. Her latest single, “Feeling,” illustrates feelings of hope and joy. Christine’s goals as a teacher are to inspire students to do more than just memorize pieces and songs; but to internalize, understand and make these songs their own. One of her key methods is assigning a song that she thinks will expand the student’s voice. From ear training to technique to music theory, Christine strives to develop students into well-rounded musicians. She encourages students to ask questions as that is the way students see improvement.
Oscar Barcelli, BMus
DRUMS
Oscar has been professionally teaching and performing since 2011. He graduated from Souza Lima (Sao Paulo) and Berklee College of Music. He has performed in big events such as The Gala of The Latin GRAMMY in Las Vegas and the Jazz Education Network in New Orleans. He is currently working on his own Afro-Peruvian Jazz project.
Oscar has worked with students of all levels and ages. He also has experience with students with special needs. In the class, Oscar believes that a great communication between the teacher, students, and parents is the key of success. Oscar begins his classes by getting to know his student’s needs and proceeds with vision board casting where he can then personalize every student’s lesson plan to get closer to the student’s goals. Oscar puts a lot of emphasis on drumming with the right technique, repertoire, coordination, different music styles and musicality in a fun environment catered to the interest of the student.
David Arregui, BMus
GUITAR | MUSIC PRODUCTION
David Arregui is an Ecuadorian music producer, audio engineer, singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and founder of Xigla Records. David was a full scholarship recipient to the prestigious Berklee College of Music where he graduated with honors in Music Production & Engineering and Songwriting. He also has his proficiency in contemporary electric guitar and voice. As a performer, David specializes in styles like blues, jazz, funk, rock and pop music, which are styles that can help students to develop all the right acoustic/electric guitar techniques and fundamentals.
David has worked with beginners to advanced guitar players on improving their techniques, scales, chords, improvisation, and harmony. With his seasoned production skills in Pop, Hip-hop, Electronic and Latin music, he will be a great instructor to help students who are looking to grow in knowledge and understanding in these genres. David too offers audio production lessons for Ableton Live, Logic Pro X and Protools.
In his career this far, he had the opportunity to work alongside phenomenal individuals like Susan Rogers, producer of Prince, and Prince Charles Alexander (Grammy winner producer). David's hopes are to help students excel in their passion and to see them succeed in their musical dreams!