Our Faculty

The academy places a large emphasis on the quality of its faculty. Our rigorous selection procedure has allowed us to have a group of renowned, versatile, and highly-experienced faculty. Find out more about our teaching team below.

Sam Bidwell

Founder & Board Member

Sam is the founder of the academy. It was established in 2020 in Villars to address the region’s lack of high quality piano-focused academies. The academy has since grown into a respected institution, offering high-quality piano education for students of all ages and levels in four Swiss cities.

In 2022 Sam stood down from an operational role and now is on the board, and works with startups and investment firms to enhance business growth, investment strategies, and digital transformation. He also serves as president of AJMC, a charity supporting young musicians in the Chablais region. Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours from the University of Warwick. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and traveling.

Favourite composer – Alexander Scriabin

Greg Davies

Piano Teacher (ENG)

Greg has 30+ years of music and piano teaching experience internationally. He was trained on a full scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music, before receiving a BA and PGCE at several UK universities. Since then, Greg has taught and led the music and performance faculties at several international schools in the UK, Japan, Thailand, Italy and now Switzerland. Such work has entailed running large teaching faculties, teaching all levels, exam training, teacher training and large-scale event management. Greg currently directs the music department at a leading Swiss international school and also teaches piano part-time at Mountain Piano. Greg spends his free time with his wife and two girls, and is an avid skier, traveller and kitesurfer.

Favourite Composer - Fréderic Chopin

Dilyana (Didi) Hristova

Piano Teacher (ENG, FR) & Board Member of AJMC Association

Didi boasts almost 30 years of music and piano teaching experience. She has held teaching positions at several international schools in Bulgaria, Kuwait and Switzerland, as well as being for 8 years a full-time lecturer at a University in Bulgaria. Didi is a highly versatile educator and musician – with roles including leading and conducting choirs, as a professional accompanist, production leader and as a concert pianist with impressive experience as a soloist and with orchestras. She holds a bachelor’s degree and several other diplomas from several leading music institutions in Bulgaria alongside having post-diploma certifications in music and psychology. Currently she teaches at Aiglon Collège, Collège Alpin BeauSoleil and Mountain Piano. In her free time, she is a passionate hiker and runner.

Favourite composer – Fazil Say

Michael Kovalchuk

Violin and Viola Teacher (ENG, FR)

Michael Kovalchuk, a Ukrainian-born musician, is a dedicated performer and educator deeply committed to the world of classical music. He honed his musical skills at the Haute École de Musique de Lausanne under the tutelage of renowned mentor and professor Alexander Gordon, and graduated with two Master of Arts, in Concert Performance and Music Pedagogy respectively. Michael has earned his reputation as a distinguished musician, gracing both Swiss and international stages with his exceptional talents. His performances encompass solo, chamber music collaborations, and orchestral contributions as a member of the Sinfonietta de Lausanne. Beyond his career as a performer, Michael's passion for music education is equally profound, with many years of teaching experience privately and at leading international schools.

Favorite composer : Paul Hindemith

Michel Rembold

Visiting Teacher & Head of Advisory Council

Michel is a highly-regarded artistic personality in Switzerland and internationally, both as a teacher but also as a concert pianist. A likening to Richter and Michelangeli from an early age, receiving the coveted title of 'Steinway artist' and publishing award-winning recordings of the Beethoven Concertos alongside the Liszt and Chopin Sonatas with International Artists AIA are just a few of many examples of his artistic excellence and prominence. He was a member and professional trainer of aspiring pianists at the Swiss Music Pedagogical Association (SMPV) from 1997-2019, and for many years he has simultaneously directed the highly-renowned Piano Institute Frédéric Chopin in Switzerland. Michel is the head of the advisory council for the academy and is also visiting teacher in the form of leading our master-classes.

Favourite composer – Fréderic Chopin

Paul Baert-Yue

Piano Teacher (ENG, FR)

Paul Baert-Yue began his piano studies at the age of five. In 2003, at the age of nine, he was awarded the youngest laureate title at the 10th Milosz Magin International Competition, performing at UNESCO’s Theatre in Paris. Between 2008 and 2010, Paul furthered his musical education in the United States under the guidance of Michael Adcock and Boris Slusky. He has also participated in masterclasses with renowned pianists such as Richard Goode, Paul Badura-Skoda, and Joaquin Achucarro. He completed his Master’s degrees in Switzerland with Dominique Weber and Paul Coker at the Haute Ecole de Musique in Geneva. A prizewinner in numerous solo and chamber music competitions, including the Prix Maurice d’Espine and Prix Jeune Espoir at the 9th Adilia Alieva International Competition in 2014, Paul has performed extensively in the US, France, China, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Beyond classical music, he is also passionate about contemporary and experimental repertoire.