Fred Safaei

Mr. Fred Safaei began his journey as a pianist at the age of eight, following in the footsteps of his uncle, a famous tar player. His musical training was based in the Russian tradition, and he studied in Iran for twenty-two years. In 1981, he started teaching in his private studio. Mr. Safaei graduated from the Tehran University of Art with a Bachelor's in Music, and in 1988, he became a piano instructor at the Tehran Conservatory.

Mr. Safaei moved to Canada in 1996 and aimed to provide the best music education to the North Shore. The following year, Mr. Safaei was recognized by the Royal Conservatory of Music for his excellence as an instructor, and he became an Advanced Specialist in Piano and Theory. His students are very successful in festivals and examinations. Some have even earned their doctorates in music or published their music on platforms such as iTunes and Spotify.

Mr. Safaei is always looking for ways to improve as an educator. In 2002, he published a collection of 21 Persian songs transcribed for the piano, which immediately gained popularity among piano lovers. His love and passion for teaching also led him to earn his Orff & Kodaly certificate from the University of British Columbia. Most recently, Mr. Safaei received his certificate from the Peak Performance Training School, a masterclass led by the renowned Juilliard faculty member, author and performance coach Dr. Don Greene.

Mr. Safaei's interest in the piano led him to pursue piano technology. He began his career as a piano technician while working with the late Davood Jaam, a piano technician for great artists such as Emil Gilels and Sviatoslav Richter. In 2007, Mr. Safaei attended the Piano Technicians Guild and earned his Registered Piano Technician certificate after a series of rigorous examinations. He is the only Persian Registered Piano Technician in North America. 

When Mr. Safaei is not teaching or tuning pianos, he is an active performer in the Lower Mainland. He has also performed in several countries, such as Iran, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. He has participated in master classes adjudicated by well-known pianists such as Murray Perahia, Sergei Saratovsky and Audrey Andrist. 

In addition, Mr. Safaei prepares students from all corners of British Columbia for their examinations by holding mock exams at Ava Music & Art Centre Ltd., and hosts workshops for teachers at Ava Music & Art Centre Ltd. to enjoy. As the head of the education department, he has also trained several advanced students to become established music teachers at both Ava Music & Art Centre Ltd. and across the Lower Mainland. He also frequently collaborates with his students in their festival, events and examinations.

Mr. Safaei is very proud of what Ava Music & Art Centre Ltd. has become. His work in music education, coupled with the dedication of his students and staff, has allowed what began as a home-based studio to flourish into an established music school known internationally for its high standards of education.

Mr. Safaei has been awarded by the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce as the Business Person of the Year (2017) and currently employs over thirty dedicated educators and staff members. He has over thirty-six years of experience in teaching and twenty-five years of piano technology experience.

Fred currently teaches on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday