About Nerissa Lobo

Nerissa has redefined what it means to be a Piano Teacher!
 

Commended by The Independent for her ‘glittering finger work’ and ‘convincing and expressive performance’ and by former senior examiner D. Finnamore, as a ‘very gifted pianist of exceptional talent who has shown herself to be committed to the instrument’, Nerissa makes a lasting impression on her students and all those she meets. 

A passionate and committed teacher and performer, Nerissa began learning the piano at the age of 6. Her early foundation teachers were Valerie Concessio D'Souza and Marian Rodrigues who soon left for shores abroad. It was then that she was taken under the wings and extreme care of sought after music teacher Blanche Veigas. Under the tutelage of Blanche, she won many awards including three Exhibition Awards, a certificate of Special Merit from Trinity College London, won numerous competitions including two All India Piano Competitions and more. While studying for her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology, she simultaneously passed the Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) with flying colours and was awarded the Palamkote Bursary to study in Trinity College London. Together with scholarships from Trinity College, the Charles Wallace India Trust and more, she made her way to London to pursue a three year Graduate of Trinity College London (G.T.C.L.) course mentored by renowned concert pianists Margaret Newman and late Joseph Weingarten. Not only did she take part in piano competitions in Trinity but was also the winner of the Chopin and Debussy competitions, the Adam Collins prize and the Newman- Thomas bursary.

More recently, Nerissa achieved a distinction in her Masters degree in Music Education through the University of Reading, UK, under the guidance of Dr. Nils Franke, Dr. James Garnett, Dr. David Baker, Dr. Mary Stakelum, Dr. Sally Cathcart and Dr. Rebecca Berkley.

With her wide ranging education and experience not only in the fields of music performance and education but also in life coaching, neurolinguistic programming (NLP), and yoga teacher training, she weaves her vast and eclectic knowledge into all aspects of her life and teaching. 

Nerissa has enjoyed an extensive performance career over the years. She has performed as a soloist on many occasions including at the prestigious National Centre for Performing Arts (N.C.P.A), Mumbai and competed at the local, state and national levels. She has had the opportunity to collaborate with many different nationalities, singers, instrumentalists, choirs and ballet dancers. She has accompanied The Living Voices conducted by Blossom Mendonca, The Vocal Studio directed by Janet Hassouneh, The Dubai Singers under Ros Crouch, Dance Horizons founded by Nicola Trotter, the ballet schools of Vino Wijeratne and Lisa Payne and many more musicians over the years including the U.A.E.’s first Emirati opera singer Sara Al Qaiwani, to name a few.

Her rewarding and successful teaching career spans more than 20 years. Her students have been the recipients of the prestigious Apex Awards and Exhibition Awards for achieving the highest marks in the Middle East on many occasions. They have been invited to perform at various venues in Dubai including Knowledge Village, the Emirates Literature Festival and Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre ( DUCTAC ).

A passionate advocate for charitable causes, Nerissa has supported a number of charitable organisations including Dubai Autism Centre (concert organized by her studio), Gulf for Good, Singing for a Good Cause directed by Janet Hassouneh, Al Ihsan Centre for abandoned women and children (Volker Schmidt and friends), a Charity Concert for Tsunami Victims (Aurore Dib), Dubai Center for Special Needs (The Young Voices of Dubai) to name a few. In addition to being a strong supporter of the arts, Nerissa is a silver patron of the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC).
 

Nerissa frequently organizes music concerts at her home, end of year recitals, coffee mornings, seasonal concerts and more. When she is not busy teaching her students, she is passionate about spending time with her loving and supportive husband and four children, her pet Labrador and her close friends and family. She is an ardent reader of inspirational books on music, education, life and yoga. In her spare time she loves preparing healthy meals for her family and relaxing in her two most favorite places – her home and the beach.