Who We Are
Julien Xuereb
Founder, Director & Guitar Instructor
Julien Xuereb is the founder and director of Capitol Harmony School of Music, where he teaches classical, steel-string and electric guitar. A French guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer, Julien is known for creating unique musical experiences that blend classical and contemporary styles. His notable performances include the TEDx MidAtlantic Conference, where he shared one of his original compositions and spoke about his work in community outreach.
Julien studied at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he became the first Musician-in-Residence at the Springwell Senior Living Community—a program later featured by PBS, The Baltimore Sun, WBAL-TV, and MPT. He continues his outreach work in Washington, DC, regularly performing for patients at the cancer center of GW Hospital.
In addition to his teaching and performance work, Julien has released two albums—one dedicated to classical guitar and the other featuring original pop/rock songs in French and English. His most recent singles, Ta Route and Les P’tites Choses, were released in 2025.
Karine Koroukian
Piano Instructor
Karine Koroukian is an award-winning pianist and dedicated educator with over 30 years of teaching experience. She has performed internationally across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Middle East, with appearances at renowned venues such as Steinway Hall (NY), the Juilliard School’s Paul Hall, Mannes Concert Hall, Strathmore Hall (MD), Concordia University (Montreal), and the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
In addition to her distinguished performance career, Karine is a passionate piano teacher who has guided students of all ages and backgrounds to achieve excellence. Her students have won top prizes in international youth competitions and have performed at Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, and Symphony Space in New York City.
Karine is fluent in Armenian, French, and Arabic. Beyond music, she has a strong interest in visual art and the Alexander Technique, which also informs her holistic approach to piano pedagogy. At Capitol Harmony, she brings her wealth of international experience and deep commitment to nurturing each student’s musical potential.
Dr. Elizabeth Turner
Vocal Instructor
Dr. Elizabeth Turner is a vocalist and performing arts educator with degrees from Berklee College of Music (B.M. and M.M.). She also holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership and Innovation from St. Thomas University in Miami, Florida.
Elizabeth currently serves as the Director of Performing Arts at Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School in Washington, DC, where she oversees the vocal, choral, musical theater, and performing arts programs. She has performed internationally in classical, jazz, musical theater, and contemporary styles, with credits including Carnegie Hall, the Vatican, Disney Live!, Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and opera and musical theater companies throughout the United States and Europe.
As a voice teacher, Elizabeth is passionate about helping students build healthy vocal technique, confidence, and artistic expression. She enjoys working with singers of all ages and experience levels, tailoring each lesson to each student's goals and interests. Whether preparing for auditions, developing classical technique, exploring musical theater, or simply singing for enjoyment, Elizabeth creates a supportive and engaging learning environment where every student can thrive.
Dr. Jinwei Zhang
Piano Instructor
Dr. Jinwei Zhang is a pianist and educator based in the Washington, DC area. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from The Catholic University of America, a Master of Music from the Mannes School of Music in New York City, and a Bachelor of Music from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. Passionate about music education, Dr. Zhang enjoys working with students of all ages and skill levels. His goal is to build a strong technical foundation while fostering creativity, confidence, and a lifelong love of music in every student.
An active performer, Dr. Zhang has appeared at venues including Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall, the Embassy of Bulgaria in Washington, DC, and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, among others. He has also performed in a variety of concert series and cultural events.
Dr. Zhang serves as Artistic Director of the Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS), a nonprofit concert series dedicated to supporting emerging musicians through performance opportunities and international artistic collaboration.
His work has been featured by China Daily, The Washington Diplomat, and New York Weekly, recognizing his contributions to music performance, arts education, and cultural exchange.
Brian Avery Bethea II
Piano Instructor
Brian Avery Bethea II is a classical pianist and dedicated educator who believes that learning the piano should be both deeply inspiring and genuinely fun. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and is currently pursuing a Master of Music at Howard University.
An active and versatile performer, Brian has appeared on international stages, broadcasts, and collaborative productions. Recent highlights include a featured performance on Hawaii Public Radio's Live at the Atherton and his European debut at Valencia's historic Centro del Carmen de Cultura Contemporánea as part of the Valencia International Performance Academy (VIPA) in Spain. He has also performed in theatrical pit productions, including Abe Kōbō's Friends at the Kennedy Theatre, and in jazz performances at Blue Note Hawaii. As a performer, he is passionate about championing works by underrepresented composers and music of the global majority.
Passionate about music education, Brian enjoys teaching students of all ages and experience levels. He strives to help each student develop a strong technical foundation while discovering their own musical voice through creativity, curiosity, and expressive performance.
Hamidreza Niknampour
Guitar Instructor
Hamidreza Niknampour is a classical guitarist and experienced music educator who teaches students of all ages and ability levels. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Teacher Education at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School and serves as an adjunct instructor at Montgomery College. He holds a master’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance from the Tehran University of Art and has more than a decade of teaching and performing experience in Iran and the United States.
Hamidreza has taught classical guitar, music theory, ear training, music history, and classroom music in private, ensemble, and university settings. He has also worked extensively with young learners and has training in Kodály, Conversational Solfège, and First Steps in Music. As a performer, he has appeared with the Isfahan Classical Guitar Orchestra, the Tehran University of Art Guitar Orchestra, the Connecticut Guitar Duo, and the Hartt School Guitar Quartet.
In addition to performing and teaching, Hamidreza is an active music education scholar whose research has appeared in numerous academic publications, including the Journal of Research in Music Education, Psychology of Music, and Music Educators Journal. His work explores student well-being, teacher preparation, equity, and mental health in music education. He also serves on the editorial committee of Music Educators Journal.
Hamidreza creates a patient, engaging, and supportive learning environment where students can build strong musical foundations, develop confidence, and discover their own artistic interests.