Home / About Us
Shelly is a visionary leader who seamlessly transitioned from a career as an environmental and sustainable investment consultant to becoming an educator and entrepreneur in the education sector. She is the founder and managing director of J&S International Education Group Pty Ltd, A qualified assessor with the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) examination authority, and the chair of the founding committee of the Melbourne Star International Music Competition.
Shelly holds a Bachelor of Science from Fudan University and a Master Applied Science, majoring in Environmental Science from the University of Melbourne. She also completed postgraduate studies in education at La Trobe University.
Shelly’s academic background, extensive professional experience, and passion for education have provided a solid foundation for her work in planning and organising music events and educational programs. Her portfolio includes collaborations with local talents, educators, and industry stakeholders across Australia and Asia. In September 2025, she led her team to successfully conduct an academic exchange at the Tianjin Conservatorium, fostering new dialogue and collaboration between Australia and China. In addition, Shelly has dedicated her professional life to making a positive impact on the planet by promoting sustainable practices within the business community.
Jessica Yu is an experienced music educator. She has more than 20 years of teaching experience and has students all over the world, mainly from China, Australia, the USA, and Canada. She is the founder, managing director and artistic director of J&S International Education Group, the artistic director of Tianjin Angel Culture and Art Training School, and the vice-chair of the founding committee of the Melbourne Star International Music Competition. She has served as a senior examiner of the Tianjin Conservatory of Music Examination Committee and has been appointed as the artistic director of many art festivals in China. She has recently been invited to be a jury member of 2024 China’s Second Northern Piano Performance.
Jessica holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Tianjin Conservatory of Music, majoring in piano and minoring in composition. Her music education began at the age of six. In her youth, she demonstrated outstanding musical talent and teaching skills. In addition to piano performance, Jessica has also completed in-depth research towards composition, acoustics, music theory and other areas.
As a music educator, Jessica focuses on cultivating students’ performance skills. She encourages students to actively participate in various music activities to build self-confidence and showcase their talents.
As a jury member, she respects contestants and makes a fair judgement. Jessica always pays attention to small details, which allows her to discover student’s potential and provide constructive feedback. Jessica’s knowledge and professionalism makes her a crucial member of the jury panel and a source of inspiration for all contestants.
Nancy Tsou is an Australian pianist and dedicated music educator whose passion for the piano has left an indelible mark on both the performance and the education sector in Australia. She is the Co-Founder and Chief Adjudicator of the Melbourne Star International Music Competition. Nancy is currently a senior piano examiner with the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB). With a career spanning several decades, Ms Tsou has worked extensively throughout Australia, the USA, and China presenting recitals, workshops, and masterclasses.
Born in South Africa, Ms. Tsou began her music education in Argentina at the age of five. In her youth, she received a scholarship from the University of Melbourne and studied piano with Ronald Farren-Price before undertaking post-graduate studies. After receiving a master’s degree in music performance, she has served as a lecturer at the University of Melbourne, Monash University, and Wollongong University. Ms Tsou has toured extensively in Australia, USA, and China, and has given master classes at five of the most prestigious conservatories, including the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. As one of the most sought-after piano pedagogues, many of Ms Tsou’s piano students have won competitions across Australia and received full music scholarship from prestigious universities, private schools, and state-owned elite schools across the world.
Ms Tsou has recorded two CDs between 2016 and 2023, ‘Nocturnes by Chopin’ and ‘Latin Muse’, both of which have been broadcast by the Australian ABC-FM and the 3MBS radio station. They are also available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and iTunes.As commented by Kenneth Hince (The Age), ‘her work truly embodies the romantic spirit of music – what many call its inner poetry’. She is currently working on her new album ‘The Complete Preludes Op.28 by Chopin’, which is expected to release soon.
Professor Jingbai Zhu is the 24th generation descendant of Zhu Xi, world-renown Chinese philosopher and educator in the Song dynasty. He currently teaches at Tianjin Conservatory of Music as a professor. He also serves as the president of the National Electronic Accordion Research Society, a jury member of the IBLA International Music Competition in Italy, the president of Tianjin Angel Culture and Art Training School, and the director of Zhu Jingbai International Education Centre for Music and Technology. In 2023, Professor Zhu was appointed as the Honorary Advisor of J&S International Education Group. He is also the co-founder of the Melbourne Star International Music Competition.
Professor Zhu once studied conducting with Xiaoying Zhen, China’s first female symphony conductor. Now he performs extensively both in China and internationally as an accordionist, a composer, and a conductor.
His performances have taken him to the USA, Italy, Japan, and Australia. In 2008, he won the grand prize in the second International Accordion Competition in Rome, Italy. In 2009, he won the first prize of the International Accordion Championship in Australia and was awarded as the best composer, performer, and music educator. In 2012, he was the first-prize winner of the electronic accordion division at the 71st ATG International Accordion Competition in USA. In 2018, the original IBLA ‘Terracotta Warriors’ composed by Professor Zhu won the Outstanding Composer Award at the 27th Italian International Music Competition, as well as the Outstanding Conductor Award and the Outstanding Performer Award by conducting the Tianjin Star Sky Electronic Symphony Orchestra.
Proudly an Affiliated Organisation of the Victorian Music Teachers’ Association | Strategic Partner of Tianjin Angel Culture & Art Training School | Official Competition Partner of Accordion Society of Australia
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved.
