We’re Skerzo, a group of friends who first met in a Bachelor of Music course back in 2015. We officially formed our piano duo and duet performance group in 2019 to create awesome opportunities for everyone to perform, whether solo or together.
Our name, Skerzo, means "joke" in Italian and indicates that a piece of music is to be played in a playful manner—just the vibe we want our group to have! We love exploring a variety of repertoire and genres for fun, and our concerts are always a blast, welcoming audiences of all kinds.
Come join the fun!
Meyrem
Meyrem Ogutveren captures the attention of audiences with her intimate style of playing, sparking the emotions and imagination of listeners. As certified Cool Girl™ of the group, Meyrem loves getting together to rehearse, eat, or to hang out. In her daily life, Meyrem is a passionate educator who enjoys striking a balance between developing her pedagogy and her performance work.
When not immersed in music, Meyrem can be found in fantasy RPG games.
Christopher
Christopher Wong is a first prize winner of numerous competitions and an international performer. He is well renowned for his sheer passion for music, by collaborating with artists of different genres and styles.
Chris aspires to continue breaking down traditional barriers and creating meaningful experiences for the eyes and ears on stage with his captivating performances. If you don’t see him practicing, you can see him at the gym.
Nathan
Nathan is a passionate musician with a love for classical piano, liturgical music, game/film music and choral/orchestral conducting. When he’s not immersed in piano music, you might find him singing in a choir or conducting to shake off the loneliness of the piano bench. Nathan also loves teaming up with the incredible talents at Skerzo for piano duos/duets—plus, it’s a great excuse to hang out with awesome friends.
Outside of music, he’s a nerdy gamer, anime fan and scale modeller who enjoys sharing those hobbies with his better half. And when it’s time to relax, nothing beats a cuddle with his fluffy bunny.
Ian
Ian Mercado is a passionate musician who loves to dive into the depths of music to find the beauty within and the endless interpretive possibilities. Ian’s musical experiences range from playing with his church choir for over 10 years, solo and chamber recitals locally and internationally, to being a prize winner in the IPPA Conera International Piano Competition. Although classical music is his specialty, Ian also loves to explore and play all kinds of genres from pop to anime and video game music. In the team, he’s the bubbly mood maker who doesn’t hesitate to throw out wild & imaginative ideas and boost morale in the team.
When Ian is not playing music, you can be sure he’ll be at the bouldering gym, doing some climbing with his wife.
Thi
A multi-instrumentalist specialising in ensemble music, Thi is a strong proponent of the live community music scene in Melbourne and is an active member of various groups. He has led the cello sections of the Monash Philharmonic Orchestra, the Essendon Symphony Orchestra and the Victorian Youth Symphony Orchestra, and has founded and led various other groups including the Monash String Orchestra and the West Side Quartet.
In his off time, if he’s not training at the table tennis club, you will find him down at the local pub enjoying a pint and a parma with a game of chess on the side.
Jesslyn
Jesslyn Po is a dedicated musician who is passionate about performing and learning a different variety of music, ranging from classical piano to anime and pop music. Away from the music world, Jesslyn finds joy in journeying through new landscapes, discovering diverse cultures and the occasional petting of her friends’ furry pets.
As a long term member of Skerzo, Jesslyn is always excited to perform together with her group of close friends to present unforgettable musical experiences.
Riley
Riley is a pianist, teacher, and founding member of Skerzo Music. He fills many roles in the Skerzo team from time to time. You’ll often see him on stage introducing our concerts, or out the front greeting guests. Currently he’s also our main designer. Riley is a devout student of the Alexander technique and the Taubman approach to piano technique, and he applies both to his playing and teaching.
If you find his piano stool empty, that’ll mean he’s sat in front of his gaming PC. Or he might be down the pub with Thi.
Chai Jie
Chai Jie is a passionate musician, collaborator and teacher. She has performed in the UK, Europe, USA and various parts of Australia. A founding member of Skerzo, Chai Jie loves playing and listening to chamber music, and especially making music with friends
Away from the piano, you can find Chai Jie baking, hiking, or exploring a new city.