By love-89.com Doris Ngai, the founder of Opus1 Studio, has dedicated herself not only to running a successful music school but also to teaching personally every week. Many of her students have been with her since childhood, growing up under her guidance. Born into a musical family and nurtured by her violinist father, Doris boasts an impressive musical background that led her to establish her own music school after relocating to the U.S. following her college graduation.
When Doris moved to Silicon Valley in 2005, entrepreneurship was not on her mind; she simply enjoyed working with children, which prompted her to become a music teacher. After a year, she and a friend decided to co-found Opus1 Studio. Initially, they lacked a physical location and taught at their students’ homes. The logistical challenges soon became apparent, leading them to rent a few unused classrooms from an after-school tutoring center.
The partnership proved fruitful, as many new students were referred from the tutoring center. However, just as their student base was expanding, the 2008 global financial crisis hit, yet Doris chose to seize the moment and grow her business. By 2010, she opened her second location in Mountain View, conveniently located next to a local grocery store, allowing parents to drop off their kids before shopping. This strategic positioning, combined with high-quality teaching, led to quick enrollment success.
Despite having two thriving locations, Doris noticed another opportunity. Many families were driving from Palo Alto to Mountain View for lessons, and since there weren’t many music schools run by the Chinese community in Palo Alto at the time, she decided to open a third location there in 2014. This targeted expansion proved effective, with enrollment taking off quickly.
However, the journey was not without challenges. Just as she was preparing to open her new school, the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, halting in-person classes and forcing a pivot to online lessons. To support her teachers, Doris invested in additional tablets and internet equipment for virtual instruction. Once in-person classes resumed, she outfitted each classroom with two pianos to minimize the sharing of instruments.
Throughout the pandemic, while managing increased equipment costs and significantly reduced student enrollment, Doris faced significant financial pressure. She remained committed to her teachers, ensuring their salaries stayed intact during this tough period, even as empty classrooms became the reality for a year and a half. Adding to the challenges, she was expecting her third child during this time. Juggling responsibilities with a toddler in one hand and a newborn in the other, Doris reminded herself that there was no time for despair; she had to focus on weathering the storm and pushing forward.
Reflecting on the hardest moments, Doris emphasized, “If you choose to be an entrepreneur, you have to work hard. If you encounter failure the first time, don’t stop; keep trying. Every challenge has a solution, but the one thing you cannot do is give up.” Her resilience paid off as she navigated through the most difficult times, ultimately witnessing a surge in enrollment as the third school began operations following the pandemic restrictions.
From its humble beginnings with just two teachers conducting home lessons, Opus1 Studio has grown to accommodate 1,200 students, adapting its management strategies as the school expanded. When enrollment soared from 500 to 800 students, her husband Sam developed a management software system that streamlined communication and scheduling for both parents and teachers.
Doris embodies a philosophy of high expectations and an uncompromising approach to business. Her demand for quality extends to the equipment used in her schools, often featuring concert-level grand pianos to foster students’ performance skills. By hiring teachers who cater to diverse musical needs, she has created an environment where siblings can learn different instruments at the same time and in the same place, a modern solution for busy families.
Doris’s steadfast commitment to excellence sets her apart in a competitive industry, as she steadily builds the music landscape she envisioned over 17 years of hard work and determination.