In Person Music Lessons in Allison Park

Amanda Sage is a flutist and private teacher from the Pittsburgh area. She has served as principal flute with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, principal flute, and second flute/piccolo with Undercroft Opera, as well as performed with the Edgewood, Westmoreland, and Johnstown Symphonies. She also performs in various solo, chamber, and larger ensemble roles in a variety of venues throughout the Pittsburgh area, including the newly formed Bel Suono Ensemble of which she is a founding member. An advocate of early music and historical performance, Amanda also plays the baroque flute. She has performed in masterclasses for baroque flutists Kim Pineda, Janet See, and Barthold Kuijken.

As an educator, she has nearly 12 years of experience in private instruction, along with her many years of experience teaching both instrumental and general music (K-12). Amanda's students have experienced success in passing auditions for various middle and high school honor level ensembles, as well as colleges and universities for those who decide to pursue a music career. In addition to her private studio, Amanda serves as adjunct flute instructor at Mercyhurst University, as well as adjunct faculty lecturer in music at West Virginia Northern Community College.

Beyond music, Amanda is a Certified Personal Trainer and Corrective Exercise Specialist through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Amanda has presented workshops on the topic of performance health for musicians at several different events including the annual Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, the annual National Flute Convention, and the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia's annual Flute Fair. Amanda received a Bachelor of Music degree in music education from Seton Hill University, and a Master of Music degree in flute performance from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Daniel Muller moved to southwestern Pennsylvania in 2016 to pursue graduate studies at Duquesne and Carnegie Mellon Universities, where he studied classical and jazz saxophone with James Houlik, Keith Young, and Mike Tomaro. As both a soloist and chamber musician, he has won local competitions at CMU and the Pittsburgh Concert Society and placed as a quarterfinalist in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. Dedicated to shining light on overlooked and forgotten subjects, Daniel has also presented music history lectures at the Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium and the Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning, delving into the lives of Jewish composers during World War II, as well as the history of wind instruments and ensembles. Endlessly passionate about learning, Daniel strives to encourage his students to look deeper for beauty in the world around them and to share their knowledge with others. His interests also include foreign languages, art, and birdwatching.

Scott is an elementary band director at Shaler Area Elementary School. His duties include directing the 4th, 5th and 6th grade bands as well as teaching some of the 4th and 5th grade strings. He is currently in his 13th year at Shaler.

Scott has been teaching clarinet and saxophone lessons at Johnstonbaughs since 2008. He has had many successful students from Deer Lakes, Fox Chapel, Hampton, Pine-Richland, and Shaler. Many of the junior high and senior high students Scott has worked with have been accepted into Alle-Valley honors band as well as PMEA festivals.

Scott teaches all grade levels of saxophone from beginners in 4th grade to high school students. Scott also teaches beginning and middle school level clarinet lessons.

Matt Rees has been an active educator and performer in the Pittsburgh area. He began playing the trumpet in 4th grade and attended the North Allegheny School District. He attended Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania as a music education major and graduated summa cum laude in 2022.

During Matt’s time at Slippery Rock University, he was heavily involved in teaching and performing experiences. He studied trumpet under Dr. Micah Holt. He participated in the Slippery Rock University Wind Ensemble, where he was principal trumpet for three years. He also was the lead trumpet in Slippery Rock University’s Jazz Ensemble for two years. Other ensembles he’s participated with include the SRU Brass Ensemble (Eb soprano cornet) and the SRU Marching Pride. Matt also has a vast wealth of teaching experience. He student taught grades 9-12 band and K-5 general music at the North Hills School District. He has been the trumpet graduate assistant for both North Hills and North Allegheny marching bands. He’s co-led beginning band camps at PYCO School of Music and Slippery Rock Area School District.

Currently, Matt continues to teach at band camps and play with local ensembles, including the Musicians Concert Band of Butler, PA and Murphys Big Band of Leechburg, PA. He also performs occasionally with his local church, Christ Church of Grove Farm, in Sewickley, PA. Matt will be attending Carnegie Mellon University for a masters degree in trumpet performance and will graduate in 2024. In his free time outside of music, Matt enjoys exercising, traveling, and watching sports.

Ryan is a native of Pittsburgh having attended the Shaler Area School district. He attended the Indiana University of Pennsylvania as a Music Education major, and following graduation moved to Boston, Massachusetts. While in Boston, Ryan taught elementary and middle school band in the Brookline Public Schools. He also had the opportunity to study with Gabriel Langfur (bass trombone) of the Rhode Island Philharmonic and Vermont Symphony Orchestra. A short relocation to Columbus, Ohio allowed Ryan to work as a recruiter for The Ohio State University School of Music.

Alan is a professional trumpet player with over 35 years of performing and teaching experience. He is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Music where he majored in trumpet. He was a public school music teacher for 16 years and has been a private teacher for more than 35 years. Alan has performed with groups including the Pittsburgh Opera Workshop, the Bucco Band, and house bands at the Twin Coaches and Holiday House. He has recorded with his own Latin ensemble, Algo Latino, and with jazz, rock, classical, dixieland, Latin, swing, theatrical and top-40 groups throughout the region. Alan has also performed at major venues including Heinz Hall, Carnegie Music Hall, Byham Theatre, Mellon Arena, Three Rivers Stadium, Starlake (Post-Gazette) Amphitheater, the Amphitheater in Station Square, Pitt Stadium, Syria Mosque, and The Balcony nightclub.

Southwestern Michigan native Molly Zebell is a dedicated advocate for new and lesser known solo horn and chamber music and an active orchestral musician. She is currently performing as a member of the contemporary music ensemble NAT 28, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which strives to give the highest standard of performances of pieces both standard and new, but in evocative and innovative ways. Molly Zebell began her formal music education at Western Michigan University, where she received her Bachelors of Music in French Horn Performance under the guidance of Dr. Lin Foulk. Molly discovered a wealth of contemporary and non-standard horn literature during her undergraduate studies and became passionate about exploring the full range of horn repertoire, with works such as the Reinecke Clarinet and Horn Trio and Hindemith’s Horn Quartet as examples. This led her to the studio of prominent horn and choral composer, Dr. Paul Basler at the University of Florida. There, she pursued a master’s degree in Horn Performance with an emphasis on contemporary and 20th century recital repertoire, including Francois Poulenc’s Elegie, Yehuda Yannay’s “Hidden Melody” for Horn and Cello, and Primitive Modern for horn and tape by James Beckel. While at the University of Florida, she served as Principal Horn of orchestras and bands, and was honored with the opportunity to perform in the school’s endowed graduate chamber music program. Other noted orchestral horn appointments include the Orlando Philharmonic, Ocala Symphony, and the Gainesville Orchestra. Her enthusiasm for inspiring children to pursue music in all its forms is evident in her master classes for children, showcasing the history of the horn and small folk instruments. She has enjoyed teaching beginning students in her private studio as well as serving as a sectional teacher at Howard Bishop Middle School.

Cathy Baranowski graduated from Slippery Rock University with a Bachelors Degree in Music. She has played in the Duquesne University and Slippery Rock Orchestras. Cathy has also been a private music instructor for over fifteen years. Her students have been chosen for the PMEA and Honors Orchestras. Through her education and music experience, she has the ability to teach students of all ages to understand, perform, and appreciate music. She makes learning fun as well as productive.

Rachel Waldron-D'Abruzzo's journey with the cello began at the age of eight, and since then she has been teaching and performing throughout the Pittsburgh area. Ms. D’Abruzzo’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Music from Duquesne University, where she studied with Mikhail Istomin from the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Paula Tuttle from the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet. She graduated with her Master's degree from Duquesne University under the tutelage of Adam Liu of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Ms. D’Abruzzo has performed in a variety of church venues, as well as concert series such as Bach, Beethoven, and Brunch. She has also performed in various string and piano ensembles throughout the Pittsburgh area.

When she isn’t performing, she teaches a variety of string and piano students throughout the Pittsburgh area. Many of her students have gone on to pursue music degrees with cello being their main focus. Ms. Waldron-D'Abruzzo has performed as a section cellist in a number of orchestras such as Johnstown, Westmoreland, Washington, and Butler. She has also performed in several summer festivals including the CLAZZ music festival (Arcidosso, Italy) and the Aruba Symphony Festival (Oranjestad, Aruba).

Will Teegarden enjoys a varied career as a cellist and teacher based in Pittsburgh, PA. Will currently holds the Associate Principal Cello chair of the Erie Philharmonic, and he maintains a busy freelance schedule performing as a substitute cellist with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestra, the Wheeling Symphony, the Westmoreland Symphony, and as an associate member of the Columbus Symphony

In 2019, Will was featured as a soloist on Tan Dun's "Elegy: Snow in June" with the NAT 28 contemporary ensemble of Pittsburgh, with whom he frequently collaborates. Will relishes the opportunity to work closely with living, often Pittsburgh local composers in groups such as NAT 28, as well as Alia Musica, the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, and Resonance Works.

Will previously held positions with the Canton and Youngstown (OH) Symphonies, and used to frequently perform as a substitute cellist with the New World Symphony (Miami, FL) the Orlando Philharmonic, and the Florida Orchestra. He holds degrees in music from the University of Florida and Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with cellists Steven Thomas, David Premo, and Anne Martindale Williams. At Carnegie Mellon, he earned first prize with his colleagues in the school's Silberman Chamber Music Competition with an enthusiastically received rendition of Oliver Messiaen's "Quatuor pour la fin du temps". Additionally, Will has attended the National Repertory Orchestra, Brevard Music Center, and the Innsbrook Institute Summer Festivals.

Justin Kelly is a drummer and percussionist performing and teaching the Pittsburgh area. After picking up the sticks for the first time in 5th grade, Justin went on to attend Carnegie Mellon University and Manhattan School of Music, studying with members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and Metropolitan Opera. Justin is equally at home playing in an orchestra, a jazz trio, or a recording studio, and can be seen doing all three in venues across the city. In addition to drumming, Justin enjoys writing, DJing, and an occasional game of chess.

Sun is a pianist and harpsichordist who is now in the Pittsburgh area. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor’s in piano performance, and from the Royal Academy of Music in London with a Master’s in harpsichord performance.

She has performed as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Utah Symphony and Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and was a featured artist on “Live from WFMT.” However, she enjoys chamber music the most and has traveled all over the world on a cruise ship as part of a piano quintet!

Educating people has been a major part of Sun’s musical journey. She has over a decade of experience, but what sets her apart is her approach to music as a holistic endeavour. She believes that music education can and should be fun, inclusive, challenging, and life-changing, and equips her students with tools that they can apply not only to piano practice but also to many aspects of their lives.

For more information, visit sunchangmusic.com.

John V. Kulik, NCTM holds a B.S. degree in Music Education St. Vincent College, Latrobe, PA, and an M.M. degree in Piano Pedagogy from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. He is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music with over 30 years of teaching experience with students age 4 and up. Mr. Kulik has taught private as well as class piano at Chatham College’s Laboratory School of Music, Pittsburgh, PA and at Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, PA. He has had many successful students place in performance and composition competitions at the local and state levels of PMTA. Mr. Kulik currently maintains an independent studio of children and adults in Murrysville, PA and is a frequent solo and collaborative pianist in the area as well as being a performing member of the Friday Evening Music Club, Greensburg, PA.

South African born Ingrid Beute is an accomplished pianist and has performed as soloist with all the major symphony orchestras of South Africa and Bophuthatswana, including the National Symphony Orchestra of South Africa. She has performed as chamber pianist and soloist in Portugal, Italy, USA, Bophuthatswana and South Africa. Since moving to Western Pennsylvania a little over a decade ago, she has performed as a freelance pianist and keyboardist with the Butler Symphony and as soloist with the Westminster College Symphony Orchestra. Performing honors include winning first prizes in the National South African Broadcasting Ensemble Competition, the Port Elizabeth Young Musicians Competition and the National ATKV Prelude Competition. On an international level, she won third place overall at the 1990 Marsala International Piano Competition in Italy as well as the prize for best South African pianist in the UNISA International Piano Competition, South Africa during the same year.

Ingrid is also an experienced music educator. She served as Fine Arts Coordinator at Colegio Internacional de Carabobo in Venezuela, piano instructor and chamber music faculty at Luzerne Summer Music Festival in New York, piano and ensemble coach for the Pittsburgh Center for Young Musicians, and instrumental instructor (clarinet, recorder and piano) at Redhill School, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ingrid received her Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music, and Graduate Artist Diploma in Piano from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Since her retirement from the concert arena, she earned a Master’s in Counseling and Development from Slippery Rock University and during the Covid pandemic earned certifications in Mindfulness Coaching and Positive Psychology. She enjoys devoting time after hours in sharing her love and appreciation for music with her piano students.

Mark Antonich preaches his love of guitar and music in many places. He is an adjunct faculty member in the music departments of Westminster College, Thiel College, and Waynesburg University. ln addition to his guitar duties at these schools, he also teaches jazz improvisation, guitar master classes, group guitar class, and guitar ensemble.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mark received his undergraduate degree in music from the University of Pittsburgh and a master's degree in music theory from Duquesne University. He also graduated from the Guitar lnstitute of Technology in Los Angeles, California. While studying at the Guitar lnstitute in Los Angeles, Mark was voted one of the Outstanding Students of the Year. Los Angeles studio guitarist, Tommy Tedesco, presented him with a brand new ovation guitar as his award. ln phoenix, Arizona, Mark also had the opportunity to attend and perform in masterclasses with jazz guitar legends, Howard Roberts, Herb Ellis, and Barney Kessel.

As a guitarist, Mark is a freelance musician throughout the tri-state area of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia. He has worked in the pit bands for numerous shows and musicals such as Grease, working, Godspell, Bye Bye Birdie, and The Trailer Park Musical. ln 2007, Mark toured and performed with, "The New Holidays" vocal group. That same year he recorded and contributed musical arrangements to the Holidays newest CD, "Why Do Fools Fall ln Love." The CD was released throughout the United States by the independent record label, "Collectible Records" and received extensive airplay on many oldies radio stations.

Mark is currently performing and recording as a founding member of the Westminster Faculty Jazz Quartet. They perform many concerts throughout the area while conducting master classes and seminars at schools in the Pennsylvania/Ohio region.

“Exceptional talent with virtuoso technique,” writes Mike Cimballa, music critic and violinist with the Charlotte Symphony of his lyrical interpretations of his music. Born and educated in Pittsburgh, Matthew Korbanic has earned a master's degree in classical guitar performance from Carnegie Mellon University. Some of his noted teachers have been Dr. Nathan Davis, James Ferla, and Joe Negri. As a player on the newly innovated 8 string “Brahms” style guitar by Paul Galbraith, he has toured the east coast and mid-west and has received grants to study with Mr. Galbraith. He has been a return performer with the Three Rivers Arts Festival, the Pittsburgh Opera, and the Pittsburgh Arts Council. As a soloist and as a member of a flute and guitar duo, he has been presented live on WQED-FM in Pittsburgh. He has released a CD of original guitar compositions through his own record label titled “Orbit”. Click here to visit his website.