In Person Music Lessons in Plum / Golden Mile

Matt is currently the principal trumpet for the Washington Symphony. A graduate of West Virginia University and Carnegie Mellon University, Matt’s previous teachers include Neal Berntsen, George Vosburgh, John Winkler, David Hickman, and Paul Weber. Matt has maintained a trumpet studio since college and has had great success with his students placing in various orchestras and bands. Matt has performed all over the area playing with orchestras such as Wheeling, West Virginia, and Canton, Ohio. Recently married, Matt spends his free time lifting weights and with his wife, Christina.

“Avigail Gomez holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Arkansas. With over 20 years of piano experience, 16 years playing trumpet, and 8 years of viola/violin, she offers a diverse skill set in music education.

Mrs. Gomez has spent 9 years teaching private lessons. With experience in teaching choir, orchestra, and band, she is recognized for creating an instrumental program across the Kansas City Public School District. As an active performer, she regularly gigs, including a notable performances at the Chiefs and Royals Games, and The Gem Theatre.

Avigail emphasizes a personalized approach to build student confidence and technical proficiency. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their musical goals in a supportive environment.”

Joe Segelke is a freelance trombonist and brass teacher in the Pittsburgh area. He has performed with classical, jazz, and commercial music groups. Joe studied music education at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and will be graduating in May 2024 from Duquesne University with a degree in Trombone Performance. He believes music can empower people through creativity, discipline, and drive.

Olga Taimanov began her musical studies on violin and viola as a native of Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she attended the Special Music School for Gifted Children.She has a Master of Music degree from the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory, Russia and an Artist Diploma from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Ms.Taimanov has held numerous orchestra positions in Russia and Israel, including Principal Violist of both the St. Petersburg Chamber Orchestra “Mozarteum”and State Symphony Orchestra “Klassika”, and Associate Principal Viola of the Israel Kibbutz Chamber Orchestra. Ms.Taimanov also performed with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra as an associated member under world famed conductors such as Zubin Mehta,Kurt Masur,Yuri Temirkanov, Lorin Mazel, Mariss Jansons and many others.

Ms.Taimanov has extensive chamber music experience and has performed at international chamber music festivals in Israel, Germany, Russia and Switzerland.

After coming to the United States. Ms.Taimanov’s piano trio won the Pittsburgh Concert Society Competition in 2001. In 2002 she was nominated for the National All-American Scholar Collegiate Award.

As a resident of Pittsburgh, Ms.Taimanov has performed extensively with the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Theatre, and Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She was a member of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra and Associate member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Ohio State. Currently Ms.Taimanov devotes the majority of her time teaching violin and viola students and being a freelance musician for a numerous of entertainment agencies such as “Fever”, Listeso music group, Loyalty entertainment and Arev music group. Ms.Taimanov is a faculty member of International Music Festival “Interharmony”, Carnegie Melon Preperatory School of Music and Johnstonbaugh’s Music center, the positions she has held since 2005.

Maddie Thurman received her Bachelor Degree in music from Utah Valley University with an emphasis in cello. At Utah Valley University, her teachers were Dr. Cheung Chao, Dr. Donna Fairbanks, and Monika Bowman. She performed in the Utah Valley University symphony, various small ensembles, and the Beethoven Chamber Music Festival. Since 2009, she has also performed as a lead singer and cellist in the pop/country trio Firefly. Her experience with Firefly includes writing, arranging, and recording cello music. As a cello teacher, she combines her experience from both the pop and classical worlds to give students a unique balance of styles. Her top priority is helping her students find joy in musical learning and expression.

Travis Butler is a drummer, audio engineer, and producer from Pittsburgh, PA. He began his drumming career in 2004 in the 4th grade band in elementary school. His music instructors recognized his natural talent and pushed him to take music seriously. By 10th grade, he was already building his own lesson studio, starting with teaching some of the younger kids in his school district. By the end of high school, Travis had auditioned and played for multiple PMEA advanced bands in the region, including the PMEA Honors Band, for which he took first chair percussion in both his junior and senior years.

Travis decided to continue his music journey when he was accepted into the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University, where he had the privilege of learning from some of the most talented musicians in the world, including many members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, Travis graduated from Duquesne University with a Bachelor's degree in Music Technology.

Since graduating, Travis has been highly involved in the Pittsburgh Music Scene. In 2018 and 2019, he focused solely on being a gigging musician, playing over 80 performances in 2019 alone. Today, with live music finally making a reappearance, the gigging life continues for Travis, as well as taking a position at Johnstonbaugh’s Music to continue his 10+ year teaching journey. You can catch Travis playing all over Pittsburgh with local acts Brahctopus and Justin Fabus.

Melinda Plowman is a graduate of Clarion State University with a graduate study at Indiana University of PA. She is a trained classical pianist with extensive performance experience. She has taught piano privately for Larry Cervi School of Performing Arts, Murphy’s Music Studio, and Open Door Christian Academy. She is an accomplished accompanist for the Kiski Area High School and Junior High School Choirs. She previously accompanied Highlands, Leechburg, Apollo Ridge, and St. Joseph’s High School Choirs. Melinda has also accompanied several musicals, including: The Wizard of Oz, Footloose, Hello Dolly, Camelot, and My Fair Lady. She has also accompanied the Natrona Heights Rotary Club Concerts. Melinda regularly works as a substitute pianist for churches in the Western PA area.

“Avigail Gomez holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Arkansas. With over 20 years of piano experience, 16 years playing trumpet, and 8 years of viola/violin, she offers a diverse skill set in music education.

Mrs. Gomez has spent 9 years teaching private lessons. With experience in teaching choir, orchestra, and band, she is recognized for creating an instrumental program across the Kansas City Public School District. As an active performer, she regularly gigs, including a notable performances at the Chiefs and Royals Games, and The Gem Theatre.

Avigail emphasizes a personalized approach to build student confidence and technical proficiency. She is dedicated to helping students achieve their musical goals in a supportive environment.”

Rick Clew is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Professional Music. He is the former owner and head instructor of Plum Boro Music which served this area for 18 years. Rick performs regularly with The Gillie Brothers Band and does various benefits and fundraisers with a professional group of musicians such as Rick Witkowski, Hermie Granati and Nashville singer songwriter Bailey Taylor and other talented players. Rick likes to cater to the individual needs of each student, and teaches many songs of all genres chosen by student to keep the lesson process as interesting as possible. Rick has helped many of his students with their school jazz programs in Plum and Franklin Regional school districts as well as the Moon Area school district where he has been a resident for most of his life.

“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 masters 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.