Johnstonbaugh's Virtual Lessons

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.

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.

Renate Sakins received her B.M. from Temple University, and attended Carnegie Mellon University in the M.M. degree program. Her teachers were Louis Rosenblatt and Cynthia DeAlmeida. Ms. Sakins is currently oboist and associate director of the Renaissance City Winds, principal oboist with the Westmoreland Symphony, and 2nd oboist with the Akron Symphony. She has appeared twice as soloist with the Westmoreland Symphony and was featured on WQED’s “Performance in Pittsburgh”. For two seasons she was co-principal oboist of the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida under music director Michael Tilson Thomas. She has performed with the Pittsburgh, Columbus, Wheeling, Harrisburg, and Delaware Symphonies, at the Blossom and Cape May Music Festivals and has toured in Canada, Japan, and throughout Europe. Ms. Sakins is an adjunct instructor at Washington and Jefferson College, teaches at Pittsburgh’s Center for the Musically Talented, Carnegie Mellon Pre-College, and maintains a private teaching studio. Students Ms. Sakins has taught have been accepted as music performance and music education majors at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Oberlin College, Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Indiana University (Bloomington), and Temple University. Ms. Sakins was born in Chicago and earned a B.S. in Medical Technology before pursuing music performance.

Janice Coppola received her B.M. and M.M. from the Cleveland Institute of Music and also attended the North Carolina School of the Arts (UNSCA) for high school. Her teachers have included Bob Listokin, Theodore Johnson, Leon Russianoff, and William Blount, as well as John Mack for chamber and solo music.

Ms. Coppola is currently performing as a klezmer soloist and freelance musician not only in the Pittsburgh area but in many other states. She has performed with and founded three klezmer ensembles in the Pittsburgh area - The Hot Matzohs, Klezlectic, and Eastern Watershed. Janice has also been one of the music directors at Temple Sinai for eight years, directing the Temple Sinai Band who perform for first Friday Shabbat. As a soloist, Janice has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Preservation Hall Band, the River City Brass, the Northern New Jersey Baroque Orchestra, and The Edgewood Symphony.

Janice has been on the Gateway to the Arts Roster for over a decade with varying programs focused on klezmer and music of the immigrants in Pittsburgh. Her current program is "Bubbe Tells A Tale" with Barbara Russell. Janice is also affiliated with Musician’s With A Mission (MWAM) in Pittsburgh, performing for the city’s elderly and infirmed. She is also a ringer with area school districts for their annual musical productions.

As an instructor, Janice has taught clarinet, saxophone, and flute privately for over two decades. She is currently an instructor at the Johnstonbaugh Music Center in Allison Park, PA, as well as the Boys and Girls Club in Carnegie, PA. Her teaching specialties not only include structure for beginning pupils but coaching for more advanced students for competitions, as well as college and ensemble auditions. An additional specialty is her knowledge of klezmer music, which has gained her a reputation as a class instructor with the Temple Emmanuel and Beth El Temple in the South Hills.

Rachael Stutzman Cohen is an active performer and highly sought after clarinet instructor who enjoys teaching all levels of music students. Most recently, she was appointed Clarinet Instructor of the University of Pittsburgh, and also has taught at Slippery Rock University and Fairmont State University (WV). She has given master classes at Truman State University (MO) and the University of South Florida and is a regular educational contributor to Pittsburgh’s Steel City Clarinet Day. Her students have achieved many successes in the PMEA District and Region bands, accolades in their HS bands, and acceptances at WVU, Duquesne and Penn State.

She currently holds the position of Second Clarinet with the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and has regularly performed with the Richmond and the Sarasota Orchestras. Mrs. Cohen has also performed with orchestras across the Southwestern PA region including Pittsburgh Opera, Harrisburg, Wheeling, Canton and Erie Philharmonic. Previously, Mrs. Cohen held the position of Bass Clarinet with the Kansas City Symphony. She has also performed with such prestigious orchestras as the Pittsburgh Symphony, Aspen Music Festival and Britt Festival Orchestra and been led under the batons of Christoph von Dohnányi, Gerard Schwarz, Tito Muños and James Gaffigan, and Grammy winner Teddy Abrams.

Mrs. Cohen enjoys performing chamber music as a member of Kassia Ensemble, an all woman group comprised of 2 violins, viola, cello, double bass, harp and clarinet. Kassia performs a wide range of classical music, emphasizing gender equality in its programming. The Ensemble has performed all over the Southwestern PA region and toured in Florida and Oregon. They have commissioned and premiered many works, and co-presented Missy Mazzoli’s opera Song From The Uproar with an all-woman ensemble. Mrs. Cohen can be heard on the album Silent Spring, featuring the music of Dr. Mark Fromm, performed and produced by Trillium Ensemble.

She received her BFA and MAM from Carnegie Mellon University, where she studied with Thomas Thompson of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Mrs. Cohen has also studied with Victoria Luperi, Ron Samuels, Dick Page, Dennis Smylie, and Paul Demers.

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.

Michael is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Saxophone Performance from the University of Maryland in College Park where he was awarded a graduate Jazz Assistantship. During his time at the University of Maryland, Michael will be studying saxophone with Chris Vadala and Albert Regni. Michael has been teaching private lessons for 10 years and has 5 years of public school teaching experience. Michael has studied with saxophonists Steven Mauk, Keith Young, Curtis Johnson, and Chris Hemingway. He is a 2008 graduate of Ithaca College receiving a Master's Degree in Saxophone Performance and is a 2005 graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Johann Diaz is a Venezuelan violist and violinist with a master’s degree from Duquesne University. His musical training began and largely developed in “El Sistema” in Venezuela, where he gained extensive experience in orchestral performances, teaching, and chamber music.

Johann has utilized his skills as both a teacher and a musician in various countries. He has participated in concerts, festivals, and international seminars in places such as Japan, Spain, Ecuador, Brazil, Peru, and Chile. Johann has taught classes and performed with orchestras in Peru and Chile. In Venezuela, he was a member of the Francisco de Miranda Symphony Orchestra and the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra.

In the United States, Johann is a member of the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he has participated and played with several other orchestras, including:

Altoona Symphony Orchestra
Butler County Symphony
Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra
Erie Philharmonic
Washington Symphony Orchestra
Young Artist Debut Orchestra
Greenville Symphony Orchestra
Canton Symphony Orchestra
Wheeling Symphony Orchestra

Venezuelan violinist, who grew up musically in "El Sistema" National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras and Choirs of Venezuela. Thanks to this, she had a prolific orchestral experience, starting at the age of seven years old with the Yaracuy Symphony Children’s Orchestra, advancing later to Yaracuy Youth Symphony Orchestra, Yaracuy Youth Selection Symphony Orchestra, and Yaracuy State Symphony Orchestra. Later she won a first violin section position in the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas.

One of several advantages of growing up musically in “El Sistema” is the culture of passing on your knowledge to younger generations from an early age, giving her the chance to start teaching violin and leading sectionals in pre-infant and youth orchestras when she was 15 years old. Throughout her teaching experience, she has taught to toddlers from 3 years old to adults of 30 years old in different countries such as Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Japan and in the United States of America.

Abril was the first violin of the Aurora String Quartet, in which along with her colleagues and friends from “El Sistema”, participated in several Latin American Academy of String Quartets Seminars, held by the Latin American String Quartet, and participated in the New England Conservatory Seminar and FESNOJIV, where they had coaching and masterclasses with Donald and Vivian Weilerstein and with the Borromeo String Quartet members.

Nunez has had the opportunity to attend and perform at numerous music festivals on a global scale, In 2009, Abril took parts in the International Festival Youth Orchestra in San Diego, US, joined the Yaracuy Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Tour in Bogotá, Colombia (2012), performed at the Winter Festival Campus do Jordao in Brazil (2016), went on the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Caracas’s International tour with PEACE BOAT, performing in Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Denmark, Latvia, Russia, Finland, Estonia, Sweden, Norway, and Iceland (2017). In 2022, she performed at the Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, Ohio.

Abril got her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance in the Universidad Nacional Experimental de las Artes “UNEARTE” in Caracas, Venezuela. Later on, she pursued professional experience in Peru (2017), Chile (2019) and currently based in the US, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from Duquesne University with Professor Charles Stegeman. Throughout these years, she can say that what she is the most grateful for is learning and adapting to different cultures thanks to the music.

For the past three years she has been performing with various symphony orchestras in the States. She is currently a member of the Canton Symphony Orchestra, and Butler County Symphony Orchestra, and has performed with Pittsburgh Opera, Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Washington Symphony Orchestra, Altoona Symphony Orchestra, and Young Artist Debut Orchestra. In the summer of 2024, Abril looks forward to contributing as a teaching artist at the Young Artists Debut Orchestra’s Summer Music Academy.

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.

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.

Cara, a Pittsburgh native, has been interested in music her whole life. Beginning with the flute at age 9, she took private lessons and played in her school's band and church's orchestra. After beginning the piano in high school, she decided to pursue her passion of music at Grove City College, where she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree of Music in 2011. During college, she played in Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Flute Choir, and Flute Quartet. Upon graduation, Cara began teaching private flute and piano lessons, which she currently teaches at Johnstonbaugh's Music Center, averaging 20-30 students.

Beginning in 2013, Cara began her freelance performing career at local nursing homes in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Currently, she performs at 25-30 nursing homes per month including assisted living, dementia care, and independent living facilities.

She also performs for Weddings Ceremonies and Cocktail Hours, Funeral/Memorial Services, and Special Events such as Art Shows, Anniversary Dinners, Phipps Conservatory, and Kentuck Knob.

In her spare time, Cara enjoys running, being involved with her church, and spending time with her fiance Philip and her 2 nieces.

Cara began working for Duquesne University's City Music Center in September 2019.

Cara is also a substitute flute player for the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra.

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).

Daphne Alderson’s diverse career as lyric contralto includes opera, cabaret, oratorio, and chamber music. Her voice has been described as, “Haunting and mesmerizing.” Ted Sohier, (WQED-fm, Pittsburgh). In duo with accordionist Vladimir Mollov: “An original, unique artist in Pittsburgh, or anywhere ...beautiful renderings of French songs and Piaf,” (Pittsburgh City Paper, Andy Mulkerin). A passionate champion of cabaret genre, combined with theater has forged a unique path in the classical music scene. Stravinsky’s opera farce, MAVRA is a return to her roots in opera and a whole new exploration of the Russian repertoire. This production will be relaunched in the Fall of 2021.

The 2020 season held several new projects: THESE DAYS, Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s 2020 Festival, Cerverii Circus: Satie Souvenir (Lake George Summer Festival), Daphne and Dietrich, and Lenya In The Light...the world of Lotte Lenya. The Lenya and Dietrich programs are commissioned from Pittsburgh Festival Opera’s summer festival seasons.

Ms. Alderson debuted the role of Older Alice in Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s acclaimed premiere of Gilda Lyons/Tammy Ryan’s: A NEW KIND OF FALLOUT, called “Haunting and memorable.”(Pittsburgh Tribune Review). Other PFO appearances include her celebrated, “Piaf at Carnegie Hall, 1956.” Her Madame Armfeldt in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music garnered: “Luscious, dark tones, an accomplished rendering.” (Pittsburgh Tribune Review and City Paper for Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh SummerFest). Other roles include Mere Jeanne in Pittsburgh Opera’s acclaimed production of Poulenc’s DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES, Microscopic Opera’s FANTASTIC MR. FOX (Agnes), Thomas Albert’s LIZBETH (Abby Borden) and the world premiere of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (Helen Cooper). Other recent credits include AINADAMAR with Quantum Theatre and Miss Baggott in Benjamin Britten’s LITTLE SWEEP.

A Hallelujah at Love Café is a celebration of new versions of the folk rock movement that Leonard Cohen helped to create. It also features songs of Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell and Judy Collins, moving her intimate contralto into a new realm:

Daphne and the St. Michel Chamber Band is a fusion of chamber music and folk/pop with John Marcinizyn, guitarist, Elisa Kohanski, cellist and accordionist Vladimir Mollov. Her latest recording, JOAN OF ARC was released world-wide: Piaf chansons and Leonard Cohen ballads. Ms. Alderson toured extensively through the Eastern U.S. in Songs That Oscar Taught Me, a cabaret style tribute to Oscar Hammerstein and All Hear, All Judy, the songs of Judy Garland, and A Girl In Paris, World War II...arranged by Douglas Levine.

A concert tour with Philadelphia based pianist Norma Meyer: WE REMEMBER...THE INNER LIFE OF ANNE FRANK (Carnegie Hall in Carnegie), featured works by Mahler, Poulenc, Weill and Michael Cohen’s stunning “I REMEMBER.” Her most recent recital of the French chansons of Debussy, Hahn and Faure in Philadelphia was featured in MauriceRiver Concerts.

Her duo with guitarist John Marcinizyn toured through parts of Central and South America, as musical ambassadors for the Institute for Shipboard Education. The Piaf concerts for the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Paris Festival hailed, “Not to be missed!” (Mark Kanny, Pittsburgh Tribune Review). Notable collaborations include Chatham Baroque, Bricolage Theater and IonSound Project. As private voice teacher and director of opera studies, she is emeritus faculty as Associate Professor of Voice and Opera at Seton Hill University, now actively maintains a private studio and is part of new faculty at Pittsburgh’s Johnstonbaugh Music School. She lives in Pittsburgh with husband John Marcinizyn and a striped cat named Viola.

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 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.