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Christian C. began learning the piano at the age of seven and teaches Piano and Trombone at Okemos Music Academy. He earned his Bachelors degree in Music Education to become a fully certified K-12 music teacher in the State of Michigan. He continues to hone his piano skills at Michigan State University, where he is almost finished with a Masters in Collaborative Piano. Outside of the music world, Christian became an Eagle Scout in high school, enjoys reading, studying psychology and philosophy, and has worked summers at Interlochen Arts Camp on the Administrative Staff since 2018. 

Geunyoung K has taught students ranging from three years old to adults for over 10 years. Her goal is to help students discover their interest in music, and she is dedicated to fostering warm relationships beyond the classroom. As a former MSU String Fellow, she honed her teaching strategies and pedagogy through dedicated observation and provided string coaching at various educational institutions. As a soloist, she was a winner of the Guri-si Symphony Orchestra Competition and the Yejeon Arts Competition in South Korea. Kim is currently a member of the Midland Symphony Orchestra and has completed her DMA and Master's in violin performance at MSU.

Jeremy B. grew up immersed in music, participating in band, choir, and private guitar lessons at 10 years old. He graduated from Berklee College of Music with a degree in Professional Music and a focus on Guitar Performance/Music Production. Since graduating, he has toured the United States and Canada in various punk and metal bands. He teaches guitar and bass in any styles or techniques a student may be interested in. He believes there is no singular approach to learning and strives to curate lessons to assist the student's needs individually.

Joshua H. is an award-winning, internationally performed composer and saxophonist who teaches saxophone (classical and jazz) and beginner piano. With over 8 years of teaching experience, he is a certified music educator currently employed teaching K-8 music in the Lansing area. In 2023, he obtained his Masters of Music in Composition from Michigan State University while participating in the MSU Saxophone Studio. He has played for the MSU Symphony Band, WMU Wind Symphony, WMU Jazz Orchestra, WMU’s new music ensemble Birds on a Wire, and has been a leading figure in the development of new music for the saxophone. Joshua is dedicated to expanding his student’s creativity and helping them achieve their personal goals in music.

Kathy (Qianshan) Y. is a Chinese pianist who is both a graduate assistant and a Doctor of
Music Arts candidate in Piano Performance at Michigan State University. She holds a Bachelor
of Music in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music from
the Northwestern University. She has shared her passion for music through teaching, with
experiences ranging from private lessons to class piano for students.

Kayden S. has experience performing percussion since sixth grade band, which only grew from there. They have performed in jazz bands, rock bands, marching bands, and WGI competitive indoor percussion groups. Their musical interests include a wide range of genres, from punk to blues to dance pop. Kayden is excited to teach drum set and marching percussion while maintaining a fun and productive atmosphere dedicated to each person. Outside of studying music, they also enjoy podcasts, skating trails, and playing video games with friends. 

Kelly B is a local from Lansing, Michigan, and a master’s student in piano performance at Michigan State University. She enjoys solo performances and collaborating with other musicians. She is a part of You Can Feel the Music, a team making written music accessible to both sighted and non-sighted learners. When not practicing, Kelly enjoys listening to various genres, from Bossa nova to Japanese math rock. She also enjoys bird-watching, photography, and learning languages.

Kyle P. is a classically trained pianist and composer attending Michigan State University’s School of Music, where he is working to achieve his bachelor’s degree in Music Composition. He has been playing piano since he was 7 years old, reading music and making his own songs. He is eager to share his passion with anyone interested in music. Kyle enjoys writing and performing his piano compositions in his spare time.

Lily Yi-Hui C. is a Taiwanese pianist who recently finished the Doctoral of Musical Arts in piano performance from MSU. She received her master's degree in piano performance from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2019 and her bachelor's degree from National Taiwan Normal University in 2017. She enjoys teaching different ages and abilities of students and helping them find the joy of learning music.

Elyor G. is pursuing his DMA degree in clarinet performance at Michigan State University. He currently plays in band and orchestra concerts, solo recitals and loves playing in chamber settings. He has 7 years of teaching experience with clarinet and more than 4 years of teaching saxophone and piano. Outside of his music, he loves spending time with his wife and daughter, watching movies, or enjoying nature. 

Jacob H. has been playing guitar for over 20 years including the bass guitar, acoustic, and electric, as well as dabbling in other instruments. In 2017, he graduated from Baldwin Wallace University with a degree in special education and completed an applied music minor. Part of that minor was founded in music education to help teach others. Jacob is looking to spread the same joy and wonder that music has brought to him!

John K. is a current Michigan State University College of Music student who teaches clarinet,
saxophone, piano, ukulele, and voice. Mr. K. started his music career at 6 years old and has spent a
lifetime immersed in music by performing on multiple instruments. He regularly performs
in libraries, nursing homes, local venues, and benefit concerts. In his free time, John enjoys arranging music, learning new instruments, being a professional DJ, cooking, playing basketball, and playing billiards.

Alirna K. began her musical studies at the age of 5. She is an in-demand teacher at Okemos Music Academy and teaches Piano, Voice, Violin, Viola, and Ukulele.
She is currently studying at Michigan State University, pursuing her Master’s Degree in Violin, and she completed her bachelor’s degree at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan. Her passion for teaching stems from over 10 years of experience teaching children of all ages. She maintains high standards of
musicianship for her students while teaching them to enjoy and understand music.

Chris M teaches guitar, bass, and ukulele. Chris obtained his B.M. in classical guitar performance from Eastern Michigan University and teaches general music at Cavanaugh and Averill Elementary. He has also performed in rock and blues bands. He loves helping students gain their confidence and connecting with others through music. In his spare time, he enjoys biking, taking his dogs for walks, and seeing live music. 

Melissa C. is a Lansing, Michigan-born native with over 20 years of experience as a professional recording artist, songwriter, musician, and producer. She has received her double associate's degree in music (GA) and music education and will soon continue her studies in music education. She has a background in classical vocal performance and more popular genres and has taught voice lessons for the past seven years. Outside of music, she enjoys time with her family, traveling, and shopping. 

Cat H. has been a professional musician for forty years and teaches Piano, Voice, Guitar, and Ukulele at Okemos Music Academy. Cat has performed a variety of types of music. In addition, she has been a teacher for twenty-two years and has taught privately in Lansing and Ann Arbor.  She holds several degrees in Music Education, Secondary English, Montessori education, and Curriculum and Instruction. Cat grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and lives in Lansing, Michigan.

Dr. Gerardo de la Torre, a Spanish-Mexican bass-baritone, holds degrees from Michigan State University (DMA) and the Manhattan School of Music (MM). He's a member of the Detroit Opera, where he actively engages with the community. Hailed as "a Rolls Royce among Fords" (Brooklyn Discovery, 2018), his repertoire includes Verdi's Falstaff, Ford, Germont, Escamillo, Puccini's Gianni Schicchi, and other roles. He's won top international awards in the US and Mexico, including the Verismo Opera and Premiere Opera International Competitions. He has collaborated with renowned conductors like Orbelian, Meena, and Patrón de Rueda, and performed in prestigious venues such as Neidorff-Karpati Hall, the Palacio de Bellas Artes, and Opera Grand Rapids. As a voice instructor, he specializes in vocal rehabilitation, music score analysis, and acting and diction coaching in European languages.

Matt P. is a multi-instrumentalist who has played with multiple groups and ensembles as a freelance musician for ten years. He teaches Piano, Guitar, and Ukulele at Okemos Music Academy. He has experience with various genres, and is currently in college, finishing a few degrees and working with a few bands on original music.

Shelby H. has over 15 years of experience in musical performance. She started taking private music lessons at the age of 7 and went on to pursue music production in college. She earned her degree in Arts and Humanities from Michigan State University, with a focus on music. When she isn't performing or writing, she can be found drawing, playing board/video games, and caring for her houseplants. 

Joe S. has been a brass instructor for Okemos Music Academy since 2017 and teaches Trombone, Trumpet, French Horn, and Euphonium. He is an experienced teacher with over twenty-five years of musical experience, starting with his primary instrument of trombone. In college, he expanded his talents to include all brass instruments. In 2007, he completed his bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Illinois Wesleyan University and then went to Michigan State University, completing his master’s degree in 2010. In addition to teaching for Okemos Music Academy, Joe has a wife and two boys and is a purchaser for a Michigan-based food distribution hub.

Farangiz T. is a Michigan-based educator with almost 20 years of experience. Besides teaching, she is known as a professional musician and an international performer. She is pursuing her Doctoral degree in Music Performance at Michigan State University. In her teaching, she seeks to bring out the individual creativity of her students while also developing solid fundamentals so that her students can feel confident in their music-making capabilities.

Fred I.’s professional career began when he was just sixteen, and he teaches Piano and Drums at Okemos Music Academy. He spent more than two decades producing music for musical theater, church choirs, cocktail bars, jazz ensembles, salsa bands, and ballet companies, both as a pianist/drummer and director. These experiences included stints working for Rock legend Ben E. King and the Joffrey Ballet of New York. He is currently a college professor by day and has established his own music label.

Jim P. has over fifty years of experience on Acoustic and Electric guitar, Electric bass guitar, Ukulele, and Banjo. He has performed in bands in rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass, and gospel genres. In addition, Jim has also developed mandolin, ukulele, banjo, and harmonica experience. He also specializes in fingerstyle and classical guitar. Jim’s motto is “I’d rather play with you than for you. So come grab an instrument or drum, and let’s have some fun!”

Peter K. has been playing violin since 2001 and has a bachelor's degree from Oakland University and a master’s degree from Michigan State University. He teaches Piano, Violin, and Viola at Okemos Music Academy. Peter has performed with many orchestras around Michigan, including the Saginaw, Midland, Oakland, Warren, and Alma Symphonies. He has led large classes in middle and elementary schools for fifteen years. In addition, he teaches throughout Michigan as a private instructor. Peter also frequently performs with a bluegrass band based out of Flint.

Shelly G. teaches Piano and Voice at Okemos Music Academy. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in piano. She has been teaching voice and piano for many years, and it is a true passion of hers. Shelly teaches all ages, from children to adults, helping each student reach their potential and goals.

Susan F. has been playing the piano since 4th grade and has been teaching Piano and Voice since 1979. She holds a bachelor’s degree in piano proficiency. Susan coordinates music at her church, has accompanied various school choirs, assisted students in vocal competitions, and has played the piano for various musical productions and choirs. She strives to inspire her students to excel. Susan loves gardening, baking, and spending time with her family in her spare time.

Adam M. has taught at Okemos Music Academy since 2016 and teaches Piano, Guitar, Ukulele, and Bass. In addition, he is an in-demand bassist and multi-instrumentalist throughout the Midwest. In 2008 he attended Bowling Green State University under talent and academic scholarships, where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Music Performance in 2012. Adam’s three favorite artists are Stevie Wonder, Jimi Hendrix, and Miles Davis, and his current guilty pleasures are Billie Eilish, Kacey Musgraves, and Frank Sinatra.

Geoff L. has over twenty years of experience with Piano and Drum performance and education. He studied under Dallas symphony percussionist Jeff Prosperie and the University of Akron’s Director of Bands, Galen Karriker. His career has led him to many ensembles, including The MSU Marching Band, Chicago Bears Drumline, and more. Although drums are his primary instrument, Geoff is an accomplished singer and pianist.

Steve P. has been a professional musician and music instructor since he fell in love with The Beatles at a young age. He teaches Guitar, Ukulele, Ukulele and Banjo at Okemos Music Academy. Steve has played with musical icons including Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, and The Comets, and many blues, country, and folk bands. In addition, he teaches guitar, banjo, ukulele, mandolin, and harmonica. He believes that learning music should be fun and customizes each lesson to each student, teaching them the songs they want to learn!