“Music is a more potent instrument than any other for education, because rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul.” — PLATO
Musical Support Staff
Ashley has been studying Music for over 20 years, Teaching and performing for 15+ years. She currently holds a Bachelors of Music Technology Performance/Voice along with a Masters in Music Technology – Digital Pedagogy/Voice both from Duquesne University. Ashley’s past experiences include solo performances, collaborative works, Choral/Orchestral participation, Quartets, Vocal Jazz, Classical Vocal Pedagogy Techniques, Recording in a Studio, Live Sound Engineering, Leading Worship and Coaching Future Worship Leaders.
In addition to running and teaching at the studio, she loves working with students through the various partnerships through Local Businesses, Parks and Recreation Departments, School Districts, Daycares, Libraries and YMCA to bring music to our surrounding community.
At Dynamic Music Studio - The goal is to make music accessible, fun and educational to train up our next generation of musicians in Western Pennsylvania. Music should be a part of everyone’s life and we enjoy meeting our students where they are at in their musical journey to help them grow.
Holly is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree, with her primary instrument being piano and secondary instruments, flute and organ.
Holly has been playing music since she was 7 years old. Holly has performed with the IUP Bands on flute and piano, and has also performed for weddings and various events. She has been a church pianist for 6+ years. Her main focus is to help anyone achieve their goals in music.
George is a seasoned music professional who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Marketing from Duquesne University. George has 25+ years experience of private music instruction. He’s worked as a New York City Studio Musician, Music Special Producer [Home Box Office – “When the Music’s Over”], Previous Vice President at Atlantic Records [Working with such artists as Rolling Stones, ABBA, Bette Midler, Ray Charles, Phil Collins, Herbie Mann, Blues Brothers, Muppets, Led Zeppelin, Foreigner plus many, many others] and a Recording Artist at Capitol Records. Throughout his Musical Career he’s toured and performed nationwide at such venues at Riverboat Room (Empire State Building), Barney Googles, Copacabana, Saratoga Springs Arts Center, Drake Hotel, Hotel Americana, etc and was the prevoius Choral Director at Valley High School.
George is fluent in the teaching of all styles of music including Jazz, Pop, Rock, Ethnic and Classical. He has taught all age groups from 5 year olds to 65+ year olds. Teaching is his first love and gets he takes much pleasure from watching his students grow and develop into fine musicians.
Kerri has been studying music for 40 years. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia where she majored in Violin. She went on to earn her Masters of Science in Music Education and a minor in Cello at Nazareth College in Rochester New York.
Kerri has taught in various public school districts in New York before relocating to Pittsburgh 10 years ago. Since then she’s been primarily a private instructor.
Her performance experiences range from several community symphony orchestras, the Buffalo Chamber Ensemble, to playing fiddle with a Celtic band. She currently is a member of the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra.
Matthew has been performing in and around the Pittsburgh area for over 15 years. His musical experience ranges far and wide. During his time at Penn State University, he Directed both an A Cappella and a Barbershop group, and also played Bass Trombone for the Marching Blue Bland.
Matthew was one of the most highly requested performers for many years at Sing Sing: Dueling Pianos, and he has enjoyed many opportunities performing with local groups over the years. He currently works as Solo Vocalist available for Weddings and Special Events, while also playing Trombone in the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds at Seton Hill University in Greensburg.
Learn more about Matthew by visiting https://matthewmusicpgh.com
Summer has been playing Piano for 18+ years and an avid Performer locally around the Pittsburgh Area. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Visual and Performing Arts with Piano Focus as well as a Degree in Psychology from The University of Pittsburgh (Greensburg). In addition to playing professionally for local social events and church services, she has experience with Singing in Chorale and Chamber Music Ensembles. Summer has been instructing privately for 3+ years in Private Piano and Voice. She likes to encourage self-expression and have a lot of fun in lessons, including adding in all of the necessary musical fundamentals and music theory! Overall the goal is to make music fun as well as educational. Along with creating a positive experience in the student’s musical/mental space, She aims to give all of her Students a feeling of self-fulfillment through music.
Overall, Summer is passionate about music and people! [And cats ;) ]
Anna is a graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. Certified in K-12 Music Education, Anna has taught in both middle and high school settings in North Carolina, American Sāmoa, north central Pennsylvania, and the Pittsburgh area. She has taught a variety of vocal, band, modern band, and general music courses and has directed multiple musicals. She has coached all ages over the past decade, helping students achieve a wide array of personal goals, from simply seeking enjoyment and artistic growth to preparing for festivals, recitals, and college auditions. Anna is skilled in classical, musical theatre, and popular vocal styles.
Madeline is currently a Preschool Teacher at Carnegie Mellon University's Cyert Center for Early Education. At the Cyert Center, Maddie engages in the study of the Reggio Emilia Approach and is working towards earning her Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Maddie enjoys performing with the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds at Seton Hill University. Her performance history overall includes concert, chamber, and jazz ensembles.
Madeline spent several years teaching K-12 General Music in public schools, including 4 years at a Special Education School. She also enjoyed a temporary summer position as a Habilitation Specialist for adults with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, she is eager to merge her knowledge of Music, Special Education, and Early Childhood Education at Dynamic Music Studio. Her approach to education centers around creating inclusive environments that cultivate a lifelong love for music-making.
Emily currently teaches chorus, piano, and general music at Pleasant Hills Middle School in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. Emily has experience teaching music to students from preschool through adulthood and has also directed vocals for local high school musical productions. Her favorite genre to sing is musical theater, but she also works extensively in classical, pop, and jazz styles.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a primary focus in voice and a secondary focus in piano from Seton Hill University, as well as a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida. In 2023, she made her Carnegie Hall debut in New York City, performing Nunes Garcia’s Missa de Requiem alongside her students.
Emily strives to create a supportive, engaging, and informative lesson environment and is excited to help students reach their musical goals and build musical confidence while having fun along the way!
Andrew is a guitarist, producer, audio engineer, and arranger that has worked in the Pittsburgh music scene for the last 5 years. He has been studying music for the past 15 years and is expected to graduate with his Bachelors of Music Technology - Sound Recording from Duquesne University soon. Because of his diverse musical background (including not just guitar, but piano and trumpet as well), he has lots of experience with many different styles of music, including jazz, rock, classical, blues, and many more! He had the opportunity to explore all of these different styles while studying at the Clazz International Music Festival in Italy with guitarist Paolo Mari, and has had the opportunity to perform with Pittsburgh jazz legends Dwayne Dolphin, Jeff Bush, and other greats in the industry such as Ray Angry and Tamir Hendelman. Overall, Andrew loves all kinds of music and is excited to help his students find what they love most about music!
Matt has been passionate about music since the age of five. He began with violin and saxophone before expanding his musical pursuits to guitar, bass, and more recently, drums. He studied Cinema Production at Point Park University with a concentration in Sound Design and further expanded his musical knowledge through coursework in Film Scoring. His musical experiences include attending a workshop with Victor Wooten at Berklee College of Music, as well as touring Europe with American Music Abroad, where he performed saxophone and violin. Drawing from a diverse background in performance, composition, and audio production, Matt enjoys helping students build confidence, develop their technique, and discover their own musical voice.
His philosophy centers on the idea that there is no single "right" way to create—what matters most is that the artist finds joy and fulfillment in their work. Whether working with beginners or advanced players, he is committed to fostering a supportive environment where students can grow creatively, express themselves freely, and develop a lifelong love of music.
Jake is a dedicated pianist, composer, and educator with two decades of musical experience. As a teacher, his primary goal is to inspire a lifelong love of music by making lessons engaging and personally relevant; he frequently creates custom arrangements of his students' favorite songs tailored to their skill level. For older students, he fosters curiosity and deep understanding of the music to help them become confident, open-minded listeners and performers.
Jake previously taught pre-K small-group piano at the European Piano Academy and private piano lessons at Vivo Professional Music School in Houston. His background also includes serving as Head Counselor and Assistant Music Director at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Alaska, as well as teaching composition at Klein Forest High School in Houston.
Outside the classroom, Jake is an active conductor, vocalist, and composer. He has served as Associate Conductor at the College Light Opera Company and worked as a Liturgical Music Scholar, bass section leader, and substitute organist/choir director at Trinity Episcopal Church - Midtown. An award-winning composer, he received an ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award Honorable Mention in 2025 and has written pieces for ensembles such as Sandbox Percussion and Minnesota Sinfonia. Jake holds a master’s degree in Music Composition from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University and bachelor’s degrees in Music Composition and Mathematics from Oberlin College and Conservatory.