“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.
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.
Pittsburgh native Chantal Braziel is a classically trained soprano known for her expressive artistry and rich vocal tone. She holds a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Arts from Saint Vincent College. A passionate performer and advocate for the arts, Chantal has been recognized for both her vocal talent and commitment to representation in classical music.
Chantal made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the Grammy Award-winning production of Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess during the 2019–2020 season. Recent highlights include her performances as a soloist with the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh under conductor Edward Leonard; the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra with conductor John Devlin, and the AIMS Festival Orchestra in Graz, Austria, where she was a soloist in 2023. She also performed the role of Mother in Hansel and Gretel with Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte with the Berlin Opera Academy.
Chantal is a national finalist in the Professional Opera and Art Song/Oratorio division of The American Prize Friedrich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Award. In 2024, she won 2nd Place in the Birmingham International Online Vocal Competition, and in 2021, she received the Special Mention Award in the Medici International Vocal Competition. She was also honored with the Women of Excellence Aspiring Artist Award from Grace City Opera Theatre and received the Encouragement Award in the 2020 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Auditions in the Pittsburgh District.
In addition to her stage career, Braziel is committed to community engagement and education, often performing in outreach concerts and speaking about the importance of diversity in opera and classicalmusic. Chantal is considered a teaching artist, and she currently teaches at Pittsburgh CAPA, 6-12. She also gets frequent invitations as a teaching artist from various educational outreaches in the city.
Rafaela is a classically trained soprano and Carnegie Mellon BFA Vocal Performance graduate who loves helping singers find their voice. She is passionate about teaching all ages and experience levels, customizing every lesson to match the student's unique learning style.
Whether you sing opera, musical theatre, or contemporary music, she will help you build healthy technique in a fun, encouraging, and supportive environment.
Maison is a guitarist and arranger with a passion for helping students develop their skills and confidence on the instrument. Experience playing in multiple bands and pit orchestras. Currently working towards a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Duquesne University in 2028.
Drawing from years of experience studying a variety of styles like rock, country, jazz, and blues, he focuses on building strong fundamentals while making lessons engaging and enjoyable. He believes every student learns differently and tailors his teaching approach to each individual's goals, whether they are picking up a guitar for the first time or looking to take their playing to the next level. Overall goal is to create a positive learning environment where students can grow as musicians and develop a lifelong love of music.
Kaitlyn Dotson is a dedicated musician, recognized for her artistry as a performer and passion for music education. She has 12+ years of experience in flute and 5+ years of experience in piano. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from West Virginia University studying under Nina Assimokopolous. She is an accomplished performer, having performed in the WVU Symphonic Band and WVU Wind Symphony.
Additionally, Kaitlyn is the Woodwind Instructor for the Gateway Highschool Marching Band. She strives to help students grow as not only musicians, but also as individuals by teaching valuable skills including time-management, organization, and confidence.
With a passion for music education, Kaitlyn continues to inspire through both performance and teaching. As a flutist, Kaitlyn has performed in solo, chamber, and ensemble settings, bringing a cultivated tone and expressive musicality to her performances. Her repertoire spans from major classical works to novel contemporary compositions. She is committed to establishing a passion for music and helping each student obtain their musical goals.
Ciara is a passionate and dedicated musician, percussionist, and arranger! She began learning piano at age 8, percussion at age 10, and arranging/composing in 2022. She has competed nationally within WGI (Indoor Percussion), BOA (Marching Band), and Music for All (Concert Percussion).
Previous experience as a Director of Percussion in the Pittsburgh Area since 2021, and is currently the Director of Percussion at McKeesport Area HS. While Ciara is a balanced percussionist and loves all instruments of percussion, she is particularly fond of the marching arts, and the instruments used within them. She will talk all day about the Vibraphone and Marimba, given the opportunity. She strives to help students find the instrument that they are passionate about. She believes piano, drums, and bell kit are wonderful starting points for students entering percussion, as many fundamentals you learn on those instruments directly translate to other percussion instruments.
Ciara believes in the power of music. From beginners to professionals, music can be impactful at all levels, for the performer and the listener. Musical proficiency develops from dedication, repetition, and patience with oneself when learning. Fostering students to be confident in their abilities, always try their best, and find joy from their instruments!