Instructors

Alyssa started playing piano with her grandmother at age 5 and loved making music so much that she joined the school orchestra, band and choir. As she spent more time playing, her primary focus became cello and she began to study privately with cellists from the Lima Symphony and Bowling Green State University. Alyssa also participated in the Lima Area Youth Orchestra, District III Honors Orchestra and at the BGSU Summer Strings Program during high school. Alyssa went on to earn a degree in music education from Capital University and during her time there participated in the Capital/Bexley Orchestra, string quartets, piano quintets, fiddle pedagogy class and took private lessons with cello and piano.  Currently Alyssa plays with several area string quartets and enjoys playing in the indie band Super Desserts. Teaching private lessons for 4 years, Alyssa is excited to help people discover their own talents and to further their musical progression.

Ben's mom always knew he would be a drummer when he kicked along to the beat of a Bruce Springsteen concert when she was still pregnant with him. Ever since, he hasn't been able to get music and rhythm out of his head. From his beginnings on his Mickey Mouse drumset at the age of four, Ben has become well versed in many styles ranging from marching, Latin, and rock. After playing in bands throughout high school on the east side of Cleveland, Ben came to Ohio State in 2003 and almost immediately found like minded musicians. They formed an indie rock band called The Kessel Run that played all over Ohio and Columbus for nearly 6 years. Ben has toured throughout the area, including Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Youngstown, Kettering, Athens and many others. While raised as a kid in a house filled with music, he became acquainted with many different styles that have informed his playing ever since. Ben is thrilled to be able to pass on what he has learned through his many years of experience and is looking forward to sharing his passion for music with others.

Courtney has been immersed in music all of her life. From the time she could talk, her mother was teaching her to sing melodies and harmonies. At age seven, she and her other three siblings began private piano lessons. She continued her study through High School and into college. This, she says, is one of the things for which she is most grateful. This skill has proven to be extremely valuable throughout her life. At age 12, she began to teach herself guitar and learned to play and sing while in her Church's praise band. In 5th grade, she began private percussion lessons, taught by her grandmother, and continued taking them through high school.  Courtney is now a Vocal Music Education major at Capital University. While in the Conservatory, she has been a four year member of Chapel Choir, as well as the soprano section leader for two years. She has had a number of solos in the choir and is also an active participant in the Conservatory's Opera and Musical productions. Her roles in these productions include "The Bakers Wife" in Into the Woods, "Leila" in Iolanthe, and "Aunt March" in Little Women. In addition to being on the stage, she has also had experience behind the curtain. In 2007, Courtney was assistant stage manager for the Conservatory's production of Edwin Drood and, in 2008, was stage manager for Cosi Fan Tutte.  Music has been such a blessing in Courtney's life and she hopes to bring that blessing into the lives of others.

Music has been a part of Jeff Zellner’s life for over 15 years. His journey in music began with the study of percussion and piano as a youth. In high school, Jeff taught himself guitar and his interest in music became a passion. At the University of Toledo, Jeff studied Music Theory, Physics of Music and Sound, Guitar and Piano while earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication.

While in college, Jeff joined with other high school friends to form one of northwest Ohio’s most popular cover bands, playing rhythm guitar, backing vocals and harmonica. The band has also given Jeff the opportunity to compose original blues/rock songs. Jeff’s musical influences include: David Gilmour, Neil Young, and Dave Matthews.

According to Jeff, “I believe music should be a part of everyone’s life. It is a passion for me, and I look forward to helping students find their own path in a lifelong musical journey.”

Matt is a very experienced and accomplished guitarist who excels in the genres of rock, hard rock, and blues.  He became interested in guitar at a very young age and began taking formal lessons at age 9 and continued though 16.  He went on to study guitar and music theory in college at Owens College and Terra C.C. where he played in the school's electric music ensemble.

Matt has been playing in bands and performing live since the age of 17.  He currently plays lead guitar and sings in 2 successful bands, and has had the opportunity to play across the region sharing the stage with national acts, such as RATT, Local H,  Stabbing Westward, & Rehab.

In his twenties Matt became interested in teaching guitar and began giving private lessons to adults and children.  He has given lessons at summer camps and volunteered giving lessons and demonstrations to children with special needs.  He found it very rewarding to be able to give the gift of music through teaching guitar.

With over 20 years of experience playing guitar, a solid core knowledge of music theory and guitar fundamentals, as well as a genuine passion for music and teaching, Matt will be able to lay down the fundamentals to help any aspiring guitarist achieve their highest musical goals.

Melena began her journey at 7 years old when her family’s house burnt down. Tragic, yes, but when the wife of the family’s contractor (a piano teacher) saw her she instantly spotted a kindred spirit in the land of music. In the seventh grade, her choir director suggested she consider voice lessons and her fate as a musician was sealed. 21 years after a new house was built, Melena and her husband happily reside in the Columbus area and she has dedicated herself to bringing her life full circle and teaching young musicians the joy of her world.
She graduated in 2006 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Musial Theatre with a minor in Piano Performance. In addition to her curricular participation, she was active with the local community, being contracted both as a soprano and pianist with different churches, theatres, and schools. Since living in Ohio, she has served as Musical Director and pianist for the Granville Christian Academy’s spring musical and has been contracted by Ohio State University since 2008 as their head musician for the Annual Spring Recognition Banquet. However, at the end of the day, her greatest joy comes from being able to pass along all her experience and knowledge to the next generation of musicians.
 

As the daughter of an elementary music teacher, Noel Mira naturally developed a passion for music at a young age.  Noel started taking piano lessons at age 5, started writing her own music to sing and play around age 8, and started playing the flute around age 10.  Along with this, Noel also developed strong interests in other performing arts including theater and dance.  Throughout her life Noel has always participated in numerous school and church choirs, bands, dance classes, and theater productions.  In high school Noel became interested in teaching and founded a private dance instruction service at her local community theater, directed several church plays, and explored her teaching career by assisting and directing in local community schools and programs.

Noel will be graduating Capital University with a bachelor’s degree in music education in May 2012, and plans to continue her music-teaching career.  Her main areas of focus include voice, piano, and flute.  Noel enjoys sharing music with people of all ages.  Noel’s teaching philosophy is to instill the musical skills and tools necessary to develop successful and knowledgeable musicians, who will share their passion, love, and respect for music with others!!