Susan Allen, Executive Director

Both Locations

Clavier-Werke School of Music grew out of the thriving home studio of Susan Allen in Austin, Texas in the mid-nineties. Susan holds degrees from North Texas State University and the University of Texas.

Over the years, Susan has developed a curriculum based on sightreading, technique, ear training, theory and improvisation. She believes these elements should be a regular part of every lesson. Susan encourages her students to learn many styles of music and to perform as often as possible. Through this comprehensive approach her students become dedicated, accomplished pianists who enjoy a lifetime of music.

“My task is to inspire my students to practice and to present every lesson as a model for how to practice. As an educator, I believe I can have a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of my students. There is nothing more rewarding than witnessing the musical growth of each one and to see the excitement and joy they experience through their music.”

 Ms. Allen received the Top Teacher Award for outstanding instruction and leadership in piano education from Steinway & Sons for 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

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Maggie Allen, Associate Director

West Lake Location

Maggie Allen, the Assistant to the Director of the Clavier-Werke in West Lake Hills, works in her studio office Monday – Friday, 10:00 – 6:00. Maggie is available to take messages for teachers and answer questions either by phone or in person. You can also turn your tuition payments of cash or check in to Maggie’s office. Maggie can answer most of your general questions and requests such as directions and dates for festivals and signing up students for some events. Maggie holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology with honors from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Nathan Allen, Associate Director

Southwest Location

Nathan Allen, the Office Manager of Clavier-Werke South, works in his studio office Monday – Friday, 12:00 – 6:00. Nathan is available to take messages for teachers and answer general questions about lessons and scheduling either by phone or in person. Nathan lives in the Austin area with his wife Shauna and their daughters Riley and Colbie Rose.

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Kyle Adams, Violinist and Violist

West Lake Location

Kyle Adams is a violinist currently pursuing a degree in Music Performance at UT Austin. He began studying violin when he was 10 years old in a Suzuki program.

Kyle has attended several prestigious music festivals including the Philadelphia International Music Festival, Curtis Summerfest, and Sounding Point Academy. Kyle has earned numerous awards and scholarships at festivals including the Texas State Strings Camp Leadership Award and Director’s Achievement Award, and the Sam Talementes Scholarship twice. Throughout his academic years, he has participated in the Houston Youth Symphony, where he was part of a chamber group that played for the semi-finals of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition. He has studied and performed for notable musicians and teachers such as Kimberly Fisher, Tien-Hsin Cindy Wu, Stefan Jackiw, Elly Toyoda and Dara Morales.

Kyle continues to pursue his musical aspirations at UT Austin, where he studies under the guidance of Professor Sandy Yamamoto. When he’s not practicing or performing, he enjoys running, playing chess, and spending time with friends and family.

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Vivian Anderson, Pianist

Southwest Location

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Jimmy Berger, Pianist

Southwest Location

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Andrés Carrero, Violinist

South Location

Andrés Carrero is a passionate performer and educator from Austin, Texas, and the Chicagoland area. As a recent graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Andrés had the privilege of studying with YooJin Jang. At Eastman, he was a founding member of Quartet Java, a group that made it to the semi-finals of the Coltman Chamber Music Competition and the finals of the MTNA Chamber Music Competition. The group received mentorship from members of the Ying Quartet, Horszowski Trio, and cellist and professor Mimi Hwang. Andrés’s teaching engagements led to work at the Eastman Community Music School, volunteer at the Rochester local music organization, RocMusic, work as a faculty member at the Asociación Nacional de Conciertos in Panamá, and teach residents at a correctional institution in Grafton, Ohio. Andrés has spent summers at the Encore Summer Academy, Aspen Music Festival, and as a fellow at the Dalí Quartet International Music Festival.

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Thomas Gougeon, Violinist

South Location

Thomas Gougeon started the violin at the age of 3 with the Suzuki Program. Through this program, Thomas performed in many local Toronto festivals and trained for multiple Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Exams. After leaving the Suzuki program, Thomas studied with Eri Kosaka from the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and played in a small ensemble called the Moordale Orchestra. Thomas then moved to Houston, Texas at the age of 14 where he attended the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. During this time, Thomas studied with Rodica Gonzalez and later with Dr. Kirsten Yon. Thomas made his Region Orchestra all four years of high school and attended TMEA All State his senior year. Recently, Thomas was concertmaster of the Roundtop Symphony Orchestra in the summer 2023 season and has performed alongside world renowned artists including Daniel Ching, Bion Tsang and Sandy Yamamoto. Thomas has performed with the Balcones Community Orchestra and has played in masterclasses for many notable artists such as Kim Chee Yun, Aloysia Friedmann, Li-Mei Liang, Rachel Ostler, Matthew Zalkind, Rohan De Silva, and Zach DePue. Thomas now attends the University of Texas at Austin with a Butler Excellence Scholarship and a Taylor Endowed Presidential Scholarship under the direction of Sandy Yamamoto.

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Jake Holtzman, Pianist

West Lake Location

Pianist Jake Holtzman grew up in San Rafael, California, and is currently pursuing a D.M.A. degree in piano performance at UT Austin. He received an M.M. and Advanced Certificate in piano performance and pedagogy from NYU Steinhardt, and completed his undergraduate studies at Oberlin College & Conservatory. His piano teachers have included Anton Nel, Eteri Andjaparidze, Peter Takács, John McCarthy, Peter Horvath, and Adam Domash.

In addition to teaching at ClavierWerke, Jake is a teaching assistant at UT Austin, and has previously taught at a number of schools in New York, including The Browning School, the Rubato Music School, and NYU.

Jake has performed throughout the United States with recent engagements in San Francisco’s Noontime Concerts, the Foundation for the Revival of Classical Culture’s “Bach to the Future” Concert Series, and Columbia University’s Music at St. Paul’s. He has garnered several awards recognizing his work, including Second Prize in Category A of the I Málaga International Piano Festival Competition, the NYU Walter Reinhold Scholarship, the Gilmore Master Class Fellowship, and the Oberlin Piano Faculty Prize in Accompanying. In Summers 2018 and 2019, Jake interned at the Castleman Quartet Program where he collaborated and performed with many of the festival students in addition to faculty members Csaba Erdélyi, Charles Castleman, and Tom Landschoot.

In addition to his experience as a classical pianist, Jake also plays jazz, having performed both as a solo jazz pianist and as a member of many jazz combos. While not playing the piano, Jake enjoys cooking, and devotes time to activism for various social justice causes.

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Jeanne Hourez, Pianist

West Lake Location

Jeanne Hourez received her Bacherlor’s degree from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris where she studied with Frank Braley and a Master’s degree from the University of Montreal under the guidance of Professor Dang Thai Son. She is currently attending the University of Texas – Austin where she is pursuing a D.M.A. with Professor Anton Nel.

Jeanne has appeared as soloist with such orchestras as the Orchestre Symphonique de Cannes, the Orchestre Symphonique Azuréen and the Orchestre Philharmonique des Musiciens de Montréal. She also performed numerous recitals in Europe, North America and Asia. Awards have included three Gold Prizes at the London Young Musician Competition (2021, United Kingdom), the 5th Prize of Harmonium OnlinePlus International Music Competition (2020, Armenia), the 4th Prize at the Krystian Tkaczewski International Piano Competition (2020, USA/Poland), the Grand Prize and the Public Prize at the International Piano Competition Alain Marinaro (2015, France).

An active chamber musician, Jeanne co-founded the Ensemble Benzaiten, the repertoire of which uniquely includes the mandolin and emphasises this rare instrument. In June 2018, the ensemble released a recording dedicated to Franz Schubert and Julie Thériault, a Canadian composer. They performed at the French National Radio France Musique as well as performing in several European countries and North America.

As an educator, Jeanne has been teaching for twelve years to students age four to adult. She loves sharing her passion for music as she believes music should be accessible to everyone. Jeanne loves to be creative and to adapt to each student in a unique way.

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Tzu-Chin Hsu, Theory and Composition

West Lake Location

Tzu-Chin Hsu is a Taiwanese composer whose works draw inspiration from her homeland, social interactions, and the cultivation of meaningful connections. She has been a composition fellow at the Albany Symphony Composer Workshop and the Talis Music Festival.

Tzu-Chin’s compositions have been performed in prestigious venues by leading ensembles, including Carnegie Hall, Taiwan National Concert Hall, Singapore Esplanade Recital Studio, the BBC Singers, Butler Opera Center, HANATSUmiroir, Quince Ensemble, Soundinitiative, and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra. Her music has received numerous accolades, such as first prize at the Lisker Music Foundation Composition Challenge and second prize in the Taiwan National Music Competition.

She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Music from the Peabody Institute, and a Bachelor of Music from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Currently residing in Austin, Texas, she lives with her partner and their cats, Mochi and Creamsicle.

Visit her website to listen to her music: composertzuchin.com.

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Seonju Jo, Pianist

Southwest Location

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Timothy Jones, Pianist

West Lake Location

As a passionate and experienced piano teacher, Timothy Jones brings a deep love for music and teaching experience since 2016 to Clavier-Werke School of Music. With a strong foundation in classical piano, Timothy believes in nurturing each student’s individual musicality while fostering technical skills and an understanding of theory.

Timothy holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin, where they honed their performance skills. Dedicated to creating a fun and engaging learning environment, Timothy tailors lessons to suit each student’s age, skill level, and personal musical goals; whether they are just beginning their piano journey or preparing for advanced performances and competitions.

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Felicia Kim, Pianist and Collaborative Artist in Residence

Southwest Location

Felicia Kim holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Maryland at College Park and M.M. and B.M. in Piano Performance from Baylor University in Texas (Pi Kappa Lambda).  She has studied with Larissa Dedova, Krassimira Jordan, Andre Watts and Young Hi Moon. She worked with Guaneri String Quartet, YoYo Ma, Josheph Gingold and Rita Sloan for chamber music.

As a soloist and collaborative pianist Ms. Kim played throughout the United States including Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Louisiana and Texas.  She performed at the Bösendorfer International music Festival in Vienna, Austria and Bathurst, Canada.  Ms. Kim received recognition from national as well as international competitions including: Russell Wonderick Piano Competition, New Orleans International competition, Alabama International competition, Baylor University Piano Competition, etc.

Ms. Kim served as collaborative pianist at Sam Houston State University. She has taught piano for 20 years in a variety of teaching setting.  She believes the best teachers tailor their teaching to the needs of the individual student, rather than being welded in all respects to a single approach.

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Daniel Kopp, Cellist

West Lake Location

Cellist Daniel Kopp is an active performer and educator in the Austin area. As co-founder and artistic director of Austin Camerata, he performs collaborations of chamber music, dance, storytelling across the city.  As an educator, Daniel is on faculty at Clavier-Werke School of Music, Austin Chamber Music Center, and the University of Texas String Project. Outside of Texas, Daniel has had the pleasure of performing at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, Aspen, Kneisel Hall, and Orchestra Hall of Minneapolis. Highlights include performances as principal cellist of the New York String Orchestra Seminar and the Colorado College Summer Festival. Daniel graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in cello performance from Rice University, and Masters Degree in cello performance from the University of Texas in Austin. His principal teachers were Norman Fischer, Bion Tsang, and Cathie Lehr.

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Dmitriy Krasny, Pianist

Southwest Location

Dmitriy Krasny was born near Tashkent, Uzbekistan, USSR, and immigrated with his family to the US at age seven. He began piano studies at age eleven with Miron Galperin, going on to study with Eva Zinger and Michael Salmirs. He completed a dual Bachelor’s degree in Recording and Piano Performance at the Peabody Conservatory, studying piano with Alexander Shtarkman. He has since appeared on WQXR radio in New York, detailing his endeavor to visit every street piano in the city in the summer of 2010, and to present a one hour special on the music of Alexander Scriabin in January, 2011. He has also spent over a decade in the wine industry in New York as a wine consultant and Sommelier.

In addition to his work in wine and music, Dmitriy is a competitive runner (though most of the time, his main competition is himself), with numerous marathons, half-marathons and a handful of more unusual races (such as the Mount Washington road race) to his credit. He feels that music and sport are both powerful mediums for self-expression, and that the parallels don’t stop there. Only a select few will rise to the top of their sport, but many will experience joy and meaningful growth by engaging in it. So too in music – perhaps only a select few will go on to win competitions, but, in Dmitriy’s view, everyone who genuinely loves music will have something meaningful and unique to contribute through their music making. He looks forward to sharing his love of Classical Music with his students.

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Lan Kratzke, Pianist

West Lake Location

Lan Kratzke first took an interest in music as a child.  She studied beginning piano and violin in elementary school and played the cello in her high school orchestra.  She began her college studies as a piano student of Dr. Ray Luck on a Trustee Scholarship at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, where she soon became their music theory and ear training tutor and earned the Departmental Prize in Music.

When her professor retired, she transferred to The University of Texas at Austin and earned a Gilbert Scholarship.  She taught piano through the UT piano project headed by Sophia Gilmson and finished her BM in piano performance in 2005 under the direction of Dr. Betty Mallard.

From Austin, she moved to Oxford, Ohio to attend Miami University with a graduate assistantship, and earned an MM in piano performance in 2007 studying under Dr. Siok Lian Tan.  At Miami, she taught two college courses in piano for non-pianist music majors, accompanied several string and vocal students, and performed with the Miami University Graduate Piano Trio.  In addition to her graduate studies, she held a regular church job, taught private lessons, and accompanied the Adams Elementary Choirs, the Talawanda High School Choirs, and the Oxford Choral Ensemble.  She earned the MTNA Student Achievement Recognition Award and was recognized as a winner of the Miami University Concerto Competition.  As an independent project related to her MM research in temperament, she built a clavichord.

After graduating, Lan became certified in the Music for Young Children program and worked at the West Chester Academy of Music as a private and group piano instructor for a few years.  She then moved back to Austin, where she resumed teaching piano at Clavier-Werke School of Music, started playing for Koenig Lane Christian Church, and occasionally judged various ADMTA festivals.

In 2011, she began working at Mollberg Piano Restoration in Blanco, TX.  Though she loves shop work, she closed that chapter when she became a mom in 2013.  In 2021, she opened her own home bakery.  The following year, she debuted her first composition, a song cycle for alto and piano, with Rebecca Frazier-Smith.  She currently performs as a member of the Austin Civic Orchestra and specializes in teaching adult piano students.  She adores her two children, Drakeson and Millicent, who study piano with director Susan Allen.

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Aaron Kurz, Pianist

West Lake Location

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Karli Leal, Violist and Violinist

Both Locations

Originally from California, Karli Leal began her musical education in high school under a wide variety of Russian and Eastern European violin and viola teachers, participating in statewide CMEA competitions and the National High School Honors Orchestra inColumbus, OH while also serving as a section violist in the Tulare County Symphony. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she received her BM in Viola Performance with Professor Roger Myers. Karli continued her studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, completing her Masters in Music Performance with professors Masao Kawasaki and Dr. Catharine Carroll.

Since 2004 Karli has played in both the United States and across Europe in numerous international music festivals, and played in a variety of ensembles over the years. Her diverse background allows her to connect on multiple levels with her students and determine what pace is best for each individual.

She loves to share her enthusiasm for playing string instruments with a wide variety of ages, and advocates the fusion of classical music with rock, heavy metal and other popular genres. With her students she ensures that all aspects of music education are brought together, so that the function of music theory, music history and technique can be applied to the performance side of playing. Through this she hopes that all her students gain knowledge of and appreciation for classical music that stays with them, no matter what direction their life may take.

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Chanwoo Lee, Pianist

West Lake Location

 Chanwoo Lee is an accomplished pianist and dedicated music educator currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance at The University of Texas at Austin. He holds the prestigious Renner Endowed Presidential Scholarship and the Wayne L. Catching Endowed Scholarship, studying under the guidance of Gregory Allen. Chanwoo’s academic journey is marked by exceptional achievements, including a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University Bloomington, where he was mentored by Roberto Plano, and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Seoul, graduating Cum Laude under the tutelage of Namhee Lim. 

Throughout his academic career, Chanwoo has been recognized for his musical talent and academic excellence, receiving numerous scholarships and awards. His competitive spirit has led him to win various prizes in esteemed piano competitions, such as the F. Liszt Center International Piano Competition, the Millersville International Piano Competition, and the Hochimin International Piano Competition. 

Chanwoo’s performance portfolio is extensive, featuring solo recitals, chamber recitals, and concerto performances across the United States and South Korea. Notable performances include the Rising Star Concert organized by the Piano Society of Korea. His collaborative performances with renowned musicians and orchestras further highlight his versatility and passion for ensemble work. 

In addition to his performance career, Chanwoo is a passionate and dedicated teacher. He has served as a PIA201 Course Instructor and Piano Project Instructor at The University of Texas at Austin, where he also contributed as a vocal accompanist. His commitment to nurturing young talent is evident in his roles as a jury member for the ADMTA Romantic & Contemporary Festival and the Baroque & Classical Festival. 

Beyond his professional pursuits, Chanwoo enjoys engaging in personal hobbies such as attending live concerts, participating in community music events, and going to the gym. He believes in the transformative power of music education and is committed to inspiring his students to achieve their fullest potential.

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Michael Lenahan, Pianist

West Lake Location

Michael Lenahan is a pianist originally from Toledo, Ohio. Michael received his Bachelors of Music from The Juilliard School where he studied with Jerome Lowenthal, and his Masters of Music from Rice University, studying with Robert Roux. He is currently studying in the Artist Diploma program at The University of Texas at Austin with Anton Nel. Other teachers include Robert Satterlee and Logan Skelton.

Michael has over a decade of teaching experience and has had over 100 private students across his lifetime. His past positions have included piano faculty at Juilliard’s Music Advancement Program in New York City, Brazosport Community College in Lake Jackson TX, and the Moosic School and AWTY International School in Houston TX. Michael served as a Teaching Fellow at the Juilliard School teaching both Ear Training and Secondary Piano. Michael served as collaborative pianist for the Shepherd School of Music Preparatory Program at Rice University.

Lenahan has won prizes in the Toledo Symphony Young Artists Concerto Competition, the International Zimmerli Piano Competition, the Toledo Youth Orchestra Concerto Competition, the Graves Piano Competition, Art of the Piano Enlight Scholarship, and in the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition. He was selected as a young artist in Houston’s Da Camera organization and regularly performed all over the Houston area. He was chosen as a member of the Shepherd Piano Trio to perform concerts in Germany as part of an exchange program between Rice University and the HMT in Leipzig.

Michael loves to cook, swim, play scrabble, and sing karaoke (poorly).

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David Lester, Guitarist

West Lake Location

David Lester is a guitar performer and teacher in the Austin area. He holds a Master of Music in Music Theory and Classical Guitar Performance from Texas State University and a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. David has studied under notable guitarists Philip Hii, Mark Cruz, and Chad Ibison. A native Texan, David has performed around the Victoria, Corpus Christi, and Austin area for private and public events since 2007. Such performances include: guest artist for the Corpus Christi Lichenstein Quartet, a solo recital for the Portland Concerts Across the Bay series, in-house guitarist for the Corpus Christi Aurora Arts Theatre (Cabaret, Rocky Horror Show, and Footloose), and guest artist for Austin’s SoCo Women’s Chorus.

David began teaching guitar in 2008 and has taught at his own private studio, Victoria College, and Texas State University. Through the course of his teaching, it is his goal to instill in his students the competency to utilize the guitar as a means for their artistic expression. Students who follow his teaching will not only learn to hear music as a form of expression, but will also learn to be proficient enough with a guitar to treat it as one.

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Yvonne Ma, Violinist

West Lake Location

Wai Shan (Yvonne) Ma, is a Hong Kong violinist who currently working as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher in the United States and Hong Kong.

As a committed chamber and orchestral musician, Ms. Ma regularly performed in Indiana Orchestra in the past as well as different chamber groups currently. She also enjoys doing community performances and has performed regularly in churches and retirement communities.

Ms. Ma is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Performance degree at The University of Texas at Austin under the studio of Professor Sandy Yamamoto. She finished her Master of Music performance degree at Indiana University under the tutelage of Kevork Mardirossian. Under the guidance of Professor Marilyn McDonald at Oberlin Conservatory, she pursued her undergraduate Violin Performance Degree. During her time at Oberlin Conservatory, she was honored as a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship and College Grant.

Ms. Ma has been teaching violin lessons since 2017 and has been playing for twenty years. 

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Kristine Mazziotti, Theory and Vocalist

West Lake Location

Kristine Mazziotti is a mezzo-soprano in Austin, Texas. She holds a Master of Music and a Bachelor of Music, both specializing in Vocal Performance at The Sarah & Ernest Butler School of Music within The University of Texas at Austin. During her undergraduate, she earned a minor in Educational Psychology and University Honors. Kristine began her private studies in voice and piano at age seven, which facilitated her acceptance at The Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in her hometown of Houston, Texas. Kristine has mastered vocal technique and pedagogy, with extensive training and experience in English, French, German, and Italian diction. She has twenty-three credit hours in music theory, including Analytical Techniques, Structure of Tonal Music, 20^th Century Musical Analysis, Ear Training & Sight-singing, and Musicianship. Kristine has sung with The Houston Grand Opera, The Houston Symphony, and studied abroad in Angers, France, at the Franco-American Vocal Academy (now the William Lewis School of Opera). Additionally, Kristine teaches private vocal lessons and was a camp counselor in Houston Grand Opera’s Art of Opera Camp and at UT’s Longhorn Music Camp. Outside of music, Kristine loves to cook, practice yoga, and other activities the beautiful city of Austin has to offer. With her education and experience, Kristine will continue to give back to the music community through teaching and performance.

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Giovanni Mera, Guitarist

Southwest Location

Giovanni Mera was born in New York City, and started playing the guitar when he was 8 years old. He holds a guitar performance Degree from the Crane School of Music, where he studied with Dr. Douglas Rubio and Dr. Lynn Mcgrath. While at The Crane School of Music Giovanni studied abroad in Madrid, Spain where he supplemented his musical studies under guitarist Astur Kirichian. He graduated with honors in 2007. In 2011 Mr. Mera received his Master of Music Degree in Classical Guitar from the University of Texas at Austin, under Professor Adam Holzman. He has had master classes with William Kanengiser, David Tannenbaum, Dr. Andrew Zohn, Bruce Holzman, The Miro Quartet and DuoMelis. Mr. Mera is currently residing in Austin, Texas where he has been teaching for over 10 years.

Mr. Mera is closely associated with the Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra programs. He has prepared multiple students for entry into the ensembles and the UT Guitar Project. Giovanni is at home teaching all styles of guitar ranging from classical to electric. He is a passionate educator and seeks to bring out the best in all of his students.

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John Mercurio, Theory Director and Composition

West Lake Location

John Mercurio is a teacher and writer based in the Austin area. He received a degree in music theory from the Eastman School of Music and a master’s in composition from NYU.

For over twenty years, he has been a professional composer and lyricist. His musical theater work has been produced at regional and community theatres and high schools around the country. His musical Academy inspired by Goethe’s Faust, was presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival where it won the DIMF Award, honoring it with a production in South Korea where it won the award for Best Musical. His musical Glimpses of the Moon premiered at the Algonquin Hotel in NYC and is available for licensing through Concord Theatricals. John has received awards from the Jonathan Larson Musical Theatre Foundation, the Gilman-Gonzalez Foundation, the O’Neill Musical Theater Conference (Holof Award for Lyric Writing) and from ASCAP (the Cole Porter Award for music and lyrics.) Recordings for Glimpses of the Moon and his youth musical, Through the Looking Glass are available on iTunes.

In addition to the theatre, John has written music for chamber orchestra, the ballet and most recently, three circuses. When he’s not teaching and writing, John enjoys volunteering at Austin Pets Alive, fostering kittens, drawing cartoons, oh, and knitting. www.johnmercurio.com

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Rhiannon O’Brien, Vocalist

Southwest Location

Ms. Rhiannon O’Brien holds a BA in Vocal Performance from Texas State University, focusing primarily on classical and operatic voice. Throughout her undergraduate career, Rhiannon performed extensively, participating in, and performing principal roles in summer opera programs through Lone Star College-Kingwood, and in several of the operas held at Texas State University including the role of Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Beatriz in Rewritten, and Atalanta in Xerxes.

Directly after receiving her degree, Rhiannon traveled and studied in Novafeltria, Italy with La Musica Lirica, where she performed in the role of una novizia in Suor Angelica and the chorus of La Boheme. Following this program, Rhiannon traveled to Chicago where she performed the role of Queen of the Night in a production of Die Zaubeflüte at a vocal intensive program at Northwestern University.

Since these programs, Ms. Rhiannon performed with the San Antonio Chamber Choir for their 2023-24 season and has put her primary focus on her students as she goes into her fourth year of teaching

Rhiannon’s teaching philosophy centers around healthy and emotive singing. By building a strong foundation and connection to the voice, a singer can strengthen their confidence and understanding of their instrument. A major philosophy for Rhiannon also includes loving your art and having fun when crafting it. Her goal is to create an environment that not only structures the voice, but is inclusive, understanding, and fun for all her students.

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Maria Parrini, Pianist

West Lake Location

Pianist Maria Parrini has performed over one thousand concerts of chamber and solo music as part of the Lincoln Center Stage Quintet onboard Holland America cruise ships. Maria enjoys an immersive life in music through free improvisation, historical performance, and multidisciplinary collaboration. Recently she commissioned “UMI” by Amane Sakaguchi and “forgotten music” by Isaiah Saranow, and premiered these works on the 2024 Pan Harmonia concert series in the Carolinas; in 2023 she also made her harpsichord debut with Virtuosi String Ensemble in Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Top prizes include the Atlanta Music Club Graduate Piano Award, Thousand Islands International Competition, the Darius Milhaud Performance Prize at the Cleveland Institute of Music, and concerto competitions of Brevard Music Center, Clemson University, and Columbus State University. An alum of Kneisel Hall Chamber Music and the Atlantic Music Festival Contemporary Ensemble, she has performed in masterclasses for legendary teachers such as Natalya Antonova, Matti Raekallio, and Sergei Babayan. Maria holds degrees in piano performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, and will begin DMA coursework and a teaching assistantship with Anton Nel at U.T. Austin- Butler School of Music in Fall 2024.

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Sean Riley, Violinist

West Lake Location

Violinist Sean Riley maintains a career throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as a performer, entrepreneur and educator. As a solo artist he was given the honor to perform for Charles, the Prince of Wales at his 65th birthday celebration and the Sultan of Oman in a special evening performance in London.

Sean’s interest in innovative methods of communication has led him to creating performance programs with social media at the Royal College of Music, using Critical Response Process to teach communication and leadership at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and winning an innovation grant to 3D print a six-string electric violin to perform John Adam’s The Dharma at Big Sur. These entrepreneurial practices have led him to a professorship at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire in London.

Sean holds both Bachelors and Masters Degrees in violin performance from The Juilliard School as well as an artist diploma and Master in Philosophy on the subject of performance training and peer communication in higher music education from the Royal College of Music, London. His teachers have included Radu Blidar, Kyung-Wha Chung, Hyo Kang, Roland and Almita Vamos and Brian Lewis. Sean the recipient of the Williamson Foundation of Music annual grant, Rayne Foundation grant, Donald Paterson Award and the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal and the Rainwater Innovation Grant.

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Micah Rosenstein, Theory and Composition

Southwest Location

Micah Rosenstein (b. 2001) received his Bachelor of Music-Composition degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio (2023), where he studied both business administration and the pursuit of a multifaceted compositional career in educational band and advanced-ensemble literature, as well as a career in teaching for higher education.

He has held positions as a lead graphic designer for the marketing team at the UTSA School of Music, teaching assistant and music theory tutor of their UTSA School of Music theory-area, beginning band mentor in low brass and arranger of their newly-formed public-outreach program UTSA ‘On-Corps’, as well as various professional experiences in music marketing through both Opera San Antonio and Alamo Music Center. He has won multiple awards for his craft, and as a first-generation undergraduate student presented curated research on relevant applications of public music theory pedagogy at Music Theory Pedagogy Into Practice 2022 Conference (East Lansing, MI) and Texas Society for Music 2023 Annual Conference (Kingsville, TX).

Micah Rosenstein currently resides in Austin, TX, where he is Music Theory Lab Instructor of Clavier-Werke School of Music South, and is obtaining a Master of Music (Composition) degree at The University of Texas at Austin (2026).

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Kimberly Sandoval, Vocalist

West Lake Location

Kimberly Sandoval, from McAllen Texas, is a graduate from Texas State University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Studies and a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance.  She has performed such roles as Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mother Marie from Dialogues of the Carmelites, Dido in Dido and Aneas, and premiered the title role of the newly commissioned opera Lady Bird, First Lady of the Land, which premiered in the Spring of 2016.  Ms. Sandoval also performed 2nd Lady from The Magic Flute with Landesbühnen Sachsen Opera Company during their 2016 season in Germany. Branching outside opera, she worked with the Texas State Chorale where she sang as a member and as a soloist – performing and premiering works such as Peterson’s Shadows and Lights, Bach’s Magnificat and Bernstein’s Songfest – working in conjunction with Texas State University’s biannual Art Song Symposium.  Ms. Sandoval has worked with students from K-12 at schools such as Boone Elementary, Dahlstrom Middle School, and Weiss High School. She worked as a clinician and adjudicator at local and regional choir festivals, and she was an active mentor working with young choirs and vocalists at Texas State Choir Camp and in other festivals such as the Tejada All-Star festival.

Ms. Sandoval’s teaching goals are to build a healthy vocal approach to singing and a solid foundation in breath support. Learning to sing is a journey of enjoyment, and she wants to help her students discover themselves through music. “Relax, breathe, love and enjoy the process,” is what she lives by.

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Kelsey Sexton, Cellist

Southwest Location

Kelsey Sexton has lived in the Austin area since the fall of 2021 but has been teaching cello since 2014. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and holds a M.M. in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, as well as a M.M. in Cello Performance from Texas State University. Her primary teachers include Mira Frisch, Wesley Baldwin, and Karla Hamelin. An active performer in the Austin and San Antonio communities, Kelsey currently subs with the Mid-Texas Symphony, Central Texas Philharmonic and the San Antonio Philharmonic. She also serves on faculty as the Adjunct Professor of Cello at Concordia University Texas.

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Ellen Sirower, Pianist

West Lake Location

Pianist Ellen Sirower is a versatile soloist, chamber musician, scholar, and educator currently based in Austin, Texas. She has made concert appearances at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Manhattan School of Music, Colorado State University, Steinway Hall, Hill Auditorium, and New York’s Tenri Cultural Center. She was a gold medalist in the 2019 International Keyboard Odyssiad Competition, and was a finalist in the University of Michigan Undergraduate Concerto Competition with Liszt’s Totentanz. Ellen has been selected as a performer in numerous notable festivals, such as the Bowdoin International Music Festival, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, the Classical Music Institute, and the PianoTexas International Festival and Academy.

Ellen has devoted much of her time presenting and performing accessible classical music with a focus on music by living composers. She has collaborated with members of the Fifth House Ensemble, the Boston-based Callithumpian Consort, and the Talea Ensemble. Ellen currently performs with UT Austin’s acclaimed New Music Ensemble and the Austin-based SoundMap Ensemble, led by Januibe Tejera .

Ellen graduated with high honors from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor with bachelor’s degrees in piano performance and philosophy. Her primary teacher was Amy I-Lin Cheng. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music, where she also completed her master’s degree. She studies under Gregory Allen and works as a keyboard Teaching Assistant; Ellen teaches secondary private students and group piano for music majors in addition to being the administrative coordinator and theory teacher for the Piano Project—UT’s pre-college piano program for children aged 6-12. Ellen also maintains a small studio of pre-college students at the Clavier-Werke School of Music.

Energized by her teaching experience and philosophical education, Ellen pursues research in the intersection between philosophy and piano pedagogy. Her interests lie particularly in how topics in aesthetics and philosophy of language, in practice, can facilitate effective and informed teaching with regards to performance practice, interpretation, and expressivity at every level. Current research projects include papers on musical ekphrasis, metaphor, and expression, along with her dissertation research on aesthetic responsibility and empathy in musical interpretation. Her published work can be found in Piano Magazine and American Music Teacher. Ellen has recently presented her scholarly work at various distinguished academic conferences in both music and philosophy.

Ellen is also the founder of Musical Philosophers—a Philosophy for Children program at the University of Texas (UT) Elementary School that specifically focuses on the philosophy of music. The program is currently integrated with the fifth grade music curriculum at UT Elementary, and is funded in full by PLATO (Philosophy Learning and Teaching Organization).

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Kirsten Townander, Theory and Flute

West Lake Location

Kirsten Townander is a passionate educator, composer, and flautist. Originally from the Chicago area, she moved to Austin in 2024 to pursue a Master of Music in Composition (M.M.) from the University of Texas at Austin, where she is studying with Donald Grantham. She previously earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.), Bachelor of Music Composition (B.M.), and Bachelor of Flute Performance (B.M.) from Illinois State University, where she studied flute with Kimberly Risinger and composition with Roger Zare, Carl Schimmel, Roy Magnuson, and Alex Stephenson.

Music has always been central to Kirsten’s life. Growing up, she took piano lessons, sang in church choir, played flute and percussion in school band, and enjoyed being involved with annual concerts in her family’s backyard. She also participated in many years of dance classes and musical theatre productions. Kirsten credits this diverse array of artistic experiences as the foundation for her musical endeavors today—whether she is teaching, writing, or performing! This deeply-rooted appreciation for the fine arts is what has led her to teaching, as she seeks to inspire others to discover what music can mean for them and to advocate for the importance of creativity and childlike curiosity in all that we do.

Prior to her position as a Music Theory Lab Instructor, Kirsten’s teaching experiences have included giving private flute lessons, assisting with Quinlan and Fabish instrument try-out events, working as a member of the support staff for the National Seminario at the Ravinia Festival, and serving as a student teacher in high school and middle school band and general music classrooms. She loves working with students of all ages and is honored to be a part of the team at Clavier-Werke School of Music’s West Lake location!

Apart from music, Kirsten loves to read, bake chocolate-heavy desserts, meet people’s dogs, and explore the great outdoors!

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Andres Vargas, Pianist, Director of Piano Studies

Both Locations

Andres Vargas was born in Chile, where he began his piano studies at the age of 3. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Piano Performance from the Universidad Austral de Chile where he studied with Ximena Cabello. In 2004, he became a private student of Krassimira Jordan, artist-in-residence at Baylor University. In the fall of 2008, Andres relocated to the United States in order to pursue a Masters Degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance at Baylor University. He has performed in several cities in Chile, as well as Europe, and the USA.

Prior to coming to the US, Andres taught in two Chilean music Conservatories. He has been teaching piano as a private teacher for more than twenty years. Andres is currently a piano teacher and also the director of the Early Childhood Program at Clavier-Werke school of Music in Austin.  As a teacher he enjoys having fun with his students and likes to communicate to them his love for music. Andres is fluent in English, Spanish and German.

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Tsz To Wong, Cellist

West Lake Location

Born and raised in Hong Kong, cellist Tsz To Wong is one of the rising- stars in his generation. As the recipient of the Asian Cultural Council Hong Kong Arts Circle Fellowship and the Ohio Federation of Music Clubs Music Scholarship, Tsz To is also awarded the Gold Prize of the Cleveland Cello Society Competition, First Place of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition, and the second runner-up in the Getting to Carnegie Cello Competition in New York.

With generous support from the James and Caroline Taylor Fellowship, Tsz To returned to Tanglewood Music Center this past summer as an instrumental fellow, working and performing with leading musicians including Yo-Yo Ma, Andris Nelsons, Emanuel Ax, Astrid Schween, and Sibbi Bernhardsson. Tsz To is currently the Teaching Assistant of Bion Tsang at the University of Texas at Austin. He holds a Master degree in Suzuki Pedagogy and Cello Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Mark Kosower, and a Master degree in Cello Performance from Rice University under the tutelage of Norman Fischer. Tsz To is a fully-trained Suzuki cello teacher. He has registered training of Cello Unit 1-10 and Every Child Can! with the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has been teaching privately since 2010. Outside of his musical life, Tsz To also follow NBA basketball diligently.

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Chloe Yofan, Violinist

West Lake Location

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Chloe Yofan is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Violin Performance at the University of Texas at Austin while serving as the Teaching Assistant to Sandy Yamamoto. Chloe received her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music under Oleh Krysa. She also earned a Certificate of Achievement in Chamber Music from Eastman and a minor in Journalism from the University of Rochester. In 2023, Chloe received the Peter Salaff Award for Excellence in Chamber Music and was inducted into the Society of Pi Kappa Lambda. During her time at Eastman, Chloe held principal positions of the Eastman Philharmonia, including performing as concertmaster for their 2022 performance of Strauss’s Ein Heldenleben.

Chloe is a Suzuki certified teacher with training in Violin Book 1 and the Every Child Can! course. She enjoys working with students of all ages and connecting with members of her community through music. In April of 2023, Chloe’s string quartet at Eastman commissioned two pieces by composer Clayton Trumbull based on children’s novels, with funding from Eastman’s Institute for Music Leadership Mentorship Grant. The quartet also designed a month-long educational project and interactive performance in collaboration with students at the Children’s School of Rochester No. 15 and the Rochester Public Library.

Since moving to Texas in 2023, Chloe has performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and San Antonio Philharmonic as a substitute violinist. In September 2024, Chloe will perform alongside UT faculty members Sandy Yamamoto, Daniel Ching, and Bion Tsang as part of the Sandy Yamamoto and Friends concert series.  In the summers, Chloe has attended festivals such as the Green Mountain Chamber Music Institute, Encore Chamber Music Institute, and the Aspen Music Festival and School, where she was a Violin Fellow. Outside of music, Chloe enjoys hiking, reading, and playing with her fluffy cat, Nadia.