Our INSTRUCTORS

Dominic Brancazio is a private lesson teacher in horn currently in Morgantown, West Virginia. Mr. Brancazio recently completed an orchestral fellowship from the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, Florida, and was a freelancer throughout North Carolina performing as a substitute musician with orchestras such as the North Carolina Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle. As a private lesson teacher, he has experience teaching students of all ages and was also recently a guest horn instructor to students of the Iberacademy in Medellín, Colombia.

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Originally from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Mr. Brancazio began studying horn with Andrew McAfee, former Principal Horn of the North Carolina Symphony. He then received a Bachelor of Music degree in 2014 from the New England Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Jason Snider and Richard Sebring of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He completed his formal education in 2016 by receiving a Master of Music degree studying with Denise Tryon, former 4th Horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra, at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he was awarded the Harold Randolph Prize in Performance.

Clare Cooper is currently teaching private cello and beginning violin lessons at her studio in Frostburg, MD and in Oakland, MD. She received a BA in Music from California State University, Northridge, California and was a freelance cellist in Southern California for 10 years. After returning to the Cumberland area, she worked at Salem Children's Trust until retiring in 2012. During that time she continued to teach cello and attended Suzuki teacher training institute at Catholic University and with Alice Vierra in Virginia. Clare enjoys teaching students as young as 3 years old through adults.

Sierra Fairbanks is a graduate of Elizabethtown College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in music education. She recently completed her Master’s in Orchestral Conducting degree at Messiah College. Sierra’s primary instrument of study was flute but she has taken private lessons on saxophone, piano, and cello. Sierra is currently employed by the Allegany County Public School District and teaches orchestra to grades 4-8 at West Side, Cresaptown, Cash Valley and Park Side Elementaries, as well as Braddock Middle School. Sierra is qualified to teach beginning saxophone as well as violin and viola, cello, flute and piano. As well as being employed with the school district, Sierra is the director of the Cumberland Music Academy. 

Kailee Heinecke is a graduate from Interlochen Arts Academy and The University of Memphis with a degree in violin performance. She has performed as concertmistress or assistant principal with orchestras in Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, and soloed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in 2020. She has teaching experiences in both Illinois, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Sammy Holloman, originally from Toledo, Ohio, graduated with honors from The University of Kansas with a Master of Music in Flute Performance in May 2020. She received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Kent State University (magna cum laude) in 2015. Sammy spent several years engaged as an active freelance musician and teacher in Ohio. In addition to teaching a full-sized studio, she helped run an after-school chamber music program at Nordonia High School and was on staff for their competitive Bands of America show band. Sammy has spent her summers performing in music festivals and flute workshops such as: The Art of Beatboxing, Passion Flute, and the Sessione Senese Per La Musica (SSMA) Festival. Sammy will begin her Doctorate of Music in Flute Performance in Fall 2020 at West Virginia University where she will study with Nina Assimakopoulos. She hopes to one day become a studio professor at the collegiate level where she can pursue her dream of teaching future music educators. 

David Humbertson is currently a freelance trombonist and educator in Nashville, TN and a member of the Nouveau Bones. David is originally from Cumberland, MD where he attended Fort Hill High School. David is a graduate of Alderson Broaddus University where he received his bachelor’s degrees in Music Performance, Musical Arts, and Music Education. He is also a recent graduate from Shenandoah Conservatory where he graduated with his Masters in Music Performance. While at Shenandoah David was a member of the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Shenandoah Trombone Collective. David has performed at a variety of settings such as at the American Trombone Workshop, the Mid-Atlantic Trombone Alliance, and on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center.

Past high lights of David’s career include being the Second trombonist of the Loudoun Symphony Orchestra for their 2019 – 2020 season and was a pit musician in the 2019 season of Shenandoah Summer Music Theater. He has also been a guest musician with the Brass Band of Northern Virginia and the Saturday Morning Brass Project. David has been a guest artist and clinician in a variety of events. He was a Guest Artist at the 2019 Shepherd Trombone Workshop and Part of the Staff for the 2019 National Jazz Workshop. David also has a diverse teaching background. He was the brass instructor for the Patriot High School Marching Band in 2018 and 2019 as well as a clinician for many schools across Virginia all while balancing his students in his private studio. David has studied trombone with Brian Plitnik, Timothy DeWitt, Val Huffman, and Matthew Niess.

Byrne Klay is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in electric and upright bass, guitar, and clawhammer banjo. He has been playing music professionally since he was 16 growing up in Westchester county NY, where he held multiple regular gigs playing upright bass with theater companies and gigs with local rock/jazz bands. He studied upright bass at the Westchester Conservatory in White Plains, NY, Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and New School in New York City, studying under Vishnu Woode, Cecil McBee, and Reggie Workman. He has strong grounding in music theory and different styles of music.

While in NYC he was a regular pit performer with off broadway theater companies and different bands. In 2002 he joined avant garde punk band Dynamite Club with whom he did multiple tours in Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Europe, and the United States. He also co-founded surf and spy band ThisSpySurfs with Todd Colburn and held a monthly digital theatrical residency at The Sideshow Art Gallery in Williamsburg Brooklyn from 2002-2006, also touring the UK. In 2006 he co-founded Megan Jean and the KFB with his wife Megan Jean with whom he continues to write, release, and perform new music with. Instruction is open to all ages and abilities catering to the taste and goals of the student. Diverse styles of music, music theory, and sight reading.

Megan Jean Klay is a professional singer-songwriter and vocal coach who has been touring, releasing and teaching since 2006. She graduated cum laude with a BFA in theatre from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and was awarded the prestigious Founder's Award. There she studied voice under Dorothy Stone and began performing at clubs such as CBGB's, The Bitter End, and the Back Fence. Her band Megan Jean and the KFB has released 5 albums, performed on the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, been featured on PBS's Music Voyager, Heartland Network's More Than The Music, and performed with Shovels and Rope, Amythyst Kiah, Rayland Baxter, 10,000 Maniacs, and Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat. In 2012 they won the "On The Rise" competition at Floydfest. As a solo vocalist, she has charted on the Billboard and Americana charts for "Barnburning" by Gangstagrass, which was also featured on the 2020 Virtual Inauguration Parade. Current and former students include Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Jake Blount, touring artists Violet Bell, as well as singers of all ages and abilities. Instruction focuses on vocal production and performance coaching. She is currently teaching, performing and recording several new projects.

An enthusiastic music educator and avid performer, Emily Kuhn has enjoyed sharing music with students and listeners of all ages for more than 10 years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2015 from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and two Master’s degrees in Music Performance (Multiple Woodwind; Bassoon Literature) from Ohio University in 2018. Currently, Emily holds a Teaching Assistantship at the University of Illinois, where she is completing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Bassoon Performance. Emily regularly performs with professional chamber groups and orchestras in the Central Illinois area. Most recently, she has performed with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, the Millikin-Decatur Symphony, and the University of Illinois Doctoral Wind Quintet. Emily has honed her multiple-woodwind skills as a member of many pit orchestras throughout Ohio and Illinois.

As a teacher, Emily maintains a small studio of players ranging from beginner to advanced. She also holds faculty positions at summer music academies and camps. Her students receive lessons focusing on technical playing, musicality, and reed-making and adjusting

Cameron Layne is an avid bluegrass musician with 12 years of experience. He started playing at a young age, and has since become experienced in the Scruggs style and his own unique method of picking. He has performed for numerous events both in and out of state, including the Geauga County Fair and John Carroll University's radio station. He is heavily inspired by musicians such as Ricky Skoggs, Roy Clark and Ron Block. Cameron has been teaching private lessons for five years, and he hopes to continue to pass on what he's learned to the next generation of players!

Emma Locarnini is a four-year clarinet student of Dr. John Weigand, and is studying Music Performance and Medical Laboratory Science. Prior to college, she studied with David Drosinos, who is the current Professor of Clarinet at Shepherd University and Peabody Prep. Emma was part of the West Virginia All State Band three times in high school and attended numerous honor bands. She also has taken Alexander Technique classes, which helps musicians use their bodies in the most efficient and non-damaging way while playing. She hopes to instill a love of music into young musicians and help more mature musicians prepare for college and serious auditions. 

Multi-instrumentalist Jody Mosser performs regularly with local group Grand Ole’ Ditch, stretching across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast and has taught guitar, mandolin, dobro and bass as a day job for 11 years. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Park and Recreation Management, with a concentration in Hospitality from FSU in 2001. After spending 4 years in the industry, Jody left to teach and perform full time in 2005. Jody has since shared the stage with music greats such as Del McCoury, The Travelin’ McCourys, Joe Craven, Steve Kaufman, Johnny Stats, David Grier and Larry Keel and won 1st place in the 2013 Watermelon Park Fest Guitar Flat-Picking Competition. Along with a rigorous teaching and performance schedule, Jody also works as a live sound and studio engineer and has produced albums for local and regional artists. Jody will be teaching 16 weeks this semester.

Tanner Petri is a graduate of West Virginia University, with a degree in Music Education and a Jazz Studies minor. While at WVU, Tanner studied saxophone under Dr. Michael Ibrahim, Dr. Jared Sims, Dr. Joel Diegert, and Dr. Jeff Siegfried. Tanner was a member of the WVU Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Big Band, Basketball Pep Band, and has taken part in several jazz combos and saxophone quartets. Tanner has experience playing all 4 of the major saxophones; Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone. Since graduating from his alma mater, he has served every year as a woodwind and drill instructor for Wheeling Park High School’s Marching Band, the Pride of Ohio County. He currently teaches general music at Martinsburg North Middle School in Martinsburg, WV. In lessons, Tanner is well versed in teaching both classical and jazz style playing, although there will be crossover between the two.

Alicia Rafter, a student at West Virginia University, recently completed her Bachelor of Music in music education and minor in history, as well as a Bachelor of Music in horn performance in December of 2020. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Music in horn performance in 2021. While at WVU, she has performed with the Mountaineer Marching Band, the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Horn Choir. In addition to her studies on the modern horn, she has been studying the traditional national horn since 2018. Typical freelance performances have been for musical productions such as Titanic, Mary Poppins, and 42nd Street. Recent performances include her 2018 junior recital, 2019 senior recital, and masterclasses at the 2019 International Horn Symposium in Ghent, Belgium.

She is a four-year member of the collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education and student taught at Cheat Lake Elementary School with Mrs. Jennifer Connoley and digitally with University High School students under the direction of Mr. Mark Palmer. When not in Morgantown, she is a substitute teacher with Washington County Public Schools in western Maryland. In spring of 2019, she held the position of long-term substitute band director at Williamsport High School, where she taught the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, percussion class, guitar lab, and AP music theory. She remains on the instructional staff for the marching band. She has experience teaching grades K-12 in as small as individual to as big as large group instruction. When not creating and teaching music, Alicia enjoys knitting, reading, drinking tea, and hiking with her dog Gus (who is named after Gustav Mahler).

Kurtis Richards is a resident of Clarksburg West Virginia. He has been playing for 16 years and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Performance with a specialization in saxophone from Glenville State College. He had a successful starting career working with the West Virginia Jazz Society, and is currently working on continuing his education at Glenville for Music Education. Kurtis' areas of expertise are classical and jazz saxophone, as well as jazz improvization. He hopes to inspire the next generation of players to become life-long performers and music scholars.

Mikayla Teets is a senior Elementary Education major and Music Performance minor at West Virginia University. She has played piano for 14 years and has taken violin lessons for 5 years. She has also been a piano instructor for children in the Bruceton Mills area for 5 years. Mikayla hopes to continue doing what she is passionate about: growing a child's love for music!

Isaac Viars has been a musician for over 15 years. He received a Bachelor of Music from West Virginia Wesleyan in 2017 and a Master of Jazz Studies from North Carolina Central University in 2020. He has performed professionally with many notable musicians in the West Virginia, Pittsburgh, and Durham areas, including the Bachelor Boys wedding band, Roger Humphries Big Band, and several self-led groups. Other groups he has played with include bluegrass bands, concert band/orchestra, and choirs. In his spare time, he also likes to compose his own music.

“My goal is always to make sure my students can meet their needs no matter what music they like or level they may be. I have a big passion for music, so it’s easy for me to show my students the joy music can bring them, and I always enjoy sharing what I can with anyone who is willing to learn.”

For over 25 years, Heidi Volk has worked as a private educator in the studies of piano, clarinet, and flute in cities such as Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, and Morgantown.  She held positions as an Assistant High School Marching Band Director in school districts in Pittsburgh and Chicago. In Chicago, Heidi was the director of the music lesson program for Sam Ash Music, managing the schedules of hundreds of students and their families; as well maintaining teacher schedules and holding program recitals twice per year. She attended West Virginia University, majoring in Music Education and also holds a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Phoenix, having worked as a Nationally Certified Pharmacy Technician for 16 years.

Rob Wallace is a music education graduate from Frostburg State University, focusing on guitar performance. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education in Music with emphasis on classical guitar and performance. In April 2012, he was selected to represent the FSU music department by performing in the Honors Recital at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, and again, in November 2012, performing in the President’s Concert at Pealer Hall. He has received several awards through the FSU Foundation, including the 2011-2012 Thelma Shockley Scholarhsip, the 2011-2012 Mabel Myers Music Memorial Scholarship, the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 Marguerite Witwer Richards Scholarships, and the 2012-2013 Margaret Ager Smith Music Scholarship. Robert has taught guitar privately for six years, and taught numerous rock school groups for four years. Rob has been involved with several bands in the area, and currently plays with the Queen City Rockers.