Our Teachers

Miranda Hervey is a violinist and music teacher from Cleveland, Ohio, with a BA in Violin Performance from Berklee College of Music, MA in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University, and K-12 Music Teaching Licensure in Ohio. At Berklee, she studied classical music and fiddle, and held leadership positions in multiple orchestras. Her graduate research focused on social-emotional learning, teaching strings without notation, and the teachings of Shinichi Suzuki and Suzanne Langer. As a teacher, Miranda helps students achieve their own musical goals while providing a solid foundation in both five string viola and standard violin. She currently lives in Cleveland Heights with her partner and dog.

Inna G. Onofrei (b. 1980) is an Armenian-American composer and pianist whose music bridges lyrical expression with classical and contemporary influences. She began her musical studies in Russia, where her early compositions earned several awards. After moving to the United States in 2002, she earned her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance and Composition from Cleveland State University. As an educator with over two decades of experience, Inna is dedicated to nurturing creativity and a lifelong love of music in students of all ages and abilities. Most recently, she published a piano album for children, combining artistry and accessibility to inspire young musicians.

Ray started playing electric bass in 1968. He has since studied as an Upright Bass major at Cuyahoga Community College, taking private lessons with Harry Barnoff, principal Bassist, Cleveland Orchestra. He has played with a variety of local bands as well as national acts including Clark Terry (trumpet), Odean Pope (Sax Choir), and Johnny Johnson (pianist with Chuck Berry).

Gary Siperko is an experienced professional touring/recording guitarist and composer, with 30+ years of teaching experience. He received his Bachelor of Music from Berklee College of Music. He specializes in Contemporary and Classical Guitar, Bass Guitar, Mandolin, and Ukulele. His lessons focus on fundamentals, basic songs, music theory, chord construction, scales, solo improvisation, and sight-reading. Gary has earned a strong reputation as a live performer and teacher, and has toured/recorded with THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS, PERE UBU, and ROCKET FROM THE TOMBS. Highlights of his career include performing at the Centre Pompidou and recording live at Sun Studios.

Stuart has been teaching guitar lessons to students of all ages for over 25 years. With a thorough background in classical guitar training, his curriculum focuses on a strong foundation including learning to read music and building chord vocabulary.

Michael McNamara is a guitarist, educator, and composer, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Music/Classical Guitar Performance in 2009. He has made appearances on radio and television both locally and abroad, and works with many groups in Cleveland. More recently, Michael has been working in the pit for multiple musical productions. His recorded output is represented on the following albums: Kokolo-100 Fevers (2017), Daddy Longleg’s Homegrown Revival-Return Of The Sun (2017), Muamin Collective-Dig (2016), The Petty Thefts-Smoke and Mirrors (2011). Michael maintained a studio at the Fairmount School Of Music from 2006 until September 2020 when FSM became Musicologie.

Katherine Calvey: Flute, picc, alto flt. chamber music, music theory & recorder. Teaches: pro.(auditions), college prep, advanced, intermediate & beginner. BILINGUAL English/ Spanish. She was the principal flutist of an orchestra in Mexico & international soloist. Masters of Music -U. Michigan (full talent scholarship). Bachelors of Music - Peabody/Johns Hopkins University. She's won numerous national music competitions & performed on major stages including Carnegie Hall. Principal orchestral flutist, recitalist, master class professor & recording artist with 3 CDs. Many of her students have gone onto successful music careers. She welcomes all ages and levels of students & believes lessons should be fun for all!

Sam Hooper is a guitarist and singer-songwriter with over 30 years of teaching experience. He has taught guitar, voice, and ukulele, and also helps advise on songwriting and performance skills. He has been a teaching artist with Roots of American Music and Fatima Family Center since 2016. He has released five CDs and has performed around the world, and his songs have been featured on popular TV shows. He won the 2018 Northeast Ohio Blues Association Blues Challenge and was a semifinalist in the 2019 International Blues Challenge. Sam enjoys teaching students of all ages and tailors his lesson plans to their goals.

Bryan Daly is a passionate music teacher from Cleveland with an impressive educational background. He has been teaching piano, trombone, and voice for six years, and believes that everyone has the capacity to make music. He has degrees from Ohio University and Lakeland Community College, and is currently enrolled in courses at Case Western Reserve University. He has a focus on classical education, but encourages discussions into music theory, jazz, and pop music. He is a NATS qualifier from the Ohio state-level competition and the winner of the Great Lakes regional NATS competition in 2015. He loves helping others discover the joys of music and how it can enrich their lives.

A graduate of Cleveland State University and a drummer since the age of seven, Owen teaches not only technique and theory, but also the enjoyment of music and the drum set to his students. He has an endless passion for the instrument and does his best to inspire students at any age to learn and find new ways to be creative. He has a fun based approach to learning and can teach a wide variety of styles from classical snare drumming to jazz, pop, and even hard rock and metal. Owen can be found performing all over Northeast Ohio and has performed on his instrument as far away as Los Angeles, California.

Lauren Giles is an easy-going music teacher based in Cleveland Heights. With 2 years of experience, she holds a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education. Lauren specializes in teaching voice and focuses on a physiologically based technique for healthy and beautiful singing that lasts a lifetime. While she primarily teaches classical style, she also has experience teaching the musical theatre style. Lauren has performed in various musicals, recitals, and operettas in her career and loves to take time to sing when possible.

Gordan Liu is a graduate student at the Cleveland Institute of Music, studies viola with Lynne Ramsey, first assistant principal viola of the Cleveland Orchestra. Prior to that, he earned a bachelor's degree from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. As a classical music performer, he has performed at different venues, such as the Severance Music Center, Mixon Hall at CIM, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong City Hall, Academy Concert Hall and Recital Hall in Hong Kong playing piano and string instruments. Gordan has premiered the M. Rozsa Viola Concerto with the Academy Symphony Orchestra in Hong Kong.

Algernon Lee joined Musicologie in 2024. He came from a musical family. His mother is also a piano teacher and his father was a violin maker and restorer. Algernon started learning piano when he was four and violin when he was seven. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM) in 2013 and Master of Music degree from CIM again in 2016. After he received his master degree, he continued to improve his violin performing skill at CIM and received his Professional Studies diploma in 2018. Algernon has taught many music students from the age of 5 to the age of 70 since 2007. For him, helping his students to become the musicians they dream to be is one of the most meaningful things in his life.

Patrick has been playing music since he was 9 years old and plays bass, guitar, and drums. Coming from a musical family, he started off playing bass guitar and soon after taught himself how to play guitar and drums with the desire to write and record his own music. After high school, Patrick continued his studies at Cuyahoga Community College and Berklee College Of Music where he studied bass guitar, jazz studies, and recording engineering. Patrick plays in the local RnB band, Collin Miller and The Brother Nature among other local acts. As a teacher, he strives to help his students foster their love of music through their own unique voice and style.

Oboist and saxophonist Kari Jenks has a Master of Music degree in Oboe Performance at Lynn Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. She studied with Nathan Hughes, former principal oboist of the Metropolitan Opera and Joe Robinson, former principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic. Kari had maintained a private woodwind studio while freelancing in South Florida. At Musicologie, Kari teaches all reed instruments, specializing in saxophone, clarinet, double reeds, and piano.

Kaitlin Nordstrom is a passionate music educator from Cleveland, Ohio. She has a bachelor degree from Kent State University in music education with a minor in world music. She also holds a full certification in the Orff-Schulwerk music education method. She loves teaching instrumental lessons (piano, flute) and general music (Musicologie Junior). In her free time, Kaitlin loves to read, hike, and learn new instruments by exploring all genres of music, from pop to bluegrass to jazz.

Hi! My name is Dora and I’m a classically trained vocalist. I received my BA in Music from Duquesne University and a Music Education Certificate from Carnegie Mellon University, where I specialized in choral music. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to explore many different styles of music, from folk and jazz to musical theatre and pop. I've worked in numerous ensembles of many diverse genres, I even had the chance to tour the country! I’m excited to share my knowledge and love of music with my students!

Hello, my name is Palmer Stillio. I am a graduate from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor's degree is Music Education where I got to study under the best of the best. I specialize in teaching Voice and Piano. Growing up I was fortunate enough to perform on many different stages doing many different things whether is was a musical, an opera, a choir, a band, a show choir, or solo performances. I want to use my knowledge and experiences to help grow others' musicianship, no matter the age or the reason!

Brooke is an accomplished musician and educator. Winner of competitions including the Charleston International Music Competition and recipient of the Heartland Chamber Music Festival Scholarship, she served as concertmaster for the University of Tennessee Symphony Orchestra and played with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Brooke is an adaptable teacher with a classical approach, experienced in both orchestra sectional and private settings. She holds a bachelor's degree in Violin Performance and Plant Sciences, with a minor in Entomology and Plant Pathology from the University of Tennessee. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Music in Violin Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

Nancy Thorn holds a Bachelor's in Cello Performance from The University of Akron and a Professional Studies Certificate in Cello Performance from Cleveland State University. Her teachers include Paul Kushious and Charles Bernard. She has performed with the Wooster Symphony, the Warren Philharmonic, The Cleveland Women's Orchestra, and the Cleveland Philharmonic, and frequently plays in chamber groups as an event musician. She believes in every student's ability to achieve learning and enjoys helping them discover their own musicality!

Carlo M. Reynoso-Rojas is a singer, songwriter, music producer, and educator with over 20 years of experience performing and 15 years teaching. He loves helping singers discover their authentic voice and express themselves with freedom and confidence. Drawing from contemporary vocal technique and creative exploration, Carlo creates a supportive space where every student can grow as an artist and connect deeply with the music they love.