Our Teachers

Nia Dewberry is an experienced violinist and music teacher with a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from The Ohio State University and a Bachelor of Music degree from Bowling Green State University. She began playing violin at age 11 and has won multiple scholarship competitions. Nia has performed in various pit orchestras and aims to enrich the lives of children in underserved areas through music. She teaches children and adults of all levels, teaching classical music as well as jazz, rock and roll, and country. Her goal is to help her students play the music they want to play, and to see the joy on their faces when they do.

Patrick began playing piano at four, violin at nine, and took voice lessons throughout high school and college. After graduating from Otterbein University with a BFA in Musical Theatre, he moved to NYC to pursue the big city dream. After three years, Patrick moved back to Columbus to lay roots in a more comfortable, but just as creatively accessible and inviting environment. He works as an accompanist, performs with several local theater companies, and teaches voice and piano lessons. As a teacher, Patrick approaches learning through the lens of storytelling and acting, and loves to work with students of all ages and abilities. Making lessons fun, engaging, and enjoyable even when music gets tough is Patrick’s core teaching philosophy.

Dr. Elena Cruz-Lopez is a musicologist and violinist. She began playing violin at age 12 in Puerto Rico and continued while in high school in South Bend, IN. She graduated from Valparaiso University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music in violin performance. In 2024, Elena earned her Ph.D. in Musicology with a graduate minor in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from The Ohio State University. When she's not teaching lessons, Elena works at The Loft Violin Shop where she helps string players around central Ohio from beginners to professionals. Elena is also an organizer for TEMPO: Music & Arts Camp, a summer camp for girls, non-binary, and trans youth ages 12-18. At camp, she works as a keys instructor and band coach.

Rhea has been involved in music since she was a child. She started playing the piano in elementary school, and has spent over a decade playing classical music along with the occasional pop and rock music. She also took an interest in singing, and joined the Columbus Children's Choir. Here, she got the opportunity to perform in Austria, Hungary, Spain, France, Carnegie Hall, and numerous venues throughout central Ohio. Rhea expanded her musical abilities further by playing the cello. She joined her school orchestras and performed at community events. She is currently a member of the Ohio Chamber Musicians Orchestra located in central Ohio, and the Campus Orchestra at The Ohio State University where she is also pursuing music minor.

Rita has been a teacher at heart since childhood. She loves finding patterns and similarities in Western Music and other cultures’ musical forms. She has taught music for over 20 years. Inspired by Daris McCoun, her first piano/organ teacher, she learned theory and improvisation through gospel and classical styles. Rita has taught in the area and in Japan. She welcomes students of many cultures, and wants to learn from them! Rita brings skills in ear-training (Suzuki) and note-reading through several methods, including online resources. She believes every student can find their best way to learn, and tries to match her approach to the needs of any student, any age.

Jasmine has played music since the age of 5, starting with piano and later on learning drums. She has played in all sorts of different bands, which include jazz band, concert band, marching band, and more! Jasmine has a B.M. in Percussion Performance from University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and she is a candidate for the Dalcroze Eurythmics Certification from Carnegie Mellon. Jasmine loves having a lot of fun in lessons, especially with younger students just getting started with music! On her off time, she loves sewing and watching anime.

Kiffy Kokal is a music teacher with a passion for helping students explore their musical abilities. With a BA in Voice from OSU, Kiffy specializes in teaching voice, guitar, and drum set. Kiffy's extensive experience includes performing regularly as a tenor section leader in the choir at First Community Church and as the drummer in the contemporary band. Additionally, Kiffy plays percussion and drum set for various choirs and show choirs in the Columbus area. Kiffy is proud to be a multi-instrumentalist and enjoys the different nuances involved in making music in different ways. Kiffy happily teaches students of all ages, including kids, adults, and early learners. Lessons with Kiffy are available in Dublin and Lewis Center.

Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Jaryn Danz is a violist and teacher in the Columbus area. She believes that everyone can have fun learning an instrument, so she prioritizes positive reinforcement and humor in lessons. Jaryn holds bachelors and masters degrees in music performance from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and the University of Colorado Boulder respectively. She has recently performed with the Worthington Chamber Orchestra, the Newark-Granville Symphony, and the Columbus Children's Theater. In her free time, she does a lot of knitting.

Dr. John Watson is a passionate music educator and performer with over 10 years of teaching experience and 20 years of performing experience. He has received praise for his performances in opera, with a repertoire ranging from Mozart to Puccini. Dr. Watson has also showcased his talent on stages in Italy and has a diverse concert and oratorio repertoire. As an educator, he has helped students achieve their artistic goals and founded USC's Liederabend program. Dr. Watson holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the University of Southern California. He is actively pursuing a career in higher education and currently resides in Dublin, Ohio.

Patrick is a seasoned musician from Columbus, Ohio, with 17 years of experience in various music styles. He holds a degree in Jazz Studies/Guitar Performance from Capital University and has studied with renowned musicians like Stan Smith, Zakk Jones, and Tom Davis. His musical influences range widely, from Frank Zappa and King Crimson to Miles Davis or Joni Mitchell. Patrick has played in diverse ensembles and bands, including big bands, jazz combos, and his own bands such as Crabswithoutlegs, Silvia Mori, and Intercurrents. Patrick has won many awards for his performances and compositions. He values musical connections with students and colleagues, and has a strong passion for Jazz, Funk, Progressive Rock, and Metal music.

David Esselburn, a music teacher from Ohio, has been immersed in music from a young age due to his musical family background. With a Bachelor's in Music from Muskingum University and graduate studies at Bowling Green State University, he has been involved in various musical groups such as jazz bands, rock bands, steel drums, choirs, orchestras, and wind ensembles. David's teaching experience spans across drum lines, percussion ensembles, and private lessons covering drum set, classical percussion, and marching percussion. He prioritizes a personalized approach to music education, recognizing the uniqueness of each student, with the aim of instilling a deep love for music and helping students to discover their own musical identity.

Rachel is a soprano and recent graduate from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Economics, Music - Vocal Performance, and Spanish. Her studies were concentrated in Classical and Musical Theatre, although she enjoys all genres! She first began singing in children's choruses and started classical study at the age of 15. Rachel places a strong emphasis on vocal health through technique. When not making music, she enjoys watching video essays and spending time in the city!

Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, Taylor DeVault specializes in guitar performance and education. A 2012 OSU graduate in Psychology with secondary studies in Jazz guitar performance, Taylor’s experience stretches across several genres including classical, rock, jazz, and country. Taylor is delighted to share the joy of music with students of all ages and abilities from beginner to seasoned players. In addition to music clubs in and around Central Ohio, Mr. DeVault can be seen performing weekly with the Common Grace Band at First Community Church.

Gordon is originally from Columbia, South Carolina, and moved to Columbus to work as a full-time performer and to find opportunities in the Columbus music scene. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in theatre, Gordon started teaching lessons in Charlotte, North Carolina, and joined his first band, WAGS, which started in Rock Hill, South Carolina. After moving to Columbus, he became a resident performer at Shadowbox Live for two years and continued teaching at School of Rock Columbus. His favorite styles of music are blues, rock, jazz, funk, folk, and bluegrass, although his appreciation and curiosity of all musical genres knows no bounds! Some of his musical influences include Jerry Garcia, Django Reinhardt, and BB King.

Abigail Cooper is a Trinidadian-born violinist and educator who began playing violin at age ten. She studied at Excelsior Music College and earned her bachelor’s degree in violin performance from the University of Trinidad and Tobago. While in school, she discovered a passion for teaching, offering private lessons and working with students across western Trinidad. Abigail later joined the National Philharmonic Orchestra and worked as a freelance performer and educator. Committed to lifelong learning, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a master’s degree in violin performance and pedagogy at Ohio University. She remains devoted to sharing the joy and power of music, inspiring growth in both herself and her students.

Ryan is a versatile music educator and multi-instrumentalist with over 20 years of experience teaching students of all ages, from young beginners to adult professionals, as well as mentoring at the college level. He has been featured on more than 200 recordings as a session musician, composer, producer, and engineer, and has toured internationally in 25 countries. With a background in both conservatory training and real-world studio and touring experience, Ryan offers creative, engaging, and highly personalized lessons that meet each student where they are, whether they’re just starting out or working toward professional goals.