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Music Teachers in Raleigh & Wake Forest

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Meet the Faculty

 Music Academy South is blessed to have some of the most professional and knowledgeable instructors in the Triangle area. Read on to find out more about our faculty!

 

Kathryn Cowsert

Kathryn Cowsert

Piano

Kathryn Cowsert is a recent graduate of Meredith College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and a Minor in Business Administration in 2021. Kathryn studied piano with Dr. Kent Lyman (Professor of Music) and was mentored by Dr. Jean Wozencraft-Ornellas (Chair, Music Department and Associate Professor of Voice at Meredith College).

During her college years, Kathryn tutored students in music theory, was a student advisor, and was treasurer of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity (Beta Zeta chapter). Particularly notable was the collaborative opportunities Octavia Piano Ensemble afforded her. In addition, she was recognized by the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association for her administrative skills. She spent a year assisting in securing judges for the Young Artist Auditions (an event she participated in throughout her pre-college years), updating repertoire lists and forms for their website, creating spreadsheets, etc. While holding these positions, Kathryn maintained Dean’s List status.

During her formative years, playing the piano created rich opportunities for Kathryn, such as winning the North Carolina Talent title for National American Miss. This win enabled her to compete in the National competition in Anaheim, California, which also led to discovering acting and modeling as new talents.

Kathryn started her piano career when she was five years old at Music Academy South. Little did she know that her career path would lead her back to mentoring others as she was mentored. The chance to bring her passion and insights to current students of the studio is exciting and rewarding. She looks forward to helping students find their love of music in a fun and creative environment. The importance she places on music fundamentals, music theory and music history will enrich the discovery process she anticipates building.

When she is not teaching, her interests include spending time with family and friends, gardening, taking long walks, and listening to her parakeets, Clara and Johannes.






Daniel Day

Daniel Day

Guitar & Bass

Daniel Day has been a resident guitar instructor at Music Academy South since 2005. He has instructed hundreds of students of all ages and abilities. He is the father of four really neat grown children, is married to the lovely Julia Robertson and is stepfather to her son, John.

Daniel's musical journey began during his teenage years in Milwaukee. He studied with Chuck Grazamke and Milwaukee jazz legend Don Momblow, and began performing in local coffee houses, cafes, and college campuses. He started to compose his own material, encompassing many musical genres. While touring with his band in upstate New York, he met sitar player Roop Verma, a distinguished student of the renowned Ravi Shankar. He and his band were invited on a five-month musical tour of India. This deeply meaningful experience led him to return to India for two years to study the fundamentals of Indian raga and rhythms.

On his return to the States Daniel completed a Bachelor’s Degree in classical guitar and composition at Seattle’s Cornish Institute (now known as Cornish College of the Arts). He owned and operated the Rosewood Guitar Music store and performed in the greater Seattle area. He left the music scene for 11 years while he raised his four children in the mountains of Montana and later in Raleigh, but in 2002 he heard music calling to him once more, and he has never looked back. Daniel believes that "though we may teach, it is of vital importance that we shall forever be learning," and continues to hone his skills through his study with local jazz guitarist, Kevin Van Sant.

"Music is a journey of a lifetime in the infinite of the moment," and Daniel encourages his students to take that journey with their talent, their spirit, their instrument and their hearts.






Michelle Dunn

Michelle Dunn

Flute/Piccolo

Michelle Dunn is a classically trained flutist with 30+ years of teaching and performing experience. She
has studied and performed with some of the top orchestral flutists in the U.S. and abroad. Michelle's
talents personify the term "multi-faceted" and carry her far beyond the boundaries of typical flutist,
performer, musician. She is the founder and executor of her own record label, production company, and
publishing company. In addition to being a self-produced indie artist, Michelle is also her own recording
engineer and records almost exclusively on her "iZZatcho Music" label. Her first self-produced album,
Awakening, earned two international awards, for both music/album and audio mix/sound editing.
Additionally, Michelle is a piccolo specialist and expert in the field of world/ethnic flutes. When She is
not in the studio recording or teaching, she enjoys doing freelance projects in the areas of audio
mixing/mastering, videography/editing, graphic design, and floral arranging. The album Awakening
available on Pandora, Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, etc.
Website: https://www.BornToFlute.com






Christopher Foti

Christopher Foti

Drums, Drums/Percussion

Christopher Foti, also known as Mr. C, is a drummer and percussionist originally from Boston, Massachusetts. Christopher is an avid music lover and listener to a variety of genres from hard rock to smooth jazz. Born with a very natural sense of rhythm from his fathers side of the family, Christopher started playing drums at the age of 6. At the age of 9, he was playing with adults at his Baptist church. Christopher has played with many different bands throughout the country. After his military career, he graduated from Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California with a degree in drum performance and music business. His performing styles include Jazz, Funk, Pop, R&B, Reggae, Metal, Bossa-nova, and Afro Cuban. New to the Raleigh area, Christopher's teaching opportunities continue to grow. His new found passion for teaching and educating all skill levels and young minds makes Music Academy South proud to feature him as our newest percussion and drum instructor. Mr. C loves what he does and brings his passion to the table to help inspire and get students to understand why we all need music in our lives.






Ray Frasche

Ray Frasche

piano, guitar, and ukulele

Raymond Frasche received his teaching certification in 1984 from William Paterson University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. For the past 33 years he has been teaching and directing music in the New York metropolitan area receiving the State of New Jersey's 2011 Governors Teacher Recognition Teacher of the Year Award.
Primarily an Organist, Mr. Frasche has also studied and taught piano as well as voice, guitar, and music theory and composition. He also served as Music Director for the Hillsdale United Methodist Church for the past 21 years. Mr. Frasche has also been the principal Music Director for Passaic Valley Summer Music Theater conservatory.
Mr. Frasche sang baritone with Pro Arte Chorale, an oratorio choir, and has performed extensively with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra in major venues such as Carnegie Hall, NJPAC, The State Theater of New Jersey, and Princeton University. Mr. Frasche has had numerous students become Broadway performers as well as Music Educators and Music Therapists. Being an avid hand percussionist, Mr. Frasche is skilled in West African Djembe and South East Asian Tabla drumming.
Recently retired from the public school system and re-located to the beautiful town of Wake Forest, Mr. Frasche is excited to share his love for music and teaching with his new community.






Margot Hafner

Margot Hafner

Piano, Voice, Blast OFF With Music

Margot Hafner holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Iowa. Prior to moving back to Iowa her senior year, Mrs. Hafner received an outstanding musical education at Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC. Mrs. Hafner teaches at West Oxford Elementary School in Granville County where she is an active teacher, leader and volunteer. Her experience is extensive and spans choral, solo and theatrical endeavors. She has directed both the West Oxford Chorus, a 60-member first grade choir and the Little Theater and Children's Theater musicals in Granville County.

Annually, Mrs. Hafner guides her young elementary students to produce a Showcase of Stars as a fund-raiser for their school with outstanding results. Many of her students audition and perform in the All-County Music Festival led by Sally Albrecht and Andy Beck, clinicians.

Each summer Margot provides leadership as the musical director for Broadway and Beyond Theater Camp in Vance and Granville County for elementary students, as well as musically directs the TeenWorks Theater Camp for middle and high school students for the county.

Though a highly sought after voice and piano instructor at Music Academy South, Mrs. Hafner enjoys being a part of her community and volunteers when possible. Favorite opportunities are singing in the Raleigh-Durham Sacred Chorale, playing in the advanced handbell choir at her church (Wake Forest Baptist Church), as well as singing in the choir, and frequently as a soloist.

Mrs. Hafner is a dedicated member of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and her students always achieve the highest scores. Music Academy South students are in good hands in her studio.






Gina Hayek

Gina Hayek

Piano, Voice

Gina Krause Hayek earned a degree in general and choral music education with a major in voice from Michigan State University. She spent 27 years teaching preK-8th grade music mainly in the Wake County Public School System, and achieved National Board certification in 2003.
After giving birth to twins in 2013, Gina retired from public school, and began her home studio in 2017 teaching private piano and voice lessons to young children through adults.
Gina has worked as the director of children’s music at Hudson Memorial UPC from 2015-2021. In 2022, Gina served as the Young Musician’s choir director at Rolesville Baptist Church.
Gina has performed on stages across the US and abroad, traveling with 2 professional choirs, as well as performing as a solo singer in church, weddings and Memorial services.
Gina hopes that by sharing her love for music and her students, as well as her years of experience, she can instill that same love and confidence in her students so that they can become the life-long musicians they desire to be.






Sue Hraban

Sue Hraban

Oboe,Piano

Susan (Sue) has lived in the Raleigh area since August of 2019 and moved here with her
husband, Ken, from Nebraska. She has two grown sons and a daughter-in-law, and has a
Bachelor of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Nebraska Dental
College.
Sue’s love of music started at six years of age, with piano lessons, and the oboe in fifth
grade. She received superior ratings at district music contests throughout high school
and is the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award and the Elna Young Orchestra
Award.
Past instructors include Mr. Orlan Thomas, affiliated with the University of Nebraska,
Mr. Kermit Peters, former principal oboist of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra, and Dr.
William McMullen, current principal oboist with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and
instructor at the Glenn Korff School of Music in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Musical memberships have included the Lincoln Civic Orchestra, the Great Plains
Music Society Orchestra, Quintessence woodwind quintet, and The Great Plains
Chamber Winds woodwind quintet. Sue is currently performing with the Christ Baptist
Church chamber orchestra. She is a member of the musicians’ union, local 500.
Sue loves to continue to learn and improve in the world of music and strives to inspire
her students to develop their own passion through positive encouragement.






Yoshio Nakamura

Yoshio Nakamura

Trombone,Trumpet, Tuba, Euphonium, French Horn

Yoshi Nakamura has been the band director at Raleigh Christian Academy and orchestra director at Beacon Baptist Church since 1996. His advanced band has won the North Carolina Association of Christian Schools annual band competition numerous times over the past twenty years. His bands have also competed at the American Association of Christian Schools annual competitions in Greenville, SC several times over the years with a third place finish this past year. Yoshi is also one of the clinic chairmen for the annual North Carolina Association of Christian Schools All-State Band Clinic. In addition to his school responsibilities, Yoshi has also performed as a trombonist in the Triangle Wind Ensemble, Wake Community Christian Band, and Cary Town Band where he also serves as assistant director.
Yoshi began playing the trombone in fourth grade in Shimizu, Japan. Upon graduation from high school, Yoshi came to the United States to study at Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL. While in college, Yoshi won the commencement brass competition three times. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pensacola Christian College in trombone performance in 1996; he later earned his masters in secondary education from PCC in 2007.
Over the past twenty years, Yoshi has taught private instrumental lessons on the violin, cello, double bass, flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, French horn, baritone, tuba, and percussion. His students have consistently received superior ratings in various competitions and earned top seats in all-state bands.






Nkem Nwosu

Nkem Nwosu

Violin, Viola

Nkem Nwosu is a native of Raleigh whose early study of violin led him to the pre-college program Community School Music School at Meredith in Raleigh. Here he studied violin under the tutelage of longtime professor Phylliss Garriss. Nkem holds a Master of Music Degree in Violin performance from New Jersey City University, where he studied with Dr. Frank Foerster, principal Violist of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Nkem was also privileged to serve as Concertmaster of the New Jersey City University orchestra and was coached by other faculty members in orchestra and chamber music, many of whom are graduates of the Juilliard School including his teacher Dr. Foerster.
Nkem is certified to teach Suzuki Violin Methods from book 1 to book 10 as well as traditional violin methods. He has completed teacher training at renowned Suzuki Institutes such as the School for Strings, NC Suzuki Institute, American Suzuki Institute, and University of Louisville, among others. Ultimately, he completed his capstone in Book 9 and 10 playing Mozart’s Violin Concerto Class with the Greater Austin Suzuki Institute under Cathryn Lee. He is a current member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the NC Suzuki Association.
Nkem believes any child or adult can learn and perform music. He also believes exposure to music and other performing art forms is imperative to the development of one's character and development as a person overall.






Milton Peña

Milton Peña

Piano

Originally from the Dominican Republic, Milton Fernández Peña began his musical studies at an early age in his home country. He holds a BM in Piano Performance summa cum laude from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, an M.M. and Performance Artist Certificate from Stephen F. Austin State University, an M.M. in Arts Administration, and a D.M.A. in Piano Performance from The University of Oregon. Milton keeps an active role performing on national and international stages and has served as a soloist with the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Santo Domingo, the Camerata Washington Heights, and the Camerata Mozart Caribe. In 2015, he was accepted as a member of the American Association of Musicians of Honor. Furthermore, he is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the North Carolina Music Teachers Association, and the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association. His teachers include Andrew Parr, Claire Wachter, and Dean Kramer, the last student of Vladimir Horowitz.

Milton has imparted piano lessons in private academies and university scenarios. Throughout the years, he has developed a healthy technique that allows him and his students to engage with the piano without injuries while creating a hybrid between the goals each student wants to achieve, full development of musicianship, and a healthy technique. Regarding his teaching philosophy, the student must leave the room with more confidence and security than when they came in. Milton is always eager and searching for new pedagogical approaches so that students can improve their musical abilities faster and find new ways to fall in love with music and their instruments.






Clara Pratt

Clara Pratt

Piano

Clara Pratt is currently a senior in high school, taking dual enrollment classes at both the The College at Southeastern and Wake Tech. She began piano lessons at the age of four, and participating in piano competitions at the age of seven. With guidance from her piano teachers, Julie Gorka and Dr. Jeanine Skinner, she has received Honors Awards several times through both YAA and NCMTA. She has also had the privilege of participating in the studio’s Honors Recital three times.

Clara began teaching piano at the age of 12 and began teaching at Music Academy South in the summer of 2022. She loves the privilege she has to help guide her students to play the piano.

Growing up in a large family full of music, as well as both her parents being educators, Clara has been able to not only excel in her piano studies, but also learn the skill of teaching others to play. All three of her other siblings play different instruments and enjoy creating music together as a family.

Clara also has a passion for art, and loves drawing and painting. Upon high school graduation, she plans to go to college to become an Art teacher and professional artist, while also continuing to teach others how to love to play the piano.






Jeanine Skinner

Jeanine Skinner

Piano

Dr. Jeanine Skinner is a teacher, performer, collaborative musician, and church musician. Her degrees from Anderson University, Furman University, Florida State University and the University of South Carolina are in Piano Performance with her final degree focused on Performance and Pedagogy. She has served on the faculties of Southern Wesleyan University (Central, SC), Presbyterian College (Clinton, SC), Lander University (Greenwood, SC), the State University of West Georgia (Carrollton, GA), Berry College (Rome, GA) and Judson College (Marion, AL).

As a collaborative musician, Dr. Skinner has accompanied numerous college and professional choruses, vocalists and instrumentalists, performing in Carnegie Hall, various countries in Europe and the United Kingdom. As a soloist, she enjoys performing for concerts, community service events, and church services in the local area. Dr. Skinner is an active member of the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association and is their current president.

Dr. Skinner has served as a church musician for 49 years. She has served as organist, pianist and choir director in a number of denominations. For the past 10 years, Dr. Skinner has served as organist and accompanist for Wake Forest Baptist Church in Wake Forest, NC.

In addition, Dr. Skinner owns Music Academy South in Wake Forest, NC where 247 students study numerous traditional musical instruments. Her studio is currently expanding to accommodate the increasing requests and growth in her community. She continues to be active in local, state and national Music Teachers Associations, adjudicate and offer piano workshops. Her love for life in Wake Forest is amplified with the opportunity to live near her sister’s family and to raise her fur-child, Allie.






Elizabeth Sniffen

Elizabeth Sniffen

Voice

Elizabeth ("Liz") Sniffen relocated to Wake Forest, NC from New York City, NY where she realized a successful professional career as a vocalist. Most recently, she completed 24 seasons as the soprano soloist, section leader and cantor at the Church of Saint Vincent Ferrer, a prominent Roman Catholic Church in the Upper East Side of New York City. Under the direction of Dr. Mark Bani, the music program at St. Vincent's included major choral works each season including Handel's "Messiah", Mendelssohn's "Elijah", Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" and Mozart's "Requiem" where Elizabeth participated as both soprano soloist and section leader. Her ministry of music at St. Vincent Ferrer Church also included singing as soloist for the funeral Masses for many celebrities, politicians and other prominent figures, including Geraldine Ferraro, Dominick Dunne and Claudette Colbert. Other highlights of her career include performances, singing with Bryn Terfel and Aprile Millo of the Metropolitan Opera.

Prior to St. Vincent's, she was a soloist at various other churches in the tri-state area. For almost 10 years, Elizabeth was a soloist with the "Chorus Angelorum" of Pan Am Airlines singing in major cities throughout Poland, Spain, Ireland, Hungary, Germany, Austria and Italy. She has participated in chamber music workshops, has performed in art song symposiums, and has performed works of various composers at the Society of Composers, Inc. conferences. More recently, Elizabeth performed in cabaret shows in NYC.

Elizabeth began studying voice at the age of 10 and her teachers have included Marcelle Bolman, Dr. Helen Lightner (New York University) and Irene Gubrud. Her mother was a church organist and thus Elizabeth began singing in church choirs at a very young age. Elizabeth embraces sharing her experiences with students and to provide them with vocal techniques and the confidence to enjoy singing and performing.






Kevin Yen

Kevin Yen

Cello, Violin, Viola, & M.A.S. String Ensemble

Kevin Yen holds his Bachelor's degree of Music in Violin Performance from Pennsylvania State University. He also holds a Master's degree of Music in Performance with Suzuki Pedagogy emphasis from East Carolina University. Mr. Yen taught in Greenville, NC while completing his studies at East Carolina University gaining broad experience through group and private instruction. He was a member of the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and currently performs with the Beyond String Quartet. In addition to private lessons, he is also the instructor of the M.A.S. String Ensemble. Mr. Yen is in great demand as a teacher and performer throughout the triangle area.






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