MARY KRAMSKOY (Director; Piano & Voice)
Mary Kramskoy was born in the Ukraine. When she was 4, her father (a medical doctor and a passionate violinist) discovered she had the rare gift of perfect pitch, and bought her a piano. At the age of 6 she enrolled at a music school and studied music for eight years. After graduating, she got accepted at the Kherson Academy of Music and was taught by known music professor V. Pavlovich. Also, for about 2 years while living in Hungary, she was taught to play the accordion by a very talented accordionist Ida Ardeshe.
Mary holds a Master's Degree in Piano Performance, Music Theory, and Pedagogy. For many years, Mary taught Piano, Voice, and Music Theory at the Rovno Academy of Music. She also worked at the L'vov City Conservatory, where she accompanied many famous singers, such as Vasiliy Domnich (bass), Lidiya Sergeyeva (soprano), and many others. Since moving to the United States in 1998, Mary has been teaching music at various music schools throughout the Bay Area and at her private music studio. She is an active member of the Music Teachers Association of California.
Mary always had a dream to open a music and art academy. In 2007 Mary started the Morgan Hill Academy of Music and Art. Here at the Academy, beside giving Piano and Voice lessons, Mary teaches her students a deep appreciation of music and helps them reach their goals.
back to topMrs. Keyson (Piano, Voice & Choir)
Mrs. Keyson has been teaching for over 35 years in all grade levels from elementary to college, as well as adults of all ages. Mrs. Keyson received her Masters in Music Education from the University of Southern California. She attended Julliard College of Music for her graduate studies. One of Mrs. Keyson's teachers was actually a student of Sergei Rachmaninoff, a Russian composer, conductor, and one of the finest pianists of his day. In her classroom, there was a portrait of this great musician, signed by the master himself.
Mrs. Keyson has been a music specialist for San Francisco Unified School District; she sang with The Stanford University Chorus, San Francisco Bach Choir, and the Robert Shaw Choir with the L.A. Philharmonic at Hollywood Bowl. Mrs. Keyson has conducted many community choirs, and brought them to numerous European Music Festivals.
back to topCindy Tag (Piano, Voice, Clarinet, Flute, and Saxophone)
Cynthia (Cindy) Tag holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA in both Music Education and Music Performance. She has more than 25 years performing professionally in jazz, salsa, and big band performances, and has over 30 years of teaching experience. Before joining Morgan Hill Academy of Music and Art, Cindy was an Instructor of Jazz Improvisation in Albuquerque, NM; a Director of Music, Bands, Chorus and Music Theater in Sewanee TN; and an Instructor of Woodwinds and Piano in San Jose, CA. Cindy is a passionate instructor who brings vitality and creativity to her teaching and welcomes students of all ages and abilities.
back to topRuss Sanchez (Trombone)
Russ Sanchez holds a B.A. in Music from California State University Chico. Prior to attending CSU Chico, he studied trombone with Paul Matulich, Joe Earl and Don Couch. While at CSU Chico, he performed with former Duke Ellington trombonist Vince Prudente and performed a series of concerts with jazz trombone legend Carl Fontana.
Since leaving college Russ has performed with many orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands and chamber groups throughout the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Areas. He has also taken occassional lessons with Carl Christensen. From 1992-2005 Russ was a member of the Saratoga Symphony where he performed many rare and never performed works and had the opportunity to perform with many fine guest soloists.
Recently Russ has been performing solo recitals along with getting the music of American composer Matt Doran performed. Dr. Doran's Quartet for Flute, Trombone, Piano and Percussion along with the Concertino for Trombone and Strings were composed for him.
back to topPeter Kulvets (Guitar & Bass)
Peter Kulvets was raised in Saint Petersburg, Russia. At the age of seven he fell in love with the guitar and began to study classical guitar performance at Rimskij-Korsakov School of Music. After his graduation, Peter got enrolled at the famous Musorgskiy Music Academy of Saint Petersburg from which he later graduated with a Bachelors of Art degree.
Peter has over 25 years of teaching experience; he teaches Classical, Electrical, Bass. Peter is an excellent performing guitarist as well, who plays beautifully. Sign up with Peter Kulverts today and discover the amazing world of guitar playing!
back to topJessica Kent (Art)
Jessica has her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Loyola Marymount University. She has been teaching art for over 5 years. Jessica believes that everyone is an artist in their own way, and likes to help all of her students reach their full potential as artists. Jessica is a painter, and loves using color and light to capture the beauty of nature in her art.
back to topJulia Rotakhina (Piano)
Julia Rotakhina grew up in Moscow. She comes from a family with several generations of musicians. She started her music lessons at the age six, and found them fascinating. Playing the piano became an important part of her life. She graduated as a piano player from Dunaevsky Music Academy in Moscow, where she also studied solfege, choir, music appreciation and music theory.
After moving to the USA she continued to practice her musical skills on her own and with a private instructor. While completing her Bachelor of Arts degree at the UC Santa Cruz, she worked as a tutor. Teaching has become her passion and she has taught children and adults ever since. As a teacher she strives to cultivate love and understanding of music in her students and help them develop proficiency in piano playing as well as music reading skills and musicality.
back to topIrina Smolyakova (Piano)
Irina Smolyakova began taking piano lessons at age 7 in her native Kharkov, Ukraine. After moving to the United States, she studied with Fresno State alumna Maria Amirkhanian at Gavilan College in Gilroy after which she transferred to learn under piano professor Andreas Werz.
back to topMila Smolyakova (Piano & Voice)
Mila Smolyakova has been playing Piano since she was six years old. It was at that early age when she knew she wanted to be a musician. She was enrolled into a competitive Music school, which she attended daily for seven years. After graduation from the Music school she entered a Music college in Latvia. From there Mila preceded to get her Masters at a College in Minsk, Belarus, and then finally achieved a PHD at an Institute in Ukraine. Mila has been a music teacher for over 20 years; she has experience teaching children (from Kindergarten to high school) as well as adults. Now a pianist and song writer, Mila produced three CD's in 2008 alone.
back to topDaniel Gray (Cello)
Daniel Gray is an Avid Musician. Daniel began studying music at the age of 9 through both school and home lessons. Daniel has played in many chamber orchestras and in small string groups, and other ensembles, performing a wide repertoire of classical music. Daniel enjoys passing on what he has learned to newcomers and advanced students alike, helping them to learn and grow musically. Daniel enjoys playing, performing, recording, and discovering new music from all genres. Daniel, who is an avid naturalist, comes from New England. For the past several years, he has enjoyed living in the Bay Area.
back to topGreg Chamber (Saxophone)
Having just received his M.M. in Saxophone Performance at UCLA, Greg serves as an on-call saxophonist for both the YMF Debut Orchestra and the New World Symphony; has been heard on the airwaves of K-Mozart in Los Angeles; has played in the Ginn Resorts Spoleto USA Festival Orchestra; and serves as the Saxophone Fellowship student for the Aspen Music Festival. Greg has studied with Douglas Masek, Bil Jackson, John Harle, and William Trimble; he has performed in masterclasses with Greg Banaszak and Gary Keller and has had the privilege of sharing the stage with such renowned performers / conductors as Steven Mackey, Kathleen Battle, Jens Lindemann, Leonard Slatkin, Michael Tilson Thomas, David Robertson, David Zinman, and Michael Stern.
As a jazz / pop saxophonist, Greg has worked with Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, recorded at Capital Records, studied with Eric Marienthal, and has played on projects for the LA-based production company, Indie Masters. His debut smooth jazz album, City Lights, has received praise from fellow saxophonists Dave Koz and Steve Cole, listeners, promoters, and record executives. Furthermore, the album's title track has recently been picked up for a jazz compilation album (which includes tracks by Cleve Douglas, Charmaine Clamor, and others) by Atlanta-based independent label, Shut Eye Records & Agency, and unanimously won a 2006 Los Angeles Music Award in the “New Jazz” category. His newest single, "Here With You" won the American Idol Underground 2007 Summer Jazz Competition.
back to topLisa LeFevre (Guitar)
Beginning her love for music at a young age, Lisa LeFevre started singing as soon as she could talk. At 13 her father bought her first guitar with the original intention of simply accompanying her singing. Songwriting naturally followed and by the age of 20 she had already written over 80 songs. Now she has expanded her sphere of musical creativity to include the study of classical guitar and a BM in Music Education with a Choral/General Emphasis at San Jose State University. The broad education offered at SJSU has afforded her with the opportunity to arrange music, conduct, become a member of the SJSU Guitar Quartet, and learn fundamentals of all band instrument families. Lisa continues to write music on guitar and piano and enjoys the heart expression through sound.
back to topInna Mirolioubova (Painting)
Inna Mirolioubova has been painting most of the life, since her early childhood in Russia. She graduated from Moscow College of Art and worked as an artist-decorator for the Moscow Puppet Theater for 12 years. In 1993 Inna and her family moved to the United States. Since then she enjoyed her life in California and further evolved her painting styles and skills.
Inna's artwork has been exhibited and sold in many art galleries throughout San Francisco Bay Area. Some of her paintings are part of private collections in New York, London, and Stockholm amongst others.
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