Avalon School of Music

Piano, Guitar, and Bass Guitar
Music has been my passion for many years. To be a musician is a privilege for the society of arts, it's even more of a privilege to share my gift of music with students of all ages to progress musically and be intrigued in all the intellectual and physical benefits that music can provide. Throughout all of High School, I was involved in various musical ensembles such as Jazz bands, Pit orchestras, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensembles, Trios, Duets, Choirs, Soloing, Improvisation, Big Band and more. I've had the privilege to audition for all county Jazz band and make it as a member of the rhythm section playing string bass and bass guitar. Due to my great involvements in the musical world, I was awarded the Woody Herman Jazz Award 2017, and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award 2018. Up to present time, I am still involved in individual ensembles and continue to learn every day.  It will be more than a pleasure to share my appreciation for music and the musical arts

Melinda has been an active musician for ten years, and is proficient in voice, piano, and clarinet. She is currently a student at Rollins College, studying music education. Although she's still in school, she has been actively teaching within her church, and has been teaching privately for four years now. Melinda has a love for all students, no matter where they are in their musical journey, and is excited to expand and enrich the lives of others studying music.

Voice, Ukulele, and Beginning Piano

Tommy De Martino is a seasoned and accredited veteran of performing and teaching with over 40 years of successful and progressive experience in all aspects of drumming and percussion. A drummer who has toured with several bands on the East Coast circuit and has recorded with artists such as Brian Tarquin, Emile Menasche (Speak the Language), John Montaldo (Significant Others).

Tommy focuses on sight reading and teaching students the art of rudimental drumming, building hand technique and how to approach the drum kit. He teaches all genres of music such as Rock, Funk, Jazz, Latin, Fusion, Hip-Hop, R&B and linear drumming.

Tommy is a member of the National Association of Rudimental Drumming (N. A. R. D.) which he received while attending Miami Dade College. He also attended Drummers Collective in NYC, where he studied with Mike Clark.

Advanced percussion students can also have the unique opportunity to study with Tommy. Students receive true pro mentoring and are given weekly exercises and extensive knowledge of the drum kit. Tommy also teaches the fine art of hand percussion such as conga and bongos along with various percussion instruments.

Guitar and Beginning Piano

Begining Piano and Voice

All levels and styles of guitar and beginning piano

Beginner Electric guitar, Beginning-Intermediate Acoustic, Beginner Ukulele, Beginner Piano

Violin, Suzuki Group Violin Ages 4 and up, and beginning Piano (has certifications in Early Childhood Education

beginning piano - great with young students.

Drums, Piano & Electric Bass 

violin - up to late intermediate (young teacher)

voice - all levels, piano - young beginner only, ukulele - up to intermediate 

Voice and piano

Voice, Piano, and Ukulele Teacher

Piano and Voice

piano - advanced all levels, but specializes in jazz and gospel.

Voice and Piano (Beginning/Intermediate) Instructor

Vioin, Bass and Beginning Piano

Residing in Oviedo FL, Ray is a 2021 graduate from the Florida State University College of Music in Commercial Music, Business, and Music Entrepreneurship. He has taught Guitar for ten years to students of all ages and skill levels, performing in local rock bands and in his high school jazz band. In his time at FSU, he was the Bass Guitarist for the Seminole Sound basketball band, a Clarinet player for the world-renowned Marching Chiefs, as well as a Drummer and Singer for the FSU Rock Ensemble. His degree gives him a unique insight into the technical workings of music recording and production, and he does freelance Mixing and Mastering services. In addition to Guitar, he is also teaches Drum set, Bass Guitar, Piano, and Bassoon.

Instructor for voice and beginner piano. 

Maria Picado is one of our Assistant Managers and occasionally teaches the clarinet. She is originally from San Jose, Costa Rica, where she started her clarinet studies at the age of 13, in a community school of music in Aserri; after two years, Maria won her first job at the age of 15, playing first clarinet in the local government band. She also participated in the Festival Internacional Costarricense de Clarinetes 2015.

In September of 2015 she moved to United States to continue her high school and musical studies, she was first chair of the Concert and Symphonic band at Colonial High School. During her time there, she participated twice in the Solo and Ensemble Competition, performing the Second and Third movement of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto Kv. 622. In which she earned Superior rating at the County Competition, taking those to the State Competition and earning Superior with Distinction. She also participated in Festival of Winds at USF for two consecutive years, she was also a member of the Orange County Honor Band and the Youth Band of Orlando. During her high school years, she studied with Nikolay Blagov, the principal clarinetist from the Orlando Philharmonic.  

Currently, she is getting her Bachelor’s degree on Clarinet Performance at the University of Central Florida, studying with Dr. Keith Koons. Maria was principal of the Symphonic Band, she was also a member of the Marching Knights, Jammin’ Knights, UCF Clarinet Choir and is currently part of the Wind Ensemble, and the New Music Ensemble.         

Violin, Viola, Cello, Upright Bass. AN

Clarinet
Andrew is currently a student at the University of Central Florida completing his undergraduate degree in music education. In his time there he has studied under the guidance of Dr. Keith Koons. Andrew has been playing the clarinet for over ten years and has had the privilege of playing in several honor bands such as The All County and Intercollegiate Band as well as being a part of the UCF Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra.

Voice and Beginning Piano

Guitar, Bass Guitar
David's musical journey began when he fell in love with the sounds of the guitar at age 10. Originally a die-hard rocker, David's extensive listening habits led him to explore many different styles of music, eventually leading him to study at Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music. There he was afforded an intense exposure to jazz and classical along with a variety of more modern progressive music.

After completing his studies at Berklee, Dave landed in New York City where he used his writing and arranging skills to drive his band and solo performance as well as providing his students with well rounded lessons.

Relocating to central Florida over twenty years ago, David continues to enjoy teaching, performing, and recording. He can be heard almost any weekend with Florida's busiest blues/rock band “Mud Rooster,” or playing a solo gig either as a singer/guitarist or as an instrumental guitarist.

Piano, Guitar, Ukelele & Voice
Erin Wagoner is a Rollins College graduate with B.A. in Vocal Performance. She has been singing and performing for most of her life. Aside from a passion for teaching, Erin also enjoys writing her own music and frequently performs at small local venues. Erin participates regularly in community theatre as well, and has recently begun performing in the local stand-up comedy circuit. Erin has experience working in vocal styles that include jazz, pop, musical theater, and classical. In addition to her skills as a singer, Erin also plays piano, guitar, and ukulele.

Greg Zabel has been involved with music since about eight years old, beginning with piano. Playing the trumpet and guitar in various ensembles throughout middle and high school, he eventually landed on the upright bass in the tenth grade. Greg studied bass under Richard Drexler (jazz) and Michael Hill (classical) at the University of Central Florida and was the bassist for the Flying Horse Big Band and the Jazz Workshop led by Jeff Rupert. In addition he has performed with the UCF Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra and Concert Band. After graduations, Greg spent twenty-one months touring the U.S., Canda and Japan as the bassist for the Glen Miller Orchestra. Comfortable on both upright and electric basses, Greg has played gigs with the likes of Marty Morell, Nicholas Rodriguez, and Davis Gaines. He can be seen performing at Orlando venues such as Blue Bamboo Center for the Arts, the Timucua Arts White House, and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort.  

Henry Spears has been teaching at The Avalon School of Music since 2018. 

Latin American Guitar, Classical Guitar, and Tiple from Columbia.
Humberto was born in Colombia and his musical studies was realized in the Music School ''Pedro Morales Pino" of Cartago Columbia and in the Arts Faculty of the University of Antioquia in Colombia.  He has realized presentations as guitarist in different places and in some television and radio programs in Columbia and in The United States.
He is a Classical, Classical- Popular, Modern, and Latin American Guitar Player; He has also played his own musical transcriptions with which he identifies himself with.
For 25 years he is dedicated to the music teaching part with children, youngsters, and adults and has complimented his activities with the musical accompaniment of groups and festivals.
Humberto has been certified by the United States as a Music Teacher .
Finally, Humberto said , “Discipline and love for what we do, leads us to obtain good results. ”

I love working with the youth in music and in sports. My goal is to make sure each students gets the best musical training they can so they can achieve greatness in their future/current music programs.  I am an alumni of the Colonial high school band program and I’ve performed with all county jazz band and obtained multiple superior ratings in my state/district solo and ensemble performances. Currently I am preforming with the Florida symphony youth jazz orchestra and fulling my role as first chair drummer. I look forward to working with all of my students!

I uncovered my passion for music when I sang on top of a chair in a restaurant when I was 3  with my dad! From that point on, I was involved in Voice, Piano, Guitar & Drum Lessons, Choir, Musicals in School and Song Writing. 

I followed my dream and am now performing in several groups including my own Solo Show "Songs of Women Artist 60/70/80's, Weddings - both Ceremony and Reception, and  the International German Folk, Pop & Rock band “Europa”,  I cover many Female Artists and write my own originals, with music, lyrics and produce my songs. 

I find inspiration all around me and God has touched my heart.  I try to make the music I perform my own and make it  representative of myself and my generation. Growing up in a musical family, my dad exposed me to all the great female artists of the 60's 70's and 80's that I have incorporated in my show! 

I specialize in teaching young beginners on Piano and Voice and can also coach song writing! I look forward to teaching your child and bringing the joy and love of music to all my students!

Piano (beg) Guitar (adv)

guitar, bass, ukulele (all levels/styles)

piano (beg)

drums (beg)

banjo (adv)

guitar

sax (all levels), trumpet and clarinet (high intermediate), flute and piano (beginner)

percussion and beginner piano