Powell Academy of Music Staff Bios, Powell, OH | Music School near me in Powell, OH

Rachel

Rachel Parfenchuk earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Ohio Wesleyan University (2014) and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Cleveland Institute of Music (2017). Parfenchuk has performed with Ohio Wesleyan Opera Theater, Columbus Dance Theater, Cleveland Institute of Music Opera Theater, and Opera Columbus. Her performance highlights include the role of Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music, Denise in Beatrice and Benedict, Frasquita in Carmen, as well as being a two-time winner of the Ohio Wesleyan concerto competition. Ms. Parfenchuk’s passion for performance carries over to her love of teaching, as she has taught both voice and piano since 2012. During her education she studied pedagogy extensively with both Dr. Jason Hiester and Dr. Dean Southern and continues to seek the most efficient and engaging ways to cultivate skill and confidence in students of all ages.

Saori

Saori Collins has taught a variety of students from diverse age groups and cultures by adjusting methods and strategies based on each individual’s needs and goals for almost 20 years. Her methods keep students involved and interested in the material, thereby encouraging them to reach their full potential. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and Master of Music in Voice Pedagogy at Notre Dame de Namur University, Belmont, CA. Saori served as voice trainer for Ragazzi, the Peninsula Boys Chorus in the San Francisco Bay Area where she worked with boy sopranos and young male singers. At the San Francisco School of the Arts, she taught voice, musicianship and theory classes. She directed a choir at the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program West Elementary School, San Francisco, CA. Saori is a member of National Association of Teachers of Singing and Music Teachers National Association for which she served as president of the San Francisco Chapter. Her teachers include Eileen Davis, Pamela Fry and Nancy Hiller.

Yuway

Yuway's a classically trained pianist and began learning piano when she was four years old. She graduated with a Bachelor's in Piano Performance in Malaysia where she grew up. Her passion for music and learning brought her to study in the States and she later recieved her Master's from Bowling Green State University and a Doctorate in Piano Pedagoy from Texas Texh University. Yuway has been teaching piano for more than 10 years. She has taught students ranging from ages 4 and up, from the elementary level to the collegiate level when she was a teaching assistant at Texas Tech where she received the Helen Devitt Jones Exellence on Teaching Award. She is comfortable speaking English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Yuway primarily enjoys playing classical music like works by Chopin, Liszt and Beethoven. However, she is also fond of other styles and comfortable playing and teaching them as well. Yuway believes that music learning can be an enjoyable process and that music at every level can be expressive, and fun. While every student learns differently, they all can benefit from studying piano, by learning to be persistent and disciplined, and how to work efficiently. Yuway lives in Columbus with her husband and energetic 2 year old daughter.

Sarah

Sarah Dudley is a soprano originally from the Columbus, Ohio area. She recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She also graduated Cum Laude with a duel Bachelors in Vocal Performance and Music Education from Bowling Green State University.

Her performance repertoire includes opera, musical theatre, and concert works. Her most recent roles include Magda de Civry in La Rondine, Dido in Dido; Aeneas, and Beggar Woman (cover) in Sweeney Todd with The Ohio State University Opera and Lyric Theatre. She also sang the role of The Fairy Godmother/Step Mother in Cinderella and Jack’s Mother/The Giant’s Wife in Jack and the Beanstalk with Opera Columbus’s “Opera Goes to School.” Other performance credits include The Figaro Project: Scènes de la Beaumarchais (La Contessa), The Heist (Mrs.Westbrook), Dido and Aeneas (First Witch), and La bohème (Chorus). Her concert works include soprano soloist for Link Up! The Orchestra Rocks with The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and Verdi’s Requiem with Dayton Opera.

Sarah has taught private voice lessons for over six years to students of all ages and levels. She has experience teaching various genres such as classical, musical theatre, pop, and jazz. It is her passion to perform for audiences, as well as help students discover their own voice and unlock their own passion for the stage.

Layne

Layne began studying piano around age 7 and, despite her aversion to practice, found that it quickly became an essential part of her life. Layne went on to study music therapy at Eastern Michigan University with a focus on piano as a primary instrument. Along the way, she gained experience with acoustic guitar. Now, Layne is a certified music therapist who has experience working with children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities and mental illness. When it comes to her lessons, Layne believes in helping new students of all abilities start making music right away. With a focus on instilling passion for music, she uses teaching methods that best match the student she is working with. She is comfortable teaching adapted lessons to those who may need a different kind of music education and works with her students to make sure they are working toward their own goals for their musical development. Layne is experienced in performing classical and popular music on piano as well as popular music on guitar. She is experienced in teaching songwriting to beginners, the use of voice and guitar or piano simultaneously, and various improvisation techniques.

George

Graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music, Tom has been studying and playing music his entire life. He has played in ensembles ranging from symphonic orchestra and big band to jazz blues and rock. He has performed and traveled extensively throughout the United States. He has also worked as a producer and arranger in the studio, working with recording artists and also doing commercials for radio and tv. He has been teaching music in central Ohio for over twenty years.
Tom is currently the director of the strings program at Union Scioto schools in Ross County and music director for the Contemporary Worship Service at Ascension LutheranChurch in Columbus.

Helen

Helen Cates began studying the violin at age 5 at the Staedtische Musikschule Aalen, Germany. Her primary teachers include Liviu Bogdan, Jonathan Thomas and Gabriele Turck in Stuttgart, Germany. At a young age she performed with orchestras such as the Aalener Sinfonieorchester, the Kammerorchester Rosenstein and the Junge Philharmonie Ostwuerttemberg. With them she has travelled throughout Europe, including Germany, Italy, Belgium, Spain, France and Austria. She has performed as a soloist with the Kammerorchester Rosenstein in 2010 and the Indiana University South Bend Philharmonic in 2013. In 2011 and 2012 Ms Cates participated in the MasterWorks Festival.

She has completed a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University South Bend studying under Jameson Cooper. In addition she holds a Masters in Music degree from Bowling Green State University, where she was a member of the Graduate String Quartet. Ms. Cates enjoys teaching and inspiring young musicians toward excellence. She continues to be passionate performer of chamber and orchestral music.

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