Piano Instructors
Get to Know Us
Kathleen Dunne
Piano, Voice, Flute
Katie Dunne is a classically trained vocalist, with a Bachelor's in Music Education from SUNY Buffalo State College with a minor in Theater. She currently works in the Buffalo Public Schools as a K-6 vocal/general music teacher and is the Music Director/Co-Director/Producer of the St. Christopher's Bound for Broadway program. She has also music directed at Buffalo State University (Pippin, Little Shop of Horrors, First Thursday Cabaret), Cardinal O'Hara High School Summer Camps (Seussical Kids, Willy Wonka Kids), and at Shea's Sing Your Story camp as well as their 2024 awards ceremony opening/closing performances. Katie was selected as an adjudicator of the Shea's High School Musical Theater awards for the 2023-2024 season. She previously worked in the entertainment department at Fantasy Island Amusement Park, where she performed in a variety of different, acting, song, and dance shows, the most notable being the iconic Western Shootouts. She has been teaching at Matt's since 2019, with students ranging from ages 4-60! She primarily teaches piano, voice, and flute, and is well versed in many genres.
Jacob Nicholson
Piano
Jacob Nicholson is a boar certified music therapist. He began his education at Onandaga Community College, and finished at SUNY Fredonia receiving his Bachelor's degree in Music Therapy. Jacob performs throughout the Upstate New York area with multiple music groups, and is currently a professional singer with the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus. These talents, combined with his drive to assist individuals in achieving their life goals, make him a well-rounde and passionate clinician and teacher.
Nicholas Emmanuel
Piano/Violin
Nicholas Emmanuel is a music historian, pianist, and visiting assistant professor of musicology in UB’s Department of Music. He spent the 2021-22 academic year conducting archival and field research in Budapest, Hungary, with support from the U.S. Fulbright Commission and the Liszt Academy of Music. Aside from scholarship and teaching, he is active as a pianist and has performed contemporary music in concert venues throughout the United States and abroad. Recent performances include concerts with UB’s Slee Sinfonietta, a program of piano works at the June in Buffalo contemporary music festival, and a recital of Hungarian music with Fulbright colleagues at the Liszt Academy of Music. He holds a PhD in historical musicology and a masters’ degree in piano performance from the University at Buffalo.
Dave Henry
Piano
With over 30 years of piano teaching experience, Dave has had the pleasure of working with students of all ages and skill levels – from young beginners to adults pursuing their musical goals. Whether a student is just starting out or striving to master a more complex piece, Dave is committed to providing personalized lessons that are both enjoyable and effective.
Believing that every student learns differently, Dave tailors lessons to fit each individual’s unique style and needs. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here; whether it’s a visual learner, a hands-on player, or someone who thrives through repetition, Dave ensures that the path to musical growth is as engaging as it is rewarding.
Throughout the years, Dave has developed a deep knowledge of both classical and contemporary piano techniques, and a broad repertoire to suit any taste. More importantly, Dave strives to make each lesson not just educational, but also enjoyable, helping students build confidence and a genuine love for the music they play.
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Julianna Ellis
Woodwinds/Piano
Julianna has been teaching woodwinds and piano since 2021 at Matt's Music. She holds a Bachelor in Music Education from SUNY Buffalo State University. Julianna has spent several years working for Paul Effman Music, where she has taught band and strings to multiple private schools in the area. She has led many students to success in their own music careers and the work they've done in their private lessons has made a huge difference in their progress.
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Anna weinert
Piano/Cello
Anna has been heavily involved with music from a young age, and started as a Matt's Music student herself. She has experience performing with many different groups. She has also performed with an honors performance series at Carnegie Hall. Anna is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education from SUNY Buffalo State University, and her goal is to share her knowledge and passion for music with all her students.
Maggie Siroky
Piano/Woodwinds
Maggie Siroky is a piano and woodwind teacher with a focus in clarinet, saxophone, and flute. She has played in various pit orchestras with her performance experience spanning various shows and productions like: Hello Dolly, A Chorus Line, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Carousel, Newsies, La Cage aux Folles, Candide, Young Frankenstein, and more. Maggie has also played in and at various popular and local venues ranging from prominent arts centers, local theater guilds, and professionally-trained conservatories, as well as in local band festivals! Maggie holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from Ithaca College and a Master's in Multiple Woodwind Performance from Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Brian Caswell
Piano
Brian has been teaching piano (Classical, Jazz, and Rock) at Matt's Music for 2 years. His favorite genres are Rock, Jazz, Latin, and Classical. Brian is a PhD student in Music Composition at the University at Buffalo. Last year, he gave a solo organ recital at St. Joseph University Parish in Buffalo. Brian's goal is to get students playing as soon as possible and to help them gain the skills to learn whatever type of music they want.
Emily Barnes
Piano & Flute
Emily Barnes is a 2020 graduate of Hartwick College with her bachelor's degree in Music. For the past five years, she has worked in preschools out in the Albany, NY area, working primarily with children ages 6 weeks-5 years old. She is a vocalist (coloratura soprano), and she plays piano and flute. She also dabbles in very basic guitar and ukulele. She loves all types of music, but her favorites to sing and perform are Pop, 2000s Country, Musical Theater, and Classical music. She loves attending karaoke nights and open mic nights! She recently moved to the WNY area with her fiance, two dogs, and cat. She is very excited to combine both her love of teaching children and music together.
Victoria Mordaunt
Voice & Piano
Victoria Mordaunt graduated from Villa Maria College with a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance. She has been teaching private Voice and Piano lessons for over 10 years now. She currently teaches at Nardin Academy and privately from her home. She was a music teacher in Maine at Harmony Elementary school teaching choir, band, and general music for K-8th grade. Since moving back to Buffalo, she has chosen to perform and teach full time.
Victoria is a musician who provides lead vocals and background vocals for various artists/bands throughout the Buffalo region. However, she primarily focuses on her duo group called Eric & Tori where they do covers of multiple genres such as pop, blues, jazz, R&B, and more.
Victoria traveled to Italy for 3 weeks and performed for IYAP (International Young Artist Project), where she sang in several shows throughout Italy. She sang Italian solos, sang in a chamber choir, as well as sang and acted in the musicals Gianni Schicchi and Grease. Victoria has sang the National Anthem for events such as Gymnastics Unlimited, Remembrance Weekend, and The Ride for Roswell. She is also a song writer with over 30 originals. Teaching and performing is where her heart belongs. ​​
Lena Mecklenburg
Voice/Piano/Ukulele/Guitar
Lena is a vocalist originally from Connecticut. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia. A teacher for over 10 years, she has aided hundreds of students in reaching their musical goals while also finding joy in the community music brings them. While teaching in public schools she has developed courses specifically for students with disabilities alongside various voice and theatre classes.
She specializes in Classical and Musical Theatre voice styles, but aims to help students reach their goals across various genres. She also teaches Piano, Ukulele, and Guitar.
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Julia Kuk
Flute/Piano/Voice
Julia is a recent graduate of Buffalo State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Julia studied Music Education with a vocal concentration for 3 years at Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance where she studied under Dr. Lorie Gratis Harris and Dr. Paul Rardin. She is currently a masters student at the University at Buffalo further studying Music Education. Julia has a strong passion for teaching music, and is currently a music teacher in the Niagara Falls City School District. At Matt's Music, Julia teaches flute, piano, and voice! She has been teaching music privately for over 6 years now in both the Albany and Buffalo area and strongly believes it is the most rewarding aspect of her life.