Anne Bartos

CMS Instructor
 

Areas of Expertise

• Cello

Education

• BME, Instrumental Music Education, The Ohio State University (expected 2026)

Anne Bartos is a third-year music education major at The Ohio State University. She plays the cello in Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the Ohio State chapters of both the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). She currently serves as the executive director of CellOhio, and as vice president of ASTA. In her free time, Anne enjoys attending concerts, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family.

Liam Botos

CMS Instructor
 

Areas of Expertise

• Violin

Education

• BM, Violin Performance, The Ohio State University

Hello everyone! I am thrilled to be your violin teacher for the upcoming academic year. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I am an avid Pittsburgh sports fan, including the Pirates, Steelers, and Penguins. I have played violin since age 5, participated in multiple orchestras and string quartets, and performed throughout my life. I hope to create a lesson environment that is engaging and fun! In my free time, I like to swim, play basketball, and play one of my favorite video games, Halo. Let's make some music!

Amy Conley

CMS Instructor
 

Areas of Expertise

• Clarinet
• Flute
• Saxophone
• Piano

Education

• MM, Clarinet Performance, The Ohio State University
• BM, Music Education, University of North Texas

Amy Conley is a freelance musician and private music instructor based in Columbus, Ohio. Amy earned her master’s degree in clarinet performance from The Ohio State University under the guidance of Caroline Hartig and James Pyne. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of North Texas. She has many years of experience teaching woodwind and piano lessons in Ohio and throughout Texas. Amy enjoys sharing her love of music with others, and hopes that she instills a sense of music appreciation in each student to carry with them throughout their life. She helps each student reach their musical goals and build confidence in their playing.

Emily Foster

CMS Instructor, Associate for Arts Engagement 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Piano
• Musicology

Education

• DMA Piano Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2027)
• MM Musicology, The Ohio State University (2025)
• MM Piano Performance, The Ohio State University (2025)
• BM Piano Performance, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (2022)

Emily Foster is thrilled to work behind the scenes at the Community Music School this summer as part of the Mellon Foundation Summer Arts Engagement Program. Emily is a pianist, teacher and musicologist based in Columbus, OH. She is pursuing her DMA in Piano Performance at The Ohio State University under Dr. Caroline Hong.

Emily has served as Graduate Teaching Assistant for Ohio State's Musicology department for two years. She also served on the faculty of the St. Cecilia Stella Royce Piano Camp in Grant Rapids, MI, where she designed and taught her own music history course for young pianists. In addition to teaching music history, Emily has over five years of experience as a private piano instructor. Emily is currently thte president of Ohio State's Collegiate Chapter of the Music Teachers National Association and represented the chapter at the MTNA National Conference in both 2024 and 2025.

Meagan Gaskill

CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Flute
• Voice
• Music Theory

Education

• DMA, Flute Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2025)
• MA, Music Theory, The Ohio State University (2023)
• MM, Flute Performance, The Ohio State University (2022)
• BM, Flute Performance, Pacific Lutheran University (2019)
• BS, Mathematics, Pacific Lutheran University (2019)

Meagan Gaskill (she/her) is a flute and voice teacher with almost a decade of experience working with students of all ages. She is a passionate teacher who meets students where they are and supports their musical goals and aspirations. Meagan has worked with musicians of all levels, including those who are just playing or singing their first notes to college-level musicians. She helps students foster their enthusiasm and passion for music while helping them become independent learners and develop strong practice techniques.

Meagan is an active performer as a flutist and singer and performs with orchestras and operas around central Ohio. Her primary flute teachers include Katherine Borst Jones, Jill Felber, and Jennifer Rhyne. Her primary voice teachers include Lara Brooks and Holly Boaz.

Gabrielle Hardisky

CMS Instructor 

Areas of Expertise

• Trumpet
• Brass Pedagogy

Education

• BME, Instrumental Music Education, The Ohio State University (expected 2027)

Gabrielle Hardisky is a dedicated fourth year music education major at The Ohio State University. As a trumpet and brass instrumental player and future band director, she has gained experience teaching and leading students in a variety of educational settings, including in her own private lesson studio, public school classrooms, and marching bands.

Gabrielle currently serves as the Assistant Marching Band Director at Bloom-Carroll High School. She has also taught at public schools around the state, assisting as a brass expertise technician for marching and concert bands. At Ohio State, Gabrielle has been actively involved with the School of Music community, serving as a member of the music sorority Tau Beta Sigma, the Ohio Collegiate Music Education Association (OCMEA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and International Trumpet Guild (ITG).

Gabrielle is passionate about inspiring a lifelong love of music in her students. She believes that music education at all levels provides valuable opportunities for creativity, self-expression, collaboration, and personal growth. With experience as an educator and performer, Gabrielle strives to help every student build strong musical foundations while achieving their individual goals.

Max Henderson

CMS Instructor

Areas of Expertise

• Jazz Saxophone
• Jazz Ensemble

Education

• BME, Instrumental Music Education, The Ohio State University (Expected 2026)

Max Henderson is a third-year music education major at The Ohio State University. Starting as a psychology major, Max realized his flourishing passion for music and music education. His love began to develop when he was part of J@MS (Jazz at the Music Settlement) in Cleveland and continued to grow as he played with the Jazz Workshop band, the Jazz Lab Band, and the Latin and Fusion Combos at Ohio State. His teaching philosophy revolves around the belief that music is the essence of fostering emotional expression, personal growth, and a sense of belonging. Outside of music he enjoys film, nature and philosophy.

Nora Lemmon

CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• French Horn
• Piano
• Music Theory

Education

• BM, Music Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2026)

Nora Lemmon is a third-year undergraduate studying horn performance with Professor Bruce Henniss and minoring in political science. She is a member of the Wind Symphony, the Buckeye Philharmonic Orchestra and a flute-and-horn duo. She takes piano lessons in the School of Music with Professor Lynn Singleton as well. In addition, Nora serves as vice president of ritual for the Ohio State University chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a women’s music fraternity; as one of two music directors for Scarlet and Grace Notes A Cappella; and on the Arts Leadership Council within the Arts Scholars program. She performed as a soloist and in chamber ensembles at the 2022 and 2024 Eastman Summer Horn Institute, the 2024 Renova Music Festival and the 2024 Summer Music in Tuscany festival. When not making music, Nora enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends and family.

Daniel Moncada Gonzalez

CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Guitar, with a special focus on Cuban tres guitar
• Electric Bass
• Salsa and Jazz
• Latin Percussion
• Arranging and composition

Education

• BA, Commercial Arranging, Berklee College of Music
• Latin Percussion & Sociology, Universidad Central de Venezuela

Daniel Moncada is a freelance musician and private music instructor most recently based in Columbus, Ohio, after 20 years living in Puerto Rico, Mexico and Brazil. Daniel earned his bachelor’s degree in arranging from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with Herb Pomeroy, Bob Pilkington and Jon Damian, among others. Daniel has been active, as both director and member, in several musical ensembles across the Americas — Boston, Caracas, Miami, San Juan, Mexico City — in genres such as salsa, Latin jazz, traditional Cuban Son, Techno-cumbia, and Norteño indie alternative music. For many years he has also been teaching new generations of tres players, guitarists, bassists and percussionists, in all of these places and most recently in Belo Horizonte and São Paulo, between 2022 and 2024, where he was able to immerse himself in different Brazilian genres such as Samba, Bossa Nova and Sertanejo traditional music. Daniel’s teaching approach is based on exploration, invention, and curiosity for the instrument, and music in general, which he shares with his students while paying close attention to each one’s unique interests and goals and building their confidence throughout the learning process.

Natalia Moreno Buitrago

CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Music Education – Early childhood music education
• Music Psychology
• Music Evolution 

Education

• MS, Music Mind and Brain — Goldsmiths, University of London, United Kingdom
• BA, Music Education — Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia
• BS, Biology — Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia 

Natalia Morena is a graduate teaching associate in music education at The Ohio State University with experience in early childhood and youth music education. She holds a Master of Science in Music, Mind, and Brain from Goldsmiths, University of London, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Natalia has held various teaching roles, including leading early childhood music classes for toddlers, providing music theory instruction, conducting choirs, and directing pre-orchestras for children aged 3 to 11. As the academic coordinator at an informal music school founded by her undergraduate peers, she developed and implemented innovative approaches to music education for young learners.

Her research interests blend her background in biology and music education, focusing on the development of musical behaviors in children, the cultural influences that shape these behaviors, and the early musical interactions between caregivers and infants. At Goldsmiths, her research examined musical exchanges in home settings, highlighting her commitment to understanding music’s role in early childhood development.

Áreas de especialización

• Educación musical – Educación musical en la primera infancia
• Psicología de la música
• Evolución de la música

Formación académica

• Maestría en Ciencias, Music, Mind and Brain — Goldsmiths, University of London, Reino Unido
• Licenciatura en Educación Musical — Universidad Pedagógica Nacional, Bogotá, Colombia
• Biología— Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia

Natalia Moreno es asistente de docencia en educación musical en The Ohio State University y tiene experiencia en educación musical, con énfasis en la primera infancia y la adolescencia. Es egresada de la Maestría en Ciencias en Music, Mind and Brain de Goldsmiths, University of London. Además, cuenta con una Licenciatura en Educación Musical de la Universidad Pedagógica Nacional y un título en Biología de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Natalia ha ocupado diversos roles docentes, que incluyen clases de sensibilización musical para bebés, enseñanza de teoría musical, dirección coral y de pre-orquestas para niños de 3 a 11 años. Como coordinadora académica de una escuela de música no formal fundada por sus compañeros de pregrado, impulsó el desarrollo e implementación de enfoques innovadores en la enseñanza musical para jóvenes estudiantes.  

Sus intereses de investigación combinan su formación en biología y educación musical. Se centra en el desarrollo de comportamientos musicales en niños, las influencias culturales que moldean dichos comportamientos y las interacciones musicales tempranas entre cuidadores y bebés. Durante su maestría en Goldsmiths, investigó las interacciones musicales en entornos domésticos, destacando su interés en comprender el papel de la música en el desarrollo de la primera infancia.

Bryan Percoco

CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Piano
• Guitar

Education

• MM, Music Composition, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
• BM, Guitar Performance, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

Bryan Anthony Percoco is a pianist, composer, guitarist and educator trained in classical music and jazz improvisation. Percoco's teaching approach is broad and adaptive, helping each student fulfill their interests while simultaneously presenting challenges that broaden their horizons. Percoco has successfully taught a range of genres including classical, jazz, pop, rock, blues and various other genres to a wide range of levels from beginning to advanced to students in the United States and Asia (online).  

As a pianist, Percoco received an invitation to tour throughout major cities in China and give master classes as part of the Manhattan, New York-based education company Discover Melody, gave performances at the Toledo Museum of Art, and played at CCM with the Cafe MoMus Ensemble. An American Prize finalist and semi-finalist, his orchestral compositions have been recorded by the Janacek Philharmonic and Brno Philharmonic in Czechia for the Ablaze recording label. Percoco has had additional performances of his works in Italy where his string quartet movement was performed by Quartetto Indaco in Pavia, Italy and chamber orchestra and duet performances at the Soundscape Festival in Maccagno, Italy. He has earned a certificate in performance and composition from the Upbeat International Summer School of Music in Milna, Croatia where he composed and performed works by contemporary composers. He has had additional training as a guitarist and is currently active as a pianist/composer of jazz and classical music.

Jordan Popovsky

CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Voice
• Classical Opera/Art Song/Musical Theatre
• Contemporary Musical Theatre  
• Pop Music and R&B 

Education

• BA, Vocal Performance, The Ohio State University
• BS, Animal Bioscience, The Ohio State University 

Jordan Popovsky is excited to be joining the CMS team of artistic educators. She is currently working towards her BA in Music with a specialization in Vocal Performance as well as an additional degree in Animal Science. Jordan has an extremely diverse array of musical experience, as she has participated in various community theatres in her hometown of Cleveland, as well as programs at Ohio State including University Chorus, Chorale, The Ohio State Opera Theatre, The Ohio State of Mind A Capella Group (OSM), The Ohio Show Band (OSB), and DT40 Pop Music Ensemble. Jordan has also participated in various musical competitions such as The Dazzle Awards, The Shining Star Awards, The Classical Singers Competition, Ohio NATS, The International Competition of Collegiate Acapella (ICCA), The Wilson Competition, and The Ohio State School of Music Concerto Competition. 

In recent years, Jordan has played the roles of Lola in Gallantry by Douglas Moore, a member of the chorus in Trial by Jury by Gilbert and Sullivan, Alice Murphy in Bright Star, and Audrey II in Little Shop of Horrors. Additionally, in OSM she sang solos by popular artists such as Demi Lovato ("For You") and Flo ("Not my Job"), and in OSB she led songs by The Jackson 5 ("I Want You Back") and Anita Baker ("Giving You The Best That I Got"). Jordan has been singing and performing from a young age but has studied voice privately since 2017 under the mentorship of Helen Todd and Lara Brooks. Outside of performing and teaching music, Jordan loves to spend time with her pets, travel, and participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing and rock climbing.

Aaron Scott

CMS Instructor 

Areas of Expertise

• Percussion
• Piano

Education

• BM, Percussion Performance and Jazz Studies, Capital University

Aaron Scott is a first call musician in the Columbus area. Son of acclaimed pianist Bob Allen, Aaron got his start in music at age five playing piano. He continued playing classical piano into college, but it was playing percussion that became his passion, playing shows and in bands during high school. Aaron went on to get his B.A. in Percussion from Capital University Conservatory of Music. In addition to performing, Aaron is an active educator. He has taught at Columbus Pro Percussion, Capital University, Denison University, Dublin Schools, Newark Schools, Music Royale, Vaughan Music Studios and the Jump For Jazz Artist in Schools Program. Aaron has been a successful player as well as contractor for clubs, restaurants and private companies. Aaron has been contracting music at Hyde Park Grille in Upper Arlington since its opening. He has contracted for Nationwide Insurance, Red, White & Boom, Huntington Banks, Eddie Bauer, Columbus Museum of Art, Muirfield Golf Tournament, The Ohio State University, City of Dublin, City of Columbus, Discover Card, Strategy Group and Mettler Toledo to name a few.

Aaron has played with Mark Flugge, Bobby Floyd, Tony Monaco, Hank Marr, Vince Andrews, Joe Hunter, Kim Pensyl, Bob Allen, Richard Lopez, Pharez Whitted, Rob Parton, Jim Powell, Eric Gale, Derek DiCenzo, Steve Sweney, John Boerstler, Stan Smith, John Schwab, Jeff Ciampa, Gene Walker, Roger Hines, Shelly Berg, Lynn Seton, Lou Fischer, Dave Powers, Phil Dirt & The Dozers and on NPR's Michael Feldman "What'd Ya Know" radio program among others. You can catch Aaron playing regularly with several bands including From The Five Jazztet, Colin Lazarski Organ Trio, The Guitar Company, The Blue Cats and The Ramblers. Aaron can also be heard playing on Donatos Pizza television commercials.

Ila V. Sharma

Graduate Associate and CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• French horn
• Music Theory
• Composition

Education

• BM, Composition, The Ohio State University (2023)

Ila V. Sharma is a graduate teaching associate and master's student in music theory and composition at The Ohio State University. Ila, who is originally from Great Falls, Virginia, graduated from Ohio State in 2023 with a Bachelor of Music in Composition and a minor in Music, Media and Enterprise. As an undergraduate student at Ohio State, Ila participated in student organizations such as The New Music Collective and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. As a composer, Ila has studied with Professors Thomas Wells, Vera Stanojevic and Michael Rene Torres. Ila’s academic interests are in the intersection between composition and music theory pedagogy and practice, and how each subject can help inform the other, as well as issues of accessibility in music education related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.

Katie Sharp

Graduate Associate and CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Flute
• Music Theory

Education

• DMA, Flute Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2027)
• MM, Flute Performance, The Ohio State University (2024)
• BM, Flute Performance and French, Baldwin Wallace University (2022)

Katie Sharp (she/her) is a DMA candidate at The Ohio State University studying with Katherine Borst Jones. She currently serves as a Graduate Teaching Associate in Flute and previously taught in Music Theory, Aural Skills, and Musicology. With over five years teaching experience, Katie maintains an active studio and works with local schools as a clinician. She has worked with students of all ages, meeting them where they’re at to grow a lifelong passion for music. Katie’s other primary flute teachers include George Pope, Randy Hester, and Dr. Nicole Charles.

Aside from teaching, Katie serves as the Exhibit Coordinator for the Central Ohio Flute Association. She is an active performer in Columbus, performing the Nielsen Flute Concerto as a winner of the 2022 Ohio State Concerto Competition. In 2021, she was a co-winner of the PANdemonium4 Virtual Flute Competition in the collegiate division. A member of the OSU Graduate Wind Quintet, Katie can be found performing across the State of Ohio.

Kaylee Skaris

CMS Instructor 

Areas of Expertise

• French horn

Education

• DMA, French Horn Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2028)
• MM, French Horn Performance, University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music
• BM, French Horn Performance, Bowling Green State University

Kaylee Skaris studied with Dr. Andrew Pelletier, professor of horn at Bowling Green State University, and received her bachelor’s degree in music performance in 2023. She graduated with her master’s degree in horn performance in 2025 from the University of Cincinnati—College Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Margaret Tung and David Alexander. Kaylee, now pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at The Ohio State University, studies with Bruce Henniss. Kaylee is serving as the graduate teaching associate for the Ohio State horn studio, as well as teaching privately in the Columbus area. In addition to teaching at the collegiate level, she hopes to win an orchestral position and perform regularly with a professional orchestra.

An avid performer, Kaylee Skaris is greatly interested in chamber music and orchestral playing, having performed in a wide variety of ensembles. She has played in numerous premiere ensembles throughout her college career, along with playing professionally in the Cincinnati area. Additionally, she has played substitute horn with both the Perrysburg Symphony Orchestra and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra.

Kaylee is an activist for equality not only in her field as a classical musician, but also in everyday life. After the ruling of Roe v. Wade in 2022, she commissioned a new work for solo horn by Hayden Mesnick, entitled Speak, which she premiered in 2023 during the New Music Festival at Bowling Green State University. She hopes to commission and premiere more works in the future.

Aria Stenzel

CMS Instructor 

Areas of Expertise

• Piano
• Jazz 
• Composition
• Voice

Education

• BM, Jazz Composition, The Ohio State University (expected 2027)

Aria Stenzel is a passionate teacher and versatile multi-instrumentalist with specialties in jazz piano and composition. Aria is currently pursuing a BM in Jazz Composition at The Ohio State University where she has been fortunate to study jazz piano with Dave Powers and jazz improvisation with Robert Brooks. At the university, she has been a member of the Bebop, Video Gamp Music, Latin jazz combos as well as a vocalist in Gospel Choir. Outside of the university, she has been a member of multiple local bands and choirs.

Justin White

Graduate Associate and CMS Instructor 
 

Areas of Expertise

• Tuba and Euphonium

Education

• DMA, Tuba Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2027)
• MM, Tuba Performance, The Ohio State University
• BM, Tuba Performance, The University of Akron

Justin White, a native of Kent, Ohio, currently serves as the instructor of tuba and euphonium at Muskingum University and is a graduate associate at The Ohio State University. He holds a Master of Music in tuba performance from Ohio State where he studied with James Akins, and his Bachelor of Music in tuba performance from The University of Akron where he studied with Dr. Christopher Blaha and Tucker Jolly. 

Upon completing his time at Ohio State, Justin has been active as a freelance musician in Central Ohio. He has performed with the Newark-Granville Symphony Orchestra, Westerville Symphony, New Albany Symphony, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. He has been featured as a soloist for the Columbus Symphony Pint Size Performance series as well as with the Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds. In addition to freelancing, Justin maintains a large private studio, which includes students across Central Ohio.

Jieying Zhang

CMS Instructor 

Areas of Expertise

• Music Education - Early childhood / K-12
• Voice
• Chinese Instrument - Erhu

Education

• PhD, Music Education, The Ohio State University (expected 2028)
• MM, Music Education, Carnegie Mellon University
• BA, Voice Performance, Minzu University of China

Jieying (Ying) Zhang, a PhD student in music education at The Ohio State University, is serving as a graduate teaching associate. Before coming to Ohio State, she taught in China for six years, gaining extensive experience in general music, choral, and Chinese music instruction. Her teaching spans early childhood, primary, secondary, and undergraduate entrance levels.

She has contributed to the Chinese national textbooks Art Drama (Chinese Opera) and serves as a deputy editor for Chinese national teaching reference book Art Drama (Chinese Opera). In addition, she presented at the 2022 China National Music Education Conference in Beijing. Her research interests include music perception and cognition, the non-musical benefits of music education, and music technology in learning and creativity.

Jieying has served as a competition judge, children's academic music test designer, and mentor for new teachers. She was also recognized as a Backbone Teacher in Haidian District, Beijing. Her honors include the National Basic Education Quality Course Selection Award (2023) and recognition as a Beijing Outstanding Graduate (2017).

Kaleigh Rummel

CMS Graduate Intern

Areas of Expertise

• Flute 
• Arts Administration 

Education

• DMA Flute Performance, The Ohio State University (expected 2028) 
• MM Flute Performance, Ohio University (2025)
• MA Arts Administration, Ohio University (2025) 
• BM Flute Performance, Ohio University (2023) 

Kaleigh is excited to join CMS this summer through the Mellon Foundation Summer Arts Engagement Program. As a summer associate, she will support the administrative work that helps bring meaningful musical experiences to the community. This fall, she will begin the second year of her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Ohio State University, where she studies with Katherine Borst Jones and serves as Vice President of The Central Ohio Flute Association. Prior to her doctoral studies, Kaleigh earned a Master of Arts Administration in Music Leadership, a Master of Music in Flute Performance, and a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance with a minor in conducting and a certificate in the health and wellness of performing artists from Ohio University. While at Ohio University, she studied with Alison Sincoff and served as the graduate assistant for the flute studio. Her teaching experience includes private instruction through The Athens Community Music School as well as appointments at Marietta College and West Virginia University at Parkersburg, where she served as Adjunct Professor of Flute.

In addition to her performance and teaching activities, Kaleigh assists with internal operations for Chamber Music Columbus and is committed to supporting their mission of enriching the cultural life of central Ohio through the celebration of chamber music. When she is not playing her flute, she is busy pursuing her personal training certification through The National Academy of Sports Medicine. Her other interests include baking, crocheting, and spending time with her two cats, Callie and Peanut Butter.