Musicologie Grandview

DEVIN COPFER  is a performer, recording musician, registered Suzuki teacher, and arts entrepreneur based in Columbus, OH. Graduate of the Ohio State University [BM Violin Performance, BA Arts Management ’14].

Devin is the co-founder, director, and violinist in Chamber Brews, a new music performance series committed to breaking down the fourth wall in classical concerts. She also serves as violinist in Columbus’ new Janus String Quartet with the professor of cello at the Ohio State University Mark Rudoff, violist Nancy Nehring, and violinist Leah Anderson. Janus recently performed with BalletMet in their fall 2019 series BeMoved.

Devin is currently serving as Assistant Concertmaster in the Newark Granville Symphony Orchestra, and as Principal Second violinist with the McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra. In her freelance performing career, she has worked with the Central Ohio Discovery Ensemble, Columbus Dance Theater, the Columbus Museum of Art, Ohio Wesleyan University, the Ohio State University, Capital University, and the Wexner Center for the Arts.

Devin’s pop and rock projects include Small Songs [AVANT POP], Fables [FOLK/ROCK], Lowlights [FOLK/ROCK], BABS [FUNK/ROCK], and is a featured vocalist on the 2019 Waves de Ache [AFRO-CUBAN JAZZ] album.

A recipient of 2018 program grants from the Johnstone Fund for New Music and the Greater Columbus Arts Council, Devin is an arts advocate dedicated to sustaining creative programs in the Central Ohio region.

Devin’s strong commitment to Suzuki violin teaching is revealed in her philosophy of nurturing responsibility, respect, and love. She follows Dr. Suzuki’s notion that truly, everyone can learn, that “any child has the possibility to be musically inclined” as long as we nurture a love of learning and creativity at home as well as in the studio. Devin believes that through music lessons, we not only get to know our playing, but we get to know ourselves. Through the violin we will cover work ethic, responsibility to music and learning, enrolling the immediate and extended family in our effort and success, the joy of hard work, and so much more. In my studio, we understand that success doesn’t come from outcome, but rather from our journey — and we get to learn how to play the violin as well!

Megan Callison is a vocalist and pianist from Aurora, Illinois. She received her bachelor’s degree in voice performance at Illinois Wesleyan University and is currently pursuing her Master of Music and Singing Health Specialization at The Ohio State University. Megan is a student of Professor Loretta Robinson and has performed with OSU Opera and Lyric Theatre and Opera Project Columbus in several productions, such as A Quiet Place by Bernstein and The Merry Widow by Lehar. Megan has been teaching for the past 4 years and performed with Prairie Fire Theater’s Children’s Opera Outreach program for 3 years, educating students in low-income areas about the arts. While currently pursuing classical music, she was raised on musical theatre and enjoys teaching a wide variety of genres!

Joe graduated in 2008 from the Capital University Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance. During his college career Joe studied music performance, and pedagogy with Dr. Gail Lehto Zugger, Dr. Michael Cox, and Dr. Lisa Jelle. Though his studies focused primarily on the clarinet, they also included saxophone, woodwind methods, music theory, composition, and voice.

In 2012 he had the opportunity to serve as a producer on the album Insteption for the Dick and Jane Project, a Columbus based non-profit which empowers students through songwriting. Joe worked directly with young people to transform their lyrics into professionally recorded songs.

He has over 10 years of experience teaching students of all ages and ability levels, and is excited to teach through Musicologie!

Jenna Johnson is an experienced professional pianist and vocalist currently based in Columbus. She is highly trained in classical and jazz styles as well as improvisational piano. Jenna’s extensive background in public performance includes music leadership in houses of worship since the age of 12 and community involvement through various musical groups and theatre companies in the Greater Grand Rapids area.

Jenna graduated summa cum laude from Western Michigan University in 2015. During university, Jenna performed in multiple music groups on and off-campus and began teaching music lessons for friends and fellow students.

Jenna is a proud member of the Clintonville Community Choir and leads weekly worship at New Albany United Methodist Church.

Kate Merryman is a soprano originally from the Northern Virginia/DC area. She recently graduated from The Ohio State University with a Master of Arts in Vocal Pedagogy and Singing Health Specialization where she served as a graduate teaching assistant and was awarded the Margaret Speaks Vocal Scholarship Award. She also graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from George Mason University.

Her performance repertoire includes opera, musical theatre, and concert works. Her most recent roles include Elvira in #UncleJohn with Opera on the Edge (coming fall 2017), Lisette in La Rondine, Belinda in Dido & Aeneas, and Johanna in Sweeney Todd with The Ohio State University Opera and Lyric Theatre. She also sang the role of Pamina in The Magic Flute with Opera Columbus’s “Opera Goes to School.” Other performance credits include Les Misérables (Cosette), Into the Woods (Cinderella), Legally Blonde: The Musical (Elle Woods), and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator). She was nominated for a WATCH Award for Best Lead Actress in a musical for her role as the Narrator and also received a Broadwayworld.com nomination for Best Lead Actress in a Musical (Local) for her role as Elle Woods. Her concert works include soprano soloist for Fauré’s Requiem with the St. Veronica Catholic Church in Chantilly, VA and soprano soloist for Handel’s Messiah at Bluffton University.

Kate 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 help students discover their own voice and explore the many possibilities their voice has to offer.

“A bird doesn’t sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” -Maya Angelou

Kay graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors in vocal performance and psychology and a minor in piano. She has 15 years of piano and voice teaching experience with students of all ages and levels. She began teaching private lessons when she was in high school and taught at her Bexley home until 2014 when she started Musicologie with her husband Joseph.

Kay has toured nationally with folk/pop band Bella Ruse as lead vocalist and keyboardist for 4 years, opening for artists like Sarah McLachlan, Heart, Metric, and Kimya Dawson. Her songs and performances have been heard in commercials, film and television including placements on MTV and Showtime. Performer Magazine called her voice ‘truly unique’.

Liz Woolley studied classical voice and piano at Snow College, which quickly morphed into a love for jazz. She received her jazz education from both Snow College and the University of Utah. She has traveled internationally to both Italy and Singapore to perform classical and jazz works.

Following her performance education, Liz finished her degree at Utah State University in Logan, UT in music therapy. While in Logan, Liz was a vocalist, mandolinist, and songwriter in two local bluegrass bands (The Pretty Darns and Dry Lake Band) and she lent her vocals and original tunes to many bluegrass, pop, hip hop and folk recordings for various artists. Along with albums with her bluegrass bands, Liz has released two solo jazz albums, “A Little Bit Romantic” (Dec 2011) and “Do Love” (Nov 2014).

Liz works as a music therapist for children with autism at Helping Hands Center for Special Needs in Columbus, OH. She has taught both piano and voice for many years and is excited to be teaching lessons at Musicologie.

Matt Patti is a vocalist and pianist from Dublin, Ohio, currently in his final year of study at The Ohio State University, pursuing degrees in both Music and Computer Engineering. Matt studies classical voice under Professor Loretta Robinson and also has a background in musical theatre and pop music. Most recently, he has performed with the OSU Opera and Lyric Theatre in several productions, such as Candide by Leonard Bernstein.

Matt is also music director of his co-ed a Cappella group, The Ohio State of Mind (OSM a Cappella), who recently made history as the first collegiate group from the state of Ohio ever to advance to the International Championship of Collegiate a Cappella (ICCA) Finals - the competition from the movie, Pitch Perfect!. With his group, Matt had the opportunity to perform among the top ten competitive groups of the year at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. As music director, Matt arranges pop songs for as many as eight voice parts, and is responsible for leading and teaching his peers.

Hoping to combine his passions for music and engineering, Matt dreams of going into music production and audio engineering, while of course continuing in his love of performing and teaching, as well!

Nate Smith teaches guitar, bass, beginning piano and beginning drums. He also has years of experience running rock band programs for kids and has played all over the world. He graduated from the Ohio State University with a degree in jazz performance, where he studied under Dr. Paul Robinson and Andy Woodson. Nate has toured with the OSU jazz ensemble in Europe, plays with local jazz and rock musicians, and performs regularly with the Westerville Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan’s curriculum incorporates the essentials of a musical education while simultaneously catering to each of his students’ personal interests. His experience in jazz, rock and classical music allows him to communicate a broad understanding of music. His ability on multiple instruments makes him a great teacher for students who want to explore a variety of musical directions.

Nathan received his Bachelor of Music from the Ohio State University with a double major in piano performance and music history. There he accompanied several choirs, and co-founded the OSU New Music Collective, a group dedicated to the performance of contemporary composers. He attended the Conductor’s Retreat at Medomak in Maine where he studied orchestral conducting with world renowned pedagogue Kenneth Kiesler. He has served as associate conductor for the Ohio State University’s productions, including Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Puccini’s La Rondine, and Cy Coleman’s City of Angels.

Nathan has concertized widely, working as pianist for Opera Columbus, BalletMet, Opera Project Columbus, Columbus Children’s Theater, the Ohio State University, and other major institutions and companies in central Ohio. As a teacher, he has taught over 300 students in the Columbus area. He currently works accompanying and coaching languages for voice students at the Ohio State University and freelances for a diverse array of performances, including pop concerts, voice recitals, chamber music and opera.

Regan Tackett, soprano, holds a degree in Vocal Performance from Oakland University and a masters degree in Voice Pedagogy from The Ohio State University. A current student of Dr. Scott McCoy, Ms. Tackett’s recent engagements include winning the OSU Concerto Competition and the Wilson Competition. She additionally enjoyed performances as Queen of the Night with Opera Columbus’s “Opera Goes to School” production of The Magic Flute, as well as the opportunity to perform the role of Cunegonde in Candide with Ohio State Opera & Lyric Theatre. Ms. Tackett enjoys a variety of musical genres and performs twentieth-century modern works as well as classical-period works.

Nick Terelle has been a dedicated musician for over 18 years and graduated from the College of Wooster in 2010 with a Bachelor's of Music in Theory and Composition. In 2016, Nick received his Master's of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. His master’s thesis focused on teaching adolescent youth and designing an adaptable teaching curriculum that focuses on each student’s musical goals, needs, and interests.

For over seven years, Nick has been active in the Columbus area (with a brief sabbatical teaching in Cleveland), and loves to perform, educate, and share his passion for music. Nick's musical influences include Bill Frisell, John Scofield, Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, D’Angelo, Tera Melos, and John Barry.

Robert Mason is a pianist, teacher, and arranger from Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from OSU with a BM in Jazz Studies and a minor in Music, Media and Enterprise. He performed with The Ohio State Jazz Ensemble and did an extensive tour in China. Robert has studied privately with legends Mark Flugge, Dave Powers, and Bobby Floyd and apprenticed with local greats such as Shawn Wallace, Cedric Easton, Chris Brown, Milton Ruffin, James Gaiters, Jerry Powell, and Gregory Pearson.

Raised in Gahanna, Ohio, Robert began taking piano lessons in third grade from a couple named Adam and Betsy Grimes. He began jazz piano lessons in high school with Columbus staple, Mark Flugge, who not only helped him grow as a musician, but challenged him to become a better person.

Robert has won numerous awards for jazz performance including the Louis Armstrong Award for outstanding musicians while still in high school. He also received several scholarships at OSU including the Atkin Jazz Scholarship, Tom Battenberg Jazz Scholarship, and the George and Janice Scantland Jazz Scholarship.

Robert currently performs with a number of groups in Columbus including Mojoflo, and his personal jazz ensemble The Robert Mason Trio. He also leads worship every Sunday at Flintridge Community Baptist Church.

As a kid, Matt Murphy couldn't stop tapping rhythmically on desks, chairs, tables, and sisters. He spent countless hours at the piano plunking out movie scores, pop songs, and video game themes until his mother decided that maybe music lessons would be a better outlet. After attending Denver University for jazz performance, he has since turned that annoying habit into a profession.

He has toured the U.S and Canada leading bands on drums, piano and even beatboxing, playing in styles ranging from jazz, latin, rock, and even a video game cover band. With an infectious enthusiasm for music education he brings a broader and practical approach to piano and percussion.

His influences include Ben Folds, Shel Silverstein, Picasso, Mr. Rogers, Jack DeJohnette, Miles Davis, and every music teacher he ever had. A native of Colorado and brand new to Columbus, with his 15+ years of teaching experience he is eager to invigorate children's lives with music!

Madelyn Munsell, cross-over soprano, is from the St. Louis, MO metro area. She recently graduated from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music with her Masters of Music in Opera Performance. At the Boston Conservatory, she performed the roles of Despina in Cosi fan tutte by Mozart and Constance in Les Dialogues des Carmelites by Poulenc on the main stage. In her undergraduate studies, Madelyn received her Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance, as well as minors in German, Music Entrepreneurship, and Multicultural Studies. In 2017, Madelyn won first place at the MTNA National Young Artist competition in Voice. She is an alumna of the Artists in Training program at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

Madelyn has a vast performance repertoire, ranging from new opera, to Mozart, to metal. She’s toured nationally with rock band Mocklove and has sung at Boston, Massachusetts and Long Island, NY Warped Tour dates. In addition, Madelyn has an extensive pop composition portfolio. Her pop compositions have been heard in the Giorgio Armani Fall/Winter 2017 ad campaign as well as New York and Paris Fashion Weeks.

Madelyn believes in breaking down the walls surrounding classical music and its culture and furthering music technology in a constantly evolving technological world. She strives to instill confidence in her students and help them find their own individual voice.

Rob Firestone teaches beginning guitar (from ages 5 to 100!), fingerstyle pop, classical, jazz, blues, folk, pop, contemporary Christian and gospel, classic rock, guitar composition, improvisation, sight-singing and ear training and music theory. He also teaches ukulele and beginning bass guitar.

Rob’s teaching experience spans over 30 years including The Ohio State University’s Creative Arts Program, University of Akron, and private lesson programs in Columbus. Having earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies Composition and a Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance, Rob provides a wealth of knowledge and training to his guitar students.  Comfortable teaching all ages, from 5 years and up, Mr. Firestone truly enjoys teaching students how to make beautiful music with a guitar.

Christiana Calantropo is a violinist and dancer from Virginia Beach, VA.  She started violin with the Suzuki method at age 5, participating in her first international Suzuki performance tour to Italy at the age of 10 with the Suzuki Strings of Hampton Roads.  Christiana furthered her musical studies in high school at The Governor’s School for the Arts, with whom she had the privilege of performing as Concertmaster at Carnegie Hall in New York City. 

Christiana received her Bachelor’s in Music with a concentration in Music Industry from James Madison University. During her studies, she has performed extensively in musicals, weddings, opera orchestras, chamber music groups, for nursing homes, and for city events in Virginia Beach with the group Dolce Strings.  In recent years, she has branched out into improvisational playing and creating her own music. Christiana is new to Columbus and is excited to build her studio here! She strives to craft a fun teaching experience that inspires you and your musical heart.

Danny plays guitar, bass, drum set, synthesizers of all sorts, and computers to make original music. He has been writing, performing and recording in different groups for the past fifteen years. He strongly believes in the importance of creativity and participation in artistic communities. Danny's professional life has included working in special education, tailoring curriculum to meet the needs of individuals, and tutoring elementary school students. He understands different humans learn differently and thinks it's a good thing, after all if we all had the same brain we'd all be making the same music and that would get quite boring.

Aaron has enjoyed teaching piano now for over 22 years. He achieves quick progress by maintaining a balance between technical exercises, method books, supplementary material, clear weekly goals, and a strong music theory.  His focus is with traditional/classical styles.

Growing up, Aaron competed regularly and helped judges with competitions, developing a keen understanding of what it takes to win and give a quality performance. Believing that recitals are important to a student's progress, he requires that students memorize their pieces and gives them at least 3 months of preparation.

After attending Ohio State University for Piano Performance, Aaron has owned and operated 2 music schools, managed two other schools, and continued to teach private lessons.  He works with all ages from children to adults.