Music Faculty
Abby Bush
Voice
Abby has been studying voice for 25 years, and piano for 15. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor's degree in Music and Business, as a classically and stage-trained vocalist. She loves all sorts of music from all sorts of styles, including--but not limited to--country, classical, art songs, jazz, pop, broadway, and gospel. She also has the relatively unique experience of having had to re-learn how to sing as an adult due to some surgery complications, and because of that experience, Abby is an avid advocate for ensuring the safety and health of her students and their vocal instruments. In addition to various vocal styles, Abby is well-versed in various piano styles, including classical, pop, and liturgical. Her goal is to share her love of music and the power it holds with all her students, as well as to help give people a creative way to expand their worlds and share their voices.
Catherina Carrington
Vocal technique, Stage Craft
Catherina (Catya) Carrington is a soprano interested in stage craft, vocal technique, and the variety of skills needed for vocal performance, specifically in opera. As a graduate from the Cleveland Institute of Music (BM 2025) she is curious to find different ways to engage in opera, through performance, directing, stage management, and music theory. Her goal is connection not perfection, and she strives to perform and teach in a way that allows people to connect with the motivation behind all music: emotional expression.
Ryan Detwiler
Violin
Ryan received his bachelor’s in violin performance from Baldwin Wallace University and his master’s in string performance from the University of Akron. During his graduate studies, Ryan held the Graduate Teaching Assistantship for the string department with an emphasis on solo performance, as well as pedagogy for all ages. He served as Concertmaster in both the Baldwin Wallace Symphony and the University of Akron Symphony Orchestra.
Uniquely versatile, Ryan performs professionally in a wide array of genres—musical pit ensembles, formal events, and classic orchestras. A few northeastern Ohio musical venues include the Beck Center for the Arts, Western Reserve Playhouse, and Blank Canvas Theatre. Ryan has performed in master classes with Rachel Shapiro of the Aeolus Quartet, Ross Winter, Grace Park, Takako Masame, and Domenic Salerni among others.
Andrew Dyet
Piano, Trumpet & Music Theory
Andrew is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer who specializes in piano, trumpet, music theory, and composition. Andrew plays everything from jazz and classical to experimental music. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Music in Composition from Baldwin Wallace University and his Masters of Fine Arts in Experimental Sound from California Institute of the Arts. Andrew has taught band, music theory, trumpet, and piano to young beginners all the way to undergraduates. Andrew often plays keyboard and guitar for local musical theaters including the Porthouse Theater.
Katalin La Favre
Percussion & Itty Bitty Music
A classically trained percussionist on a non-traditional path, Katalin La Favre throws her creative energy into developing captivating experiences. Interested in interdisciplinary and experimental work, she was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study with French percussionist Jean Geoffroy. Katalin remained in France for 9 years, collaborating with actors, dancers, and musicians for several programs which have been performed in France, Germany, Scotland and Portugal. These programs were vastly diverse, combining contemporary music, contemporary dance, poetry, narration, humor, and street theatre. Recently relocated to Ohio, she has developed several programs, including BACH’S MUSIC BOX, reimagining Bach’s Goldberg Variations for metallic percussion instruments, as well as promoting wellness through the arts with her sound nap programs. Katalin has a bachelors degree from the Colburn School, a masters degree and artist diploma from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, and a degree in instrumental pedagogy from the CEFEDEM Auvergne Rhone-Alpes.
Alex McGuire
Flute & Piano
Alexandra (Alex) McGuire holds a Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in Eurythmics from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Mary Kay Fink, in addition to holding a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Case Western Reserve University. She is continuing her studies with a Master of Music in Flute Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Additionally, Alex serves as a substitute flutist/piccoloist with the Canton Symphony Orchestra and the Mansfield Symphony. In March of 2022, Alex won the Woodwind Division of the Tuesday Musical Scholarship Competition. She has also performed as a soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony after winning their Young Artist Competition in 2016 and was featured as a soloist with the First Coast Wind Symphony after winning their Young Artist Competition in 2017.
David Novak
Music theory, guitar, bass, drums, & Songwriting
David Novak is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter, producer, and entertainer whose career in northeast Ohio spans over 25 years. David has been a member of the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP) since 2005, and a member in good standing of the American Federation of Musicians, represented by AFM Local 4 and Music Talent of Cleveland since 2023. He’s been interviewed by Cleveland’s Legendary Plain Dealer Newspaper entertainment Critic Jane Scott, Performed in Hollywood California at the world renowned Viper Room, and worked with acclaimed producer Fran Ashcroft whose recorded in some of the world’s most legendary studios with iconic artists, including Abbey Road Studios and Damon Albarn (Blur).David maintained a successful teaching career in the mid 2000’s in Middlefield Ohio, and opened and operated an all ages music venue Club 87, which served as a proving ground for many artists who have gone on to become some of Cleveland’s most valuable musical artists. In addition to his solo career, David serves as a session musician for many of Cleveland’s best up and coming musical artists, and has performed at many Iconic Cleveland venues including Brother’s Lounge, House of Blues Foundation Room, and Alma Theater at Caine Park. In addition to his work in music, David also obtained a B.S. in Integrated Health Sciences and Human Services, and is founder and president of Musicians Care for Rare; a 501c3 that uses the musical arts to create awareness, advocacy, and scientific advancement for people living with rare syndromes.
Christopher Venesile, PhD
Voice
Christopher Venesile, PhD, has taught vocal music to every level of singer in his career, from Kindergarten to graduate students and professionals. He started out as a high school choral director and church music director and transitioned to higher education after earning his PhD in Music Education from Case Western Reserve University. He was a long-time music education Professor at Kent State University Main Campus through 2021 and served as the Faculty Coordinator of the Master’s in Music in music education program until 2022. He founded and directed the Kent State Nova Jazz Singers in 2012, growing the program to two ensembles. In 2020, the Nova Jazz Singers were selected to perform at the 2020 Ohio Music Education Association State Professional Conference in Cincinnati. Dr. Venesile currently teaches voice and directs an ensemble at Tri-C Metro Campus and is the Director of Music at Parma-South Presbyterian Church.
Annie Qin
Piano
Guoanni Annie Qin is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance with Kathryn Brown at the Cleveland Institute of Music. She earned her Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School in New York City where she received the Van Cliburn Alumni Prize, the John Post Scholarship, the Susan Rose Piano Scholarship, and the Arnold Levy Scholarship. Annie also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory. During her undergraduate years, she earned several notable achievements, including first prize in Oberlin’s Concerto Competition and the Rudolf Serkin Scholarship Competition. She also received the Carol Nott Piano Pedagogy Prize and third prize in the inaugural Peter Takacs Beethoven Piano Competition.
Annie served as a Piano Faculty member at West Amadeus Music Studio in New York City and at Meet Music Studio. She has taught in the Juilliard Extension program and secondary piano classes as a Teaching Fellow at the Juilliard School, and has also given a master class for pre-college students. Previously, she gained varied teaching experiences at Oberlin Conservatory as a secondary piano teacher.
Her orchestral engagements include performances of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the Oberlin Orchestra and with the Xiamen Song & Dance Symphony Orchestra. Her recording of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Oberlin Orchestra has been selected for broadcast on WQXR’s Artists Showcase, New York’s premier classical radio program. Annie was selected to participate in the renowned Colorado College Festival, Gilmore Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, PianoTexas Piano Festival, and Rebecca Penneys Piano Festival.
Henry Brettrager
Guitar, Bass Guitar
Henry is a multi-instrumentalist that focuses primarily on the Guitar and Bass Guitar. Henry’s music career spans over 40 years, playing and performing various genres of music throughout Ohio and surrounding states. Henry also has extensive experience in Music Production, Recording-Mixing and live musical performance. Henry is a “Working Musician,” currently performing 60 to 80 shows a year.
Henry’s teaching background includes a wide range of venues and topics, having taught at various levels including college, high school, middle school and vocational schools. He has also taught foreign students from several countries, including Australia, the UK, and Canada.
Henry is a published author and holds dozens of Ohio State teaching certifications and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management.