Here is a small outlook on our Band faculty at Lydia Music Center:
Call for private band lessons at : 412-364-2210.
Call for private band lessons at : 412-364-2210.
Band Teachers
Tara Yaney: flute and clarinet – BM, Peabody Conservatory of Music; BA, University of Pennsylvania. Studied with Robert Willoughby. Tara is the principal piccolo player of the Johnstown and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestras. She has also performed with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the Altoona Symphony Orchestra, Quantum Theatre, the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, the International Chamber Ensemble in Rome, Italy, the Ohio Light Opera Orchestra, and numerous pit orchestras in the Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Baltimore and Pittsburgh areas. She also performs regularly as a soloist, and in chamber music with guitarist John Marcinizyn, and with Cincopation Woodwind Quintet.
Renata Sakins: Oboist Renate Sakins is a member of the Renaissance City Winds, Akron Symphony, and Westmoreland Symphony, and has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony. She is Instructor of Oboe at Slippery Rock University, and teaches at Lydia Music Center. Her students have participated in PMEA Ensembles and have been accepted as music majors at Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, Cleveland Institute of Music and other prestigious schools.
Barbara E. Hepner: Trumpet Instructor, Graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, BFA in Trumpet Performance, 1968. BFA in Music Education, 1968 MFA in Trumpet Performance, 1970. Music Instructor in the Riverview School District for 34 years, from 1968- 2002.Included in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002.Private trumpet instructor for 53 years--1963 to present.
Mark Priore: Flute and Saxophone instructor. Mark performs with the RedHot Ramblers Jazz Band, the Joe Campus Big Band and the Palace Winds. He lead the Musik Innovations Jazz Workshop for 13 years and has been a jazz educator for over 25 years. Mark performs regularly with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as part of the BSO Academy. He is a music teacher in the Carlynton School District.
Edward YeLiu: 2nd Trumpet, AllenTown Symphony Orchestra
Trumpet, Artist Diploma Student and Graduate assistant.
Duquesne University-School of music.
Trumpet, Master of Music CCM (University of Cincinnati).
Trumpet, Artist Diploma Student and Graduate assistant.
Duquesne University-School of music.
Trumpet, Master of Music CCM (University of Cincinnati).
Mike Dorato: Trombone, Mike Dorato has a Degree in Music Performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia where he studied with Carl Mazzio, and is now pursuing his Masters in Trombone Performance from Duquesne University and is studying with James Nova, second trombonist of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Michael has performed with such groups as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. As part of community outreach Michael actively performs with a low brass quintet formed as a part of the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Outreach Program. He has played with musicians such as Michael Davis, Reggie Watkins, Janet Sung, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Michael has performed with such groups as the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, The Buffalo Philharmonic, and the Western New York Chamber Orchestra. As part of community outreach Michael actively performs with a low brass quintet formed as a part of the Pittsburgh Symphony’s Outreach Program. He has played with musicians such as Michael Davis, Reggie Watkins, Janet Sung, and Yo-Yo Ma.
Amelia Van Howe : Oboist, Amelia Van Howe earned her Master of Music from Duquesne University and her Bachelor of Music from Michigan State University where she studied with Jan Eberle. She has substituted with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra (Pennsylvania), the Jackson Symphony Orchestra (Michigan), the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra (Pennsylvania) and regularly performs with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic Orchestra and the Duquesne University Symphony Orchestra. In addition to her performance, Ms. Van Howe is a professional oboe reed maker for MKL Reeds and is the sole owner and reed maker for Sunshine Reeds. Oboe reed is available for sale at Lydia Music Center.
Xin Peng : Flute, Xin Peng received her Artist Diploma from Duquesne University May 2017, and her Master Degree from College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Her major teachers include Bradley Garner, Randolph Bowman, Damian Bursill-Hall and Jennifer Steele. Xin has performed in masterclasses of James Galway, Emannuel Pahud, Philippe Bernold and Peter-Lukas Graf in South-East Asia International Music Festival.
Xin has been a finalist in several competitions throughout the world, including Gheorghe-Dima International Flute Competition, North Carolina Flute Society Young Artist Competition and San Diego Young Artist Competition. She has performed in solo concerts both in the US and Asia. Currently, Xin Peng is a member of Duquesne Symphony Orchestra and the Triano Woodwind Quintet.
Xin won the flute position for Spoleto Opera Festival with CCM Philharmonic Orchestra 2011(Italy), and she was appointed Principal Flute of the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra 2008-2009 (China), and Shanghai Conservatory of Music Youth Symphony Orchestra 2006-2010. Xin is a substitute flutist in Johnstown Symphony and the Columbus Symphony, OH.
Xin has been a finalist in several competitions throughout the world, including Gheorghe-Dima International Flute Competition, North Carolina Flute Society Young Artist Competition and San Diego Young Artist Competition. She has performed in solo concerts both in the US and Asia. Currently, Xin Peng is a member of Duquesne Symphony Orchestra and the Triano Woodwind Quintet.
Xin won the flute position for Spoleto Opera Festival with CCM Philharmonic Orchestra 2011(Italy), and she was appointed Principal Flute of the Wuhan Philharmonic Orchestra 2008-2009 (China), and Shanghai Conservatory of Music Youth Symphony Orchestra 2006-2010. Xin is a substitute flutist in Johnstown Symphony and the Columbus Symphony, OH.
WOODWIND TEACHERS
FLUTE
Mark Priore
Tara Yaney
Xin Peng
CLARINET
Greg Grenek
Ray Kasparek
Mark Priore
OBOE
Renata Sakins
Amelia Van Howe
Shearer Kaylyn
SAXOPHONE
Greg Grenek
Ray Kasparek
Mark Priore
BRASS TEACHERS
TRUMPET
Barbara Hepner
Brian Neibauer
Edward YeLiu
FRENCH HORN
David Lintz
Edward YeLiu
BASSOON
Theresa Signorino
TROMBONE, BARITONE, TUBA
Mike Dorato
Carl Jackson
FLUTE
Mark Priore
Tara Yaney
Xin Peng
CLARINET
Greg Grenek
Ray Kasparek
Mark Priore
OBOE
Renata Sakins
Amelia Van Howe
Shearer Kaylyn
SAXOPHONE
Greg Grenek
Ray Kasparek
Mark Priore
BRASS TEACHERS
TRUMPET
Barbara Hepner
Brian Neibauer
Edward YeLiu
FRENCH HORN
David Lintz
Edward YeLiu
BASSOON
Theresa Signorino
TROMBONE, BARITONE, TUBA
Mike Dorato
Carl Jackson