Our Team - Music Faculty

AJ Yorio is a Cincinnati native who lives in the Mt Washington neighborhood with his wife Carolyn and son Luca. He wrote and composed his first song for full orchestra in the 7th grade and it was performed in concert for the community (special thanks to conductor and very-cool-middle-school-orchestra-instructor Alison Oprea). 

AJ is currently a published songwriter / performer as the lead guitarist and founding member of The Heavy Hours. AJ has co-written and collaborated with the likes of Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys), David Baron (Lenny Kravitz), Simone Felice (The Lumineers), Vance Joy, Pat Mcloughlin, Ronnie Bowman, Bobby Wood, and many more. AJ's song "Don't Walk Away" (co-written with Dan Auerbach and his band members) peaked at 17 on Billboard's Alternative charts and can be heard inside Kroger and Target all across the US. 

Currently, AJ plays in and tours with The Heavy Hours (signed to BMG Music label), collaborates with local artists, and works on solo projects as well. When he isn't touring around the country, he is writing, recording, and teaching all things music. AJ can play and teach violin, mandolin, bass, guitar, drums, and music theory but focuses heavily on acoustic and electric guitar with an emphasis on songwriting.

Anna Dunlap has served as the principal harpist of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in Alabama since 2020 and has performed as a substitute harpist with orchestras throughout the greater Midwest region including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Louisville Orchestra, and Nashville Opera. In May of 2023, she performed as a fellow in the National Arts Centre Orchestra Mentorship Program in Ottawa, Ontario, performing in two subscription programs with the NAC Orchestra. Passionate about contemporary music, Anna was a founding member of New Downbeat in Cincinnati, OH; performed the world premiere of Blue Flowers on the Flowing Water by Fang Man in 2022 for Intersection New Music of Nashville, TN; performed with the Pittsburgh New Music Ensemble for their recording of Sparrows by Joseph Schwantner in July of 2023; and has appeared with concert:nova in Cincinnati. She has performed as a concerto soloist in Cincinnati, OH; Baltimore, MD; and Rochester, NY, most recently performing the Debussy Danses Sacree et Profane with the Hopkins Concert Orchestra. 

As a recipient of the prestigious Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music, Anna was a featured soloist on WXXI Rochester’s Backstage Pass in February 2018. She has previously attended Orford Musique where she studied with Jennifer Swartz and Caroline Lizotte and the Aspen Music Festival and School where she studied with Nancy Allen and Anneleen Lenaerts. Currently pursuing a DMA with a cognate in Arts Administration from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Anna earned her MM from CCM in the studio of Dr. Gillian Benet Sella, graduate certificate in Orchestral Performance and Digital Creation through OAcademy in the studio of Jennifer Swartz, and her BM from the Eastman School of Music in the studio of Professor Kathleen Bride.

Brenton Carter, a native of Winchester, Illinois, is the Acting Principal Bass of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. He is an active freelance bassist performing with many orchestras in the region including the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

Brenton holds a Masters of Music and an Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied with Owen Lee. He has also studied with Rachel Calin, Kurt Muroki, Lawrence Hurst, Tim Pitts, Nicolas Crosse, Max Dimoff, and Stephen Lester.

When he’s not teaching, practicing, or performing, Brenton likes to spend his time biking, hiking, and running.

Carolyn comes from a family of musicians including her grandfather, Dr. Ernest Lunt, the founding director of the Mendelssohn Choir in Pittsburgh.  She received a scholarship and completed her B.S. in Vocal Performance and Piano from Heidelberg University.  She attended University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and received her M.A. in Music Education and Opera. Carolyn believes in a positive approach in teaching and that words of affirmaiton are key to any type of instruction. 

In addition to vocal competitions, Carolyn has performed in Opera and Theater.  She has directed children and adult choirs and has taught all levels of piano and voice students. 

Cheryl Ann Raine is both a CCM and Miami graduate, with a Masters of Music Education in Supervision and a Major in Organ.  She has been active as a music educator and church musician for over 40 years.  Cheryl is in her 5th year as Organist at Fleming Road United Church of Christ.

After 10 years as an Adjunct Music Instructor at Mount Saint Joseph University , teaching Organ, Class Piano and Church music skills, she is focused on Piano Instruction at Wyoming Fine Arts Center with the Raine Music Studio at home.

Doodle, a rescued Shih-tzu provides hours of enjoyment and active companionship for walks, games and meeting other dog-owners. 

Instrument or Specialty:

Musik Kids

Piano (ages 4 through adult)

Voice (ages 9 through adult)

Darlene taught her first piano lesson as a teenager and loved her award-winning high school show choir. After earning her Music Education degree from Florida State University, she taught high school and middle school choir and trained church vocal groups in Florida.  In 1999, she moved to Cincinnati and established her private voice and piano studio; additionally, she taught preschool music classes and participated in church music programs.

Darlene loves to help people of all ages grow in ability and confidence as they explore the world of music.

Donald Broerman, a Cincinnati native, earned his BM in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) under the direction of Clare Callahan, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2013. He has also studied with David Case at the University of Oregon (School of music), as well as, Jazz guitar with Mike Denny and Chris Sorenson and started his training at the Musical Arts Center in Cincinnati.

During his time at CCM, Mr. Broerman performed in master classes from internationally acclaimed artists such Oscar Ghiglia, David Russell, Robert Belinic and Rupert Boyd and participated in classes given by Zoran Dukic, Marcin Dylla, Carlos Perez, Johannes Möller, Daniel Lippel and others.  Coruses completed for degree include:  Guitar Pedagogy, Guitar repertoire and History, Guitar Ensemble.

Mr. Broerman is an active composer, whose compositions are primarily solo guitar works. He briefly studied composition with Terry McQuilken at the University of Oregon, Orchestration at CCM and private lessons with Jennifer Jolley (Composition Professor at Ohio Wesleyan, President and Co-founder of N.A.N.O. Works Opera Company). A budding interest in this field has led to performances of his own works at CCM’s North of Here, Classical Revolution and a commission by The Ascend Project.

Mr. Broerman serves the community through his work in non-profits. He is the current President of Greater Cincinnati Guitar Society, as well as, a member and guitar adjudicator for the Ohio Music Educators Association. Donald is a dedicated pedagogue.  His students have won gold medals in the Royal Conservatory of Music examinations. He currently teaches at Indian Springs Academy of Music, Wyoming Fine Arts Center and Leaves of Learning, select Cincinnati Public schools and is a co-director of and instructor for the CCM Guitar Youth Workshop.

Gayna Bassin teaches traditional violin and viola to students from age 6 to adult, with emphasis on reading skills, technique and musical styles.  She has been on the faculty of the Wyoming Fine Arts Center since 1997.

Mrs. Bassin was a member of the First Violin section of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for twenty years.  She has performed as Concertmaster for Musica Sacra and the Cincinnati Community Orchestra.  During college, she performed in many international music festivals, including Blossom (Kent State University, OH), Tanglewood (MA), the Casals Festival in Puerto Rico, and the Orchestra de les Jeunesses Musicales.  

Mrs. Bassin has been a soloist with Cincinnati Community Orchestra,the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Windsor Symphony.  She has played many solo and chamber music recitals locally and is an active member of Matinée Musicale Cincinnati. She also plays klezmer violin in the Queen City Klezmorim band.

Mrs. Bassin received a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she studied with Ivan Galamian, Jaime Laredo, and Jascha Brodsky.   She received a Master of Music Degree from Indiana University at Bloomington, IN, where she studied with Josef Gingold.  She has been coached in chamber music by members of the Guarneri, Curtis and Budapest Quartets.

Jill Phillips, mezzo-soprano, received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in voice from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music. In addition to her studies, she has performed as an alto soloist with the Bach Ensemble of St. Thomas in Terrace Park, OH. In the fall of 2017, Jill sang the alto solos in J.S. Bach's Mass in B minor at Cincinnati's Christ Church Cathedral.

Jill performed as the alto soloist in the Peoria Bach Festival in 2017. In addition, she was the alto soloist in the Verdi Requiem with Bradley University in Peoria, IL, in the fall of 2016. During the summer of 2015, she was a Young Artist at Opera Saratoga, where she covered the roles of Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas and Cenerentola in La cenerentola.

She earned her Master of Music degree in voice from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.  While at CCM, Jill sang the roles of Marcellina in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, the Old Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Baba the Turk in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress.  In addition, she participated in the Opera Fusion: New Works project with CCM and Cincinnati Opera.

Jill has been an Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera and made her mainstage debut at DMMO in 2013 as the Zweite Mägd in the company's production of Elektra. She has sung with Kentucky Opera, NANOWorks Opera, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, and Dayton Opera. In addition, Jill has been a Studio Artist with Wolf Trap Opera.   

She has sung scenes from such operas as Anna Bolena, Cendrillon, La cenerentola, The Crucible, Dead Man Walking, Don Carlo, Giulio Cesare, L'italiana in Algeri, Peter Grimes, and Vanessa.

In addition to performing, Jill teaches private voice lessons at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center in Wyoming, OH. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.  While at Luther College, she performed in the opera scenes program and the spring opera productions.  

Joe Robinson was born and raised in Cincinnati by a family of musicians and has studied guitar for 17 years. He also plays bass guitar, ukulele, percussion, as well as the keyboard/piano. You can find him inspiring, enlightening, and empowering others in individual lessons, group lessons and master classes. Joe takes an individualized approach with each student to help them build the skills they need to progress and the passion for them to succeed in achieving their goals.

 Since 2018, Joe has been writing, recording, arranging, and distributing his own original music under the alias Coupe Knoobe. He is inspired by all genres of music, as well as the artistry that goes into the recording, engineering, and producing process. His goal is to not only teach how to play instruments, but to instruct students on how to be creative musicians! Outside of music, Joe enjoys spending quality time with the love of his life Katie, two beautiful daughters Teagan and Rowan, and four fur babies!

Kevin Patrick is a well rounded, and experienced bass/saxophone player that has been performing around the Greater Cincinnati area for the past seven years. He has worked with many groups from various genres including the Tyler Moore Band, Amy Sailor Band, Ethan and Joey, Jersey Joe with Steel Away, and Crocodile Smile. His work with these groups has allowed him to learn how the music industry operates while also perfecting his craft with over 150 public performances each year. Some of his notable performances include opening up for artists such as Gretchen Wilson, Thomas Rhett, Colt Ford, and Parmalee, and Bailey Zimmerman. Kevin can also be seen performing at the Hard Rock Cafe in Cincinnati every month, where he has been able to perform and record many commercials on the Cafe stage. 

Kevin started studying music in specialized performance schools when he was 15 years old. In 2015, during his junior year of high school, Kevin was accepted into the Music Performance program at Butler Tech School of the Arts. During his time at this school, he was able to develop enough skills to continue his studies into the collegiate level. Kevin attended Northern Kentucky University with a major in Music Education with an Emphasis in Jazz Bass. He had the pleasure to study with some of best educators in town such as Mr. Bill Jackson (jazz) and Dr. Ian Saunders (classical). Kevin currently teaches students of all different grade levels and abilities, serving as K-8 Music Teacher at Orion Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Mariia Demash holds a Master's degree in Music, obtained from the Academy of Arts in Kyiv, Ukraine. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor's degree at UNTAM Tchaikovsky in Kyiv, Ukraine. She is an exceptional musician specializing in viola and also skilled in violin and piano. Hailing from Donetsk, Ukraine, she brings her passion for music and European musical expertise to the United States. She boasts a wealth of experience and recognition from prestigious orchestras and opera studios. From October 2018 to February 2022, she served as an orchestra member at the Opera Studio of the National Academy of Music in Kyiv, Ukraine. Building on her international experience, she expanded her horizons as an orchestra member at the North Bohemian Theater of Opera and Ballet in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic, from March 2022 to August 2022.

Mariia has actively participated in numerous concert tours and music festivals, with some of the highlights including Opera Fest at the castle in Bratislava, Slovakia, solo skits in Prague, Czech Republic, and a rock concert as Alesh Bright in Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic. She has garnered prestigious awards and prizes for her solo performances in international contests, receiving the 1st prize as a soloist in Autumn Leaf Fall in Mariupol, Ukraine, and Seasons in Kyiv, Ukraine. 

Mariia is dedicated to inspiring and nurturing young talent as she teaches children at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center. Her passion, expertise, and commitment make her an ideal mentor for aspiring musicians.

Mike Wade, also known as “Shorty Bop”, is a professional trumpeter that can play funky grooves that make you want to swing! He began playing trumpet in his pre-teen years. While attending the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington, D.C, he received a National Symphony Fellowship to study with symphony trumpeters. He attended Central State University on a full scholarship to earn a bachelor’s in music education. After that, he earned a Graduate degree in Classical Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. Since then, he has made a name for himself as a producer, composer, arranger, and educator.

Mr. Wade has over 20 years of experience teaching at Withrow International High School, while also being a private music instructor. He is the founder and leader of three groups: The Standard Time Jazz Quintet, Mike Wade & The Reality Band, and Mike Wade & The Jazz Mafia. He has been named as one of the top ten unsigned jazz and brass players by Jazziz Magazine. He has performed and/or recorded with artists such as David “Fathead” Newman, Clark Terry, Javon Jackson, and many others. He has also performed on Black Entertainment Television (BET) Jazz Discovery show and WOSU Jazz Voices television series.

Other accomplishments include winning the Cincinnati Cammy Award for Best Small Jazz Group, being a recipient for both the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the John Philip Sousa Award, and placing first at the Virginia State University Classical Solo Competition. His personal music features a blend of funky hip-hop, smooth jazz, R&B, and go-go.

A Cincinnati native, Peter McCutcheon began playing double bass as a way to learn a musical instrument but keep a safe distance from his older brother who played violin. Quickly, Mr. McCutcheon became passionate in performance, and at the age of 13 he debuted with the Cincinnati Community Orchestra, performing Mahler’s 1st Symphony and Holst’s The Planets. Over a decade later, Mr. McCutcheon has performed with various local orchestras, including the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and the Queen City Chamber Orchestra.

Before attending college at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), Mr. McCutcheon became interested in pedagogy when he began teaching private lessons to younger bassists. At the age of 18, he became Suzuki certified, becoming the only Suzuki-accredited double bass teacher in Cincinnati at the time.

Alongside being a double bass specialist, Mr. McCutcheon has incorporated his love of music into his faith. He is an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where he can be seen playing bass guitar and double bass, arranging music, leading youth ministry, and other various musical tasks when called upon. More recently, he has taken on the role of Worship and Music Administrative Assistant, and now works actively each week in the planning and organization that goes into each worship service.

Mr. McCutcheon received his pre-collegiate instruction from Dayton Philharmonic principal bassist Debbie Taylor. He has earned a Bachelor of Music from CCM, and is now working towards his Masters degree, studying under Rachel Calin. During his Masters, Mr. McCutcheon is also serving as a Graduate Assistant of Music Education, where he can be found teaching String Methods to undergraduate music education majors. It was during his experience as a Graduate Assistant that Mr. McCutcheon grew fond of all of the instruments in the strings family, and now has multiple years of experience playing and teaching violin, viola, and cello in addition to his double bass expertise.

When not thinking about bass or music, Mr. McCutcheon enjoys solving advanced Sudoku puzzles, collecting vintage books, and collecting vinyl records.

Preston Charles III is a violinist that has had the best of both worlds; a standard private education in classical music and Suzuki as well as contemporary forms of music performance. This includes jazz, rock, funk, hip-hop, and pop. Performing since he was four, Preston’s passion for music encompasses a wide variety of musical interests from musical composition to playing flute and piano.

Preston realized his dream when he established Make It Happen Music in 2012. He is one of the city’s most active performers. Recent projects include: Blink 2022 (performing artist) in collaboration with Triple Sonicz and OTR Alit, the Cincinnati Hip Hop Orchestra in partnership with Elementz, Black and Brown Artist Grant ArtsWave award Recipient for film and music production, Cincinnati Music Accelerator, Maestro of Tomorrow judge, Books Alive, The Street Stage Project for CMA/ 3CDC, CSO MAC Award and opening for CSO Pops, the Conner Prairie Museum Center in Indiana for music composition and production, Double Forte Musician and Make Music Cincinnati.

For the past decade, Serenity Fisher has taught private piano lessons, songwriting, and playwriting at the Wyoming Fine Arts Center. Her extensive training in piano, vocal technique, musical theatre and writing fuel her passion for teaching. 

She offers a well-rounded, enjoyable musical experience for both children and adults. Lessons are tailored to the individual needs and interests of each student. The lessons may include: development of technique and theory using method books such as Faber, Bastien, and Alfred’s; using chord charts to play and sing popular music; songwriting and composition; and improvisation. Her teaching style is fun, inventive and engaging. Serenity’s teaching style emphasizes creativity and self-expression; maintaining a safe and respectful environment that values each students individuality; and fostering a lifelong love of playing music. 

Serenity is a dynamic group instructor, teaching groups of students the art of songwriting. She is also versed in teaching students to compose using not only their own voice, but also on piano, ukulele, and guitar. 

She provides opportunities for her students to perform outside of recitals, including playing at professional music venues and local festivals, sometimes opening for sets her own performances. 

She performs original music with her band, Serenity Fisher and The Cardboard Hearts, which features two other teachers from The Center: Rose Reidmiller Gowda on violin and Michael G. Ronstadt on cello. She’s released three studio albums: Watercolor Harmonies, Rogue Strawberry, and Carousel of Love. The band call their music: theatrical indie dream pop with a Tim Burton-esque twist. 

Serenity co-founded the Tangled Leaves Theatre Collective with playwriting partner Robin O’Neal. She’s written, produced, and acted in five original plays, three of which were winners of the Cincinnati Fringe Festival’s “Audience Pick of the Fringe” award. As a theatre instructor, Serenity enjoys helping students develop characters and story lines and to learn how to collaborate with others to create an entirely original theatrical production. 

Serenity is happy to call Cincinnati home, though she tours and teaches both nationally and internationally, including teaching piano, voice, and choral pieces at a music camp in Ireland. When not teaching or performing, she enjoys doing puzzles and listening to audiobooks. 

Spencer is a working musician. Outside of lessons, he plays across the Midwest with Zack Attack, the “Greatest Throwback Party Band Ever.” With Zack Attack, Spencer regularly plays clubs and casinos, weddings, private parties, and corporate events. At weddings, Spencer often provides lovely instrumental ceremony music, or lively instrumental cocktail music. 

Spencer plays as a soloist for private parties and events, performing jazz, classical, and solo guitar arrangements of popular songs. His “solo career” has had him performing at some of the most beautiful destinations for weddings and private parties across New England and the Midwest. 

As a performer, Spencer has gained valuable experiences that he gladly shares with his students. Through work with cover and event bands, Spencer has had to learn to transcribe by ear and prepare guitar parts to be performance ready. In lessons, he uses this training to transcribe songs that students want to learn. Through his work as a soloist, Spencer has had to arrange entire ensembles into a single guitar part. In lessons, he can arrange a guitar part to a particular student’s skill level. His transcription and arrangement skills allow students to learn almost any song they please. 

Spencer doesn’t just teach how to play songs, but finds connections between songs, patterns in songwriting and guitar parts, and directs each student’s lesson plan along a smooth arc of learning. This allows students to hone old skills while tackling new skills. 

Rather than just playing guitar, Spencer understands music. In part, this is due to his experience as a professional musician, but he also benefits from a Master of Music in Music Education (Boston University, 2013), and a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Otterbein University, 2006). The balance of higher education and practical application of that education has given Spencer a broad, open-minded approach to music and music education.

A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mrs. Stella Bardetti received her B.A. in Music (Piano) and Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from the Northern Kentucky University. She also studied piano at the Chautauqua Music Festival in 1998 and 1999 where she received the Eleanor B. Daugherty Scholarship both times. In 2000, Mrs. Bardetti was a semi-finalist in the Eastern Ukraine International Piano Competition in Luhansk, Ukraine. She is a sought-after guest lecturer on the topics of Music Theory and the benefits of Early Music Education as well as an experienced adjudicator for various piano competitions and juried events. Mrs. Bardetti is a Certified Musikgarten Instructor. Various music festivals throughout the world that she has participated in include: Chautauqua Music Festival at the Chautauqua Institution in NY, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival in Vietri sul Mare, Italy; KIIS in Salzburg, Austria; and the Aub Chamber Music Festival in Aub, Germany. 

The 2022-23 school year marks Mrs. Bardetti's 25th year teaching Piano and she is an active member of Music Teachers National Association. She also taught Voice for 7 years. From 2013 - 2014, she was a Representative for Steinway & Sons Pianos in the Tri-State area, and received intensive sales training at the famous Steinway & Sons factory in Queens, New York. Her duties for Steinway included organizing the Steinway Young Artist Concert Series, event planning, and being the liaison for all of the Steinway Artists who came to town to perform with the CSO and other organizations. A highlight of being a Steinway Representative was when she was given the high honor of being in charge of the famous Horowitz Steinway (CD503) when it came to the Greater Cincinnati area in 2013. As a pianist and vocalist, she has performed in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Austria, Italy, Ukraine, and France. A few years ago, Mrs. Bardetti became a licensed Musikgarten teacher. A lifelong learner, she is currently a student of concert pianist  Luiz de Moura Castro in Hartford, CT.  

Mrs. Bardetti and her husband, Michael, enjoy time with their family and friends, cooking, movies, and traveling.

Valerie received her Bachelor of Music from SUNY Potsdam, and her Master of Science in Education with a concentration in music education from the University of Dayton. Suzuki Piano Teacher Training, levels 1 through 6, was pursued at Capital University. Further professional development includes Kodaly music education from the Kodaly Institute at Silver Lake College, and Orff –Schulwerk music education. Additionally, Valerie is a licensed and certified Musikgarten instructor.

As an Ohio certified teacher of Music Education, K-12, she has taught in both public and private schools. Her professional experiences also include over 20 years as a liturgical choir director, choral accompanist, and ballet school accompanist.

As a Starling Competition first prize winner, Yuko studied at CCM where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance. While at CCM, Yuko was the concerto competition winner and performed the Tchaikovsky violin concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Upon completion of her studies at CCM, Yuko went on to receive Master’s Degree in Violin Performance from Indiana University with Violin Pedagogy as a cognate field. Her teachers include Naoko Tanaka, Franco Gulli and Won Bin Yim. Yuko is also a former member of the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra and has been on faculty at the Center since 1997.