Our Teachers

Andrew Baird

Guitar, Ukulele, and Banjo

  • Andrew Baird is a guitarist, composer, and educator, born in Houston, raised in Austin, Texas. He began playing guitar at the age of 11 and immediately connected with the instrument. His passion for music led him to Idyllwild Arts Academy, a residential performing arts high school in California, where he further nurtured his skills.

    Andrew went on to pursue higher education at the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Guitar Performance. He continued his studies at the New England Conservatory, obtaining a Master’s in Jazz Studies with honors. 

    After graduation, Andrew moved to New York City to pursue a career as a performer, composer, and educator. In the bustling music scene of NYC, he quickly made a name for himself, performing at legendary venues such as The Iridium and The Blue Note, working across multiple genres.

    Throughout his career, Andrew has performed with a wide array of acclaimed artists, including Latin Grammy Nominee Julio Botti and John Lennon Songwriting Contest winner Allegra Levy. He has also shared the stage with some of Broadway’s finest, performing with musicians from the Lion King and Aladdin orchestras, as well as Tony Nominee and legendary singer, Norm Lewis. 

    Beyond his performing career, Andrew is a passionate educator. He obtained a Master of Arts in Music Education in 2018, and has since taught in diverse settings, from New York City public schools, and continues to inspire the next generation of musicians with his unique blend of technical expertise, personability, and real-world experience.

    Andrew’s specialties on the guitar include Jazz, Bluegrass, Classic Rock, Folk, and several others.

Logan Flaherty

Drums and Percussion

  • Logan Flaherty is a versatile drummer from Seattle, WA who specializes in rock, pop, and funk. After almost 15 years of private instruction in Seattle, he attended Berklee College of Music where he played in dozens of ensembles, recorded in world-class studios, and ultimately earned his bachelor’s degree in 2024. Logan has had the privilege of studying with legendary drummers, including Alan White (Yes/John Lennon), Tim Alexander (Primus), Stanton Moore, and Dave DiCenso, among others.

Spencer Roberts

Bass and Woodwinds

  • Spencer has earned bachelor's degrees in both Music Education and Music Composition from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX, and has earned Master's degrees in both Music Composition and Instrumental Conducting, also from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.

    His primary instruments are the main members of the saxophone family (soprano, alto, tenor and baritone) with doubles that include Bb Clarinet, Flute, and Electric Bass. His accomplishments include being selected as a winner of the 2021 SCI (Society of Composers Inc.) Composition Contest, as well as an Irving Symphony Orchestra Student Composer in Residence for the Fall of 2021. Also, as a result of the 2021 Clarinet Call For Scores UWSP (University of Wisconsin - Steven's Point), his latest unaccompanied work for Bb clarinet titled "Pinocchio" will premiere in Ireland in the near future.   Spencer was the saxophonist for Midnight Soul during his time in DFW, a high energy party band specializing in weddings, corporate/private parties, and festivals. The group includes a seasoned lineup of two stellar vocalists, four to five talented multi-instrumentalists and engaging choreography; they offer a well-rounded list of hits in their repertoire from the 60s to today.      

    Spencer was also the saxophonist and auxiliary percussionist for My Life, a Billy Joel tribute band that plays live shows throughout the DFW area and beyond. Their sets include hits such as "The Piano Man", "We Didn't Start The Fire", "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant", and many more.

Aash Durg

Guitar

  • Aash Durg is a guitarist, composer, band leader, and educator currently residing in Austin, Texas. As a recent graduate of the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music with a degree in Jazz Performance, Aash has showcased his skills in several award-winning ensembles. These include the Frost Jazz Orchestra (FJO) under the direction of multi-GRAMMY-winner John Daversa, the recent downbeat-winning Funk-Fusion Ensemble led by Steve Rucker, and Frost Extensions, the latter with whom he has toured alongside. Aash has had the opportunity to collaborate with notable artists such as Dick Oatts, Terrell Stafford, Regina Carter, Michael Mayo, Peter Eldridge, and Marcus Strickland. His collaboration with Strickland culminated in the recording of his debut album entitled "Rebirth".

Artur Troshko

Piano and Voice

  • Artur Lugo Troshko is a versatile multi-instrumentalist music producer and composer originally from Houston. He attended Purdue for Audio Engineering Technology for a year, where they were a part of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club as the guitarist and sound technician. After transferring to the University of Texas, he received a degree in Arts and Entertainment Technology with a focus in Music and Sound where he studied music composition under Austin-based film composer Sam Lipman (Richard Linklater, Terrence Malik).

    Artur’s specialty lies in sound design, with synthesis being the main focus. It is the facilitator for his range in work which includes producing for billboard charting artist Nesya to scoring “Visions of a Love” by Myles Garza, an official selection for the 45th Cinefestival in San Antonio. He releases his own music under the name Artie Trasshko, ranging from jazzy indie rock to synthy cumbia to scenecore hyperpop. Artur has also worked in various studios around the Austin area including Churchouse Studios under producer David Boyles (Robert Plant, David Byrnes). He is also part of various musical groups of different styles including Brazilian shoegaze, norteño, and darkwave.

    Beyond his work in music production/performance, Artur has been a passionate music educator for a variety of instruments including piano, guitar, and synthesizers, as well as running a social media page dedicated to music production tutorials that has amassed over 100k views. From elementary to college level, he has experience teaching a wide range of skill levels. 

Laura Jorgensen

Voice

  • Laura Jorgensen grew up in the Pacific Northwest with a music-teaching grandmother, and started vocal training with the Seattle Children's Chorus at age 7. She expanded on her classical background with studies of contemporary & world music styles at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she earned a BM in Professional Music with a self-directed curriculum. After a stint working as a walking tour guide in Paris, Laura moved to Austin in 2013 to study music from a more academic angle and completed a Master of Music in Ethnomusicology with a focus on music of the Balkan region. While at UT, Laura enjoyed working as a Teaching Assistant for courses like History of Rock, Music in World Cultures, and the Bereket Middle Eastern Ensemble. Since finishing grad school, she has worked as a private voice teacher and with many music education and creative learning programs around town, including Mother Falcon Music Lab, AllRhythms, and MINDPOP. Laura is also an award-winning songwriter and has performed both as a solo artist and with a wide variety of different ensembles ranging in style from country to Qawwali, on stages from Brazil to Pakistan. In addition to voice, she is a persistent "instrument dabbler" who plays a little bit of a lot of things, including piano, hand percussion, accordion, and mountain dulcimer. She enjoys tailoring lessons to each student's interests and making music learning fun at any age!

Jake Harrell

Guitar

  • Jake Harrell is a versatile musician and educator, raised and based in Austin, Texas, with deep roots in the city’s vibrant musical scene. Specializing in early jazz and swing, Jake brings his talents to the stage nightly across a diverse range of genres and groups, including acts such as Rent Party, Blue Dot Swing, Rico Rico, Pendulum Hearts, Austin Django Project, as well as captivating audiences as a solo artist.

    In addition to his live performances, Jake’s dedication to sharing music extends to teaching both music and production. He is an experienced audio engineer, and a music teacher with degrees in music performance, music business, and audio engineering. Jake also records, mixes, and produces for other artists, blending his technical expertise with an easygoing nature and a passion for creativity, collaboration, and sharing music with others.

Amber Blue

Early Childhood

  • Amber Blue is an Austin-native childrens’ musician, songwriter, jazz singer, and proud kazooist. Growing up, she traveled throughout Central Texas and the Gulf Coast with her family band (Mr. Johnny and Friends) bringing highly-interactive musical programs to thousands of children at festivals, parades, libraries, schools and local venues. To date, Amber has played over 500 shows, co-produced and starred in two family-friendly dramas at the Scottish Rite Theater, interviewed with John Aielli on KUTX, launched a wildly popular family music night at Central Market, and published five childrens’ books with a team of artists and writers (including her dad). As she began college at the University of Texas, Amber wrote an original acoustic tune that landed first place and debuted before the entire incoming class under the UT tower. Now with a degree in Journalism, Amber combines songs with storytelling, sings with local jazz groups, and continues her family’s passed-down legacy of creating wholesome, entertaining music for both kids and grown-ups of all ages.

    As a teacher, Amber takes time to meet each student at their own curiosity level while curating an atmosphere of encouragement and fun. She is passionate about helping students discover the joy in making music at an early age so that each may cultivate a true desire to explore and create music for life.

Ben Knight

Voice

  • Ben Knight is a musical theatre voice teacher and performer. A native Texan, he grew up in Amarillo where he began performing at the age of 5 and fell in love with the stage. He graduated in 2021 from Baylor University with a BFA in Theatre Performance, and in 2023 from NYU with an MM in Musical Theatre Vocal Performance and an Advanced Certificate of Vocal Pedagogy. During his time at NYU, he was hired on as an Adjunct Instructor of Voice, and he was active on the executive board of SNATS (Student National Association of Teachers of Singing). He currently maintains his membership with the parent organization NATS as well as MTEA (Musical Theatre Educators' Alliance). In 2024 he could be seen performing across the globe on a cruise line in Europe, at Hersheypark in PA, and currently at Six Flags Fiesta Texas. His approach to teaching is evidence-based - you can expect to leave a lesson with Ben with a detailed list of exercises tailored to a specific muscle group and skill. He is the perfect match for a beginning student looking to solidify their foundational technique, an ambitious musical theatre performer looking to take it to the next level and possibly audition for collegiate programs, or anyone who is just looking to sing! You can check out his vocal reel, studio manual preview, and more at https://www.jbkvoice.com/.

Esteban Alvarez

Piano

  • A confluence of pop hits, classical standards, Latin music, and the alternative and experimental music of his youth, along with his jazz training has made of Esteban a very unique artist. Born and raised in Costa Rica, Esteban is a renown pianist and the perfect music ambassador of the 21st century. His charming personality and passionate playing make him a piano music star.

    Esteban began music lessons at the age of 10, and music became his passion ever Since. His natural talent and his discipline opened the doors to the USA, where he pursued his bachelor's and master's degree in piano and jazz studies at Baylor University and University of North Texas with full scholarships. With a very sophisticated academic music training, Esteban has become a popular and world-music pianist who has mastered the art of blending music styles in the piano; his first album Tico Groove (link) includes a mix of jazz and world music, featuring internationally renowned drummer Ignacio Berroa (Dizzy Gillespie's drummer) and bassist Lynn Seaton (Count's Basie's bass player). The album is a compilation of music from his home country Costa Rica and has been featured in numerous magazines and radio shows in Europe and North America. His second album

    "Piano Meets Mariachi" is another example of this blend of styles. Featuring Mariachi Nuevo Tecalitlán this album portraits the most beloved music from Mexico. The Mariachi is his orchestra while the piano "sings" the everlasting melodies that have given some of the music identity to Latin America.

    Alvarez became a Steinway Artist in 2013 (https://www.steinway.com/artists/esteban-alvarez-calvo), a recognition given to artist such as Vladimir Horowitz, Duke Ellington, Lang Lang, Billy Joel or Ahmad Jamal. Esteban has performed and recorded as a solo artist in multiple festivals in Israel, Hong Kong, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Cuba, Czech Republic, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, Serbia and Bolivia. Esteban has recently finished his third solo album called "Roots of The World", which features artists such as Los Kjarkas (Bolivia), Divina Banda (Cuba), Luis Enrique Mejía (Nicaragua), Trío Los Panchos (México), and other artists from Costa Rica.

    Besides the magic Alvarez brings to the piano with his music and touch, what's most remarkable about him is how his music career has flourished away and separated from the old and traditional music industry; his music fans know him, and he knows them, as he is in permanent contact with them. Simply put, Esteban has created a culture around his music and art, and he is an inspiration for youngsters eager to learn how to play the piano, and how to build a fan base who loves it.

    Esteban is an active world music concert pianist. He has recently won the first prize in the Leopold BellanInternational Music Competition, as well as first prize in the Rocky Mountain International Music Competition.

    Esteban lives in Austin Texas,, and travels regularly to his home country Costa Rica. .

     

Josh Meadows

Piano

  • Josh Meadows is a pianist, composer and teacher based in Austin, TX. He grew up outside of Detroit, where he began taking classical piano lessons at age 7. After becoming fascinated with jazz several years into his piano journey, he was fortunate enough to be mentored by some of Detroit’s finest jazz musicians including Marcus Belgrave, James Carter and Rodney Whittaker. He went on to continue his musical education at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre and Dance where he studied with such luminaries as Geri Allen, Andrew Bishop and Bob Hurst. Gigging professionally since age 14, Josh has travelled all over the world playing many styles of music including jazz, classical, hip-hop, funk, R&B and pop. His passion for performance is equaled by his dedication to music education: he finds teaching to be an absolutely essential component of his musical vocation, out of respect both for his teachers and the generations to come. Currently he splits his time between the Texas jazz scene, freelance studio work, writing original music and his studio of students.

Billy Satterwhite

Bass

  • Billy Satterwhite has been performing and teaching double bass and bass guitar in the Austin area since 2012. Growing up in Clear Lake, TX, he began studying music from a young age on trombone and bass guitar. After being introduced to jazz towards the end of high school, he began learning the double bass at the age of 17 and fell in love with the instrument. He went on to earn a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Texas State University in 2009, and a Master of Music in Improvisation from The University of Michigan in 2012, where he studied with legendary jazz bassist Robert Hurst, and world renowned improvisers and composers such as Geri Allen and Ed Sarath. Billy believes that one of the unique aspects of the bass is its necessity in all styles of music. He has 20 years of experience performing around the United States, Europe, and Asia; playing in ensembles performing jazz, improvised music, classical, latin, bluegrass, folk, theater, and pop music. He is one of the most sought after bassists in the Greater Austin area for Jazz and Improvised music, and can be seen performing regularly around Austin in venues such as the Elephant Room and Monks Jazz Club. 


    As a teacher, Billy has worked with students from ages 7 to 70, and has taught in Austin and Round Rock ISD schools since 2012. He’s certified in the Suzuki Method for Double Bass, and has coached and guided many students to TMEA All-Region, All-State Orchestras, and the Texas All-state Solo and Ensemble competition. His philosophy centers around making big instruments like the double bass and bass guitar comfortable and easy to learn, using fun melodies and grooves to develop a good foundation of technique, tone, and music theory. Just like the bass is the foundation of the band, good technique and beautiful tone are the foundation to play any style.


    In addition to teaching and performing, Billy has worked in a variety of roles supporting other musicians and students. He’s worked as an Administrative Assistant for a music non-profit, conference and festival organizer, composer and arranger, and church music director. These work experiences developed his appreciation for the entire community effort it takes to support musicians and artists. 


    Outside of music, Billy has a passion for trail running, traveling, gardening, and loves going to Austin FC games with his wife, daughter, and friends in Los Verdes. 

Allison Oliver

Piano

  • Originally from Austin, Allison holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Texas State University, where she studied piano performance and elementary/choral music education.  

    Allison has 16 years of experience teaching in public schools in Texas, including ten in elementary music and six in middle school piano classes. She remains up-to-date with her EC-12 teaching certifications in music and physical education. 

    Allison has taught private piano lessons through the Northwest School of Music and Pfluger-Rock School of Music. She has worked as an accompanist since high school, including various middle and high school choir performances, band and vocal Solo and Ensemble Contests, the Tapestry Singers in Austin, and the Palm Valley Lutheran Church Choir in Round Rock.  

    Currently, Allison teaches a small group singing club with Lulu’s Piano Studio twice per week, accompanies for the Round Rock Community Choir, and serves as a guest educator for Round Rock ISD. 

    Aside from making music, Allison enjoys fitness, reading both fiction and non-fiction, and taking walks with her Dachshund puppy, Daxton.

JoJo Ostovich

Piano

  • Hi, my name is Xiaoxiao Ostovich, I go by JoJo. I have been teaching piano lessons since 2012, and I have taught students of all ages and skill levels, from age 5 up to adults. With a passion for fostering creativity and discipline, I like to tailor lessons that suit each student's unique learning style and musical goals. I believe in creating a supportive, inspiring environment where students can develop both their technical skills and love for music. Outside of teaching music, I am a full time elementary school teacher, and I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and snowboarding.'

Ben Thomas

Guitar

  • Ben Thomas began playing guitar at 13 years old and music has driven his life ever since.  After graduating from the Berklee College of Music in 2011 he began teaching in Nashville, TN near his hometown.  He has performed in many cities around the country in genres including Rock, Jazz, Neo soul, Americana, and solo ambient guitar.  He is a composer, an improviser, and a multi-instrumentalist who has a wide ranging approach to playing and teaching music.  His passion for music and for conveying musical knowledge and concepts is palpable. 

    Recently, his album “Transmissions from a Dream” was included in the Austin Public Library’s Electric Lady Bird Collection which showcases up and coming local musicians. 

John Burnett

Harmonica

  •   John Burnett, a semi-professional harmonica player for five decades, performs on stages all over Austin. He recently retired as a roving NPR correspondent after 36 years at the network and now has the time to teach the little instrument that has been his lifelong passion.

               John was invited to present the Harmonica Master Class at the 2024 Texas Jazz & Blues Camp put on by the Austin New School of Music. He’s a regular on the Austin music scene, sitting in with Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel, Hot Club of Cowtown, Red Young and his Hot Horns, Javier Chaparro and Salud, Rent Party, Floyd Domino, Marcia Ball, Johnny Nicholas, and Casper Rawls.

                  As a self-taught musician, John believes people can learn to play the harmonica without knowing music theory or reading music. He plays both the 10-hole diatonic harmonica and the chromatic button harmonica, in genres ranging from Chicago blues to Brazilian sambas, bebop jazz to Nashville country. He has taught dozens of people to play the blues harp on his reporting trips around the world for NPR. His vibrant personality and evangelism for “the pocket piano” are infectious. Above all, John believes playing the harp should be fun!