Violin/Viola/Basic Piano

Katherine Gray is an experienced and professional violinist, Suzuki-certified educator, and passionate performer with over two decades of experience in the field of music. 
Born and raised in Santiago, Chile, she began her musical journey as a self-taught violinist at the age of eight, driven by natural curiosity and passion. She began formal lessons at age nine and quickly emerged as a dedicated and talented young musician.

She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Universidad de Chile, where she studied under the instruction of Rodolfo Mellado. Seeking further artistic and professional development, she moved to the United States and completed both a Master of Music in Violin Performance and an Artist Diploma Certificate at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was awarded a full scholarship for her Artist Diploma in recognition of her exceptional talent and dedication.

As a performer, Katherine has appeared as a chamber musician and orchestral player in concerts and festivals across Latin America and North America. Her festival appearances include the FEMUSC International Music Festival in Brazil (2017–2018), the Huilo Huilo Music Festival (2018), and the FIMP - Festival Internacional de Música en la Patagonia (2018), where she studied and performed with renowned faculty and fellow musicians from around the world, like Otto Derolez, Alessandro Borgomanero, Matias De Oliveira, Richard Roberts, and Ole Bøhn, among others. 

She currently performs with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra and the Butler County Symphony Orchestra, contributing to Western Pennsylvania’s vibrant classical music scene.

As a Suzuki-certified violin teacher, Katherine is known for her warm, structured, and encouraging teaching style. She works with students of all ages and levels, preparing them for competitions, participating in youth orchestras, and pursuing personal enrichment. Her approach combines the technical rigor of classical training with the nurturing, ear-based methods of the Suzuki philosophy.

When she's not teaching or performing, she enjoys spending time with her pets, reading, or relaxing by building LEGO sets — a creative hobby that reflects her love of structure and imagination.

Piano

Maikol Perez Gomez began his musical journey as a saxophonist in 2012 at the Manuel Saumell Elementary Conservatory of Music in Havana, Cuba. By 2014, he had double-majored in Saxophone and Piano Performance, graduating with honors in both instruments in 2017. He continued his education at some of Cuba’s most prestigious institutions, including the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, and the Superior Institute of Art of Cuba.

With over four years of experience as both a performer and educator, Maikol has served in a variety of musical roles. He spent three years as a faculty member in the piano department at the Manuel Saumell Conservatory. He also worked for two years as an accompanist at the Amadeo Roldán Conservatory, collaborating with students in Viola, Violin, Trumpet, and Clarinet performance. Additionally, he served as an accompanist pianist for the Orchestra Conducting Department at the Superior Institute of Art under the mentorship of renowned Cuban conductor Guido López-Gavilán, from whom he also received brief instruction in orchestral conducting.

Maikol has extensive experience working with chamber music formats, both as a collaborative pianist and ensemble coach. He also enjoys coaching students interested in composition and harmony, helping them develop both their technical and creative skills.

As a teacher, Maikol believes that true learning happens when a student understands the meaning behind what they are studying, rather than simply memorizing patterns or technical exercises. For example, when a student is learning Debussy, he may encourage them to read Baudelaire or Andersen to absorb the cultural and emotional context behind the music. He teaches with an integrative approach that emphasizes depth, curiosity, and expression. Any musical genre is welcome in his studio—his goal is to help students develop a versatile and meaningful relationship with their instrument.

As a performer, Maikol has earned multiple national and international awards. These include: 1st Prize (2025) at ‘’ Maria Garcia International Piano Competition” at Penn State University, 3rd Prize and Best Interpretation of Mexican Music at “ Jose Jacinto Cuevas Yamaha International Piano Competition” (2025), 1st Prize (2021), and 2nd Prize (2017) at the Villahermosa International Piano Competition, 2nd Prize and Best Interpretation of Cuban Music at the Amadeo Roldán Regional Piano Competition (2018), 2nd Prize at the New York International Music Competition (June 2024). A Caribbean Region Prize awarded by UNESCO (2023), which provided him a full scholarship to attend the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, where he studied with world-renowned pianist Lilya Zilberstein

Maikol is fluent in Spanish and English, and he is currently pursuing a Dante Alighieri certification in Italian. He is currently studying Piano Performance on a full scholarship at Duquesne University under the guidance of Dr. Kevin Lee Sun.

Guitar/Bass Guitar

Miguel Martínez is a musician and engineer based in Pittsburgh, PA. Originally from Venezuela, Miguel grew up in a family of self-taught musicians and bards. He discovered a love for Latin American folklore and rock-and-roll at a young age, training in classical guitar and voice, bass guitar, and percussion throughout his life.

After moving to Miami in 2014, he recorded and performed with famous Venezuelan musicians, Frank Quintero and Carlos Puchi.

In 2022, he moved to Pittsburgh for his engineering career, later joining the Mariachi International de Pittsburgh, the first of its existence as a year-round active Mariachi band in the city and surrounding areas.

Outside of music, Miguel enjoys various aficionado electronics, home and auto improvement projects, and visiting with his many friends and family members around the country.

Flute/Voice

Montse Briceño is a Spanish flutist and dedicated music educator who brings warmth, creativity, and European musical tradition to every lesson. With over fifteen years of teaching experience in Europe and the United States, she believes that learning music should feel inspiring, structured, and joyful , no matter your age.

Montse works with children, teenagers, and adults, from complete beginners to advanced students. Whether it’s a young student playing their very first note or an adult rediscovering music later in life, she creates a supportive space where students feel safe to explore, make mistakes, grow, and shine.

Her teaching is inspired by European pedagogical approaches that combine strong technical foundations with imagination and expression. She has developed her own Four-Step Learning

Method: Build Strong Foundations; Healthy posture, breathing, and technique from the very beginning. Understand the Music; Rhythm, theory, listening skills, and musical awareness. Explore Creative Expression; Tone color, phrasing, storytelling, and individuality. Perform with Confidence: Learning how to share music with calm, presence, and joy.

Montse incorporates creative tools into her lessons — games, movement, mindful breathing techniques, recordings, and technology - to make learning dynamic and engaging. She also brings her experience as an active performer, having played with orchestras and ensembles in Europe and the U.S., into the studio in a way that motivates students without pressure.

Above all, Montse believes music lessons should nurture confidence, discipline, and self-expression. Her goal is to help every student discover their own musical voice- and enjoy the journey along the way.

She starts many mornings feeding birds and squirrels before heading to school — music and nature are her daily rituals.

Clarinet/Saxophone

Jorge is a dedicated and accomplished Colombian clarinetist who has been active in the music scene since 2005. His career blends extensive orchestral experience with a strong commitment to music education. As a clarinetist, he brings a refined understanding of the symphonic repertoire, shaped by years of study, performance, and collaboration with renowned conductors.

He has been honored with prestigious distinctions, including the Gold Medal With Distinction in the Netherlands (2017), the Antonio Nariño Medal of Merit, and the Orden Policarpa Salavarrieta in Colombia, testaments to his artistic excellence and dedication.

Throughout his career, he has worked under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Carlos Miguel Prieto, Felipe Aguirre, James Gourlay, Matthew Kraemer, and Moon Doh, among others. His orchestral experience includes performances with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Colombia, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (UK), the YOA Orchestra of the Americas, the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra, and, most recently, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Each of these collaborations has contributed to his artistic growth and interpretive depth.

Since 2006, Jorge has also been deeply committed to music education. His pedagogical approach balances technical mastery of the classical repertoire with creative exploration, fostering expressive, thoughtful, and well-rounded musicians.

With a career that unites performance excellence and a passion for teaching, Jorge continues to make a meaningful impact on the musical landscape, both on stage and in the classroom.

When he is not teaching or performing, as a good Colombian, he enjoys drinking good coffee and loves discovering new coffee places around the Pittsburgh Area.

Oboe/English Horn

Justin Carson is a Pittsburgh-based oboist, woodwind specialist, and educator, born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He regularly performs as a substitute oboe and English horn player with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra and the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra. In addition, he frequently collaborates with ensembles such as Pittsburgh Musical Theater, the West Hills Symphonic Band, and the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra. He also performs in a wide range of professional and community theater productions and church services throughout the region.

Alongside his performing career, Justin is the owner of PureBark Double Reeds, an online shop specializing in handmade oboe reeds for both students and professionals. He also serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the West Hills Symphonic Band and maintains an active private woodwind teaching studio.

Justin is a proud graduate of Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied oboe with Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida, Principal Oboist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. He will begin pursuing a Master of Music in Oboe Performance in fall 2026, studying with Scott Bell, former Second Oboe of the Pittsburgh Symphony.

In his free time, Justin enjoys playing board games, video games, and anything Disney-related with his husband and their dogs, Bucky and Rudy.