Sarah Austen
Founder & Owner
Sarah has been teaching music lessons since she was fifteen years old. She has been studying both flute and piano even longer. Since getting an early start instilling her meticulous craft and passion in younger musicians, she received a Bachelor’s of Music Education from Eastern University. At Eastern, she studied flute under Kim Trollier and piano under David Bryant. Right out of school, she began teaching music full-time, and hasn’t looked back since. She enjoys the unique challenges of each age group she teaches, ranging from toddlers to retirees. Nowadays she focuses primarily on advanced piano. Sarah is currently accepting new students only on a selective referral basis.

Jon Gardner
Jon is a composer and arranger based in Philadelphia, PA. While earning music degrees from the University of Valley Forge and UMass-Amherst, Jon apprenticed under Jeffery W. Holmes, and Guggenheim Recipient Dr. Felipe Salles studying copyist and arranging techniques along with jazz ensemble rehearsal techniques. A three time honorable mention award winner in the international Ithaca College Jazz Composition Contest, Jon has become a sought-after arranger and composer while maintaining an active performing role. Jon has served as an educator for various collegiate, K–12 ensembles throughout various areas of Pennsylvania; Massachusetts; Connecticut; and Poland.

Kayla Young

Kayla earned her BA in Music Education from Eastern University in 2012. She studied flute with Dr. Kimberly Trolier and trained in vocal and instrumental methods. She earned her teaching certificate in the state of Pennsylvania in 2013. After graduation, Kayla began teaching individual and small group music lessons and continues to enjoy working with young musicians as they learn and grow. She has experience in classical orchestra, pit orchestra, symphonic band, marching band, chamber ensemble, and choir.

Brooke Papatolis
Brooke Papatolis is a Vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist based in Philadelphia, PA. Brooke studied at The University of the Arts and holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance with a master’s degree in Music Education (PK–12); she is a certified music teacher in the state of Pennsylvania. Her studies provided her formal training on all instruments, as well as in many varying methods of teaching. At the University of the Arts, Brooke studied all Vocal styles of music under teachers Annie Sciolla, Carol Luttrell, Elizabeth Radigonda, and Jeffery Kern; She also studied jazz and classical vibraphone under Tony Micelli. During her time at UArts, Brooke was also able to play with numerous performing ensembles on Voice, Vibraphone, and Trumpet. Brooke’s goal as a music educator is to provide all students a wholesome and well-rounded music education in order to inspire a passion for music.

Logan Dell’Acqua

Logan Dell’Acqua, originally from Traverse City, Michigan, is a passionate and versatile musician now based in Philadelphia. With a BM in Voice from DePauw University and a MM in Opera from the University of Michigan, Logan enjoys teaching Voice, Beginner Piano, and Beginner Guitar to students of all ages. Logan has had the joy of performing with companies like Nashville Opera, Des Moines Opera, Detroit Opera, and Shreveport Opera, as well as in professional choirs across France, Germany, and England. With a background in Songwriting and Musical Theater, Logan strives to create a welcoming and supportive environment for students exploring various musical styles.

Nate Bryant
Nate Bryant is a Boston-based film composer and conductor who will graduate from Berklee School of Music in December, 2024. Nate specializes in orchestral and hybrid-electronic writing and composition for the screen. His background and influences range from music in fantasy to science fiction, and everything in between. Nate is currently working on new music while he teaches bass guitar, keyboard, and advanced composition and theory, all virtually.

Mike Rilli
Philly-based educator, composer, and performer, Mike Rilli focuses primarily on trombone, his main instrument. He also teaches trumpet, french horn, baritone, tuba, piano, and guitar. He studied at the University of the Arts where he received his undergraduate degree in Jazz Performance and Masters in the Art of Teaching (MAT). Equally passionate as a teacher and performer, Mike performs for many acts, not only in Philly, but throughout the nation. To his weekly music lessons, he brings a wealth of real-world experience as a working musician. He hopes to inspire every student he teaches while helping with their own individual aspirations.

Sean Gallagher
Sean is a multi-instrumentalist from Boyertown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple University with a degree in music composition, and is currently based in Philadelphia. He gigs regularly on guitar, piano, drums, and bass for several artists. He has a cat named Sharon Smith and loves to bike and read.

Christopher Radliff

Christopher Radliff holds a degree in Music and studied Classical Guitar under Allen Krantz at Boyer College of Music. He has taught guitar for over 11 years, with students ranging from 4 years old to 70 years old. His performances include the Temple University Choir, the iconic Kimmel Center, and singing the national anthem at a Philadelphia Phillies game. He has also performed multiple solo events, including being the resident musician at the sought-after Phoenix Botanical Garden. His expertise is in Classical Guitar with focus on early Renaissance through the Baroque period. Christopher is extremely enthusiastic about the art and tradition of the classical guitar and teaching the proper technique and knowledge of music theory. He models his teaching style from Segovia, Aaron Shearer and Scott Tennant.

David Ng’ang’a

Dave Ng’ang’a plays the saxophone, bassoon, flute, drums and guitar. He grew up in Kenya where he played Bassoon with the Kenya National Youth Orchestra and Safaricom Youth Orchestra . He moved to the states in 2018 to study at Cairn university where he transitioned away from Orchestra and more to Jazz on the tenor saxophone.

He graduated from Cairn University with two degrees, a BA in music and a BS in Computer Science. Dave has a very thoughtful and deliberate approach to music which He continues to practice in his free time. He hopes that he can share the same passion he has for music onto the students he encounters in Philadelphia.

Nick Sontag

Nick is a classically trained violinist who began his musical studies at a young age. He is deeply passionate about music and loves sharing that joy with other players. In addition to orchestral strings, he is also proficient on some woodwind and brass instruments, as well as piano. Nick has also been teaching lessons for various instruments at the Sam Ash in King of Prussia.

When he isn’t teaching, Nick is one of the Orchestral Interns for Philadelphia Sinfonia, one of the youth orchestras in the Philadelphia area. Nick is great working with musicians of all ages and he always makes sure to make music fun for everyone!! In his free time, Nick enjoys hiking in the woods or going on urban adventures.

Austin Alfano

Austin is a Philadelphia based multi instrumentalist. He specializes in playing and teaching guitar, piano, electric and upright bass, and mandolin. Austin studied jazz bass with world class teachers at Montclair State University. For the past 10 years, Austin has played guitar and bass for numerous country and bluegrass bands in and out of Philadelphia. He currently plays guitar for Philadelphia’s premier bluegrass group Midnight Flyer and fronts his own string band, Red Tailed Rounders. 

Austin has a passion for teaching music and passing on his knowledge to new musicians. His teaching methods include fostering creativity and enjoyment in music, along with teaching solid fundamentals. He feels that these are important factors in becoming a well-rounded musician with a love for music. 

Kara Goodrich
Soprano Kara Goodrich is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University of  Michigan. Kara is also a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts. Operatic roles  performed at AVA include the title role in Rusalka, Fiordiligi in Cosí fan tutte, Countess  Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Anna in Puccini’s lesser known Le Villi. Kara made her  professional Opera debut in 2017 with Michigan Opera Theatre as Countess Ceprano. In 2020  Mrs. Goodrich took the stage of Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall for a solo recital after being named  the grand prize winner of the International Buono Alexander Vocal Competition. Kara has appeared in leading roles with opera houses across the country such as Micaëla in Carmen, Pamina in The Magic Flute with Utah Festival Opera, Mimi in Annapolis Opera’s production of  La Boheme, Mimi in Opera Philadelphia’s production of La Boheme, and Rusalka with Opera  Ithaca. Kara regularly performs around the Philadelphia area. For updated performances please  visit Karagoodrichsoprano.com. 

Alyssa Heric
Alyssa Heric is a pianist from Nazareth, PA. As a graduate of Eastern University and the Templeton Honors College, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a concentration in Worship Arts. During her time at Eastern, Alyssa studied piano under Dr. James Correnti and Mr. John Silva, as well as organ under Dr. Jeffrey Fowler. Alyssa has served as a collaborative pianist for many vocalists, instrumentalists, and choirs and has enjoyed playing on worship teams at several churches. Alyssa is passionate about encouraging her students to pursue personal excellence in their technical ability while developing a wide range of expressivity, emotionality, and story-telling in their music-making.