The Maclay Music Academy (MMA) under the direction of Aaron Seiler, Maclay String Orchestra program, offers students over 80 private half-hour sessions each week. For beginning through advanced students, grades 1-12, MMA provides professional instructors on the Maclay campus for violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, guitar, and drums. Check back for additional classes/instruments that will soon be offered. To register, click the button below, select the musical instrument/instructor, and then choose your desired lesson time.
Our Instructors
Rachel Lawton
Rachel Lawton, a violinist from Wichita, Kansas, is pursuing a Master of Music in Violin Performance at Florida State University where she studies with Dr. Shannon Thomas, serving as one of her Graduate Assistants. Rachel graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music where she studied with Dr. Carolyn Huebl. Additionally, she earned a Minor in Viola Performance. Rachel studied Suzuki Pedagogy with Dr. Zachary Ebin and enjoyed being involved with the Blair Suzuki Program. While at Vanderbilt, Rachel had the honor of performing solo on the Blair Student Showcase and in Chamber Spotlight concerts on both violin and viola. She is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, which recognizes the highest levels of scholarship, musicianship, and personal character. Rachel has attended various music festivals including the MasterWorks Festival, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, Kent Blossom Music Festival, Sounding Point Academy, and the Chautauqua Institution. She has played in masterclasses for distinguished violinists including Stephen Tavani, William Hagen, and Tessa Lark as well as bassist Edgar Meyer and the Ivalas String Quartet. Rachel is a member of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and is passionate about creating beauty through music and teaching others to do the same.
Jose Serrano
José A. Serrano is an upright bass player and pedagogue in the classical and jazz disciplines. He has a Master’s degree in Jazz Performance from Florida State University and has been a part of Tallahassee Youth Orchestra’s faculty for over 4 years. Drawing upon over two decades of mastering the upright bass, José is not just a seasoned player, but also dedicated to sharing his accrued knowledge through technique, theory, and improvisation. His commitment to fostering deep understanding, coupled with a passion for musical expression, shapes a comprehensive and engaging learning experience for students at all levels in a large variety of genres.
Jean-Luc Cataquet Santaella
Jean-Luc Cataquet Santaella a Puerto Rican violinist and teacher, began studying the violin at the tender age of four with Martin Goldman. He has also had the honor of studying with Elena Sherbanesco, Ramonita Leandry, Dianne Pinner, Dr. Brandon Ironside and Dr. Francisco Caban. He has also performed for renowned violin pedagogues and performers such as Paul Kantor, Lucie Robert, Dr. Nicholas Hatt, Gabriel Lefkowitz, and David Kim. Jean-Luc Cataquet Santaella was the first prize winner of the XXIV Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico Concerto Competition. In addition to his passions for solo and orchestral repertoire, Jean-Luc Cataquet Santaella is an avid chamber musician and has had the privilege of being coached by members of the Velox Quarett, the Ezra Duo and the Verona Quartet. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Violin Performance at Florida State University College of Music under the tutelage of Dr. Shannon Thomas and attending festivals to further develop his training.
Param Mehta
Param Mehta is a cellist and educator currently in his third year of undergraduate study at Florida State University, where he studies cello performance under the guidance of Professor Greg Sauer. With over ten years of experience on the cello, Param has developed a strong foundation in both orchestral, solo, and chamber music performance.
As a performer, Param has appeared with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Panama City Symphony, and the Northwest Florida Symphony, gaining valuable experience in professional orchestral settings. He has also participated in prestigious chamber music programs including the Hilton Head Chamber Music Institute and the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival.
In addition to performing, Param is deeply committed to music education. He teaches private cello lessons at Music Lessons Express and serves as a chamber music coach with LAMP Chamber Players, working closely with students in both individual and group environments. Param has a particular interest in chamber music and teaching, and is passionate about helping students grow as confident, expressive musicians. Outside of music, he is also pursuing a degree in Business, reflecting his broader interests in entrepreneurship and leadership.
Quin Nardone
Quin Nardone is currently a DM student for Piano Performance at Florida State University. He attained a BA in Piano Performance from the University of Florida as well as a Performance Certificate, and BS in Business Management. Quin started competing in piano competitions when he was 7 years old. He has seen success at multiple levels of the national MTNA competition, as well as in the Chopin Youth Festival, and various state competitions before attending university. During his undergraduate he won multiple concerto competitions as well as multiple scholarships from the University of Florida. While obtaining a masters of Piano Performance at FSU, Quin had the opportunity to tour with the university's national champion Percussion Ensemble. He began teaching in South Florida before starting his undergraduate and has regularly taught students of all levels since. He taught group piano classes at FSU and was a part of the teaching faculty at their Summer Piano Festival. Quin hopes to engage students with the instrument and foster enjoyment in learning and playing the piano.
Angelese Pepper
Cellist Dr. Angelese Pepper is a professional cellist and recent graduate from the College of Music at Florida State University (FSU), where she served as a graduate teaching assistant to Prof. Gregory Sauer and was a member of the Burgin String Quartet, FSU’s award-winning premier graduate string quartet-in-residence. Originally from Southern Arizona, Angelese earned the Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance magna cum laude from the School of Music, Dance, and Theater and the Barrett Honors College at Arizona State University where she studied with renowned Belgian-American cellist and pedagogue Thomas Landschoot. She then earned the Master of Music in Cello Performance and Orchestral Career studies from the School of Music at the University of Nevada, Reno where she served as Graduate Teaching Assistant to Dmitri Atapine and was a member of the prestigious Nightingale String Quartet. Dr. Pepper enjoys an active teaching and performing career in the North Florida region and regularly performs with several professional groups including the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and she is Principal Cello of the Panama City Symphony Orchestra. She is also a composer, plays the violin, viola, viola da gamba, and organ, and enjoys drawing and illustration.
Bárbara Santiago
Bárbara Santiago is a violinist originally from Gurabo, Puerto Rico. She has participated in various orchestral and chamber music festivals including Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and Emerald Coast Chamber Music Festival, where she had the opportunity to perform for renowned pedagogue Paul Kantor. Bárbara Santiago was the first prize winner of the XXI Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico Concerto Competition. She holds a Bachelors of Music in violin performance from the Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico and a Master of Music in violin performance from Florida State University. Since 2016, she has performed with different orchestras and is currently a member of the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. Bárbara Santiago is currently pursuing her Doctorate of Music in violin performance at Florida State University and is a Graduate Assistant of Dr. Shannon Thomas.
Mikayla Kreider
Mikayla Kreider is currently a PhD student in Piano Pedagogy at Florida State University. With an MM in Piano Performance from the University of Florida, Mikayla is a seasoned performer. In addition to solo performances in the US and Ireland, Mikayla is an experienced collaborative pianist, and appeared with the UF orchestra, choirs, and graduate string ensemble during her master’s degree. Her teaching career began during her undergraduate studies in her home state of Ohio, where she taught lessons at the Fairlawn School of Music for three years, and she has continued teaching privately ever since. Mikayla is committed to providing a patient and engaging learning environment that is tailored to each student’s needs and interests. She guides students in fostering a love of music while also developing technical and theoretical skills that will provide a basis for lifelong music learning.
Bianca Lupsha
Bianca Lupsha is a highly experienced musician. She has been collaborating for almost 2 decades with the FSU College of Music, FSU School of Theater, and more recently with the Tallahassee Young Actors Theater. Originally hailing from Romania, Bianca started her piano studies in her home country, received a scholarship and moved to the US in 2001 to pursue a Master's in Piano Performance at Bowling Green State University, in Ohio. Furthering her academic pursuits, Bianca moved to Tallahassee in 2006, where she earned a second master's degree in Opera Coaching at Florida State University. Since 1998, Bianca has been dedicated to private piano instruction, finding special fulfillment in teaching beginner students. Her pedagogical philosophy revolves around establishing a robust foundation through joy and enjoyment of the work, aiming to instill a lifelong passion for music. Bianca disguises the difficulties that come with learning a musical instrument through playful and rewarding lessons. She incorporates diverse elements into her teaching methodology, encompassing singing, rhythm exercises, and music theory alongside piano technique. This leads to happy students who are well set up for a life-long passion for music.