Joseph Griffin II (we call him Griffin because there's another instructor named Joseph and we're easily confused) is a multi-faceted actor, vocalist, and educator based in the Washington, D.C. area. A graduate of Howard University’s Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts (BFA Musical Theatre, Spanish minor), he blends the worlds of theatre, jazz, and poetry through his rich bass-baritone voice and emotionally grounded storytelling. Joseph currently teaches voice and piano at Mike’s Music and performs with Tea Around Town D.C., a touring jazz experience celebrating local artistry.
Pianist, Organist, Vocalist, Percussionist and Choir Director for various churches, conferences, schools, bands, and events along the east coast for the past 20+ years. Has 15 years of teaching experience teaching all ages in all styles. Specializes in music composition and places a strong emphasis on building a solid musical foundation that can carry over to all instruments.
Shelley received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Hyles-Anderson College and an Associate of Science in Music Education from the College of Southern Maryland and has been teaching private piano lessons since 2004. She enjoys teaching all ages and skill sets. Specifically, her students will learn theory, ear training and repertoire. The goal is for her students to not only learn how to play piano, but to enjoy playing piano as well!
Rayna has been playing piano since childhood and recently finished her degree in classical piano from Towson University. She has studied both classical and jazz piano, as well as some percussion including mallet instruments and steel pan, guitar, and ukulele. She enjoys sharing her love of music with her students, and helping them challenge themselves and succeed.
Magdaline Kovalchuk is an American-born Russian/Belarusian cellist and pianist from Whittier, California. A passionate performer from a young age, she created and led her own chamber ensembles, playing throughout Southern California in front of local venues, galleries, and cultural landmarks. She has been awarded multiple first-place gold medals in ensemble competitions across Boston and Washington, D.C. and performed with the Whittier Area Youth Orchestra (WAYO) under the direction of Deborah Carnahan at venues including Disneyland, SkyRose Chapel, and invited to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Magdaline earned scholarships for private cello study with Wendy Velasco and was later awarded a chamber music scholarship to attend the SoCal Chamber Music Institute. She also participated in the Cello Weekend Ensemble with renowned cellist Chu Yi-Bing and took 1st Prize Gold in the Charleston International Music Competition. She has appeared as a soloist with the Synesthesia Sinfonietta and performed at venues such as Royce Hall, Warner Bros. Studios, Fred Kavli Theatre, Broadway West, Glass Slipper Palace, LA Theatre,Candlelight Concerts, and more. She has also been invited to perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Magdaline recently traveled to Spain to study with cellist Lluís Claret in an international masterclass. Her other masterclass and lesson mentors include Robert deMaine, Amit Peled, David Garrett, Paul Watkins, Suli Xue, Matt Haimovitz, Ko Iwasaki, Astrid Schween, and many more. She was a principal cellist with the Azusa Pacific University Symphony, a member of the APU chapel team, and studied cello with Dr. Marek Szpakiewicz and piano with Professor Mark Gasbarro. She also served as a strings coach at La Serna High School and maintains a private cello and piano studio.
An active musician in the Los Angeles music scene, she has collaborated with emerging artists such as Mike Sabath and Haley Joelle, and appeared in music videos including Being Human (2023), Dumbstruck (2023), and Memory Lane (2024). This fall, Magdaline will begin her Master’s degree in Cello Performance at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University to study with Amit Peled.
With a Bachelor of Music from the University of Maryland, College Park, Sara Li has been teaching piano for 15+ years. Trained in classical music from a young age, Sara has won first place prizes in numerous prestigious competitions at state, national, and international levels. She was also featured on Piano Grand! A Smithsonian Celebration of the 300th Anniversary of the Piano on PBS alongside legends such as Billy Joel, Diana Krall, and the Labèque Sisters. Sara has performed with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and with various other orchestras and chamber groups.
Besides piano, Sara learned to play the violin from an early age and has been part of the Maryland All-State Orchestra and Tri-County Orchestra in the past. She teaches all levels of Violin and Piano here at Mike’s Music.
Edwin Jacob, born and raised in the suburbs of the Washington, D.C.-metropolitan area, is an active Vocalist and Music Educator. He graduated from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA with a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) in 2011 and a Master of Music (Jazz Studies) in 2012. During this time, Jacob honed is vocal skills in Opera, Jazz, Musical Theatre, Pop and R&B, while sill completing a rigorous workload of ear training, sight-singing, music theory, arranging and composition. While at UArts, Jacob was involved in a number of performances. His most notable performances include: Lead in “Does Your House Have Lions” written by Sonia Sanchez, Directed by Johnnie Hobbs (2009), Lead singer in the children’s album "Get Up and Sing" produced by Mike Kennedy (Forge Recording, 2010 Valley Forge, PA), and Singer in Monkadelic Ensemble – Music of Thelonious Monk (Chris’ Jazz Café 2011 Philadelphia, PA). After graduating, Jacob began teaching Voice and Piano at several locations in New Jersey and is currently the Middle School Chorus Teacher at Christ Epsicopal School in Rockville
Cynthia Marie is a versatile pianist & songwriter, with a background in classical piano, jazz & blues improvisation, and popular/folk music. With 20 years of teaching experience, she tailors each lesson to her student's interests, creating a well-rounded and exciting repertoire to explore. She is a Maryland state certified teacher and a recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Award.
As a performer, she has graced stages at Columbia Festival of the Arts, This Could Go Boom Music & Culture Fest, Key Women, Pearl Street Warehouse, Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, Black Cat, with commissions performed at Washington Women in Jazz Festival, Gamelan Pacifica, and recordings aired on radio stations: Voices from the DMV, Takoma WOWD, NPR’s WAMU Bandwidth, WERA.FM Live from Arlington, FemChord, DC Music Rocks, KBCS, and Hollow Earth Radio. Her collaborative spirit has led to her appearance on 20 artists’ recordings from across the country, a publishing of 50 sheet music arrangements sold internationally, innovative teaching resources, and a popular YouTube channel.
She studied with esteemed classical piano teachers, Bonnie Litten and Ann Tanabe, and master jazz and boogie-woogie pianists, Debbie Poryes and Caroline Dahl. She is a winner of the Honolulu Symphony Best and Brightest Concerto competition, a recipient of the Jackstraw Artist Residency and Seattle Mayor’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs grant, and holds her degree in Music from the University of Washington School of Music.
Anna Wilson has been in the world of music for over a decade. With more than ten years of experience performing on the violin, along with several years of proficiency on the viola, piano, and cello, Anna loves everything about music! She currently is majoring in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Maryland, College Park, and dedicates most of her free time towards her devotion to and love of music. During her high school years, Anna was president of the String Orchestra, as well as the Piano Club. She also had leadership roles in the Music Honor Society and performed in the Pit Orchestra. Anna’s experiences and future reflect her dedication to the art, and her enthusiasm of sharing and helping others explore the culture of music.
Windsor "Tito" Pediford holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from an education shared between Julliard and City College. Tito is proficient in acoustic and electric bass, piano, all African and Latin percussions, vibraphone, trap drums, programmable synthesizers, as well as writing and arranging for brass, reeds, strings, chorus, and rhythm sections. Coming from a family heavily involved with music performance locally, nationally, & internationally, Tito was afforded the opportunity to perform with people such as: Miles Davis, Mongo Santamaria, King Curtis, Mandrill, G.Q, Change, Jocelyn Brown, LeRoy Burgess, Amel Larrieux, and others. Tito has toured around the world and across the U.S. He has led 3 bands of his own, 2 of which were published, and he was a side man for a host of disco records in the 80’s. Tito loves to push his students to reach their full potential with music!
Over 30 years of experience teaching children in various settings, including private lessons, directing choirs, and teaching music classes in schools. Worked as a choir director, organist and pianist in various churches. Master's degree from Catholic Univ, in DC. Native of Korea, speaks both Korean and English. Resides in Howard county with her husband and their 5 children.
Trained in classical music at Ohio University with 38 years of teaching experience, Phyllis provides a well rounded range of musical styles for piano study to help develop the talents and stimulate the interests of students of all ages.
Justin Pechulis is a pianist and organist based in Baltimore. He serves as the Director of Music and Organist at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ellicott City, Maryland, where he directs their choral, handbell, and instrumental ensembles, their contemporary band, and coordinates their concert series Music at St. John’s. As a church musician, he has previously served at several churches in the Harrisburg, PA area, and has been honored to play at liturgies led by several bishops including Wilton Gregory and Eugene Sutton.
Justin’s piano students range from complete beginners to those working on intermediate level repertoire. He also has a fondness for working with adults rediscovering their love for music later in life. In lessons, Justin encourages his students to make connections to artistry, technique, music theory, and music history. Many of his students also perform regularly in studio-sponsored recitals.
A native of South River, New Jersey, Justin earned his Bachelor of Arts in 2018 from Elizabethtown College, located near Lancaster, PA, where he studied piano performance, piano pedagogy, and organ. He completed a Master of Music degree in 2024 from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, near Princeton, NJ, where he studied sacred music, liturgics, and conducting. Justin is a member of several professional organizations including the Music Teachers National Association, Anglican Association of Musicians, and American Guild of Organists. He has previously served a four-year term as Secretary of the Harrisburg Chapter of the AGO.
Kevin Alexander has been playing music for over 15 years. He graduated in 2014 from McDaniel College with a degree in Music, specializing in Theory and Composition. Kevin first discovered his love for music after learning guitar at age 11, and has since added bass, piano, ukulele, and other instruments to his repertoire. Though he primarily considers rock and alternative to be his favorite music, he has performed and studied a wide variety of styles including jazz, blues, funk, country, and even mariachi. His favorite part about teaching is being able to share his passion for music with others. After teaching at Mike's Music previously in 2015, Kevin is happy to rejoin the Mike's family!