Private Lesson Faculty

Flute

Oboe

Julia Frank - frank.m.julia@gmail.com

30-minute lesson: $30, 45-minute lesson: $45, and 60-minute lesson: $55

Julia Frank is an Austin-based oboist and educator originally from Amarillo, Texas. She began taking piano lessons at the age of 5, and has studied oboe since the age of 11.

Julia holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at Austin and has performed in groups such as the UT Wind Ensemble and UT Symphony Orchestra.

Bassoon

Shelby Avants - Shelby@rootintootinbassoon.com

30-minute lesson: $30, 45-minute lesson: $45, 60-minute lesson: $60

Shelby Avants is a distinguished Bassoonist based in Killeen, Texas.

Shelby earned an AA in Music from Temple College in 2019 and a BM in Bassoon Performance from Southwestern University in 2022. She obtained a Master's in Performance and Pedagogy from Texas State University in 2024.

Throughout her academic career, Shelby has performed with various ensembles, ranging from symphonies to pop groups, and has been featured on several albums by local Austinites. 

Shelby is deeply committed to education and the joy of discovery. She has been teaching private bassoon lessons in Central Texas since 2017. In 2024, Shelby secured a position as a lecturer in the Music Department at Texas State University.

Shelby's dedication to performance and pedagogy highlights her passion for music and desire to inspire others.

Clarinet

Alphonso Jaime - ajaime@stetson.edu

30-minute lesson: $35, 45-minute lesson: $50, 60-minute lesson: $65

Clarinetist, Alphonso Jaime is a Clarinet teacher and active performer in the Central Texas area. He earned a Bachelor of Music with an Outside Field of Sociology from Stetson University. Recognized for his artistic achievements, Alphonso is a recipient of the Dean’s Scholarship as student of Dr. Lynn Musco and Professor Jessica Hall Speak.

During his time at Stetson, he has performed as a soloist on clarinet and bass clarinet and in many ensembles including the Stetson University Symphonic Band (Douglas Phillips, Conductor) and Clarinet Choir. With years of playing with various community bands from the North Miami Community Concert Band (2016-2020), Austin Symphonic Band (current), Band of the Hills (2022 - 2023), and The Lakeway Church Choir (2021-2023). Additionally, Alphonso Jaime is an alumnus member of the National Music Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha (Xi Nu Chapter) and was the participant in the Lead America Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

A native of Miami, Florida and immersed in Cuban culture growing up, Alphonso grew up watching the original Fantasia musical score at 4 years old. His mother started him on piano lessons when he was 7 years old until he was 10, as Alphonso grew tired and bored for not being challenged enough on the instrument. When in he started middle school, Alphonso picked clarinet in band, initially out of the fact that there was no piano as a choice; yet, the level of connection he grew with the instrument, be it the sound, self-motivation, the challenge itself, or just an avenue to focus away from the anxiety and depression. That grew to be his main passion today.

One thing that Alphonso loves to focus on when teaching is that it is about the whole being: body, mind, and emotions. He loves to reinforce mindset, musicality, and fundamentals. He really particularly loves and enjoys through this process the building of character and principle for both music purposes and in life as well.

Seeing his students grow as amazing musicians and, even more so, solid individuals building in confidence, potential and faith. Alphonso also loves to cook, read, workout, and listen to a variety of genres of music. He currently lives in the Greater North Austin Area.

Saxophone

Lucy Croasdale - ljcrow123@gmail.com

30-minute lesson: $30, 45-minute lesson: $45, 60-minute lesson: $60

Lucy Croasdale is a performer, collaborator, educator, and composer based in Austin, TX. She is a multi-instrumentalist who has had the pleasure of playing in an array of musical genres. Her focus lately has been building her private saxophone studio in the greater Austin area while developing her professional musical voice.

When she was very young, she started off as a Suzuki violinist, eventually migrating to saxophone, and along the way, picked up guitar, voice, trumpet, bass clarinet, flute, piano, and mandolin, among other things. Since starting college, saxophone has become her main focus. In high school and early undergrad, she concentrated on jazz and improvisation studies but has turned her attention more towards contemporary and classical saxophone lately.

Throughout her musical career so far, she’s received a few special honors. Some of which were attending the 2019 Essentially Ellington festival and competition, being commissioned by Lawrence University to compose an educational big band chart for the 2022 Fred Sturm Jazz Celebration Weekend, being a member of the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble when they won the 2023 Outstanding Performance award for Large Jazz Ensemble – Undergraduate College category, and premiering a saxophone quartet concerto, Second Nature by Viet Coung, as a soloist with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble.

Another endeavor she is proud of was when Lucy created and led a weekly beginner’s jazz workshop September 2021 – March 2022 where she taught improvisation classes and lead an educational jazz jam, in an effort to create accessibility to the genre. Along with the workshop, Lucy was a co-founder of LU’s Jazz and Gender Equality Initiative. Most recently, Lucy had the honor of being a fellow at Bang on a Can’s 2026 summer festival and LOUD Weekend.

Lucy Croasdale earned her Master’s degree in Music Performance at The University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Dr. Stephen Page and earned a Bachelor of Music Performance with a Jazz Emphasis from Lawrence University where she studied with Steven Jordheim and Jose Encarnacion.

Trumpet

Michael Rey - michaelreytrumpet@gmail.com

Michael Rey is a professional trumpet player residing in Austin, Texas. In a city known for its live music, he has carved an impressive path for himself, in not only performance, but instruction, adjudication and studio work as well.

A founding member of the acclaimed Austin-based horn trio, The Fresh 2 Def Horns, Michael has busied his performance schedule with groups of many varying genre. From the Grammy award winning Latin piece, Grupo Fantasma, to another Grammy-awarding winning artist, Country singer/song writer Rick Trevino, to say he is a versatile musician is a gross understatement.

Michael has been a long-standing performer at the well-known jazz venue, The Elephant Room, down in the basement on Congress Ave. in downtown Austin; a place where many aspiring Austin transplant musicians hope to one day cut their teeth on the same stage that has been graced by the likes of Wynton Marsallis and Harry Connick, Jr. He is among the elite who have had that opportunity, and he has done so on hundreds of occasions - showcasing his chops as the “high note guy” in various established local jazz ensembles.

In between performances, local and on tour, Michael also has quite the rap sheet as a recording artist, playing both solo and within a horn section. He can be heard on the four records of esteemed Austin group, The Nightowls, many tunes featuring horn lines on which he collaborated creatively as well. Most notably, he has found himself blowing away within the walls of the famed Sun Studio, where Elvis Presley was discovered, in addition to being in the talented hands of Grammy-award winning producer Laurence “Boo” Mitchell at renowned Royal Studios.

For almost 15 years, Michael has been a private trumpet instructor, working with kids from the time they first put a horn to their mouth, to when they’re preparing their college audition material. He has coached several students who have excelled in district, region and state competitions, and many of his mentees have achieved the highest accolades during solo and ensemble performances.

Mr. Rey, as they call him, has helped them hone the skills necessary to enter confidently into their respective universities as aspiring music students. Some of his former students are pursuing their own musical dreams at Stephen F. Austin University (Michael’s alma mater), Oberlin Music Conservatory, Texas State, the University of Texas, and the University of North Texas.

He has had the honor of being an adjudicator and guest artist at jazz festivals on an annual basis. For the past 15 summers, he has paid homage to his Alma Mater by traveling back to Nacogdoches, Texas, to lead trumpet masterclasses, teach private lessons, and perform as a guest artist with the campers.

Horn

Alex Rutkowski - ar87344@my.utexas.edu

30-minute lesson: $25, 45-minute lesson: $37.50, 60-minute lesson: $50

Alex Rutkowski is a horn player hailing from Sterling, VA. He is well-versed in many different styles of instrumental music, having played in symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, big band, and a multitude of chamber groups. Alex started on the horn at age 11 and has over a decade of experience. 

At his undergrad at Virginia Tech, Alex served as principal horn in both the wind ensemble and orchestra, and in 2025 won the Virginia Tech Soloist Competition. He also attended the Lake George Music Festival as a horn fellow in the summer of 2025.

Alex is currently working on his M.M. in horn performance with Professor Patrick Hughes at the University of Texas at Austin and received his B.M. in horn performance in 2026 from Virginia Tech, having studied with Professor Juan Berríos.

Off the horn, Alex enjoys basketball, running, and playing board games.

Trombone

Thanasit Pimnipapatrakul - Thanasit.Pimnipapatrakul@hotmail.com

30-minute lesson: $34, 45-minute lesson: $51, 60-minute lesson: $68

Mr. P (Thanasit Pimnipapatrakul) is a professional trombonist and music educator with over 15 years of teaching experience, working with students from beginning band through the collegiate level. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, he specializes in trombone instruction, with an emphasis on developing a characteristic sound, strong fundamentals, musicianship, and confidence. Students and families know him simply as “Mr. P.”

Mr. P currently teaches trombone students throughout Liberty Hill ISD, including students at Liberty Hill High School, Liberty Hill Middle School, Legacy Ranch High School, and Legacy Ranch Middle School. He works with students at all levels, from beginning trombonists developing their fundamentals to advanced high school musicians preparing for All-Region auditions, Solo & Ensemble, honor bands, chair auditions, college auditions, and other performance opportunities.

His teaching experience also includes serving as Band Director at Pueblo High School in Tucson, Arizona; Graduate Teaching Assistant in Trombone at the University of Arizona; Band Teacher at Painted Sky Elementary School; and Long-Term Orchestra Director in Dripping Springs ISD. These experiences have given him the opportunity to teach musicians at nearly every stage of development and have shaped his student-centered approach to individual and ensemble instruction.

As a bass trombonist, Mr. P has performed with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera, True Concord Voices & Orchestra, Akron Symphony Orchestra, Siam Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Siam, and Bear Valley Music Festival. His wind ensemble experience includes the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble, North Texas Wind Symphony, and TCU Wind Symphony. He has also participated in festivals and professional training opportunities including the Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Atlantic Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, Alessi Seminar, Cleveland Trombone Seminar, and Pokorny Low Brass Seminar.

Throughout his musical training, Mr. P has studied with Michael D. Becker, Dr. David Begnoche, Shachar Israel, and Shannon Pittaway, and has participated in masterclasses and seminars with internationally recognized trombone artists including Joseph Alessi, James Markey, Nitzan Haroz, Toby Oft, Blair Bollinger, David Taylor, Randall Hawes, Denson Paul Pollard, and Brian Hecht.

Mr. P is currently completing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance at the University of Arizona with a minor in Orchestral Conducting. His education and professional experiences in Thailand, Singapore, and the United States have shaped his belief that every student can succeed with the right combination of guidance, encouragement, high expectations, and consistent practice.

Whether helping a beginning student establish their first great sound or preparing an advanced high school trombonist for an audition, Mr. P’s goal is to help each student become a confident, independent, and expressive musician while developing a lifelong enjoyment of making music. He is proud to work with the students of Liberty Hill High School and looks forward to supporting their continued growth and success. 

Euphonium/Tuba

Dr. Guy Martorano - Guy.Martorano@gmail.com

30-minute lesson: $30, 45-minute lesson: $45, 60-minute lesson: $60

Dr. Guytano Martorano III is the Adjunct Lecturer of Tuba & Euphonium at Texas A&M - Kingsville and a freelance performer/educator in the Greater Austin Area, where he performs regularly with the Austin Symphonic Band and the Lake Travis Tuba & Euphonium Ensemble. At TAMUK, Dr. Martorano takes on a mentorship role in music performance lessons and low brass pedagogy courses. Other areas of his professional expertise include music arranging/composition, music theory, recording technology, and sight reading pedagogy.

As an educator, Dr. Martorano regularly publishes various educational materials on his website, both for local competitions, such as the TMEA region auditions, and for his private studio. Dr. Martorano also runs a longstanding literacy series, “Transposition Inquisition”.

Some past appointments include principal tubist of the Lubbock Civic Orchestra, principal tubist for the LSO Educational Brass Quintet, and the acting substitute tubist for both the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and the DFW Brass Quintet.

Percussion

Joe Ponder - jponder141@gmail.com

30-minute lesson: $30, 45-minute lesson: $45, 60-minute lesson: $60

Joe Ponder is an accomplished percussionist and educator from Katy, TX who has been a working musician for almost 10 years. During this time, he has established himself as one of Austin's most versatile drummers.

He holds two degrees from Texas State University, which include a B.M. in Percussion Performance, and an M. M. in Jazz Studies. He has performed with groups such as the Texas State Wind Symphony, Texas State Symphony Orchestra, Texas State Jazz Ensemble, Bobcat Marching Band, TCCBDA All-State Band, Millennial Orchestra, and the Jordan Kahn Orchestra.

He has performed at notable events such as TMEA, PASIC, BOA Regionals, DCI Finals, and the Corpus Christi Jazz Festival. Over the past 5 years, he has been touring around the country with multiple artists and bands, and continues to do so working as a session drummer.