Seward Music Teachers

Meet Marble Music’s amazing teachers!

All of our instructors are dedicated to providing high quality teaching and a positive learning environment for all of their students. Each teacher comes to lessons prepared to teach, listen, encourage, and guide each student in their abilities both as a musician and as an individual. They strive to be creative and are willing to try a variety of learning strategies to meet their student’s needs. As highly trained musicians and performers themselves, Marble Music teachers are always expanding both their own ability as well as their personal teaching pedagogies in the studio.

Lucy Collins

Violin & Viola Instructor

Lucy Collins is a performer and teacher based in Lincoln, Nebraska. She recently completed her Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance at the Glenn Korff School of Music where she studied with Professor David Neely. Her past teachers include Kim Osborne Salistean and Hyeyung Yoon of the Chiara String Quartet. 

 

Lucy concertizes frequently as a soloist, chamber musician, and symphony member. She performs with the Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and the Trace Chamber Society, and she is actively involved in premiering compositions as a part of the Flyover New Music Series and the LNK New Music Collective. Lucy is also a member of the Atelier Piano Trio with cellist Sam Stanley and pianist Cameron Berta. The ensemble formed in 2018 at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln where they studied with Jonah Sirota of the Chiara String Quartet. In 2020, the ensemble launched a call for scores project that culminated in a recital showcasing five original works by composers from around the country. 

 

Lucy has attended the Cortona Sessions for New Music, the Brevard Music Center Institute, the Wintergreen Summer Music Academy/Festival, and the Texas Strings Festival. She has collaborated with the Nebraska Chamber Players, the Sounding Light Chamber Choir, and has performed as a part of the Vesper Concerts Series.

 

Lucy has been teaching for six years and specializes in violin, viola, and chamber music.

Krista Lawrence, MM

Voice Instructor

Krista Lawrence is a soprano who has been teaching voice for over 15 years. Originally from Laramie, WY, she came to Lincoln for graduate school. She holds a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from UNL, as well as a Bachelors of Music from the University of Wyoming. She has performed as a soloist with Opera Omaha, has been a Young Artist at multiple programs, and has competed both the international and national level. Favorite past roles include “Amalia Balash” from SHE LOVES ME, “the Queen of the Night” from Mozart’s the Magic Flute, and Cinderella in “Into the Woods.”

Krista’s favorite thing about teaching voice is working with different styles. She enjoys operatic, musical theatre, and contemporary styles. Krista believes that each singer should find their own sincere sound, and learn the tools to help them communicate with others in a healthy and effective way.

Malachi Million, DMA

Guitar & Ukulele Instructor

Malachi has been playing for many years, primarily beginning with metal/rock where he developed his playing technique before taking lessons. Under Michael Massons at Airhouse Music Academy, Malachi further developed his playing skills and technique studying theory and jazz. 

 

Malachi graduated with honors from Friends University where he earned a Bachelor Degree in Guitar Performance. At Friends, he studied jazz guitar under Randy Zellers and classical under Howard Glanton. Malachi attended Graduate School at the University of Arkansas and earned a Master of Music Performance in guitar studying under Benjamin Harris and Jake Hertzog. 

He earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Jazz Studies Performance under Dr. Peter Bouffard at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

He has experience playing with Jazz groups, performing solo guitar in Jazz and other styles, Vocal Jazz Groups, Large Jazz Ensembles, Guitar Ensembles, Metal bands, Funk Bands, Blues Bands, and Worship Music

Paul Zeller, DMA

 

Piano Instructor

Paul Zeller, D.M.A., leads an active career as performer, teacher, and scholar in his field. Paul’s solo and collaborative work is highlighted by performances in recital and concert halls across the country, including Carnegie Hall, Minnesota’s Orchestra Hall, and the Lied Center. An avid chamber musician, Paul is a founding member of the Trace Chamber Society and Trio 402. Paul holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he studied with Mark Clinton. His past teachers include Roger McVey, Jay Hershberger, and Julian Martin.

An active pedagogue, Paul teaches students of all ages and levels in both group and individual settings. Many of Paul’s private students have been recognized in local and regional competitions, and he is a respected chamber music coach. In addition to cultivating young musical minds, Paul focuses on growing community engagement in the Arts. This work includes his roles as Assistant Coordinator and Instructor with the Lincoln Community Piano Experience program, which offers beginner and intermediate adult group classes. Paul also volunteers with the Abendmusik concert series, serving on their funds and finance committee and special event task force.

Paul’s academic interests revolve around expression and music signification, a field to which he was introduced by Esti Sheinberg. His current research explores different methods that create a singing-style at the piano, a topic on which Paul has been accepted to present at the 15th International Congress on Musical Signification in Barcelona, ES.

Šárka Stehnová, DMA

Piano Instructor

Šárka is a bilingual pianist and collaborator with roots in the Czech Republic and Vietnam, and an educator with teaching experience in both Europe and the United States of America. In May 2022, she will receive her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln, where she studies with the outstanding Dr. Mark Clinton (Steinway Artist). In 2021 she has appeared in masterclasses with Arnaldo Cohen (First prize winner at Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition) and Joyce Yang (Second prize winner at Van Cliburn International Piano Competition).
Stehnová received her artist diploma from the Conservatory in Teplice (Czech Republic), where she studied with a Czech leading educator focusing on natural pianistic body movements, Mgr. Hana Turková, her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northern State University, South Dakota, where she studied with Dr. Marcela Faflak, who showed her different American teaching strategies, and her Master’s degree in piano performance from University of Missouri – Kansas City, where she was privileged to study with Dr. Henry Kramer (Second prize winner at Queen Elisabeth Competition, Steinway Artist) and Prof. Alon Goldstein (who played with conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Herbert Blomstedt, and Leon Fleisher).
In the summer of 2019, Stehnová was invited to tour in Czech Republic in six different cities including the capital city of Prague. That same year she became the Vice President of Music Teacher Association – Collegiate Chapter, which helps provide young pianists concerts, learning opportunities, and communication skill development. From 2021, she has been a member of Trio Dulcis Disputatio.
Stehnová does not consider herself a teacher who dictates what is correct and what is not. Rather, she shares and discusses values and thoughts, and shows students that if they believe in themselves and their ideas, then they are halfway to success.

Jackson Stull

Guitar and Ukulele Instructor

Jackson Stull is a Lincoln-based guitarist pursuing a BA degree in Music and German. He is currently studying at the Glenn Korff School of Music with Peter Bouffard and Tetsuya Nishiyama.

Jackson has been playing guitar since he was a child, beginning with rock/blues and eventually taking interest in jazz, classical, and flamenco. He frequently performs his classical and flamenco repertoire as a soloist, and has also performed with many groups through his school including the UNL Big Band, UNL Jazz Combos and UNL Early Music Group.

He has been teaching for two years and specializes in classical and electric guitar. His teaching philosophy combines general music knowledge with repertoire appropriate to each individual’s skill level, all the while maintaining a fun and encouraging atmosphere.

Olivia Reininger

Piano Instructor

Olivia Reininger is originally from Los Angeles, California where she started her music training. Saturday morning “Looney Tunes” inspired her to start playing the piano by ear, at age three. Her first exposure to formal lessons was the Suzuki Method taught by an instructor from The Colburn School of Music, in Los Angeles. Piano naturally transitioned into singing. She remained a piano student through middle school and beyond.

Olivia continued to play with an orchestra in high school, and completed her high school years at The Putney School, in Vermont. She continued her piano instruction and sang in the chamber ensemble and the Blanche Moyse Chorale. She participated in special summer programs including Interlochen Center for the Arts.

While she attended Gustavus Adolphus College, in St. Peter, Minnesota, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance. During her years at Gustavus, she sang in college choirs and continued studying voice.

Recently, Olivia worked in the Lincoln Public Schools district as an accompanist. She taught piano and mentored vocal students as well. She is now working with Dr. Wataru Niimori, (Jazz Pianist) and Jackie Allen (Jazz Vocalist) to study a new genre after years of classical training. She has been with Marble Music Studios since 2020. 

Olivia is thrilled to pass along the gift of music to her students!

Jessica Steinke

Piano Instructor

Jessica began taking piano lessons at the age of seven years old and has continued playing and learning about music since. She obtained a Bachelor of Mathematics at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she worked as a TA and tutored high school students. Her passion for educating led her to accept a position at a childcare center where she developed the skills and methods specific to teaching young children. These experiences influence her in her work today as an active piano teacher focused on the whole child’s development. Her primary interest as a piano instructor is introducing young children to the fundamentals of piano playing and the mathematical concepts underlying the music (such as patterns and fractions) in a developmentally appropriate and engaging way. Seeing her students grow both as pianists and critical thinkers is the most rewarding part of teaching for Jessica.

Season Cowley, DMA

Piano and Clarinet Instructor

Dr. Season Cowley is a clarinetist based in Lincoln, Nebraska. They regularly perform with ppp Trio, Trio 402, and as a soloist. They have been invited to perform as a soloist and chamber musician at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest® and New Music Weekend, College Music Society regional and national conferences, and NACWPI national conferences. Cowley has held positions at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Johnson County Community College. They earned their DMA degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, MM degree from Southern Illinois University, and BM from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in Clarinet Performance.

Sam Stanley

 

Cello and Piano Instructor

Sam Stanley has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Cello Performance and a 

minor in music technology from the UNL Glenn Korff School of Music. They study cello under Dr. Karen Becker, composition under Dr. Greg Simon, and have also studied composition under Dr. Tyler White. They were awarded the Vreeland award in Music Composition by the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing arts in 2021 and received honorable mention for their piece “Black as the Void” in the Sheldon Art Gallery’s art competition: Conversation Black in 2019. Sam is a two time prize winner of the Vesper Youth Composes competition with their piece Adagio for String Quartet, taking first place in 2015, and Introduction and Waltz, taking second place in 2016. In 2021, Sam was commissioned to write incidental music for the Nebraska Repertory Theatre’s production of Dracula: Mina’s Quest. In 2019, Sam received a fellowship to study composition, counterpoint, and musicianship at the European American Music Alliance Institute in Paris, France. Sam was also a fellow at the Cortona Sessions for New music in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Sam is passionate about teaching music theory and studied Music Theory Pedagogy under Dr. Gretchen Foley in 2021. Sam currently teaches private piano and cello lessons at Goldenrod Music Studios, Foster Jones Studios, Fiddlestick Music Studios, and Marble Music Studios in Lincoln, Nebraska. 

Anna Royuk

Violin Instructor

Anna Royuk is a native Sewardite who began violin lessons at the age of seven with none other than Julia Marble. In high school she played with her school’s orchestra for all four years, and had the honor of being in the Kansas City Youth Symphony for two years. She is currently studying violin performance at Concordia University.
Anna loves music of all kinds. Although she is primarily a violinist, she has also studied voice, piano, and bass guitar. At Concordia, she sings with the A Cappella choir, plays with a handbell group, plays violin in the orchestra, and plays bass in a worship band.
One of the most wonderful things about music to Anna is its versatility. It can communicate the most unbridled joy, the strongest anger, it can tell a riveting story, and most importantly, it can bring people across all cultures together. Aside from music, Anna enjoys literature, discourse among friends, and driving her car.
Anna began teaching with Marble Music Studio August of 2021. 

Abby Van Velson

 

Violin Instructor

Abby Van Velson is from Seward, Nebraska. She began violin lessons at the age of six with Julia Marble. Abby played in the Lincoln Homeschool Orchestra for five years, and has been playing with the Concordia University Chamber Orchestra for the past five years and is the concertmaster.
Abby believes that music is one of the most important ways we can communicate. Music can express what words often fail to express. Music lessons should be a safe space for students to grow as musicians, but also as people.
While violin is her primary instrument, Abby is also involved in the A Capella Choir at Concordia University. She is also currently studying Psychology with a minor in music. Abby also enjoys writing, spending time with friends and family, and drinking coffee.
Abby began teaching with Marble Music in August of 2021.

Makenna Clovis

Piano Instructor

Makenna Clovis is a piano teacher and music student and is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has taken piano lessons since the age of nine and has one year of teaching experience. She also has six years of experience playing the piano and organ for worship servicesand currently pursues organ at the collegiate level.

Makenna is in her senior year at Concordia University, Nebraska, where she studies to completeher Bachelor of Music in Church music. At Concordia she has served as a tutor in music theory and pianist for the chamber orchestra, and she has performed in the Honor Recital – an auditioned and distinguished recital – four times. Though her love lies in piano, she currently plays in the Concordia Handbell Choir and sings with the University A Cappella Choir in which she serves as a section leader. Upon graduation, Makenna plans to pursue a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy to grow as a pianist and piano teacher and to be better equipped to pass the skill and art of piano to her students.

Maddee Hall

Viola, Violin & Piano Instructor

Madee Hall is from Spring, Texas, a part of the Greater Houston Metropolitan area. She began playing viola in her middle school’s orchestra at the age of nine, and continued playing in school orchestras throughout junior high and high school. She began to take piano lessons, along with viola lessons, at the age of twelve at Resurrection Lutheran Church School of Performing Arts (RLC SPA). In 2018, she was hired by RLC SPA to teach violin, viola, and piano, and in the summer of 2021 she began substituting for beginner guitar. 

Madee started with Marble Music Studios in the Spring of 2021. In the summer, when she is home in Texas, she continues to work for RLC SPA. She is a Music Therapy major at Concordia University, Seward, and plays viola in the university orchestra and handbells in the handbell choir.

Alex Lavake

Voice Instructor

Alex is a Vocal Performance Major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and plays a variety of instruments from the cello to the mandolin! In her free time, she likes to ice skate and also sing in operas! Alex has been in the music business since she could remember and loves to share her love of music with everyone! Alex has sung since she was in 6th grade and played cello since she was in 5th grade! Working with other musicians and supporting others in their love for music is one of her many passions and is ecstatic to be teaching!

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