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New Year, New Instructors!

Alex Stanton • January 10, 2022

As we bring in a New Year, we would like to celebrate a New Season of growth and opportunity to provide more musical experiences to aspiring students! There are many new instructors that we would like to introduce to the Sunburst Community. Meet Eli, Mila, Tanner, Jaime, Denzel, Daniel, and Jon!

Eli Alfieri - Guitar/Bass


Eli is from Pittsburgh and is an alumnus of Sunburst School of Music and Woodland Hills High School.  He now studies Jazz and Composition at the University of Pittsburgh and plays bass, guitar, and sings with jazz combos and his group Wild Blue Yonder.  


Mila Shadel - Guitar


Mila Shadel is currently in her senior year at Duquesne University, where she is completing her undergraduate degree in Guitar Performance. Mila loves to share her passion for music through her guitar instruction and makes sure that all her students leave their lessons feeling inspired to continue their musical journey.


Denzel Chismar-Oliver - Bass/Piano


Denzel is a working professional bassist in the Pittsburgh area who plays a variety of genres such as jazz, R&B, funk, gospel, pop, and experimental music. He moved to Pittsburgh in 2015 from Columbia, South Carolina to study jazz bass at Duquesne University. 

Jaime Cohen - Voice/Piano


Jaime Cohen earned her Bachelor's in Music and Anthropology from Kenyon College and her Master's in Vocal Coaching and Accompanying from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. As a teacher, she guides students to discover their own interpretations of the music, and encourages them to share their artistry with the world.


Tanner Farmen - Drums


Tanner has over 26 years of drumming experience. Tanner’s knowledge and expertise grew throughout the years and eventually led him to join various professional bands, where he was able to record and tour professionally. His favorite genres to play are funk, fusion, reggae, jazz, blues, pop and rock. 

Daniel Sawyer - Piano


Daniel is a multi-instrumentalist who enjoys playing a variety of styles of music, including jazz, R&B, rock, funk, and more. Daniel has experience playing piano, organ, and synthesizers, especially in a live band setting.


Jon Di Giulian


Jonathan is a guitarist and music educator from the small town of Beckley, WV. His love for music led him to West Virginia Wesleyan College where he graduated with a degree in music education. During lessons, he emphasizes a growth mindset and making the learning process as fun as possible. 


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February 1, 2025
February 2025 - Issue #90
By Alex Stanton January 9, 2025
January 2025 - Issue #89
By Alex Stanton December 4, 2024
December 2024 - Issue #88
Musicians Gift Guide
By Alex Stanton December 2, 2024
The holidays are fast approaching and you’re trying to find the best gift for all of the amazing musicians in your family. There’s a lot of noise out there, but we at Sunburst are HEAR to help!
By Alex Stanton November 5, 2024
Get ready for an action-packed November at Sunburst! From Winter Recital signups and group program enrollments to free jam sessions and a heartwarming food drive, there’s something for everyone this month. Dive into our latest newsletter for all the details on events, new instructors, and ways to give back!
October 31, 2024
Join us in donating to the JFCS Food Pantry! Check out our guide on what items they need most and find a link to make a financial contribution directly on their website.
By Alex Stanton October 24, 2024
Sign-ups are now open for our Winter Recitals! Each teacher will be hosting one or two 45-minute sessions during the first two weeks of December. Students can sign up through the link below, or feel free to reach out to us here , and we’ll be happy to assist with the registration process. Here are a few key reminders about the recitals: Participation is free, but we do welcome donations to our Scholarship Fund . You can contribute when you check out, or we’ll also be accepting cash donations at the door. Thank you for your support! Each recital session lasts about 50 minutes, featuring 12–15 students. We anticipate an audience of 40–60 people. Friends and family are encouraged to attend! If you plan on bringing more than four guests, please let us know in advance so we can arrange seating accordingly. If you’re unable to attend your teacher’s assigned session but still want to perform, let us know! We’ll do our best to accommodate you in another session. Adults are welcome to participate in their teacher’s session or in a special BYOB adults-only session on December 13th! Not all teachers will attend the adult session, so be sure to discuss this with your instructor ahead of time. Regularly scheduled lessons and programs may overlap with some recital times, so we kindly ask everyone to be mindful of this when entering and leaving the building. We're here for any recital-related questions (or anything else!), so don’t hesitate to reach out. We can’t wait to see everyone perform this winter!
By Alex Stanton October 9, 2024
We’re gearing up for our Winter Recitals, offering fun fall group classes, and celebrating Spooky Season with our annual Halloween Party! 🎃 We’ve also got the Sunburst Cabaret, Piano Club, and a Free Improv Workshop lined up. Plus, check out our special tribute for Hispanic & Latine Heritage Month, and join us in wishing our talented instructor Mila Shadel the best as she embarks on her next adventure. ❤️
By Stanley Malyszka October 8, 2024
Happy Hispanic and Latine Heritage month everyone! This article is extra special as it includes personal messages from some of our instructors about how their cultural background and heritage have influenced how and why they play music. We're super grateful for their contributions and hope you enjoy hearing their stories as much as we did!
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