Cumberland

Flute/Strings/Piano/CMA Director 

Sierra is the director of the Cumberland Music Academy. She holds a Bachelors degree in music education and a Masters degree in orchestral conducting. Sierra has been teaching at the academy for 7 years. She teaches flute, piano, violin, viola and cello

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“I love teaching at the academy because it allows me to personalize each lesson. Each of my students have different needs and I love that I can address specifically what they need every week! It’s so fun to develop relationships with my students as well as to create a love of music!”

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Cumberland

Guitar/Bass/Banjo

Byrne Klay is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in electric and upright bass, guitar and clawhammer banjo. He has been playing music professionally since he was 16. Growing up in Westchester County NY, where he held multiple regular gigs playing upright bass with theater companies and gigs with local rock/jazz bands. He studied upright bass at the Westchester Conservatory in White PLains, NY, Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio and New School in New York City, studying under Vishnu Woode, Cecil McBee and Reggie Workman. He has strong grounding in music theory and different styles of music. 

Cumberland

Voice

Megan Jean is a professional singer-songwriter and vocal coach who has been touring, releasing and teaching since 2006. She graduated with a BFA in theatre from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and was awarded the prestigious Founder's Award. There she studied voice under Dorothy Stone and began performing at clubs. As a solo vocalist, she has charted on the Billboard and Americana charts for "Barnburning" by Gangstagrass, which was also featured on the 2020 Virtual Inauguration Parade. Current and former students include Smithsonian Folkways recording artist Jake Blount, touring artists Violet Bell, as well as singers of all ages and abilities. 

Cumberland

Cello/Violin

Clare is currently teaching private cello and beginning violin lessons. She received a BA in Music from California State University, Northridge California and was a freelance cellist in Southern California for 10 years. After returning to the Cumberland area, she worked at Salem Children's Trust until retiring in 2012. During that time she continued to teach cello and attended Suzuki teacher training institute at Catholic University and with Alice Vierra in Virginia. Clare enjoys teaching students as young as 3 years old through adults. 

Cumberland 

Guitar/Banjo/Dobro/Mandolin/Bass 

Jody Mosser has been a full time music instructor and touring musician for 14 years. He teaches guitar, mandolin, dobro, banjo, ukulele and both electric & upright bass. Jody is a versatile teacher and performer that is well versed in rock, jazz, blues, bluegrass, R&B, funk, contemporary and classical styles. He is experienced in teaching the most beginning level student to the most advanced. 

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"Teaching at the academy is a great experience. I enjoy diving into every lesson with a goal to address each student's individual needs no matter what the instrument or playing level. I've had some students for as many as 8 years so it's great developing a relationship and seeing each student's progress."

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Cumberland

Guitar/Bass

Rob Wallace is one of our amazing guitar teachers! He received his Associate's Degree in Secondary Education from Allegany College, his Bachelor's in Music Education from Frostburg State University and is currently working on a Master's in Music Education from Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA. He is currently in his fourth year as the band director at Paw Paw Schools and has been teaching private lessons for eleven years 

His lessons focus on the students' ability to sight-read classical notation, improvise and compose. He will be teaching virtually and in person for guitar, bass, violin, mandolin and ukulele. 

Cumberland

Percussion

Joe Louie, a percussionist, has been performing for most of his life. Joe began playing drums at the age of 5 and hasn’t looked back since. He has performed in many different settings such as various stage bands, wind ensembles, marching band, and a couple jazz groups as a vibraphonist. A graduate of Southern Garrett High School, JOe has been providing lessons since his enrollment into Frostburg State University, where he studies full time as a Music Education Major.

Cumberland

Piano

Eun Hee is one of our piano teachers. She has taught piano for the last 25 years. Eun Hee moved to America from her home city of Seoul in 2016 to live in Frostburg with her husband and son. While in Seoul, she owned her own piano studio and taught daily. She has also taught at a variety of music academies over the years. She joined our team a few years ago and her studio has been growing ever since! She has experience teaching all age levels and can play in all styles.

Cumberland
French Horn

Alicia Rafter, a student at West Virginia University, recently completed her Bachelor of Music in music education and minor in history and is currently finishing her Bachelor of Music in horn performance and will be graduating in December of 2020. Upon completion of her degrees, she will be pursuing a Masters of Music in horn performance in 2021.

She is a four-year member of the collegiate chapter of the National Association for Music Education and student taught at Cheat Lake Elementary School with Mrs. Jennifer Connoley and digitally with University High School students under the direction of Mr. Mark Palmer. When not in Morgantown, she is a substitute teacher with Washington County Public Schools in western Maryland. In spring of 2019, she held the position of long-term substitute band director at Williamsport High School, where she taught the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, percussion class, guitar lab, and AP music theory. She remains on the instructional staff for the marching band. She has experience teaching grades K-12 in as small as individual to as big as large group instruction.

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