Piano Instructor, Keyboards, Jazz Ensemble, Computer Music
Vocal Instructor, Song, Dance, Celebrating Diversity
Josh started off as a keyboard player in local Blues and Rock n Roll bands in Colorado Springs, learning to play by ear and off of lead sheets. Before getting serious about music and finding a piano instructor, Josh had already performed on stages up and down the Front Range.
In 2013, a serious hand injury nearly ended Josh's playing days. Josh was lucky, and after recovering full use of his left hand he rededicated himself even further into music. He began his classical training under the guidance of Doctor Abram Minzer, along with the help of Professor Sara McDaniel. Under their great artistry and tutelage, Josh received his Associate of Arts in Music from Pikes Peak Community College with honors as a member of Phi Theta Kappa.
Not content to rest idly in his off time, Josh studied supplementally with touring concert pianists Ioana Ilie, Jamina Gerl, Katharina Truetler and Marianna Prjevalskaya. Coming back to his roots as a Blues pianist, Joshua also studied jazz piano and voicing under Brad Bietry and William Malone and has recently got back into performing jazz in Colorado Springs. Still pursuing his lifelong passion of music, Josh continues study under Doctor Zahari Metchkov, close to completing his Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance from Colorado State University in Pueblo. He continues to play in the Pikes Peak region and enjoys working with his former teacher, Abe Minzer as the Assistant Director of Classically Alive.
With a lifelong passion for music, performance experience in nearly every style of music, and the patience and understanding of a father with 3 of his own daughters, Josh can help students develop their own sense of passion for music at any level or age.
Sathya McClain began her vocal journey at age eleven when she joined a local community choir.She quickly developed a passion for performing as she experienced the joy and fulfillment which came with the hard work and play that is the creative learning process. Sathya also realized the incredible impact that music can have and knew then, that this is exactly what she wanted to do in her future.
In her late teen years, Sathya became a member of the Summit Ensemble of the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale, under the direction of Brad Peterson. There she received valuable musical experience and education. She competed in a local talent show where she took first place in the vocal portion and was awarded a scholarship from CSCC. This carried her through herfinal semester in Summit Ensemble where she continued to develop herself as a vocalist, performing locally in Colorado and even internationally in Japan.
Before graduating from CIVA Charter Academy, Sathya performed acapella songs and spoken word poetry with “Dragons Wing”, a group of multifaceted (predominantly female) performers who had the goal of promoting creative and free expression while role modeling how adversity can lead to excellence. They were featured at an Annual Cultural Diversity Conference at UCCS where Sathya drew more inspiration toward using creative expression as a tool for inciting positive social interaction.
Directly after high school graduation, Sathya continued her music education at PPSC in choir and in individual vocal lessons both lead by Gayle Grace, the current PPSC Music Department Chair. During her time at PPSC, Sathya discovered her love of dance which led her down an unexpected path. In 2023 she graduated from PPSC with an AA in Dance and an additional AA in General Studies. She has since found that her music and dance education supplement each other greatly.
Sathya continues to sing with a collective of individuals who form the nonprofit Unity Project. This is a group of volunteers who are committed to “dismantling individual and systemic biases through education, service, and singing.” Being a member of UP has helped expand her understanding of different “non-traditional” music styles and enhanced her ability to learn and teach with more versatility and healthy curiosity.
Harmonic Garden School of Music
335 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, Colorado 80829, United States
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