Our Teachers & Staff

Kat’s Artist Tree has the best teachers available in their discipline.  Every one of our teachers is an expert in their field and have a passion for passing their knowledge on to their students.  Most importantly, they are loved and respected by our students.  An Academy is only as good as its teachers, and we have the best!  Learn more about the fantastic family of Kat’s Artist Tree teachers below:

Meaghan Keogh – Dance

Meaghan Keogh is a performer trained in music, acting, and dance. She has been a student at Kat’s Artist Tree for many years, taking lessons ranging from piano to tap! Furthermore, she has performed in many showcases and is heavily involved with Kat’s Artist Tree’s sister non-profit, Triad Performing Arts. She loves teaching ballet and … Continue reading Meaghan Keogh – Dance

Jonathan Ireland ~ Guitar, Voice, Piano, & Bass

Jonathan Ireland has been studying classical vocal technique and performance for over seven years. He has been playing guitar and piano for over 10 years while studying different styles of music from genres such as jazz, classical and pop/rock. He has a degree in audio engineering and also sound design. He has been writing music … Continue reading Jonathan Ireland ~ Guitar, Voice, Piano, & Bass

Lorelai Swerczek – Marketing and Events Coordinator, Front Desk Supervisor

Lorelai grew up in a small town in Nebraska. Her first exposure to participating in the arts was making jewelry with her grandma at a young age. She then got her first guitar at the age of seven after being inspired by The Fresh Beat Band and Hannah Montana. She started guitar lessons right away, … Continue reading Lorelai Swerczek – Marketing and Events Coordinator, Front Desk Supervisor

Filip Voia-Tipei ~ Drums

Filip Voia-Tipei was born in Arad, Romania in 1994. He attended the School of Music “Sabin Dragoi” and at 7 years old started studying violin under the instruction of Samica Varyas. While in Romania, Filip competed and won various regional and national violin competitions. This helped establish a strong musical education and performing skills After … Continue reading Filip Voia-Tipei ~ Drums

Brittany Kolopanis – Flute, Piano, Piccolo, Mallet Percussion

Brittany Kolopanis brings four years of dedicated musical training from Desert Vista High School, where she built a diverse and well-rounded background in both wind instruments and percussion performance. As a flutist, she performed in Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, marching band, pit orchestra, and color guard. In addition to her woodwind experience, Brittany … Continue reading Brittany Kolopanis – Flute, Piano, Piccolo, Mallet Percussion

Bob Strahota ~ Piano, Guitar, & Voice

For many years, I was an amateur musician in the truest sense of the word, pursuing music simply because I loved it, even though I often was not very good at it.  With the exception of several months of guitar lessons where I learned basic major, minor and 7th chords, I was mostly self-taught. By … Continue reading Bob Strahota ~ Piano, Guitar, & Voice

Kevin McCullers ~ Voice & Piano

Mr. McCullers began his musical “career” around the age of 5 by walking up and down the streets of his Southern California neighborhood imitating the great operatic and movie tenor Mario Lanza, whose records he listened to extensively as a young boy. Formal training began at age 9 with piano lessons, later adding voice in … Continue reading Kevin McCullers ~ Voice & Piano

Nathan Nordstrom ~ Guitar

Nathan Nordstrom is a music performance major with emphasis on guitar.  He began studying guitar with Chuck Hulihan in 2012 at Glendale Community College, where he also studied music composition with Dr. Robert Albury and Dr. Robert Elser. While at GCC, Nathan was employed as the sole music tutor for four semesters, providing help for … Continue reading Nathan Nordstrom ~ Guitar

Hailey Barrows – Jazz/Tap

Originally from Anoka, Minnesota, Hailey Barrows began her training at an arts-focused school and quickly fell in love with the stage through years of competitive dance. Hailey has a solid background in various dance styles and has consistently been captivated by the impactful nature of movement and the artistry of choreography. During high school, Hailey … Continue reading Hailey Barrows – Jazz/Tap

Alicen Carter ~ Dance

Alicen Carter was born in Glendale, Arizona, and began ballet at the Deer Valley Community Center at age three. At age 12, Alicen started her training at Master Ballet Academy under the direction of Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. Alicen performed in numerous ballets with Master Ballet Academy, such as Slawomir Wozniak’s The Nutcracker, Graduation Ball, … Continue reading Alicen Carter ~ Dance

Abbi Robertson ~ Homeschool Director, Piano

Abbi was born and raised in the West Valley, and she has served there as a piano instructor since the age of 14. Abbi started piano lessons herself when she was six and she fell in love with the instrument instantly. She takes much joy in sharing music with others, and some of her favorite … Continue reading Abbi Robertson ~ Homeschool Director, Piano

Michael Benner ~ Piano

Michael was raised in southern Ohio. His hometown was fortunate to have a highly trained piano teacher whose pedagogy began with Beethoven. After high school he was accepted into and graduated from the College-Conservatory, University of Cincinnati with a BM in Music Theory and an MM in Choral Conducting. While at CCM he studied Music … Continue reading Michael Benner ~ Piano

Donovan Perez ~ Art

Donovan Perez is a Visual Artist from Arizona. At a young age, his interests aligned with the arts. Whether creating stop-motion videos or drawing in a notebook, Donovan always had a creative mind. Donovan has an associate degree in Fine Arts. His studies during his academic journey consisted of classes that challenged his artistic judgment … Continue reading Donovan Perez ~ Art

Catherine Kessler ~ Piano

Catherine Kessler has taken private voice and piano lessons from Katarzyna Honsberger for over a decade, where she has studied a wide range of pieces, from Classical to modern. She has had several years of experience teaching piano and voice to young students in the West Valley area, helping to nurture their understanding of musical … Continue reading Catherine Kessler ~ Piano

Lex Landefeld ~ Brass, Piano, Woodwinds

Lex Landefeld is a music education student at Arizona State University with an emphasis in brass. Since his freshman year of high school, he developed a love for music and knew that he wanted to teach it as a career. Getting the opportunity to teach at Kat’s Artist Tree perfectly fit his ambition to serve … Continue reading Lex Landefeld ~ Brass, Piano, Woodwinds

Nicky Dewberry ~ Guitar, Bass, Piano, Ukulele

Nicky Dewberry graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors degree in Music Performance in guitar. He is well versed in many styles of music including classical, jazz, rock, punk, and heavy metal.  Nicky and his wife lead the music at their church on the worship team. Around the valley, Nicky has performed at numerous … Continue reading Nicky Dewberry ~ Guitar, Bass, Piano, Ukulele

Dani – Programs Supervisor/Personal Assistant

Dani was born and raised in Arizona.She loves the desert, flowers, and her family.She has eight siblings and loves watching each of them pursue their different artistic talents.Dani heard about Kat’s through her older sister Abbi who works here as a Piano Instructor.She is so excited to be joining the team and can’t wait to … Continue reading Dani – Programs Supervisor/Personal Assistant

Taylor Cienega – Voice & Piano

Taylor Cienega is a vocalist, actress and musician from Cottonwood, Arizona. She graduated magna cum laude from Colorado Mesa University with a BFA in musical theatre performance and also has an AA in musical theater performance from Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona.  She has been studying voice and musical theatre for over 7 years, and … Continue reading Taylor Cienega – Voice & Piano

Tara Brown – Art

Tara Brown is the newest addition to our visual arts program! Mrs. Brown is a certified art teacher who has been recognized for her instruction in the disciplines of acrylic painting and ceramics. She earned her BAEd from Rowan University in 2014, and found her passion of teaching art with students of all ages. In addition … Continue reading Tara Brown – Art

Bonnie Calvert ~ Dance Director & Piano

Bonnie Calvert began her ballet training as a student of the Royal Academy of Dance program. After completing her RAD examinations, she went on to study at Master Ballet Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, under Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. During her time at MBA, Bonnie had the privilege of dancing with Phoenix Ballet in their productions … Continue reading Bonnie Calvert ~ Dance Director & Piano

Morgan Rose-Johnson ~ Music Theatre/Jazz/Tap

Morgan Rose-Johnson. Broadway: School of Rock (Dance Capt/Swing); Off-Broadway: Dear Edwina (Dance Capt/Swing); National Tours: Evita Revival 1st Nat’l Tour (Swing), Shrek The Musical 1st Nat’l Tour, Elf The Musical. In addition to performing, Morgan is a passionate arts educator. She recently relocated to Phoenix after 16 years in New York City where she is … Continue reading Morgan Rose-Johnson ~ Music Theatre/Jazz/Tap

Norine Lindeman – Voice, Piano

Norine is a singer, actress, dancer, and classically trained pianist with a passion for sharing her art. Norine’s musical journey began when she stepped into her first piano lesson at the age of nine. From then through high school, she took private piano lessons and completed the Arizona Study Program, receiving Superior with Honors in almost all … Continue reading Norine Lindeman – Voice, Piano

Isaac Sainz – Drums, Operations Supervisor, Personal Assistant

Isaac’s connection to rhythm began early with his first drum set as a toddler, sparking a lifelong passion for music and performance. As a dedicated drum instructor at Kat’s Artist Tree, he inspires students of all ages to build confidence and creativity through rhythm. Since joining the studio in 2023, Isaac has also contributed as … Continue reading Isaac Sainz – Drums, Operations Supervisor, Personal Assistant

Carson Loveless – Strings, Brass, Piano

My name is Carson Loveless, I am a K-8 music teacher, band, and string director. I have always had a deep love for music and teaching even since a young age. When I was 8 I picked up piano and shortly after began my journey on trumpet and cello. As I continued through my schooling … Continue reading Carson Loveless – Strings, Brass, Piano

Madison Holmes – Violin & Piano

Ms. Madison Holmes is pursuing her Bachelor of Music in Music Learning and Teaching, with a certification in Music Entrepreneurship at Arizona State University. She studies violin under Dr. Katherine McLin. Ms. Madison’s dedication toward music has been unwavering for as long as she can recall, from her very first recital in December 2011, to … Continue reading Madison Holmes – Violin & Piano

Nate Murray – Guitar, Electric Bass, Upright Bass

Nathan Murray is a jazz performance major with an emphasis on bass. Nathan studies bass under Dr. Ben Hedquist at Glendale Community College. Upon completion of his music performance degree at GCC, Nathan plans to continue his musical journey at Arizona State University.  At high school and collegiate levels, Nathan has performed at several venues … Continue reading Nate Murray – Guitar, Electric Bass, Upright Bass

Sonia Honsberger – Dance

Sonia Honsberger has had a huge passion for the arts from a very young age. She couldn’t imagine her life without the many ballet, piano, voice and guitar lessons that have shaped her artistic knowledge and prepared her for the honor of teaching young dancers. Sonia began dancing when she was three years old, her … Continue reading Sonia Honsberger – Dance

Catalina Villegas – Receptionist

My name is Catalina Villegas. I am originally from New Jersey, but I moved to Arizona when I was in the 3rd grade. I have always had a love for the arts and how they help people tell their story. I come from a very creative family that always nurtured my creativity. At a young … Continue reading Catalina Villegas – Receptionist

Nicole Joy ~ Art

Joy is a resident Arizona artist who has worked in education for 10 years. She has taught as a paraprofessional at several local schools, and has taught all grades; kindergarten through high school. She spent time as a stained glass artist and instructor at a local stained glass artistry and has a degree in Fashion … Continue reading Nicole Joy ~ Art

Matthew Kruckenberg ~ Cello, Violin, Piano

Matthew Kruckenberg began studying piano at the age of 5, then added string lessons at the age of 6 under his mother, who is a professional violinist and conductor. Matthew is currently the Principal cellist of the West Valley Youth Orchestra where he earned the 2025 Leadership Award, and is Principal of the West Valley … Continue reading Matthew Kruckenberg ~ Cello, Violin, Piano

Kennedy Carmichael – Acting

Hi, I’m Kennedy Carmichael I’ve been a professional Film, TV, and Commercial actor for 6 years, But I’ve been acting since I was a child in Theater, Musical Theater, and short films with friends. After high school I studied early child development and worked in early childhood education for 8 years. After starting a family, … Continue reading Kennedy Carmichael – Acting

Corey Kinslow – Woodwinds, Brass, and Piano

Hi there! I am Miss. Corey Kinslow. I am currently a grade 5-8 Band Teacher in Buckeye, AZ. I graduated in 2021 from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Secondary Education. My main instruments are the Flute and the Piccolo. I have been playing Flute since I was in the 5th grade. I … Continue reading Corey Kinslow – Woodwinds, Brass, and Piano

Gabi Attig ~ Art

Gabi grew up here in Goodyear with her many funny siblings. In May 2020, she graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Arizona State University. She is comfortable with a variety of traditional mediums and digital painting as well. Her favorite artists are Michelangelo, John Singer Sargent, and countless contemporary artists working in the … Continue reading Gabi Attig ~ Art

Heather Loomis ~ Voice & Piano

Heather Loomis – Voice & Piano  Heather Loomis is a singer/songwriter and pianist from Troy, Michigan. She started taking piano lessons at the age of five, and over the years developed a love for music theory and writing her own music. When she was 10, she moved to Goodyear, Arizona, and not long after, started … Continue reading Heather Loomis ~ Voice & Piano

Jasmine Navarretre – Acting

Jasmine Navarrete Noriega is a Phoenix native! She was fascinated with the arts at a very young age. She remembers being 8 years old and having her older sister record her while she recreated scenes from their favorite telenovela at the time, “Rebelde.” She knew then, that this is what she wanted to do. She … Continue reading Jasmine Navarretre – Acting

Renan Katz – Guitar

Renan Katz is a Music Composition Major studying at Berklee College of Music through their online undergraduate program. Over the past decade, Renan has had vast experience in guitar, songwriting/composition, improvisation, and live performance. He’s the recipient of the Louis Armstrong Award as well as the Arizona Jazz Festival’s Outstanding Soloist Award, demonstrating his deep … Continue reading Renan Katz – Guitar

Tony Monteclavo ~ Piano, Trumpet

I began playing piano at age 4 and after learning songs by ear, at age 5 my parents decided to sign me up for piano lessons. At age 10, I started playing trumpet and have played both trumpet and piano throughout the years. In high school I played the solo chair in jazz band and … Continue reading Tony Monteclavo ~ Piano, Trumpet