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

Grace’s music career started at the age of five when she found herself fascinated by the violin. She quickly began taking lessons and by the time she was in elementary school, she was performing with the West Valley Youth Symphony Cadet Strings. After many years the deeper tone of the viola drew her ear and … Continue reading Grace Harper – Viola, Violin, Beginner Piano

Jonathan Ireland has been studying classical vocal technique and performance for over ten years. He has been playing and studying piano and guitar for most of his life while also accomplishing a proficiency in brass instruments such as the French horn, trumpet, and euphonium. He has studied different styles of music ranging from jazz, classical, … Continue reading Jonathan Ireland ~ Guitar, Voice, Piano, Ukulele, Brass, Banjo, Harmonica & Bass

Miss Monica was born in Wichita Kansas and obtained her Bachelors and Masters degree at Wichita State University with piano as her major instrument.  She taught vocal music and piano for over 20 years and had the joy of seeing her kindergarten students graduate from high school.  She was also the music director for community … Continue reading Monica Lawrence – Piano, Voice

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 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

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

Elena Othon is a dedicated young musician from Arizona’s West Valley. She has been an active member of the West Valley Youth Orchestra since middle school, where she has developed both her technical skill and passion for ensemble performance. Elena especially enjoys playing in chamber groups and full orchestras, drawn to the collaboration and depth … Continue reading Elena Othon – Violin

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 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

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 Diaz, born in Glendale, Arizona, began ballet at age three and continued her training at Master Ballet Academy under Slawomir and Irena Wozniak. As a member of Phoenix Ballet, she performed internationally at the Łódź Ballet Festival in Poland, dancing works by Slawomir Wozniak, Ricky Palomino, and Albert Blaise Cattafi. A Youth America Grand … Continue reading Alicen Diaz ~ Dance

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

Susannah Hubler has dedicated 19 years to the study of art. She holds a particular enthusiasm for color theory—exploring its principles, applying them in her artwork, and mixing paints to produce harmonious and complementary creations. Additionally, she is intrigued by art composition and the various visible and invisible spatial or object patterns that can be … Continue reading Susannah Hubler – Art, Piano

In loving memory of Michael Benner We are so sad to be mourning the loss of our beloved friend and piano teacher Mr. Michael Benner. Mr. Michael has taught at Kat’s Artist Tree since 2016 and has had a lasting impact on countless students and colleagues. Mr. Michael has always been known for his unique … Continue reading In Memoriam: Michael Benner ~ Piano

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 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 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 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 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

Kellie grew up in California and graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Elementary Education. She has always loved music but truly found a passion for music and the arts through her children. They have taken lessons in piano, voice, guitar, dance, and theater pretty much since preschool. Upon moving to Arizona … Continue reading Kellie LaMar – Director of Operations

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. 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 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’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

Originating from Collins Ohio, Austen began taking private lessons at a very young age. His started with the drums, then learned piano and bass guitar. After finishing high school he moved to Boston, Massachusetts to attend the Berklee College of Music where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance. Shortly after, Austen moved to … Continue reading Austen Muniz – Drums

Carson Loveless is a K-8 General Music Teacher as well as a Band and String Director. He has always had a deep love for music and teaching since a young age. At eight years old, he picked up piano and shortly after began his journey on trumpet and cello. As he continued through his schooling, … Continue reading Carson Loveless – Strings, Brass, 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

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 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

Brenda Campisi graduated from the University of Arizona in 2016 with a dual bachelor’s degree in botany and studio art.  She has been a conduit of science, engineering, the arts and technology since she was 6 years old, driven by the stark and complex beauty of the southwest to experiment with expression and creativity. She … Continue reading Brenda Campisi – Art

Originally from New Jersey, Catalina moved to Buckeye, Arizona when she was just eight years old. She has always had a love for the arts and how they help people tell their story. Catalina comes from a very creative family that always nurtured her creativity. From a young age she was dancing, singing, making jewelry, … Continue reading Catalina Villegas – Receptionist & Social Media Manager

Kennedy Carmichael has been a professional Film, TV, and Commercial actor for six years. As a child, Kennedy acted in Theater, Musical Theater, and short films with friends. After high school she studied early child development and worked in early childhood education for eight years. After starting a family, and deciding to stay home with … Continue reading Kennedy Carmichael – Acting

Miss. Corey Kinslow is a 5th – 8th grade Band Teacher in Peoria, AZ. She graduated in 2021 from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Corey’s main instruments are the Flute and the Piccolo. She has been playing the Flute for nearly sixteen years. She is well versed in other instruments … Continue reading Corey Kinslow – Woodwinds, Brass, and Piano

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 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

Jihyun Kim, better known as Joy, was born in South Korea and began studying piano at the age of five. During her teenage years, she received awards in several piano competitions in Korea. She later immigrated to the United States and studied piano performance with Dr. Sylvia Kahan at the College of Staten Island and … Continue reading Jihyun (Joy) Kim – Piano

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

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 Montecalvo ~ Piano, Trumpet