Piano/Voice

Jessica has studied flute and piano privately since she was in middle school. She holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Flute Performance from Northwestern University and the University of Louisville. She also recently completed her Master of Music Education degree at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Jessica performs on flute and piccolo with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra and the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic. Jessica has been teaching piano and flute for the Stafford Music Academy since 2008.

Mary Allen-Lynch has an extensive musical background with over 40 years in music education and music performance. Having taught piano, flute, voice lessons, and Music History for over twenty years at Culver Academies, a college preparatory boarding school in Northern Indiana,  she brings a wealth of teaching and performing experience to her current students at Stafford Music Academy. Her teaching philosophy has always been that of an artist-teacher, as well as being student centered. She believes wholeheartedly in meeting students where they are in terms of individual learning styles and their personal goals for studying music. Mary believes in using a variety of methods, techniques, and technology to help students learn and grow as musicians. She includes elements of music theory as a natural part of the early learning process.

Mary Allen-Lynch holds a Bachelor of General Studies from Indiana University with a focus on Music, Folklore and German. She also holds a Masters in Music and Arts Technology from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She is a seasoned professional and has played the piano for over 50 years since the age of 6. She studied privately with Purden Lausten and Thomas Lawston in her early years of piano. In addition to piano, Mary Allen-Lynch began studying flute at the age of 10. She continues performing on both flute and piccolo in the Bloomington Community Band and the Bloomington Community Band Flute Choir. She was also very active in teaching, coaching and performing with the Music Theater program at Culver Academies. In 2012 she traveled with and coached a student theater group’s musical production during performances at The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh Scotland. She has accompanied extensively and enjoys working with and supporting soloists.

In addition to teaching at Culver Academies, she has also maintained a private teaching studio working with both children and adults of all ages throughout her professional life. She has worked extensively as a musician within various worship traditions and spaces, playing piano, organ, flute and as a song leader.  Locally, she currently sings in the soprano section of the choir at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bloomington, as well as accompanying the choir at Beth Shalom on occasion.

Another part of Mary’s musical life is volunteering locally with music and memory sessions, utilizing the power of music within the brain to positively impact the lives of those with dementia and Alzheimer’s, their families, and caregivers. She currently volunteers at Better Day Club and Gentry Park’s memory care residence. Mary Allen-Lynch has traveled and lived abroad for long periods of time, including Malaysia and Japan. She counts her years of living in many diverse cultures as a hugely formative factor in her education. She teaches music so that others may find their voice and enjoy the many benefits that music lessons and education bring to the quality of life.

Cindy has been teaching piano lessons for over thirty years and is an expert in the field of young children’s music programs. She received Kindermusik training under the program’s writer and founder Lorna Heyge. She is also trained and certified in the Yamaha Music Education System. Cindy is the music director at McDoel Baptist Church and sings soprano in the Bloomington Chamber Singers. Cindy has been teaching with Stafford Music Academy since March of 2006.

Bloomington native Justus Morgan first picked up a violin in 2008, and he has not stopped learning musical instruments since. He began teaching private lessons in 2021. In 2026, Justus received a B.A. from DePauw University, where he majored in Song (poetry and music composition) and minored in Philosophy. At DePauw, Justus received private instruction in violin, composition, and jazz improvisation. He served as concertmaster of the DePauw University Orchestra for two years. Justus has played in jazz combos, percussion ensembles, worship bands, and pit orchestras, on a multitude of different instruments. He’s even improvised live electronic music while running a game of Dungeons and Dragons. In addition to his instrumental skills, Justus is a singer-songwriter and composer. DePauw’s Chamber Symphony performed some of his music on their 2025 tour in England. As a teacher, Justus helps his students enjoy music while developing strong technical skills. He focuses on engaging repertoire, critical listening, healthy technique, and effective practice.

Chris Chiarotti is a musician and composer from Long Island, New York. Born in 2003, a musical upbringing in classical piano and violin created the foundation that sits beneath Chris’ influences. Late into high school, Chris became well acquainted with progressive rock and jazz fusion through fellow musicians and friends, and slowly incorporated these styles into his writing. Chris is also a dedicated pianist and keyboardist avidly performing his own works and collaborating with singers and instrumentalists. Chris’ music has been performed by the Thessaloniki State Symphony Orchestra, the Brevard Music Center, the Polymorphia Ensemble, the Times Union Center for the Performing Arts, and the Douglas Anderson Chamber Orchestra. Chris holds a Bachelors degree in Music Theory and Composition from Florida State University, and is pursuing his Masters in Composition from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. Coming from an Italian-American background, Chris is an avid home cook and enjoys chess, videogames, weightlifting, and hiking in his leisure.

Anna Osborne is a soprano vocalist originally from Broadlands, Virginia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Studies from James Madison University, where she developed a strong foundation in both vocal performance and piano. Versatile in style, Anna performs across a wide range of genres, including classical, jazz, pop, and musical theater. Along with solo performing, Anna also has experience in choir and was music director of her previous acapella group, “The JMU Bluestones.”
Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Musicology at the Jacobs School of Music, where she continues to deepen her academic and artistic engagement with music. Anna is thrilled to be teaching at Stafford Music Academy and cannot wait to share her love of music to her students.

Eli Yaroch is a musician, educator, and audio professional with extensive experience in performance, music production, songwriting, and contemporary music education. He holds both a B.S. and M.S. in Music Engineering from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Music Education at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music.

Eli began his musical training with more than 12 years of jazz piano study before college and has since developed expertise across piano, guitar, bass, songwriting, and music production. He is also a member of the rock band Ex Monarch and loves writing, performing, and producing original music.

As an educator, Eli combines strong musical fundamentals with the creativity and practical skills of being an active musician. He enjoys helping students develop their own musical voice, whether they want to learn an instrument, write original songs, play in a band, or explore recording and production.

American soprano Ellie McBride, known for her vibrant stage presence, frequently performs in both concert and operatic settings. Her favorite roles include Rosita in Luisa Fernanda, Mother in Hänsel und Gretel with Baylor Opera Theatre, and Melpomene in Il parnaso confuso with Opera Seme. Ellie received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Baylor University and is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at the Jacobs School of Music under the guidance of Alice Hopper. In addition to singing, she has played piano for 16 years.

Abigail Wilson, a recent alumna of the Eastman School of Music, holds a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education. At Eastman, she studied piano with Elinor Freer as well as secondary violin for two years with Angela Kim. In addition to performing regularly as a soloist on piano, notably for outreach concerts affiliated with her studio and most recently for the 2025 Piano Institute at the Brevard Music Center Summer Festival, she also has performed as a collaborative pianist and as a violinist with the University of Rochester Symphony Orchestra. During her undergraduate career, Abby held several teaching positions for local programs in Rochester like the ROCmusic Collaborative, where she taught violin to underserved students in the Rochester Central School District, and the Eastman Community Music School, where she taught musicianship for the Theory in Motion program. In the fall of 2024, she completed her student teaching in Webster, New York, and was later hired by the district as a substitute teacher where she regularly substituted in the first half of 2025, most especially in special education classrooms. Outside of these engagements, she has been active on the Eastman Ushering Crew and with the National Association for Music Educators, for which she held both the Vice President and Secretary positions within the Eastman Chapter. 

Abby currently attends the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, where she is pursuing her Master of Music Education. She is excited to continue her music education studies by stepping into the research and piano pedagogy spaces, and she especially looks forward to continuing her piano studies.

Gennavieve is a Doctoral student in Oboe Performance at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she also earned her Master’s degree in 2024. At IU, she has performed with the University Philharmonic, Symphony, and Concert Orchestras, as well as the University Wind Ensemble and Concert Band. She is a recipient of the prestigious Jacobs Fellowship and has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her graduate studies.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Woodwind Performance from Florida State University, where she also completed certificate minors in Music Entrepreneurship and Classics. At FSU, she performed with the Studio Orchestra, University Philharmonia, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Band. She was an active member of Sigma Alpha Iota, serving as Chapter Treasurer and Fundraising Co-Chair, and worked as a woodwind consultant for the Javacya Youth Orchestra.
Passionate about both performance and education, Gennavieve is committed to sharing music in a variety of settings—from university ensembles to community performances and volunteer opportunities. She has been recognized on the Dean’s and President’s Lists and received the Lucilla Gumm and Wiley Housewright Memorial Scholarships, among other honors.
Coming from a musical family, she aims to make music meaningful and accessible to others. Her goals include performing in a professional orchestra and teaching at the collegiate level.

Noah is a doctoral student of Music, in Voice and Literature at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying under the tutelage of Dr. Brian Gill. A recent graduate of the Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Boston, Massachusetts with a Master’s Degree in Voice, specializing in art song, literature, and opera, Noah has work experience on many stages and concert halls on the east coast of the US and Europe performing both vocal and piano repertoire. Noah also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Voice, with a minor in French from the Florida State University College of Music in Tallahassee, Florida.

A recipient of the Don Plummer Excellence Scholarship and concurrently a Jacobs School of Music Artistic Excellence Fellow; Noah’s students have achieved remarkable success, excelling not only in the classical and operatic performance realms but also in musical theater, piano, music theory, and aural skills.

Noah prioritizes creating a comfortable, flexible, and joyful environment for students of all ages to express themselves freely and experiment. He recognizes that each student has unique needs and desires, which is a fundamental aspect of his teaching style. Furthermore, he prioritizes the musician and performer not as that, but as a human being first. Whatever the whims and woes of the day may be, he is willing to adapt to them and, more importantly, overcome them!

Nicholas Hilliard has been immersed in a variety of music from a very young age. The son of two piano and voice teachers, pedagogy has been in his life as early as he can remember. Singing in over a dozen choirs and competing successfully in both traditional choir and vocal jazz, Nick has a variety of experience in musical theater, pop music, a cappella groups, religious choral groups, jazz, and more. Nick is also an avid jazz and classical pianist, playing in multiple jazz combos and jazz band, as well as accompanying classical and musical theater vocalists, choirs, and instrumentalists. Nick is currently earning his masters degree in cello performance, and is a member of the Kuttner quartet, the student quartet in residence at Indiana University.

Corbin Stanchfield is a bassist, pianist, and music educator, who is passionate about helping students reach their full potential. He focuses on teaching students how to practice efficiently and effectively, and in a way that feels fun and rewarding. Currently, he is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in jazz bass at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he is studying with Jeremy Allen. At IU, he is in Tom Walsh’s large jazz ensemble as well as Luke Gillesipe’s jazz combo.

Corbin brings a wide range of experience to his teaching. Previously, he has performed with jazz bands, wind ensembles, choirs, and orchestras. Additionally, he was a member in several community ensembles, such as the Lafayette Citizens Band, Clinton County Orchestra, Wabash Valley Youth Symphony, and was the only high school student in a Purdue University jazz ensemble. Drawing from his wide range of experience, Corbin is able to tailor each lesson to his student’s interests, whether that is exploring jazz improvisation, classical technique, or simply building a life long love for music.

Ella Fox is a soprano currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Ella has a love for teaching and helping others strengthen their love of music. She began teaching private lessons at Expressions Music Academy over the summer, where she developed a strong passion for individualized instruction and student growth. In addition to her private teaching, Ella serves as the Co-Music Director of the a cappella group The Bloomingtones, leading rehearsals and fostering strong ensemble skills. Her previous leadership experience includes serving as a student director for her high school’s tenor/bass choir and assisting with a children’s choir, both during her senior year. Ella loves to practice and teach many types of music including, but not limited to, pop, R&B, jazz, and classical. Ella is committed to creating a supportive and engaging learning environment that builds confidence, musicianship, and a lifelong love of music.

Jacob Burk is an award-winning violist, educator, and creative entrepreneur dedicated to reshaping the role of music in both personal and public life. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Music degree at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music under the mentorship of Atar Arad. A certified Suzuki instructor, Jacob maintains an active private studio across the Northeast and Midwest and has held faculty roles at institutions including the Music School of Delaware. His solo and chamber performances—recognized for their emotional depth and “otherworldly sound”—have been featured by The Violin Channel and Music for Food, and he has performed with ensembles such as the Delaware Symphony Orchestra and Opera Delaware. He is also the founder of Arcpoint Creative, a platform supporting musicians through media, storytelling, and educational tools. His work in music and mental health has been presented nationally, and published in journals like the Suzuki Journal. Jacob performs on a rare Nicolas Audinot viola generously loaned by the Virtu Foundation. For more about Jacob, visit www.jacobburk.com

Affiliations: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Certified Suzuki Instructor, Arcpoint Creative LLC, Music School of Delaware (former faculty)