Certified Teachers
Members of the Golandsky Institute enrolled in the Professional Training Program undergo an extensive and rigorous course of study. They are required to have ongoing private lessons with one of the Institute’s senior faculty members, to have their students supervised regularly with a faculty mentor, and to demonstrate a high level of competence in their theoretical knowledge and their ability to perform. The Institute is pleased to have certified the following instuctors:
Julia Bady
Level of certification: Adjunct Faculty and Certified Associate
Taubman Teacher: Mary Moran Ilya Itin Edna Golandsky
Mentor: Mary Moran
Location: Greenfield, MA (north of Amherst/Northampton area)
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 413-774-0102
Educational Background: A Music, Brown University, Masters' Degree in Piano Performance and the Performing Arts in Education, Lesley College and Longy School of Music.
Ms. Bady has been performing solo and chamber music throughout the New York/New England region since 1977. She teaches at the Northampton Community Music Center and maintains a private studio in Western Massachusetts.
Margaret Banacos
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2006
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Magnolia, MA (one hour north of Boston)
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Educational Background: Berklee School of Music
Ms Banacos has twenty five years of experience as a performer and teacher.
Brenna Berman
Level of certification: Adjunct Faculty and Certified Associate
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Boulder, CO; College Station, TX; Philadelphia, PA
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web: http://www.brennaberman.com
Phone: 303-956-5010
Educational Background: B.M. in Piano Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory, M.A. in Piano Performance from Hunter College, NYC
Ms. Berman has over thirteen years of teaching experience including several years as Adjunct Professor of Piano at Drexel University. She has extensive performing experience as both a soloist and a collaborative artist, having performed throughout the United States and Europe, and in venues such as Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. She teaches in Boulder, CO, College Station, TX, and Philadelphia, PA, and offers online lessons via Skype.
Patricia Franz
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2008
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Frederick, MD
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 301-663-6197
Educational Background: B.S. Early Childhood Education, Kansas State University
Ms. Franz teaches at Frederick Community College and in her private studio.
Audrey Marshall
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2006
Taubman Teacher: Mary Moran
Mentor: Mary Moran
Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Phone: 613-544-6034
Educational Background: Teaching Diploma British Orthoptic Board, Associateships of Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Canada in Performance and Pedagogy (Cora Ahrens Award)
Ms. Marshall, teaches in the Kingston and Toronto areas, lectures, adjudicates and is a member of the College of Examiners of the Royal Conservatory. She actively participates in the Performance Master Class for advanced pianists at the University of Toronto.
Amy McLelland
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2011
Taubman Teacher: John Bloomfield Edna Golandsky
Mentor: John Bloomfield
Location: Birmingham, AL
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web: http://www.McLellandPiano.com
Phone: 205-444-1253
Educational Background: Degrees in piano performance from Gordon College and the University of Alabama
Amy Aberg McLelland is a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music through the Music Teachers National Association and has taught in private studios and colleges since 1986. She is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards. She has served as an official MTNA piano accompanist and has performed in solo and collaborative recitals and as a soloist with symphonies.
Therese Milanovic
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2009
Taubman Teacher: Edna Golandsky John Bloomfield
Mentor: Edna Golandsky
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Web: http://www.ikonmusic.com.au
Phone: +617 3113 3118
Educational Background: BMus Hons, M Mus (Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University). Currently enrolled in DMA (QCGU).
Therese Milanovic is passionate about collaborations with chamber and vocal music, innovative programming, and contemporary music. She has performed nationally with Collusion and Topology ensembles. She teaches at Young Conservatorium Griffith University, St Peters Lutheran College, and in her private studio in Brisbane.
Helen Murray
Level of certification: Instructor July 2006
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Vancouver area of Southwest Washington
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 360-687-3470
Educational Background: Bachelor and Master of Music in Piano Performance, University of Michigan, Doctoral work, Indiana University
Ms. Murray is well known as a lecturer, adjudicator, master teacher and accompanist. She is nationally accredited by the Music Teachers National Association. She has taught piano performance and piano pedagogy at several colleges and maintains a private studio in Southwest Washington.
Alex Ramirez
Level of certification: Instructor
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Abington, PA
Mr. Ramirez studied piano at the University of Texas where he graduated with the highest honors. Today he performs throughout the greater Philadelphia area. He has studied with Robert Durso for twenty years and teaches piano in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Kristine Rebar
Level of certification: Instructor
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Harleysville, PA
Educational Background: Master of Music Degree, Manhattan School of Music
Mrs. Rebar performs in the New York and Philadelphia areas and holds a Master of Music Degree from Manhattan School of Music. She has been studying the Taubman Approach with Robert Durso since 1998. Mrs. Rebar was on the piano faculty at Muhlenburg College in Allentown, Pa and presently teaches out of her private studio in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Mariko Sato
Level of certification: Adjunct Faculty and Certified Associate
Taubman Teacher: Mary Moran Edna Golandsky
Mentor: Mary Moran Edna Golandsky
Location: Montreal, Canada
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 514-937-8651
Educational Background: MA Laval University, Quebec
Ms. Sato has been a former faculty member of Laval University, is currently a Professor of Piano at the College of Lanaudiere and teaches privately in Montreal. She has performed on three continents, on radio and television and is a collaborative artist with six CD’s.
Kathleen Schneider
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2006
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso
Location: Norwood, PA
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Educational Background: B.Mus. New School of Music, Master of Piano Pedagogy, Columbia University, NYC
Ms. Schneider performs and accompanies regularly and maintains teaching studios in the Philadelphia area.
Adrienne Sirken
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2009
Taubman Teacher: Edna Golandsky
Mentor: Edna Golandsky Robert Durso
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 609-683-1069, 609-306-1237 (cell)
Educational Background: MM New England Conservatory, BA Barnard College of Columbia University
Adrienne Sirken has been teaching in Princeton, Boston, and Washington DC for more than two decades. She has performed solo and chamber music concerts throughout the USA , China, and Italy, and as soloist with the National Symphony, and the Baltimore Symphony. She maintains a private studio in Princeton, New Jersey.
Shari Weisz
Level of certification: Instructor, July 2009
Taubman Teacher: Robert Durso
Mentor: Robert Durso Mary Moran
Location: Stamford, CT
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Phone: 203-348-2841
Educational Background: Pratt Institute, BFA, 1974; Mannes College of Music non-degree piano performance study program, 1969-1974.
Mrs. Weisz has over twenty years of teaching experience and has been studying the Taubman Approach since 1991. She is the chair of Professional Development for the Schubert Club of Fairfield County, and is involved in the Connecticut chapter of MTNA. She maintains a private studio in Stamford, CT.
Current Participants:
Barbara Banacos (Reading, MA), mentored by Robert Durso
Amy Valentine Brookes (Berkeley, CA), mentored by John Bloomfield
Josu De Solaun Soto (New York, NY), mentored by Edna Golandsky
Dr. Jan Holly (Frederick, MD), mentored by Robert Durso
Elizabeth M. Grace (Overland, KS), mentored by Edna Golandsky
Justin Jacobs (New York, NY), mentored by Edna Golandsky
Andrew King (Bloomfield, CT), mentored by Robert Durso
Carla Levy (New York, NY), mentored by Edna Golandsky and John Bloomfield
Ron Stabinsky (Edwardsville, PA), mentored by Edna Golandsky
Nancy Thomadsen (Boulder Valley/Denver, CO), mentored by Robert Durso
Sophie Till (Marywood University, PA), mentored by Edna Golandsky
John Wickelgren (Frederick, MD), mentored by Robert Durso
