Alayne Honaker
Violin
Alayne Honaker sparks musical curiosity through passionate violin performance, engaging musical instruction, and imaginative arts administration. Alayne performs regularly with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, the Lima Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Battle Creek (MI) Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to her orchestral pursuits, Alayne is passionate about bringing communities together through creative and collaborative musical performances. In 2019, she was the executive producer of “Summertime: An Evening with the Musicians of Knox County,” an original showcase concert that wove together Americana, Classical, and Jazz music into a fluid and entertaining narrative to reveal the musical diversity of local Knox County Musicians and increase investment in local artists. Alayne is also the founding member of the OLEA ensemble, a chamber ensemble that places new music and creative collaboration at the center of their artistic vision.
With over 8 years of teaching experience, Alayne also is the caretaker of her student’s musical curiosity. In addition to her private studio of adult violin students, she teaches violin lessons to students of all ages at West Chester Academy, and she is extremely excited to be teaching at Western Hills Music. Her detail-oriented and observation-based teaching methods create strong foundational techniques with an emphasis on creative expression.
A graduate from Kenyon College (’17) with a dual degree in Music and Sociology, Alayne holds such achievements as the Thomas B. and Mary M. Greenslade Award for Music Performance, the First-Place winner of the 2017 Knox County Symphony Young Musicians Competition, and Distinction in Music for her senior comprehensive exercise
Alayne resides on the west side of Cincinnati. She earned both a Master’s of Music (’21) and an Artist Diploma (’23) in Violin Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). Her primary teachers include Timothy Lees and Ariane Sletner.
Ariana Troxell-Layton
Voice
Ariana Troxell-Layton is a soprano originally from Kuna, Idaho. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Cincinnati College/Conservatory of Music.
Ariana is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, where she studied with Chris Nomura. Performances during her undergraduate studies include Nerone from L'incoronazione di Poppea, Susanna (partial) in Le nozze di Figaro, and Marie from Viardot's Cendrillon.
Ariana’s recent professional opportunities have been with the London Film Music Orchestra as their vocalist on their Northeast tour. Ariana has also studied and performed at Academia Vocale Lorenzo Malfatti and Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music. Ariana studied ballet for many years and incorporates movement studies into performance coaching for her students.
When not singing, she loves rock climbing despite her fear of heights!
Greg Hurd
Saxophone, Clarinet, Beginning Piano, Flute
Greg is an active Cincinnati area performer and educator. A native of Huntington, WV, Greg is an honors graduate from Marshall University. At Marshall, Greg studied classical and jazz repertoire while performing with the Jazz Ensemble, Wind Symphony, and Saxophone Quartet. He also played in several jazz and pit orchestra groups, where he doubled on clarinet and flute.
Greg has been part of two Cincinnati Entertainment Award winning bands since moving to Cincinnati. He is currently one half of the GO Jazz Duo with fellow Western Hills Music instructor, guitarist Owen Hopper. Greg gigs every week with the GO Jazz Duo, as well as in solo appearances and with other ensembles. Greg is an inventive soloist who brings tasteful and creative melodic and harmonic ideas to his performances.
Greg has taught private lessons for many years and has also been a clinician with area high school woodwind sections, including Harrison, Deer Park and Conner. He is an engaging and compassionate instructor, and has students ranging in age from early elementary through high school. Helping "little ones" become comfortable making music brings him as much satisfaction as coaching high schoolers to high ratings at OMEA solo and ensemble contests.
Tristen Krueger
Guitar
Tristen Krueger is a working musician in the Cincinnati area with experience teaching and performing.
Formal training/education in guitar, writing, and arranging music. He enjoys working with and
teaching other guitar players as they continue to find their place in music.
Tristen has taught group lessons with students of all ages as well as one-on-one lessons. He teaches at several studios in other areas of town and is delighted to be now teaching at Western Hills Music. He came to WHM as a personal referral from one of his professors at CCM, where he recently completed his degree in Jazz Guitar, with a Minor in Commercial Music Production. We don't normally bring in teachers this soon out of college, but we were told, "He's that good, you need him on staff."
Tristen is a fantastic player and a wonderful human being. He loves working with kids and is motivational and enthusiastic. Contact us to schedule a lesson with Tristen today!
Dixie karas
Voice
Dixie Karas truly defines what it means to be a professional musician. She has performed in every kind of venue imaginable throughout greater Cincinnati, the United States, and internationally.
Dixie’s multi-decade career includes recording sessions, television appearances, festivals, radio spots, and near-constant gigs at small clubs and large. She is one of the most recognized and respected vocalists in Cincinnati.
She has recorded feature vocals and backup vocals for ad jingles, TV promos, video game soundtracks, and more for organizations as varied as Kroger, Skyline, Northgate Mall, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Kings Island, and JTM. Dixie has recorded nationally for Ford, all major cruise lines, and international theme parks in Japan and Germany.
Dixie performs regularly on the Cincinnati jazz and pop club scene and she frequently features with prominent local ensembles. She has recorded at dozens of local and national recording studios and includes instruction on microphone technique and recording protocols with many of her voice students.
Dixie has been teaching voice and jazz/pop singing styles for many years around Cincinnati, including with the School of Rock program for the last several years. She loves teaching and helping singers reach their personal and professional goals.
You can hear some of Dixie’s work on iTunes at the following link: Dixie Karas on Apple Music
Rob Knueven
Drums, Percussion
Robert Knueven embarked on his musical journey at an early age, initiating his musical education with piano at 6, and percussion and drums at 11. Rob was fortunate to have lots of opportunity for performing drums and percussion, ranging from paid gigs, to district honor bands and All-State Jazz Band.
His pursuit of music studies led him to the UC College-Conservatory of Music, where he refined his craft in jazz education under the mentorship of Art Gore. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music at Northern Kentucky University, with a Minor in Entrepreneurship.
Rob's percussion prowess found expression in various esteemed Drum Corps such as the Blue Stars and Madison Scouts. Additionally, he showcased his marimba proficiency with the acclaimed WGI ensemble, Rhythm X.
Transitioning into the realm of education, Robert served as a Front Ensemble Coordinator at multiple Cincinnati-area high schools including Kings, Lakota East, and Norwood. He has also made contributions to independent WGI ensembles like Connexus and INOV8.
Currently, Rob Knueven serves as a Music Specialist within Cincinnati Public Schools, where he imparts his passion for music education. Rob recently earned a Masters in Montessori Education from Xavier University. Spreading music knowledge to students of all ages, his drum-set lessons focus on functional skill sets, developing coordination, and spreading music appreciation.
IAN PATHAK
Voice
A native of Washington, DC, Ian Pathak is a multifaceted vocalist who is comfortable in a number of different styles of music.
Ian is a graduate of the University of Michigan and is currently pursuing his Masters in vocal performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has extensive performance experience in opera and musical theater roles across the country, including with the Toledo Opera, Detroit Opera, Opera Saratoga, and in the DC/Baltimore area.
Ian has experience in tenor and countertenor vocal ranges and is excited to help voice students develop their technical and artistic skills. He also can coach voice students in movement, as he has training in gymnastics and dance.
Kate Kilgus, DMA
Clarinet, Saxophone, Piano
Kate Kilgus is passionate about sharing music with others through teaching, collaborating, and performing.
In the summer of 2016, Kate was invited to attend the Music Academy International in
Trento, Italy, where she performed in the pit orchestra for the production of Mozart’s Cosi fan
Tutti. She was a finalist in the Lawrence University Wind Ensemble Concerto Competition in
2017 and was given a Graduate Incentive Award at CCM in 2018.
In Cincinnati, she’s performed with the CCM Wind Ensemble, Concert Orchestra, and Chamber Winds ensembles as well as the Queen City Orchestra and Mason Symphony Orchestra. In the spring of 2020, Kate co-founded OLEA, a chamber music group that aims to create music that is engaging and impactful for audiences. In the summer of 2022, OLEA completed residencies at the Avaloch Farm Music
Institute as well as the Decoda Chamber Music Festival.
Kate holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Clarinet Performance as well as a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Mathematics from Lawrence University.
In 2020, she completed a Master of Music degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. She completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at CCM summer of 2024, where she had served as the graduate instructor in clarinet.
Her primary teachers include Pavel Vinnitsky, Joe Morris, Christopher Pell, David Bell, Andrew
Marriner, Amy McCann, and Meghan Cabral. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota National
Women’s Music Fraternity as well as Phi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
Heidi Johnson
Viola, Piano, Violin, Cello
Heidi Johnson has a passion for teaching music to students of all ages. Her two main instruments are
viola and piano, but she is equally comfortable teaching violin and cello. Heidi is a veteran music teacher,
having taught public school music (orchestra and general music) for 36 years in Kansas, Florida, and
Ohio.
Music was an important part of her childhood. She started playing the piano when she was just 4 years
old, with her mother as her first teacher. The viola came later when they introduced the string
instruments at school. She attended Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas for her undergraduate degree
in music education and earned a master’s degree in music education at the University of Cincinnati,
College-Conservatory of Music.
Heidi is currently the viola player in the La Chiesa String Quartet, which plays for weddings, receptions,
and other gatherings since 1994. She also played piano for the Family Worship Service at Good
Shepherd Lutheran in Kenwood for 25 years.
“It is important to me that the student is successful and feels a sense of achievement. If one approach is
not working, then look at it from a different perspective. This can involve everything from flashcards
and games to music theory to various types of music. My favorite part of teaching is the moment when
a student learns a new skill or new piece and realizes they can do this!”
Wade Goodwin, DMA
Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba
Wade A. Goodwin was born in the late 1970’s in the small Midwest town of New Castle, Indiana. He wanted to play trombone ever since he was in sixth grade when the local high school band came to play for the elementary schools, showing off each instrument. It reminded him of old Warner Bros. Tasmanian devil cartoons, and the slide looked fun to use. Wade didn’t take lessons until his junior year of high school, when it opened his eyes to a wider world of music than marching band and pep band. He was hooked!
Dr. G (as he is known to students) is a graduate of Ball State University and studied with the accomplished pedagogue Dr. John Seidel for his bachelor’s degree. He also studied with the legendary Peter Norton at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music for his master’s and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. He has also studied with other well-known professional trombonists such as Charlie Vernon, Phil Wilson, and M. Dee Stewart
Wade has performed with several orchestras in the Cincinnati area and traveled to four continents performing in big bands and other ensembles. Wade is also a professional arranger and editor. As an arranger Wade is focused on adding to the bass trombone/ tuba repertoires. He is also interested in expanding the solo and small brass ensemble genres for advanced high school/ early college level players.
His website is www.wadegoodwinmusic.com & his facebook is facebook.com/drbasstrombone
Madison Vonderahe
Guitar, Voice, Piano
Madison Vonderahe is a highly accomplished musician and teacher with a passion for inspiring
students to pursue their musical goals. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati's College
Conservatory of Music, she holds a bachelor's degree in Commercial Music Production and has
been teaching private music lessons for over 5 years. She has studied guitar under Phil Willis
and Nick Fryer, as well as voice with Thomas Speckhard and Dr. Marcie Givens.
With expertise in voice, guitar, and piano, Madison has helped numerous students develop their
musical abilities. In addition to teaching private lessons, she also teaches Kindergarten through
8th grade music education at two local private elementary schools. Working with students in a
classroom setting has provided her the tools necessary to work with a variety of learning needs.
With over 12 years of experience playing popular music, and a deep knowledge of both music
theory and performance, Madison is committed to helping students of all ages and skill levels
discover the joy and satisfaction of creating music. She also has experience with songwriting,
recording, and producing and can take students step by step on how songs are created.
“I believe that anyone, regardless of their age, can achieve their music goals. I love to create
individualized lesson plans to meet students at their level and to work towards their interests.”
Owen hopper
Guitar, Piano, Bass
Owen Hopper is a local musician, composer, and teacher. He has been teaching others about music for over twelve years. His teaching philosophy places a strong emphasis on understanding “big picture” concepts in music, helping students understand the mechanics of music theory and how songs are crafted to reach their personal musical goals. He is also deeply passionate about building “the whole musician”, working with students to better understand ear training and critical listening skills as well as the body mechanics that go into playing your best.
Owen earned his Master of Music degree in composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2020 and holds a Bachelor’s degree in music from Otterbein University where he studied guitar performance and composition. He has studied with prominent classical guitarist Karl Wohlwend and participated in masterclasses with the likes of Russ Barenberg and Jason Vieaux. Besides his wonderful studio of students at Western Hills Music, Owen is on the faculty at CCM as well as visiting faculty at Miami University.
To learn more about Owen, check out the following links:
Christian Robles
Guitar, Bass, Ukelele
Christian currently plays around 200 plus engagements annually and has performed in 28 different countries across 4 continents. Christian attended Berklee College of Music with classmates John Mayer and Norah Jones.
During his travels, Christian has performed with many bands/members: The Eagles, P-funk, Journey, Santana, James Brown's Band, Toto, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Boston, CeeLo Green, Los Lobos, The Romantics, Jewel, Tommy Tutone, John Cafferty, Earth Wind and Fire, Al Green's Band, David Bowie's Band and Elton John's Band.
In addition to performing, Christian maintains a guitar studio at Western Hills Music . He teaches all guitar styles, bass and ukulele, to students 7 years old and up.
Muning Wang
Violin, Viola, Piano
Muning earned her Bachelor's Degree at Renmin University of Cincinnati and her Master's Degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Muning is now a doctoral candidate at CCM. In addition to her high level of education, Muning has taught Violin, Viola, and Piano at a range of local institutions.
When asked what she enjoys most about teaching, she said sharing her love and passion for music with others. She remarked that she always gives one hundred percent to her students.
She says of the importance of practice; "We have a saying that 'one day no practice, you will know; two days no practice, your family will know; three days no practice, the whole world will know". She advises her students to just take things one step at a time, never putting too much pressure on themselves.
Marissa Dike, DMA
Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Voice
Marissa Dike is a musician, composer, author, and teacher. She has fifteen years of teaching experience both in private student lessons and in classroom settings.
While piano is her first love - she received her bachelor's degree in classical piano performance from the University of South Florida - she also teaches voice, guitar, bass, and ukulele lessons. She earned her Doctorate in Composition from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2018.
Marissa is the author of three novels, Liam's Town , Magdalene, and The Sky Looked the Same, all available from online booksellers. She is a versatile and engaging artist, and her students love her enthusiasm and obvious care for their growth and development.
She has taught a wide variety of students of all ages, abilities, and skill -levels, and those with special needs.
Dan Wilson
Guitar, Bass, Beginning Piano, Ukulele
Dan Wilson is a graduate of Mount St. Joseph University where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with a concentration in Guitar. Dan has played with various Jazz and Rock groups as well as several pit orchestras. Most recently he’s enjoyed collaborating remotely with friends via YouTube. Dan has over 14 years of teaching experience, with much of his tenure held at Western Hills Music.
When asked what he likes most about teaching he had this to say: “I love seeing my students’ faces when they accomplish new things, especially those things they find difficult or impossible. I instill in my students the importance of practicing. I teach my students theory, technique, and critical thinking around music and practicing, but I can only supply the tools. It takes hard work and dedication to learn to use them.”
Click here to see one of Dan's Remote Collaborations!
Click Here to See Dan Wilson Performing Bach!
Jeannine Groh
Piano
Jeannine Groh is a seasoned musical professional with decades of experience honing her craft.
She studied Piano Pedagogy at Mount St. Joseph University as well as receiving additional training from Phil DeGreg; she also completed Pop Piano Stylings with Frank Wolfe. Jeannine also spent time as the director of the Yamaha Music Education System at Willis Music. Her professional playing experience comes from countless combo bands, and most notably her eponymous Trio, Quartet, and Quintet. Notable performances include appearances on television with her all female rock band, as well as a three-year residency with the Horseshoe Casino’s exclusive venues.
Jeannine’s teaching experience is extensive. She has taught with numerous local music progams, and at the collegiate level with Mount St. Joseph University's Music Academy and their Community Music Program.
Jeannine says, “I take a personal interest in my students; I truly want them to succeed! I encourage my students to distribute their practice throughout the week, this is key to success. I love to see my students learn to read music and play well. Piano lessons in particular provide many benefits to children and adults. We begin with classical music training to develop technique, theory and reading skills, and from there we can add any other genre.”
Jeanine can be reached at grohentertainment@gmail.com
Timothy Breckon, JR
Trombone, Music Theory, Beginning Piano
Timothy Breckon Jr. is a dedicated music educator and performer with a lifelong passion for music. He began teaching and leading ensembles in 2009. Tim’s musical journey began with piano and violin lessons at age 5. He honed his skills in bands and choirs through secondary school and attended the University of Denver for his Bachelor of Music, and Ball State University for his Masters.
At DU Tim furthered his musical education by studying Jazz Piano with Dave Hanson, leading the top big bands’ trombone section, and performing in combos under Malcolm Lynn Baker. His trombone professor was Dr Joe Martin. Tim studied with Warren Deck (principal tubist NY Philharmonic) in Denver, as well.
At Ball State University Tim was a graduate assistant for Dr. John Seidel, and studied jazz, arranging and theory. He graduated BSU with his Master of Music in 2015.
Tim's diverse musical experiences include performing in orchestras, both domestically and internationally. As a principal trombonist, Tim has performed in orchestras in America, Europe, and Australia.
Currently, Tim shares his expertise with aspiring musicians at Western Hills Music. He teaches beginning piano, trombone, and coaches preparation for All-State and college auditions.