piano instructors

​​​​Tanya Pellecchia  Proprietor, Piano

Tanya, Proprietor of Music 101, a graduate of Wellesley College, holds a BA in Music with a concentration in piano. Tanya has taught music for over 15 years in varied capacities including the elementary general music class in the city of Melrose as well as private piano study. She has been a busy accompanist in the area and was the former resident music director at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Saugus. An active business member, Tanya can be seen around town as a member of various organizations including the Melrose Chamber of Commerce and the board of the East Boston Savings Bank.

Stephen is a multi-instrumentalist with a degree in Classical Composition from the New England Conservatory. He has a diverse performance background ranging from early renaissance vocal ensembles at St.Thomas 5th Avenue in NYC, avant-garde contemporary world premieres in Boston's historical Jordan Hall, to playing at Kiss 108's Kiss Concert Series at the Xfinity Center. Stephen has recorded with Grammy award winning producers, is an experienced jazz pianist, and is currently the organist & choir director at St. John's Episcopal Church in Saugus.

Brian Church
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Voice; Music 101 instructor since 2008
Brian Church holds a BM in Music Education from The College of New Jersey, an MM in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory, and is also an accomplished bassist with the avant-noise post-punk group Tristan da Cunha with whom he has toured the midwest and released several recordings. Brian has been an elementary music educator in the Melrose Public School System teaching at the Roosevelt, Hoover and Horace Mann Schools, and has used his skills to help create almost 30 original songs with his students under his curriculum.

Matthew Holehan
Piano; Music 101 instructor since 2013
​After receiving his Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance from the Pennsylvania State University, Matt moved to Ithaca, NY to study piano with Charis Dimaras. During his residence in Ithaca, Matt spent much of his time collaborating with numerous solo vocalists and instrumentalists as well as many prominent ensembles at Ithaca College. In addition to his collaborative work he held a teaching position at the Community School for Music and Arts. Matt currently resides in Boston, works at Boston Conservatory, with the acclaimed children's choir the "Boston City Singers", and spends his weekends providing music for the Ballardvale United Church of Andover.

Joan Contarino
Piano, Voice; Music 101 instructor since 2013
Joan has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from UMASS Lowell and two subsequent Master's degrees.  She is a licensed Music and Performing Arts teacher in Massachusetts and New Mexico. She has been teaching piano, voice, and music theory for over 40 years in public, private, and home school environments, plus private lessons in music and drama coaching.  She has written and produced plays and musicals for audience entertainment and competition.​
             Joan has directed youth, adult, and ecumenical choirs in both Massachusetts and New Mexico.  She has been accompanist for the Billerica Men's Choir, supply organist for St, Anne's Episcopal Church, and had the privilege of playing the pipe organ at the St. Francis Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe.  She sang with the All New England College Choir on tour in Europe. Joan has been a singer/soloist with a variety of church denominations and community choruses including the Los Alamos Choral Society, the Santa Fe Community Orchestra Chorus at the St. Francis Basilica and the auditioned chamber group Coro de Camara of Northern New Mexico, and most recently at St. John's Episcopal Church in Saugus.  Joan has filled in as a substitute for Music 101 instructors for several years.​​​​

​Galen Willett  

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Piano, Ukulele;  Music 101 instructor since 2017
Galen Willett graduated magna cum laude from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Composition and Electric Bass Performance in 2011. With ten years of experience in a wide range of genres, Galen tailors lessons to his students' individual styles and goals. He currently performs with Boston-based artists and bands including Kina Zoré (Afro-pop), Neotolia (fusion pop), Victoria Rios (folk/fusion), Lilla (R&B/hip-hop/reggae), and Azurite (jazz/rock). He has performed at the Outside the Box Festival in Boston, the ArtBeat Festival in Somerville, the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago, and more.

​Vinh Pham  

Piano;  Music 101 instructor since 2018
Vinh Pham received his Bachelor and Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the prestigious Longy School of Music of Bard College, where he also holds a Teaching Artist Certificate. Originally from Vietnam, Vinh is an experienced accompanist and soloist who has performed in multiple recitals, showcases, and chamber concerts in Boston. Vinh studied with the late great pianist and teacher Ludmilla Lifson, and the phenomenal Spencer Myer.  Piano Pedagogy with Esther Ning Yau and Chamber Music with Carol Mastrodomenico, Mihail Jojatu, Jane Struss and Marco Granados.​

Ha-eun Ryu  
Piano, Violin;  Music 101 instructor since Fall 2019
Ha-eun Ryu began violin at the Preucil School of Music, attended the Interlochen Arts Academy, obtained a BM in violin performance at Oberlin Conservatory, and an MM at the Boston Conservatory.  She has won competitions, played in professional orchestras, performed with college faculty, soloed with orchestras, and won the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artists Award.  Ha-eun has completed pedagogy courses in college and at the graduate level.  She instructs children, teens, and adults alike, influencing her teaching methods through the education she received from her mentors and striving to pass on their wisdom.  Ha-eun is passionate about teaching out of a desire to help people express themselves and appreciate music on a deeper level.  She is very enthusiastic and adapts her approach to each student's level, personality, and needs while seeking to build a good rapport.  Ha-eun also has experience working with elementary school kids, having spent three years employed at a Boys and Girls Club. She continues to perform in the greater Boston area. 

Carmen Carbonell

Piano, Voice; Music 101 instructor Fall 2022

Carmen Carbonell is a pianist, organist, vocalist, and educator who strives to help all of her students find joy through music and reach their full potential!  She received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Syracuse University.  While at Syracuse, Carmen received several awards for her achievements in piano, including the Lena Corbin prize for highest achievement in solo piano and the George Mullfinger prize for highest achievement in solo piano by a graduating senior.  She went on to study organ in the Master’s Program at Boston University under Peter Sykes (Keyboard Faculty Member at The Juilliard School) and has completed additional graduate study in child psychology, special education, and music pedagogy.
             As a performer, Carmen has appeared as a pianist, organist, vocalist, and accompanist in several venues.  These include performances at Old North Church, Boston as an organist and choral conductor and appearing as an accompanist for The Syracuse University Singers who were selected to perform at the ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, MD.  Teaching is Carmen’s true passion, and she has taught children and adults in a variety of settings.  In addition to her experience teaching music, Carmen also has extensive experience teaching in special education classrooms as well as coaching gymnastics for Special Olympics Massachusetts.  She loves teaching students of all ages, learning styles, and abilities!​

Calvin Kotrba
Piano; Music 101 instructor Fall 2023
Pianist Calvin Kotrba, originally from Minnesota, is pursuing his Master of Music degree at Longy School of Music.  He studied with Dr. Ksenia Nosikova at the University of Iowa, where he earned degrees in piano performance and mathematics with highest honors.  Calvin was the first-prize winner in the University of Iowa Concerto Competition, and loves to perform both as a soloist and as a chamber musician; he recently went on tour with his piano quintet for the second time.  He is also an organist and a composer.  Calvin’s desire to pass on his love of music to students was kindled by his mother, who taught him piano until he was 15 years old.  When not playing the piano, Calvin enjoys traveling long distances by train, eating steak, and organizing his schedule.

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