Piano Lessons

Monica is a collaborative pianist based in Bolton and is the Music Director at Pilgrim Congregational Church in Southborough. Monica joined Joy of Music in 2023 as the Program Manager and as a piano teacher. She has been teaching piano for over ten years in both private and group lessons. She is experienced in teaching beginners of all ages, informs and includes parents in the learning process, and knows how to tailor her teaching for each student’s individual needs. She and her students work together to choose music that inspires, excites, and challenges them to grow.  

Monica joined Opera Columbus and Capital University's Resident Artist Program for the 2020-2021 season as a vocal coach and pianist for their productions of A Tale of Two Cities, La Bohème, and The Marriage of Figaro. In the spring of 2020, she earned a Graduate Performance Diploma in Vocal Accompanying at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she was the rehearsal and performance pianist for Leonard Bernstein's MASS conducted by Marin Alsop, Puccini's La Rondine and Il Trittico, and the world premiere of Kirke Mechem's opera Pride and Prejudice. At Peabody, she was also awarded the InterPlay Teaching Artist Grant in collaboration with the University of Maryland Baltimore County, the Clara Ascherfeld Award in Piano Accompanying, and was a finalist with mezzo-soprano Cierra Byrd in the 2019 London Song Festival’s British Art Song Master Class and Competition led by Roderick Williams.  She holds a Masters in Collaborative Piano from the Longy School of Music of Bard College and a Bachelors in Piano Performance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania.

Teaching Philosophy: "My ultimate goal is to help every student become confident in their artistry, no matter where they are in their musical education. They know that I am on their team, that we work together to figure out the challenges in front of us, and that there are no stupid questions! I strive for every lesson to be filled with laughter and creativity, while always maintaining a well-balanced approach that includes music theory, technique, sight-reading, and games." 

TESTIMONIALS

"Monica has opened Sam’s eyes and heart to the piano. She is so sweet and has formed a great bond with him. We never expected his skills to flourish amidst a pandemic using FaceTime, but she has gone above and beyond. We are so pleased with his progress and how much he enjoys playing. He has learned theory, developed his ear, and enjoys learning new songs on the piano. More than that he looks forward to his lessons every week! We can’t recommend her more! Monica is amazing." 
-Keith of Hudson

"I wanted to share something pretty amazing that has been happening the past few weeks. Clara has been self-motivated to practice piano – I have not had to remind her! This has never really happened before. Monica, the schedule and reward system that you created for Clara was really meaningful. I really believe she is motivated to practice because she feels connected to you and wants to do well in the lesson. It has been really great to watch this relationship form so quickly."
-Alanna of Stow

Kallin Johnson holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Music (Piano Performance) and French from Utah State University. He received his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. Kallin actively serves on the boards of many Worcester cultural organizations, including Worcester Center for the Performing Arts (Hanover Theatre), ARTSWorcester, First Night Worcester, MusicWorcester and the Worcester Cultural Commission. He was co-founder and Executive Director of the Pakachoag Community Music School from 1982-1986 and has been Director of Music at Notre Dame Academy in Worcester since 1989. In addition to directing Musical Theater productions at Notre Dame, Kallin has also directed for New England Theatre Co., Worcester County Light Opera, Stage Loft Theatre (Sturbridge) and the Westboro players.

In addition to his many classical and jazz performances as a pianist, Kallin has composed three musicals and recently conducted the Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra at the opening of the Hanover Theatre and for Ballet Arts Worcester’s 2008 performances of the Nutcracker. Kallin teaches in the Jazz Vocal and Class Piano programs at Clark University and joined the Joy of Music faculty in 2009.

Tracy McGinnis started playing the bassoon when she took the instrument over from a graduating senior in the high school band. She attended the University of Delaware where she received a Bachelor of Music Education degree and then continued her studies at the Vienna International Music Center in Vienna, Austria, studying with Reinhard Öhlberger of the Vienna Philharmonic. She also has a Masters in Bassoon Performance from the New England Conservatory in Boston, MA. Her principal teachers include Mordechai Rechtman, Sol Schoenbach, and Frank Morelli.

Ms. McGinnis worked abroad for six years, first in the National Radio Symphony of South Africa and then in the Haifa, Kibbutz, and Rishon LeZion Symphony Orchestras in Israel. While in Israel, she also had the pleasure of performing several times with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta. Currently, she freelances all over New England and has performed with several of the area orchestras and chamber groups. She is principal bassoonist of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra in New London, CT, the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra in Milford, MA, and is on the music faculty of Wellesley College.  She joined the Joy of Music faculty in the summer of 2022.

Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College, where she received the Chancellor’s Talent Award and Eugenie M. May Piano Award for outstanding musicianship. She studied piano with Gilles Vonsattel at UMass, and with Elinor Freer and Martin Canin for three summers at Bowdoin International Music Festival. Cynthia has performed solo piano and chamber music at Bowdoin International Music Festival, Buffalo Center for 21st Century Music, and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. She has also performed piano, violin, and viola in the UMass Symphony Orchestra, Five-College Baroque Ensemble, UMass Women’s Choir, UMass Percussion Ensemble, Symphony Pro Musica, and Fitchburg State Community Orchestra.