Piano Faculty

Michael Borowski - Piano

Michael Borowski is a graduate of the Temple University Music School, with a Bachelors degree in Composition and Piano Performance.  Michael has been playing the piano since the age of 4, and prior to attending Temple University he won numerous awards for performance as well as composition.

During his 15 years as a professional musician, Michael has shared the stage with such names as Blues Traveler, Keller Williams, Strange Folk, Rusted Root, Warren Haynes, Billy Martin, New Riders Of The Purple Sage, Vince Welnick, JGB, John Molo, JT Thomas, Antigone Rising, Fooling April and many more.  Michael also toured nationally along with guitar player Mike Philbrick in a very popular jam band, Manic Mule.

Michael currently performs in solo concerts, and with his Grateful Dead tribute band, Splintered Sunlight. He also makes frequent appearances with Society Beat and The Dirk Quinn Band

Tim Crawford - Piano
Tim Crawford completed his Master of Music degree at the Eastman School of Music, where he studied under Barry Snyder. Prior to attending Eastman School of Music, Tim earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Pennsylvania State University, studying under pianist Steven Herbert Smith.

Tim has been performing, composing, and arranging music since the age of 12. When he was 13 years old, he played the complete Beethoven "Pathetique" Sonata at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Since that time, Tim has won numerous prizes at competitions, and performed for world-famous pianists Alicia de Larrocha, Malcolm Bilson, and Christopher Taylor.  In 2005 Tim served as Assistant Musical Director/Conductor/Keyboardist for the Tony Award winning musical "Dreamgirls" at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia, and performed two recitals at the Lincoln Center in New York City.

Howard Gordon - Piano, Keyboards
Howie Gordon is a graduate of University of the Arts, with a Masters Degree in Music Performance.

Howie specializes in classical, funk, jazz, R&B, hip-hop, rock, and fusion styles, and as a session player, has performed everything from bluegrass to thrash-metal.  In addition to teaching and performing, Howie has worked in numerous recording studios, including with Grammy-nominated producer David Ivory.  He has received several music awards.

Dan Kauffman - Guitar, Piano, and Drums

Dan is a graduate of the Millersville University School of Music, with a Bachelors Degree in Music. Dan started playing guitar and piano at 14.  After attending Millersville University and living in Olympia Washington for a few years, Dan returned to his native east-coast roots to further his career.

 
Fluent in most types of music including Rock, Funk, Jazz, Folk, Americana, and Classical, Dan continues to play in Philadelphia's most prominent live venues such as  World Cafe Live, Grape St., Puck, and many upscale bars and restaurants while teaching a 4-day week at MTC.  Former Philadelphia 76'er, Charles Barkley, after hearing a rendition of James Taylor's "Country Road", remarked that Dan is his "brother from another mother". Dan continues to write, record, and perform in the Philadelphia area.

Palimo Lopez - Piano

Palimo Lopez is a graduate of Temple University Music School, with a Masters Degree in Piano Performance. At Temple, he studied Piano Pedagogy under Maria del Pico Taylor. Palimo earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Northern Arizona State University under Dr. Frank Scott.

At Arizona, Mr. Lopez was a two time winner of NAU’s Concerto Competition, and two time winner of the Maricopa College Performer’s Competition. He has performed with the Flagstaff, Scottsdale, Sun City, and Phoenix Symphonies. After winning the Beethoven Symposium Competition of AZ., Mr. Lopez had invitational studies with Caio Pagano, Fredrick Moyer, and Jeffery Swan. Most recently, Mr. Lopez has twice performed for the Dorothy Taubmann Technique Seminar at Lincoln Center.

Palimo has been teaching for the past twelve years, and enjoys sharing his knowledge of this profession with all aspiring musicians. He is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and has performed in Arizona, California, Indiana, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Hawaii.

Jeffrey Mayer - Piano

Jeff Mayer is a graduate of Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music, with a Masters degree in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy. He also holds a Bachelors degree in Piano Performance from Temple and an honorary Bachelors of Arts degree from Central High School in Philadelphia.

Jeff's primary piano studies were with Charles Abramovic. Jeff began studying piano at age 12. As a high school senior, he won piano scholarship awards from Settlement Music School and the Matinee Musical Club of Philadelphia, which led to multiple performances he gave at the Academy of Music Ballroom.  During his college career, Jeff performed in Master Classes given by world class artists including Harvey Wedeen and Claude Frank at Rock Hall, Joseph Kalichstein at Jacob’s Music, and Emanuel Ax at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts’ Innovation Studio. Jeff’s degree recitals at Temple University’s Rock Hall were received with critical acclaim

Ian McGuire - Piano

Ian McGuire is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, with a  Bachelors Degree in Performance and Jazz Composition. While at Berklee, Ian studied with pianist Danilo Perez (of the Wayne Shorter Quartet) and performed with members of the legendary jazz/fusion group, The Yellowjackets.

Ian performs with a variety of bands including MJ PROJECT (rock-tronica), LIFTED (hip hop), SLETH (acid-jazz) and THE HUMAN ELEMENT (drum and bass) and in the winter of 06', Ian performed at the Kimmel Center numerous times for an off-Broadway Christmas play.  Ian has been involved in a variety of studio work ranging from commercials, film scores, and pop music.

Leslie Poprik - Piano
Leslie is a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, with a Masters Degree in Classical Piano Performance.  She received her Bachelors Degree in Music from Duke University.

While at Carnegie Mellon, Leslie studied with Ralph Zitterbart and received individual instruction from renowned artists such as Earl Wild and Craig Ketter.  She completed a program in piano pedagogy under the direction of Hanna W. Li, and taught young students at CMU's Piano Preparatory School. Leslie is a two-time winner of the Duquesne Young Artists Competition in Pittsburgh, PA, and placed first in the annual competition of the Pittsburgh Concert Society.  She has performed in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Virginia.

Stu Shames - Piano
Stu began his career in Philadelphia.  He later performed for 11 years on the West Coast. whre he performed in several Jazz Festivals for the University of California, was a regular at Croce's (owned by Jim Croce's wife), wrote and composed two successful musicals, was named "People to Watch" in San Diego Magazine, did a brief stint with the group, THE RASCALS ("Good Lovin'" and "Groovin"), performed for three years in a comedy Improv group, and wrote and performed for local Television.

After returning to Philadelphia in 1991, Stu has been a popular performer at area clubs, hotels and restaurants, the New Jersey Shore areas, and at Philly's Waterfront nightclubs. Stu is the co-founder and artistic director of the Philadelphia Songwriter's Project and teaches Songwriting courses at the University of the Arts.