Piano Faculty

Abigail Dinin - Piano
Abigail Dinin holds a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Temple University, where she studied with Harvey Wedeen, and a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the University of Kansas.  Her teachers include Robert Koenig, Elizabeth Mueller Grace, and Alice Downs. 

Ms. Dinin has performed as an accompanist and chamber musician in Philadelphia and throughout the western United States.   For the past several years she has worked as a vocal accompanist with the University of Colorado's opera and musical theatre programs in Boulder, CO, and this past summer worked as staff accompanist for Denver University's Lamont School of Music Pre-College Academy. She has performed throughout Colorado as a member of Duo Avant, a piano and cello ensemble. 

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.

Vanyah Harrigan - Piano
Vanyah Harrigan is a graduate of Westminster Choir College with a bachelors degree in Music.  While at Westminster, Vanyah studied under Phyllis Lehrer.  Vanyah began playing piano at the age of 7, and also studied under Dr. Samuel Bellardo, Mira Rabinovich, & Vivian Read. In addition to pursuing studies in piano literature and pedagogy, Ms. Harrigan has taught piano students for the past nine years.  She has received numerous scholarships, played in master classes with Kathleen Kautsky and Ben Whitten, and has been a staff accompanist for the Trenton Children's Chorus and the Chapin School.

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.

Jordan Klein is completing his Bachelor’s degree in Music from Temple University in the Fall of 2009, with a concentration in music theory and classical piano.  In addition to teaching at Music Training Center, Jordan plans to complete a Master’s degree in Music theory.  While at Temple, Jordan studied with Maria Del Pico Taylor.

Jordan has studied piano for 15 years. Prior to attending Temple, Jordan studied under Dr. Willis Stevens. Jordan has performed in many settings, including as an accompanist for school choirs, bands, musicals, and soloists.  Jordan teaches both children and adults – he believes that the most important thing a musician can do, is pass on his love of music to a student. 

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.

Anna Matijasic - Piano

Anna is a graduate of the University of Virginia, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Music Composition with studies in classical and contemporary violin, and piano. 

Anna began playing the piano at age 10 and the violin at age 12.   She has performed in various orchestras and with numerous bands, having shared the stage with Dwight Yoakam and Randy Travis. She has recorded with artists of many genres, including the prolific jazz trumpeter John D'Earth.  Prior to joining MTC's faculty, Anna taught for 7 years at the Music Education Center in Charlottesville, VA.   

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

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.