Music Faculty
Kristofor Downs
Guitar
Kristofor Downs is an accomplished guitarist and educator, now based in Northeast Ohio. With over a decade of teaching experience, Kris is dedicated to fostering musical growth in his students while also performing actively in the area as a solo classical guitarist and a musician in pit orchestras. His education in Classical Guitar laid the foundation for his versatility across a wide range of genres and playing styles, allowing him to engage students in various musical settings. Kris holds two Master’s degrees from the University of Akron—one in Guitar Performance (2021) and another in Music Composition (2023). While pursuing these degrees, he served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, refining his pedagogical skills. Beyond guitar instruction, Kris has shared his knowledge through lectures and courses on Music Theory, inspiring students with his passion for music.
Gregory Berlin
Violin & Viola
Gregory Berlin is a graduate of Indiana University; he earned a BM in violin performance and BSOF in Business. In addition he has a MBA in finance from the Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University.
Gregory has performed with many different local orchestras & symphonies. He enjoys performing chamber music as a soloist or with small groups (duo/trio/quartet). Gregory currently serves on the board of the Broadway School of Music & Arts (BSMA) in Slavic Village Cleveland, Ohio.
He teaches violin and viola using Suzuki and Traditional methods. Gregory teaches at the Fairmount Center for the Arts.
SAA Registered Training
Core Units:
Every Child Can!
Violin Unit 1
Violin Unit 2
Violin Unit 3
Bruno Bush
Piano, Voice & Music Theory
Bruno Bush is a freelance music director, pianist, vocalist, conductor, and composer who recently stepped away from a career in public school education to devote his time towards musical theatre and piano. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor’s in Music Education in 2019. He studied voice with Dr. Jim Mismas, piano with Dr. Anthony Fuoco, and conducting with Dr. Dirk Garner. Bruno is the founder of Moondaze, an a cappella group that still exists at BW, and served as President of the BW OCMEA Chapter. He music directed shows with Sandstone Summer Theatre (The Spongebob Musical, Cabaret, The Wizard of Oz), Port Clinton High School (Anastasia, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The Theory of Relativity, High School Musical) the Millenial Theatre Project (Legally Blonde) and the Lorain Palace Youth Theatre (School of Rock, Frozen Jr). Bruno is set to direct The Last Five Years (MAD* Factory) and You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Midview High School) in the coming months.
Abigail Dyet
Violin & Music Theory
Abigail is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer who enjoys playing everything from folk to classical to electronic music. Abigail teaches violin, music theory, composition, and electronic music. Abigail was a student of CIM’s preparatory school and suzuki program before earning her Bachelor of Music in Composition from Baldwin Wallace University. She earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Experimental Sound from California Institute of the Arts where she taught music theory and music history courses. Abigail has traveled all over the world for festivals and artist residencies including Alaska, New York City, and France.
For any inquiries pertaining to our music program, please contact Abigail at music@fairmountcenter.org.
Andrew Dyet
Piano, Trumpet & Music Theory
Andrew is a multi-instrumentalist performer and composer who specializes in piano, trumpet, music theory, and composition. Andrew plays everything from jazz and classical to experimental music. Andrew earned his Bachelor of Music in Composition from Baldwin Wallace University and his Masters of Fine Arts in Experimental Sound from California Institute of the Arts. Andrew has taught band, music theory, trumpet, and piano to young beginners all the way to undergraduates. Andrew often plays keyboard and guitar for local musical theaters including the Porthouse Theater.
Katalin La Favre
Percussion & Itty Bitty Music
A classically trained percussionist on a non-traditional path, Katalin La Favre throws her creative energy into developing captivating experiences. Interested in interdisciplinary and experimental work, she was awarded a Fulbright Grant to study with French percussionist Jean Geoffroy. Katalin remained in France for 9 years, collaborating with actors, dancers, and musicians for several programs which have been performed in France, Germany, Scotland and Portugal. These programs were vastly diverse, combining contemporary music, contemporary dance, poetry, narration, humor, and street theatre. Recently relocated to Ohio, she has developed several programs, including BACH’S MUSIC BOX, reimagining Bach’s Goldberg Variations for metallic percussion instruments, as well as promoting wellness through the arts with her sound nap programs. Katalin has a bachelors degree from the Colburn School, a masters degree and artist diploma from the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon, and a degree in instrumental pedagogy from the CEFEDEM Auvergne Rhone-Alpes.
Alex McGuire
Flute & Piano
Alexandra (Alex) McGuire holds a Bachelor of Music degree with a minor in Eurythmics from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Mary Kay Fink, in addition to holding a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Case Western Reserve University. She is continuing her studies with a Master of Music in Flute Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Additionally, Alex serves as a substitute flutist/piccoloist with the Canton Symphony Orchestra and the Mansfield Symphony. In March of 2022, Alex won the Woodwind Division of the Tuesday Musical Scholarship Competition. She has also performed as a soloist with the Jacksonville Symphony after winning their Young Artist Competition in 2016 and was featured as a soloist with the First Coast Wind Symphony after winning their Young Artist Competition in 2017.
Drew Parent
Percussion, Bass, Keyboard, and Saxophone
Drew is a multi-instrumentalist proficient on drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, and saxophone. His favorite styles of music to perform are funk, soul, jazz, blues, and fusion. Drew has taught all across the midwest in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio holding both university and public school teaching positions. His experience includes private lessons, chamber ensemble coaching, pit orchestra directing, concert band, orchestra, marching band, jazz band, music theory classes, music entrepreneurship and more! Drew earned a Bachelors in Music Education from Saginaw Valley State University and his Masters in Percussion Performance from Central Michigan University.
Donald Pelc
Guitar
Donald Pelc has been playing guitar for most of his life. Starting out with a love for the energy and power of rock music, Donald eventually grew into his own as a well rounded musician. Later in life, he decided to further his music education by attending Cleveland State University and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance. He also spent 10 years teaching guitar and bass, as well as directing shows at Cleveland’s School of Rock where he was once a student. His experience led him to performing all around town with a diverse range of local groups covering styles from rock, heavy metal, jazz, blues, funk, and everything in between. He
believes it is beneficial for all students to at least be aware of as many different styles of music as possible to fully experience what the guitar has to offer. Donald is passionate about teaching music theory and its application, improvisation, song structure, and (when appropriate) guitar maintenance.
Joseph Rangel
Piano, Guitar & Ukulele
Joseph has been playing guitar and was originally trained by his father, Rey, in classical guitar. He soon began to study pop and rock music, enjoying classic rock as well as other genres like Motown. In 2005, he began studying jazz. This love led him to Tri-C Metro studying jazz performance with a minor in piano. Joseph recently graduated from Cleveland State University and landed at Fairmount sharing his love for music. In addition to guitar, Joseph teaches ukulele and beginner piano students.
Gary Siperko
Guitar, Bass, Mandolin & Ukulele
Gary Siperko is a professional touring/recording guitarist and composer most notably associated with The Legendary
Shack Shakers, Pere Ubu, and Rocket From The Tombs. Mr. Siperko has over 30 years of experience teaching and performing. He teaches Contemporary and Classical Guitar as well as Bass, Mandolin and Ukulele. Beginning lessons focus on fundamentals as well as playing basic songs. Intermediate to advanced lessons focus on the application of Music Theory to the instrument to help students acquire strong compositional and songwriting skills, knowledge of chord construction, the ability to play scales proficiently, and gain necessary skills needed for solo improvisation, as well as sight-reading skills.
Ronald Spriggs
Voice
Ronald E. Spriggs is a former winner of the Encore Association Awards for best lead actor in a musical and best lead vocalist in a musical. This Norfolk Virginia native is a versatile musician. He has been making his home in Shaker Heights Ohio for several years, teaching at Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Ronald Spriggs is a graduate of Governors Magnet School of the Arts in Norfolk Virginia, he also holds an MBA in Human Resources Management. Ronald recently performed with Flint Repertory Theatre in Ragtime (Booker T. Washington). His additional credits include productions of School of Rock (Cain Park Theatre), Ragtime (Interlakes Theatre), Camelot (Indianapolis Opera), Ragtime (Carmel Community Players) and Little Shop of Horrors (William Street Repertory). Ronald’s goal is to show that everyone can sing and possess excellent musicianship, along with good storytelling.