Meet Our Instructors

Coleman Smith
Music Director

Violin, Mandolin, Guitar & Bass Instructor

Coleman started playing the violin at 3 years old. In his youth Coleman traveled across the country studying various styles of fiddle music and competing in some of the nation’s most prestigious fiddle contests. Coleman was awarded a Presidential scholarship to the music department at Marywood University where he studied music performance and minored in music pedagogy. Coleman has a unique style that fuses Gypsy Swing, Jazz, Celtic, Bluegrass and Texas Fiddle, all from a classical perspective. 

Buena Vista, Colorado Music Instructors

All of our instructors are experienced musicians, educators, and performers.

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Christian Masters

Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced Piano + Guitar Instructor

Christian Masters has been a musician since the age of 10, picking up the viola as his first instrument. He began playing piano and guitar when he was 15, taking lessons for both instruments throughout high school and college. While in college, he played for the school’s jazz combo on piano, guitar, and vocals and began teaching lessons privately. He graduated from college with a degree in music production and an emphasis in guitar. Christian enjoys playing a variety of genres from Rock to Jazz to Blues to Classical.

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Brandon Katz

Beginner-Advanced Double Bass | Beginner-Advanced Guitar | Beginner-Intermediate Electric Bass | Beginner-Intermediate Voice | Beginner Piano | Beginner Ukulele | Beginner Mandolin | Beginner Percussion

Brandon earned his Bachelor’s degree in applied double bass, and music education at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, while simultaneously completing his Colorado Department of Education public school teacher licensure for K-12 general, vocal, and instrumental music. He then continued on at CSU to complete his Master’s degree in applied double bass, and music education with an emphasis on instrumental conducting, and 19th-century Romanic music.

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Bill Hussey

Beginner to Advanced Violin | Beginner to Advanced Guitar | Beginner to Intermediate Mandolin | Beginner to Intermediate Bass | Beginner to Intermediate Ukulele

Bill Hussey is a Salida resident with a passion for music and education. Bill is classically trained on the violin and a self-taught guitarist, mandolinist, and bassist all of which have been nourished by the vibrant musical community of the upper Arkansas Valley.

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Leslie Jo Osborne

Beginner Violin Instructor

Leslie Jo began learning violin at the age of eight.  She studied the Suzuki method in her youth and participated in school orchestra programs in Michigan and Texas.  

She discovered fiddling in her adult years.  From jams, to camps & clinics, to fiddle contests, it’s a world in which she delights to play a part.  Leslie Jo studied under Keenan Fletcher, Gene Gimble, Randy Elmore, Megan Lynch Chowning, and many more.  She’s most passionate about Swing, Jazz, and Texas-Style fiddle, and she’s had many unique opportunities to learn from some of the best musicians in their respective fields.

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Alex Blocker

(Substitute Teacher) Beginner to Intermediate Violin Instructor
Alex Blocker is a Violinist, Songwriter, and Touring Performer. He was born in Chicago and grew up studying Classical, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and more. Blocker received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, and immediately began teaching music for public schools. During his stay in the southwest, Blocker was introduced to Folk and Bluegrass styles of string playing.