Our Instructors
All instructors in Claudia's School of Music are highly educated, have extensive experience in their profession, and are highly motivated and passionate about sharing their knowledge and skills with music students.
Mr. Norman Taccati - Piano, Guitar, Banjo, & Woodwinds
Mr. Norman has enjoyed teaching and helping students of all ages for 34 years in achieving their goals in learning to play their instruments. He received his Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Music Education from Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. He has performed professionally with big bands including the Cavaliers in Columbus, Georgia, and The Notables in Atlanta, Georgia. He has also founded and directed bands in both the business sector and in churches. A former band director in the public schools, he teaches many instruments, including piano, classical-style guitar, flute, saxophone, clarinet, and even banjo. For the past 29 years, Norman has enjoyed working one-on-one with novice musicians, giving them a solid foundation in instrumental technique and musical knowledge, as well as those who have some experience on their instruments and who are looking to advance. His goal for every student is to experience learning their instrument in an environment that is encouraging and rewarding. He uses various published methods depending upon the individual student’s needs and desires in playing their music. Mr. Norman stresses learning to read music notation so that every student can approach with confidence any piece of music that he or she would like to play. He enjoys helping students prepare for auditions such as All-State band and helping students who are preparing for evaluations. With the proper dedication, Norman believes every student can enjoy making music in a short time, always improving along their musical journey.
Ms. Bickley Rivera - Piano, Voice, & Steel Drums
Ms. Bickley studied classical piano from age 5 until age 21 at Springfield Conservatory in Springfield, MA., and with Dr. Carole Lee at Eastern Connecticut State University for 4 years. She was first-chair clarinetist in High School Band and All Eastern Band. During her music education, she received multiple scholarships for piano performance, the John Phillips Sousa Award, and the Outstanding Music Award at Eastern Connecticut State University. Beginning in 2004, Ms. Bickley began studies and performance of Steel Pan, mentoring with respected steel pannists from the Caribbean Islands and locally in Florida. Her journey led to her own full-time Music Performing and Publishing company in 2008 and a successful recording and performing career. She has performed in Florida, the Bahamas, Trinidad, Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Ohio, and Michigan. In her recording career, she teams with radio station managers, promoters, world-renowned musicians, producers, and engineers globally and has released 3 charted music albums and multiple singles. Her music is heard on over 100 radio stations in the US, Canada, UK, Africa, Japan, and other countries as well as National TV (The Weather Channel & Music Choice), Pandora, iHeart, Spotify, and more. Ms. Bickley has performed in the international Panorama Semi-Finals under arranger Andy Narell in Trinidad. She is also the Music Orchestrator for Pro Comm Theatre in Spring Hill, FL, with director and playwright Dr. Martha Velez. As a steel drum player and vocalist Ms. Bickley combines a unique way to teach and have fun with her students.
Ms. Zoe Rivera - Violin & Viola
Ms. Zoe is a student at Hillsborough Community College, studying to receive her associate's degree in the Music Pathway Program, specializing in percussion. She has a strong passion for music, as she can't imagine having a career in anything else. Ms. Zoe has been playing the violin for 8 years, under the direction of Karen Bishop, Andrea Szarowicz, Kirt Mosier, and privately taught by Mrs. Jean Farley. The classroom setting is not unfamiliar to her, picking up instruments and the theatre from a very young age. She picked up the violin at her local middle school and instantly fell in love, continuing her passion throughout high school. Ms. Zoe has been to several competitions, such as District MPA and Solo & Ensemble, winning straight Superiors throughout her career. Ranging from the violin, drums, bass guitar, and piano, to performing in productions such as Footloose and Mary Poppins, she has always pushed herself to thrive to the best of her musical abilities. She loves working with new musicians, striving to show others just how much fun music can truly be, and sharing the understanding of music as to how it correlates within our everyday lives. Ms. Zoe values music as an art of expression, displaying human emotion and talent through sound. She likes to display her enthusiasm for music proudly, showing others their true potential and making the entire approach towards music a lot less scary than it might seem.
Ms. Lucía Marti Garro - Violin & Voice
Ms. Lucía is a senior at Steinbrenner High School, and a violin student of Anton Sikuta since 2013. She is the Co-Concertmaster of the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she also performs as a member of the Advanced Chamber Orchestra. Before moving to Tampa, Ms. Lucía was a first violinist of the Naples Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, and frequently performed with chamber groups of NPYO. She has received scholarships to attend multiple summer music festivals, at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2022, the Juilliard School of Music in 2023 and 2024. Ms. Lucía has won awards in competitions across Naples and Tampa, granting her the opportunity to perform various times as a soloist, and was also selected for masterclasses with Augustin Hadelich, Nancy Zhou, Shannon Thomas, Melissa White, and with eminent violinist and educator Midori. Ms. Lucía is also a vocalist. She has performed with the Atlanta Opera, Legacy Theatre, Gulfshore Opera, Naples Philharmonic Youth Chorus, Gulfshore Symphony Opera, and Opera Naples. Ms. Lucía began teaching in 2024, and has a great love for music education and kids!
Mr. Gabriel Sabella - Guitar, Ukulele, & Bass
Mr. Gabriel is a student in the USF School of Music, taking private lessons with guitar professor Erol Ozsever. He is focused on musical performance studies, specializing in both classical guitar and popular music, and is currently part of the USF guitar studio, as well as the Popular Music Ensemble. Teaching is also his passion, and he hopes to continue to be an instructor as well as continue performing and writing music. He also has previous experience in the Pasco High School marching band, where he played various percussion instruments, as well as being a member of a jazz band. His teaching skills include guitar, bass, and ukulele.
Ms. Fiona Wu - Piano
Fiona, a nuanced pianist residing in Florida. She has distinguished herself through her talent and dedication to piano performance. She won Third Prize in the preliminaries of the BOYA International Piano Festival, followed by an impressive Second Prize in the finals for her performance. During her undergraduate studies, she consistently achieved first place in school competitions and received successive scholarships. She participated in the International Brancaleoni Music Festival in Italy in the summer of 2023, where she performed solo and chamber music. Currently, she is pursuing her Master's Program in Piano Performance at the University of South Florida. She has been teaching since she graduated from university. She has rich teaching experience and innovation. Teaching style is responsible and effective. Her helpful and easygoing personality makes her popular with students.
Mr. Emory Blake - Piano & Drums
Mr. Emory graduated with his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of South Florida where he received a Merit Award for Outstanding Percussionist in 2001 and served as graduate teaching assistant from 2005-2007 where he taught private lessons and directed the USF percussion ensemble. Mr. Emory serves the music community as both a performer and educator. His performance credits include live performances with Marie Osmond, Aretha Franklin, Mannheim Steamroller, Michael W Smith and Dennis DeYoung as well as serving as a substitute percussionist and timpanist with the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. In summer of 2003, Emory toured and performed with the 7 time world champions, The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corp. As an educator, Mr. Emory has served as a front ensemble technician for various high school groups across the Tampa Bay area and the greater Houston area where he was also an Adjunct Professor of Music at San Jacinto College. Mr. Emory also has recording credits as a featured soloist with the McCormick Percussion Group under the Ravello Records label. He also teaches piano and music theory to students ages 5 and up.
Ms. Adriana Biaggi - Piano
Mr. Michael Gonzalez- Voice & Piano
Mr. Michael is a student at Hillsborough Community College who studies music under the music pathway program, specializing in jazz piano. Mr Michael is always pushing himself in his studies to become a better musician, learning all he can about music. Mr Michael’s passion for music started in choir when he was a part of the FMEA All-State Men’s choir and as well as the FMEA All-State Mixed Choir. Mr Michael as well received private piano lessons from his teacher Eli and quickly learned about jazz and improvisation with his background knowledge of music theory. Mr Michael specializes in making music theory simple for students of all ages, and finds that he can adapt his teaching methods based on age, capabilities, and as well as requests. Mr Michael finds teaching very rewarding and loves to spread his passion for music with each one of his students and hopes to develop their endless love for music. He is highly knowledgeable in musical theater and often prepares students for various auditions and talent shows.
Mr. Daniel Walsh - Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Piano, & Drums
Mr. Danny is a student at USF’s College of Sciences and is currently studying Biochemistry. His aspirations include furthering his scientific career by enrolling in medical school as well as a molecular biology master’s program. Mr. Danny began playing guitar at the age of 8 years old, first taught by his father, and further taught by retired Nashville session musician Joe Rhodes until the age of 13. Once enrolled in high school, Mr. Danny began playing guitar for the Pasco High jazz band, for his freshman and sophomore year, before quitting to join the country and southern rock band, 17th Street, in Dade City. While playing with 17th street, Mr. Danny assisted in teaching the introductory guitar class at Pasco High, as well as acting as a tutor for freshman biology and environmental sciences. Upon enrollment in USF, Mr. Danny quickly found multiple musicians to partner, perform, and write with, finding a permanent spot in one of the on-campus rock bands known as Hybris. He regularly performs with his band, works in laboratories, and teaches students at Claudia’s School of Music. Mr. Danny has fostered a love for teaching and utilizing any method he can think of to help a student succeed and not only learn but enjoy the study of music, regardless of the instrument. His teaching skills include Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, and Piano.
Ms. Ruth Coby - Voice
Ms. Ruth has been singing and performing in different venues majority of her life. She took her singing career seriously when she was just five, promising everyone that she will do music for the rest of her life, and since then worked hard to perfect her craft. Not only has she participated in 6 different choirs, but she has also competed in choir competitions with either an ensemble or a few solo competitions and almost always scored a superior in all of them. Ms. Ruth is currently studying vocal performance at Hillsborough Community College and has been teaching at Claudia's School of Music for over a year. She is a classically trained soprano and continues to grow as a vocalist. Ms. Ruth enjoys singing all genres of music, including pop, jazz, and musical theater. Ms. Ruth also enjoys composing music of her own and playing ukulele, especially during her summer music camps at Claudia's School of Music.
Mr. Jaasiel Sanchez - Voice & Piano
Mr. Jazz is a voice and piano teacher from Puerto Rico. At the age of 16, he started his music career, and has been in many productions such as Steven Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George", "Sweeney Todd", and Lin-Manuel Miranda's "In the Heights." He has also worked with local choirs and with composers like Joan Symko, Jake Runestad, among others. He's diverse in teaching very young children, teenagers, and adults, teaches piano, and combines a variety of methods to achieve a successful learning experience. His warm and friendly personality is a great asset, and his always positive mindset attracts students to have fun and learn at the same time.
Mrs. Kenlyn Austin - Piano
Mrs. Kenlyn is a 3rd-generation ARCT (University of Toronto, Canada) qualified Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) piano teacher. Her mother and grandmother were also RCM graduates through the University of Toronto. She has 30+ years of teaching and examination preparation experience with all age groups --- teaching all levels from beginners to advanced.
Member of the following:
MTNA (Music Teachers National Association)
FMTA (Florida State Music Teachers Association)
Currently Certified RCM Specialist in:
Elementary Piano
Intermediate Piano
Advanced Piano
Elementary Theory
Intermediate Theory
Mr. Jonathan Alberghina - Woodwinds, Brass, Piano, & Voice
Mr. Mike McQuain - Guitar
Mr. Elijah Layne - Piano & Cello