Meet the Instructors

AsheLee Bonham Gahagan

Cello, Violin, Piano, Chamber Music

AsheLee Bonham Gahagan, founder and lead instructor, has been teaching music for over twenty-five years, both privately and in public school.

She earned a Bachelor of Music in cello performance at East Carolina University (NC), and continued Masters studies in cello performance at Converse College (SC), as well as American University in Washington, DC, where her focus was on Arts Administration.

Her career began in Wilmington, NC, where she was a middle school string orchestra teacher and private cello instructor at the Wilmington Academy of Music. She decided to explore her passion for arts administration and soon moved to Washington, DC. While there she worked as communications manager for the American String Teachers Association, and for several years was the editor of a scholarly music journal, American String Teacher. After leaving ASTA, she relocated to New York where she performed in various orchestras and chamber music groups, and founded music studios in Brooklyn and Maplewood, New Jersey.

In 2017, she and her family settled down in North Carolina where she leads a music school located in Holly Springs. AsheLee has experience conducting youth orchestras and served as clinician for summer camps in North Carolina and South Carolina. She has performed with chamber ensembles and orchestras, including the Brooklyn Community Symphony Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony, and Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Professional associations include Music Teachers National Association and the American String Teachers Association.

Sofia Castalia

Violin & Piano

Sofia Castalia has been teaching violin, viola, and piano since 2006, and has been teaching and mentoring at universities, high schools, and youth theaters since 2012.

She organized and taught masterclasses and technique workshops for beginner and intermediate level violinists, and taught music, choir, and theater an elementary school. Her degree is in violin performance, and she has led an extremely active performance career that has included many different musicals, operas, orchestras, and chamber groups including Cirque du Soleil, and performances in musicals such as Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, and Les Miserables. She enjoys focusing on many different aspects of music while teaching, including music theory, music history, acoustics, technique, practicing effectively, and the art of performance. She believes that each student is an individual with unique goals and learning styles, and strives to empower each student to succeed in reaching their goals.

Anna Koogler

Voice & Piano

Anna Koogler has taught voice and piano to students of all ages since 2017. She believes strongly in the importance of connecting with each student to understand their goals, skills, and interests in order to personalize each lesson experience.

Anna received her bachelor’s degree in vocal performance and music education from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School, where she taught in local lesson studios and at the collegiate level, and also sang with several choral ensembles in the greater Hartford, Connecticut area. Performance highlights included recording the album Blessing: The Music of Paul Mealor with Voce, Inc. and performing at Carnegie Hall with members of the Cathedral of Saint Joseph Schola Cantorum. In addition to teaching voice and piano, she is a speech-language pathology clinical fellow at Harnett County Schools.

Maggie Ashworth

Voice & Piano

Maggie Ashworth has over 15 years of teaching experience across many settings. She believes that learning the art of music has the power to inspire creativity, build friendships and instill essential skills that can be used in all areas of life.

Maggie was a high school choral director in North Carolina for 9 years where her choirs consistently received Superior ratings and many of her students participated in NC Honors Chorus, NC All State Choir, and Governor's School.  She received her bachelor's degree in Music Education from East Carolina University where her applied instrument was piano. Over the past several years, she has enjoyed teaching private voice and piano lessons to people of all ages. In addition to teaching music, she is also a speech-language pathologist.

Cesar Pestana

Voice

Cesar Pestana has been teaching music since 2016. He earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education & Vocal Music Performance from Union College and has also completed Orff-Schulwerk levels 1 & 2.  He has experience working as an elementary music teacher, children’s choir director, and as a private voice teacher.

Furthermore, he’s sung with concert, chamber, and church choirs. In addition to teaching voice, Cesar is currently the music teacher at Mills Park Elementary and sings with the Concert Singers of Cary. He believes in clear goals, scaffolded instruction, and in a student-centered approach, adapting his teaching to the individual student’s needs, and is excited to help students achieve their musical goals.

Oksana Nero

Piano

Oksana Nero has taught piano for more than 30 years and is a member of Music Teachers Association. Since 2004, Oksana has been performing and teaching in the United States, providing lessons based on strong classical methods, introducing her students to improvisation techniques, theory, as well as preparing them for regional and international (ABRSM) tests, music festivals and nationwide competitions (USOMC). She was granted the Award for “Teaching excellence in preparing students for Music Legacy Open Competition” in the Bay Area, California.

Oksana has also cultivated unique interactive semi-private piano lessons in a personalized and multimedia setting for students aged 3-5 in small groups of 2-3 students. Benefits include introducing participants to the wonderful world of music including entertaining songs and important basic piano skills. She is very articulate instructor, and deeply interested in achieving results with her students, and tailors her instruction to an individual’s interests. Her students who participated in US Open Competition received Medals and Certificates of Excellence in different music categories and levels. As a performer, Oksana participated in the Worship Band for the “Abundant Life” church in Ridgway, PA, and later, while teaching in Bay Area, assisted recitals of strings players as an accompanist. Oksana's long-standing history of successful instruction and stage creations with children, has given recipients a profound sense of the benefits and excitement of becoming a musician.

Mila Marshall

Piano

Mila Marshall has been a piano teacher and the performer for over 25 years. She received her Masters degree in Teaching and Piano Performance from the Music Conservatory in Ukraine in 1997. She has performed extensively throughout Eastern Europe and began her teaching career when she came to the United States in 1993.

She continued her music studies at the Teacher's College Columbia University in New York City where she studied with the legendary pianist and performer Ada Kopetz-Korf and took graduate and post graduate courses in Jazz, Music Improvisation, and Education. She teaches students of all ages and levels inspiring and engaging them with her passion for music and piano performance. Her teaching approach reflects a variety of piano teaching methods and at the core starts with the unique individuality, interests, and needs of each student.

Daniel Poissant

Piano

Daniel Poissant has taught piano to students of all ages and levels since 2019. He received his Masters in piano performance from the Fontys Conservatory in Tilburg, the Netherlands. During his time abroad, he performed in many concerts, music festivals, and masterclasses throughout Europe. He premiered his Master’s Thesis composition “Lucid” in a concert at the historic Castletown House in Celbridge, Ireland.

Additionally, he performed original compositions at the New Music Festival in Tilburg, the Netherlands. Daniel actively performs throughout North Carolina and currently plays with the Raleigh Symphony for all of their chamber music concerts. As a piano teacher, he believes it is important to adapt each lesson to the unique interests and learning styles of every student. He finds great joy in guiding his students to become the best musicians they can be.

Niko Lalangas, Guitar instructor at Ashe School of Music

Niko Lalangas

Guitar

Niko Lalangas has been teaching music since 1995. His experience ranges from teaching ages 7 to adults, all ages beginner to advanced. With proficiency in acoustic and electric guitars, he teaches all genres, from pop/rock to country, folk, funk, jazz, classical, reggae, and more.

He began teaching in 1995 in New York at the Westchester Music School under premiere accordionist Professor Carmen Carrozza. Since then, Niko taught at several music schools throughout New York until moving to North Carolina in 2009, where he continued teaching full-time. In addition to teaching in music schools, he’s taught privately and worked with church groups, camps, and organizations such as The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and local hospitals.

Niko’s performance career comes with a variety of eclectic experiences. He performed on stage and in pits for musicals which include: Godspell, Rent, Pippin, Aida, and more. In 2005 he was featured in a television pilot for a show about guitars and has appeared on several local access television shows aired in NY, NJ, CT, and PA, where his original music was featured. Niko recorded in various studios, including The Hit Factory in New York City (across from Sony Records.) An active user of guitar technologies, Niko wrote for a blog featured every month for two years in Line 6’s monthly newsletters. He continues to perform and work as a musician around North Carolina.

Matt Silverstein

Guitar

Matt Silverstein has been teaching music to students of all ages and skill levels since 2009. He began his teaching career as a traveling guitar instructor in his hometown, Miami, FL, before moving to Boston, MA to study guitar at Berklee College of Music. Matt’s teaching philosophy is that learning to play an instrument should be fun and rewarding. He brings enthusiasm to each lesson and regularly checks in with his students to make sure they’re working on material that inspires them.  

Since graduating from Berklee in 2012, Matt has toured and performed extensively throughout New England, both solo and with his band, Matt and the Skeleton Crew. As a songwriter/producer, he has released numerous tracks that have collectively generated over 100,000 streams.

After spending several years working as a full-time musician in the greater Boston area, he decided to relocate to Holly Springs, NC, to be closer to family. He has since earned the nickname “Matt From Boston” and has started to establish himself as a local performer.

Furthermore, he’s sung with concert, chamber, and church choirs. In addition to teaching voice, Cesar is currently the music teacher at Mills Park Elementary and sings with the Concert Singers of Cary. He believes in clear goals, scaffolded instruction, and in a student-centered approach, adapting his teaching to the individual student’s needs, and is excited to help students achieve their musical goals.

Logan Valdmets

Guitar/Classical Guitar & Piano/Jazz Piano

Logan Valdmets received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance with a concentration in Music Composition and a Certificate of Jazz Studies from Appalachian State University in 2021. While studying classical guitar under Dr. James Douglas, Logan also studied guitar and piano in the jazz genre under Anderson Page and Todd Wright.

This led to being featured in the Jazz Band I, and the High Country Jazz Initiative of western North Carolina playing with notable musicians such as Matt Wilson and Wynton Marsalis. Logan also has strong interests in music theory and worked alongside Dr. Jennifer Snodgrass as an assistant as well as a Music Theory Tutor for the Music Learning, Research, and Technology Lab at Hayes School of Music. These experiences shaped his approach towards teaching music as one that incorporates all facets of music with the goal of developing inspired musicians that are prepared for a lifetime of music-making.

Dr. Thiago Bottega

Flute

Bio coming soon!

Emily Casey

Woodwinds & Ukulele

Emily Casey grew up in Liverpool, a suburb of Syracuse, New York. Emily attended State University of New York at Fredonia, where she received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education with the primary instrument of clarinet. She later went on to complete her Master of Arts in Music Education from University of Nebraska at Kearney.

Ms. Casey recently completed her National Board Certification in Early/Middle Childhood Music. She is currently the Director of Bands at Moore Square Magnet Middle School in Raleigh where she is growing a band program that includes four concert bands, a jazz band, and a percussion ensemble. Prior to coming to Moore Square Emily Casey was the band director at Hunter Magnet Elementary where she revived the band program and started the Junior Band Program with Nuvo Instruments for 2nd grade students. She also taught Ukulele and General Music during her time at Hunter. Emily believes that everyone can find a community in music making and fosters a spirit of family in her studio. She believes that music should be accessible to all students and that everyone can learn how to play music if they simply have the desire to.

Joshua Page

Brass

Josh Page is the band director at Dillard Drive Magnet Middle School. Mr. Page is in his tenth year of teaching. He began his teaching career at Smithfield Middle School in Smithfield, NC in 2014. During his time at Smithfield and Dillard Drive, his band programs experienced growth and success.

Mr. Page earned a Bachelor of Music degree from East Carolina University in 2013. During his time at ECU, he performed with the wind ensemble, symphonic band, concert band, the East Carolina Tuba-Euphonium Quartet, and the East Carolina Marching Pirates.

Trevor Jennings

Drums

Trevor Jennings is a distinguished percussionist, timpanist, and dedicated educator making significant contributions to the classical music scene. He currently holds the position of Section Percussion with the Durham Symphony, and has performed with other various orchestras, including the NC Symphony, Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, and Tar River Symphony.

Beyond his orchestral engagements, Trevor Jennings is an active and sought-after figure in the local music community, teaching and freelancing with passion and expertise. His commitment to musical education and performance excellence is reflected in his dynamic role as an educator and his ability to captivate audiences in various freelance endeavors throughout the region. Trevor holds a Master's degree M.M. in Percussion Performance from Mannes School of Music and a Bachelor's degree B.M. in Performance from Appalachian State University. Known for pushing the boundaries of percussion artistry, Trevor continues to inspire both students and audiences alike with expressive performances and an unwavering dedication to musical excellence.