Category: Teachers

Miguel Oquendo

Miguel Oquendo

Teacher

Specialization: Voice

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About Miguel

Miguel has been a part of Music Showcase for over 20 years. In his time at Music Showcase he has worked in the store, taught private voice and piano lessons and directs the the high school theatre group, Showcase Players.

Miguel is also the Chorus Director at Barrington Middle School where he has been for 6 years. Miguel loves to teach; teaching is his passion in life and sharing the love of music with his students.

Fun to Know

Miguel is a big fan of the Transformers movies

Miguel loves music in general and enjoys artists who seek to inspire through their music.

Miguel loves to watch football – Go Bucs!

Guillermo Lopez

Guillermo López

Guillermo Lopez

Guillermo López

Teacher

Specialization: Operatic Studies, Voice, and Piano

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About Mario

A spinto tenor from Sonora, Mexico, Guillermo López has been hailed as one of the promising voices in Mexico and the United States. Beginning his musical journey as a pianist before college, Mr. López decided to pursue a professional singing career after the quality of his voice was discovered. He has participated as a soloist in the International Festival Alfonso Ortiz Tirado in Álamos, Mexico.

In 2014 Mr. López performed in the world premiere of the opera Ilegal Alien by the Mexican composer Alfonso Molina. He also participated in the world premiere of the opera El pajecillo de Felipe V by the Mexican composer Antonio de María y Campos in Sonora, México.  He worked with the Hermosillo Opera company on the production of Donizetti’s Don Pasquale as Ernesto.

In 2012 he was invited to perform Alfredo in Verdi’s La Traviata with the University of Arizona as an artist-in-residence. In 2011
he was selected to perform as a soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C major with the Bowling Green Philarmonia in Ohio. Mr. López has been recipient of prizes and grants, including 3rd place in the
competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing at the Great Lakes region and a grant given by the Mexican government of the Sonora state.

Most recently, he was selected as a soloist for the Anton Coppola’s 100 year gala and was a semifinalist on the first edition of the International Francisco Araiza Vocal Competition. He also performed Leandro in the Zarzuela La Tabernera del
puerto and Julián in La Verbena de la Paloma with Spanish Lyric Theater.

With Saint Petes Opera Mr. Lopez performed the role of Gastone in La Traviata and Parpignol in La Boheme with Opera Tampa.

Fun to Know

Shawshank Redemption

Nicolai Gedda

Skiing

Brian Schank

Brian Schank

Teacher

Specialization: Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute, French horn

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About Brian

Brian Schank has been teaching beginning, intermediate, and advanced brass lessons at Music Showcase for almost 20 years. Brian Schank loves the chance to start beginning musicians, and expand the musicianship of aspiring musicians as they grow through middle school, high school, and off to college. Preparing students for auditions, performances, and solo performance is all a part of the lesson experience Brian likes to provide.
Brian was a band director for 30 years, 22 years at the middle school level. He worked in Pasco and Hillsborough counties, as well as teaching at a private catholic high school for 8 years.

Fun to Know

Back to the Future trilogy
My favorite rock artist is Journey and my favorite jazz artist is Maynard Ferguson.
My favorite hobby is listening to music
Susanne Hathaway

Susanne Hathaway

Susanne Hathaway

Susanne Hathaway

Teacher

Specialization: Cello, Violin, Viola, Piano, Fiddle, and Upright bass

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About Susanne

Susanne Hathaway has been an active music educator for over 25 years.

While maintaining a full teaching studio at Music Showcase, she also performs as a free-lance cellist and pianist across the Tampa Bay area, including the Bay Kings Band, The 4 Babes String Quartet, Weddings, and other ceremonies.

Susanne serves as musical director at Nativity and Mary Help Of Christians Catholic Churches.

Susanne also serves as musical director for Cristo Rey Tampa High School at Mary Help of Christians Center.

Fun to Know

The Princess Bride

Matt Maher

Other than Music, I enjoy cooking for friends and family

Cathy Starnes

Cathy Starnes

Teacher

Specialization: Piano

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About Cathy

Cathy Starnes studied piano with Dr. Watkins, formerly USF Piano Department Chairman and Mrs. Parisot, associate professor of piano at Yale School of Music.  Cathy Starnes graduated from Yale University. She won the Florida Orchestra Young Artists Competition and placed first in other competitions.

Cathy Starnes has performed many piano pieces in recitals; including five solo recitals at colleges.  She has also been piano accompaniment for many singing groups and even sang with Living Water at Yale.

Cathy Starnes has been a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs as a student and later as a teacher.  She has been composing,  arranging and teaching with the aim of J.S. Bach:

“… to the glorification of God and the refreshment of the spirit.”

Fun to Know

The Ten Commandments

J. S. Bach
U2

beach combing
bookstore browsing

Jose Cabrera

Jose Cabrera

Teacher

Specialization: Classical guitar, Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, and Bass guitar

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About Jose

Jose Cabrera is currently a guitarist at Grace Family Church, as well as the lead guitarist of the Video Game Music band CREDIT: 0. He is also an audio engineer, composer, and one of the Guitar/Bass instructors at Music Showcase.  His interest for these instruments started at age 14, back when he lived in the Dominican Republic (D.R.).  After a year of being self-taught, he decided to pursue music seriously by taking private lessons from the local guitar instructors, such as Grammy Award winner Socrates Garcia, and later gigging semi-professionally in a couple of the local rock bands. Besides the Guitar, he also played Bass and Drums at his high school’s church.

At age 18, he was accepted into the National Conservatory of Music of Santo Domingo (D.R.), were he studied classical guitar for two years under the tutelage of professor Rafael Scarfullery.

In 1998, he moved to the United States to expand his musical horizons, first studying at Hillsborough Community College (Ybor City, FL), with author and educator John Demas, and later graduating Cum Laude with a B.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of North Florida (UNF), where he had the privilage to learn from world-class guitarist, Barry Greene.

​After graduating from UNF in 2003, he began gigging professionally with several of the local wedding/club bands in the Tampa Bay Area, playing everything from Bossa Nova, Jazz, Rock, Country, Reggae, Bachata, Merengue, Salsa, R&B, Funk, etc.  Some of the bands he has performed with include Son Salvaje, Bay Kings Band, Evangel, Bossamba, The Amanda Keller Band, From Me to You, and more.

In 2010, Jose joined the Music Showcase roster. As a Guitar/Bass instructor, he aims to help his students reach their goals. His musical versatility, combined with the skill to communicate in an easily understood manner, are key components that enables him to teach practically anyone willing to put the effort needed to learn this amazing instrument.

Fun to Know

The Matrix

Intervals

Playing Video Games