Meet our Instructors
We welcome resumes from qualified teachers of all instruments at any time. Send to info@wentzvillemusicandacademy.com
Karen Poore
Piano, Violin, Viola
Karen Poore has been teaching piano and violin/viola students in both individual and group settings for over 15 years. She graduated from Maranatha Baptist University with a B.S. in Education, a minor in Music Education, and an emphasis on string pedagogy. After finishing undergraduate education, she continued her musical education by studying with Dr. Jennifer Judd at East Central College in Union. Karen has taught general music classes and choir in elementary settings, upper elementary and middle school general education, and now works as a Title 1 Reading teacher in the School District of Washington. Karen specializes in using her background as a Reading Specialist and a general educator to individualize and tailor teaching for each student’s interests and needs using a variety of methods and materials. She believes in teaching practical music theory to aid in comprehension of music, and implements an understanding of learning styles (kinesthetic, auditory, and visual) to reinforce all aspects of playing a musical instrument. Karen encourages students to participate in various competitions and recitals, and will work with students to prepare for other extracurricular musical experiences such as school musicals, bands, or talent shows.
Tony Imperiale
Voice and Strings
Tony Imperiale
Tony Imperiale is a life long musician born and raised in St. Peters, MO. Having perfect pitch, Tony possessed a natural ear for music at an early age. For the first decade of his musical life, he self taught himself how to play 8 out of the 10 instruments he can play. His teachers saw his raw talent and encouraged him to pursue his degree in Music Education at Southeast Missouri State University.
Tony specializes in Stringed and Vocal Education with a primary focus on cello and voice. Although classically trained in Symphonic and Operatic literature, he has attained great experience in many diverse singing and playing styles. Such styles would include, but not limited to, barbershop, Broadway, bel Canto, american folk, Gospel, and good old rock and roll.
Joe Park
Guitar, Bass Guitar, Ukulele
Joe Park comes to us with a plethora of experience and a passion for teaching, sharing and mentoring. Joe has over 20 years of expertise in teaching music and providing individual guitar education tailored to the pupils needs.
Along with teaching, Joe is very active in the professional music scene in the St. Louis area and Illinois. He is currently a member of the Joe Park Trio: a jazz group that can be found playing around town including a weekly residency at Yaqui’s on Cherokee Street. Past performances include performing as a guest soloist with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra and performing at the Sheldon Concert Hall, as well as the Missouri Botanical Garden.
Joe brings vitality and life to the education experiences here at Wentzville Music and enjoys sharing his musical knowledge with our students.
Carol Gossett
Piano
Carol Gossett is a professional pianist and piano teacher with strong people skills and a sincere desire to share the ability to read notes and play the piano with others. She has enjoyed playing the piano since she first began taking lessons in the second grade and has played much for her own enjoyment, but also professionally as a church accompanist and musician, as well as for many weddings, some funerals, multiple corporate social functions, and school choir practice, performances, and music competitions. Carol has taught private piano lessons to students of all ages since 1988. She teaches and values note reading skills, music theory, sight reading, and basic composition, believing that if a student can learn good note-reading skills and basic music theory they are limited only by how much they are willing to work on a piece and can therefore learn to play anything they set their mind to. Equally important to offering students the opportunity to learn to play the piano is being able to positively impact her students’ lives through encouragement and relationship while building music skills, confidence, and self-esteem.
Amelia Fitzpatrick
Viola, Fiddle, Violin, Cello, Flute, Piano, Guitar
Amelia fell in love with the violin and strings in the third grade, especially the bluegrass fiddle tunes. She has placed in many local fiddle contests. Amelia has an Associates of Fine Arts in music with viola as her main instrument. She recently studied 3 years of music therapy at Maryville University, and has brought musical experiences to a wide variety of people of varying ages and abilities.
Emily Henman
Violin, Voice
We are ecstatic to have our former student Emily teaching violin and voice! She has been playing violin for fourteen years and singing for as long as she can remember. As a lifelong choir kid, Emily decided to turn her passion for music into a career and is currently pursuing her undergraduate in Vocal Music Education at Lindenwood University where she performs in the University’s concert choir and string ensembles. She began her teaching career with us in 2018 and we couldn’t be more proud!
Zack Matthews
Piano and Guitar
Colin Levins
Piano- Online only
A native of the St. Louis, Missouri area and former student of Wentzville Music, Colin Levins graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Missouri Honors College with a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy under the instruction of Dr. Mia Kim. Levins is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Piano Performance under Sean Chen at the UMKC Conservatory, where he is also serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in Keyboard Skills under Dr. Christopher Madden. He completed additional studies under Michael Chertock at the Brevard Music Center and has participated in various other music festivals such as the Zodiac Music Festival and the Pennsylvania State Honors Music Institute. He has also served as a Piano Teaching Assistant at Interlochen Arts Academy, which included group piano teaching, piano ensemble coachings, giving lessons, and lecturing. Levins has many awards and honors.