Meet our instructors
At Maestoso Music Studio, we work with a diverse set of musicians, composers, and industry professionals. Learn more about their experience and expertise below. Each one manages their schedule individually, so please contact our instructors directly via email.
Owner & Instructor
Lara Dietrich
Brass, Piano, Beginning Woodwinds
Lara Dietrich founded Maestoso in 2013 to serve families in the Twin Cities west metro area. Lara has been teaching music lessons in the Twin Cities since 2006. She has a Bachlor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, where she discovered her passion for giving students a strong musical foundation. Lara’s students master all the basics of music, taking what they learn back to their school and community ensembles. When not at Maestoso, Lara can be found singing in the choir at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and playing trombone in the Minneapolis Civic Orchestra. You can reach Lara at ldietrich.music@gmail.com.
Brendon Bushman is a freelance musician and teacher in the Twin Cities area. He is currently principal oboist of the Saint Cloud Symphony Orchestra, adjunct oboe instructor at the University of Minnesota, Morris, and maintains private studios in St. Cloud and St. Louis Park. Having taught privately since 2001, his students have made district and state level honor bands in Georgia, Texas, and Minnesota, and have gone on to study music at colleges including Florida State University, Arizona State University, and Louisiana State University.
In addition to the SCSO, Brendon can be heard with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, Journey North Opera, Minnesota Dance Theatre, and accompanying Twin Cities choral groups including VocaleEssence and the South Metro Chorale. Over the last 20 years Brendon has performed with regional orchestras throughout the southeastern US and Texas. As an original member of the Atlanta Chamber Winds, he can be heard on their 2009 Albany Records CD & digital release “Music from Paris.”
Mr. Bushman studied oboe performance and graphic design at Indiana University, Bloomington, holds a Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance from The University of Texas at Austin, and finishes his Masters in Oboe Performance at The University of Minnesota this spring.
All ages and ability levels welcome.
Becky Caldwell-Tautges is a certified Music Therapist who has a passion for teaching students in an individualized setting. She has taught music lessons to students ages 10 to 18 in the Twin Cities since 2000, and she has volunteered as a music appreciation teacher in the St. Louis Park schools. In addition to teaching, Becky performs as a bassoonist with the St. Louis Park Community Band.
Gavin Carney is a music educator, performer, and doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Musical
Arts program in Trombone Performance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music who has recently moved to the Twin Cities to continue his music career. His research focuses on the integration of music theory into the private teaching studio. In addition to his studies at UMKC, Gavin holds music degrees from the University of Iowa and Washington State University.
In addition to his notable performing experiences on tenor, alto, and bass trombone, Gavin has been an active pedagogue. Some of his past teaching experiences include serving as a Lecturer in Music at Truman State University, leading a large private studio in the Kansas City metropolitan area, giving numerous clinics and masterclasses in Washington, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, as well as adjudicating for multiple festivals and academic performances.
Gavin’s students have seen success in many of their playing opportunities and he strives to give his students a well-rounded music education by including aural skills, written theory, and history into weekly lessons. Pedagogical goals for students include self-assessment and comfort on their instrument. He teaches students of all ages and has multiple years of experience working with students with special learning needs such as Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, and ODD.
Eun Cho has performed throughout the United States and South Korea. Recent projects have included lecture-recitals in Los Angeles and New York. She has been teaching music lessons since 2000 as a piano and flute instructor. And she is a member of the Contemporary Ensemble and Choir at St. Olaf Catholic Church. In 2011-2014 Cho was a member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra. She has also taught students at GTCYS (Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies) as a mentor and worked as an Orchestral Teaching Assistant at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
She majored in flute performance and minored in piano performance and music education with a Bachelor's Degree from Kyunghee University in South Korea. She received her Master’s Degree in performance from Seoul National University and Artist Diploma from Korea National University of Arts. Currently, she is completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Minnesota.
Twin Cities native Matty Harris holds B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and performs locally in a plethora of settings, including jazz, rock, world music, improvisation and musical theater. In 2015 he released an LP of his avant-garde large ensemble DOUBLE SEPTET and in 2018 his quartet toured Nepal and played at Jazzmandu: The Kathmandu Jazz Festival. In July 2022 Matty curated the Jazz Mondays residency at Icehouse Minneapolis. Maintaining a strong studio since 2013, Matty's students have successfully auditioned for honor bands, all-state, jazz band and upper level bands and lessons include technique, reading music, chord/scale theory and ear training.
Devin Hill has played guitar since childhood and has been teaching professionally for nearly 20 years. He enjoys teaching students of all ages and ability levels. Devin teaches most styles and aspects of guitar playing, including rock, folk, country, jazz, blues, finger-style, sight-reading, music theory and songwriting. Students will have fun learning guitar through the music they are interested in playing. Devin has been a guitarist and vocalist in many bands and has performed extensively. He is a published songwriter who has recorded several nationally released group and solo records.
Devin lives in Southwest Minneapolis. He holds a BA in Art History from the University of Minnesota.
Samantha began studying piano in 2000 and has been increasingly involved in music ever since! She is currently a freelance composer and trombonist in the Twin Cities Metro and has played with many diverse groups such as The Minneapolis Civic, Golden Valley Orchestra, Westwind Swing Band, Swing Sisterhood Big Band, Minneapolis Trombone Choir, Coffoa Brass, and others. Samantha earned a Degree in Music from Youngstown State University and loves to share her knowledge and love of music with both Children AND Adults. As a teacher, she aims to give her students the skills to be lifetime learners and have some fun along the way.
Bill Lang has been performing and teaching music in the Twin Cities for 35 years. He loves working with beginning students, helping them really enjoy music and its process. Students in Bill’s studio learn to appreciate the work and fun of playing an instrument. Bill is an avid jazz musician who performs locally as a soloist and with jazz combos.
Sarah has over twenty years of strings and piano experience: she has studied strings with Doug Overland (former Principle Second Violin of the Boston Pops and of Golden Strings fame) and Piano with Carol Hokel. She has performed, recorded, and composed original music with numerous local musicians and ensembles. Currently, Sarah plays violin as a permanent member of the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis and enjoys composing and performing with her bands The Black Widows and Fires of 1918 as well as others. Sarah encourages her students from beginner to adult, to explore the fundamentals of theory and proper technique, providing the tools necessary for them to play pieces that they connect to in order to sustain a lifelong bond with music.
Roy Pienaar is an active educator and musician in the Twin Cities. He graduated from the University of Minnesota- Twin Cities, in May of 2014 with a Bachelor’s in Music Education, and recently graduated with his Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of St. Thomas, in May of 2023.
As an undergrad, he was a trombonist in the University of Minnesota Marching Band, and performer in numerous university ensembles. Roy taught middle and high school band at Hmong College Prep Academy in St. Paul, MN for six years, and is entering his 4th year as the band director at St. Louis Park Middle School. Outside of the classroom, Roy has served as a pep band instructor for the U of M, and is the Director of the Alumni Summer Band. When he is not teaching, you can find Roy on the local mountain bike paths, exploring state parks with his wife and puppy, or playing trombone in his Twin Cities based brass band, B+ Brass.
James has been teaching and performing professionally in the Twin Cities, NYC, and regionally for over 20 years. Known for his quirky characters and dynamic energy, James has performed with many of the venues in the Twin Cities such as; The Minnesota Opera, Minnesota Chorale, Mill City Summer Opera, Lyric Arts, Artistry, and Theatre Latte Da.
After receiving a Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of Minnesota, James furthered his studies at the University of Kansas, earning a Master of Music in Opera Performance. He also sang leading and supporting roles with The Lyric Opera of Kansas City as a resident artist.
After spending ten years in NYC teaching and performing off-Broadway and regionally, James is excited to be back in MN. In addition to teaching and performing, James is passionate about cooking, cars, D&D/board gaming (shhh!), and petting every dog he walks by on the street.
“I focus on an easy, free, and natural technique that is both on the breath and free from tension.I am trained in various styles, though I believe excellence in singing any style begins with the basics of healthy technique and the development of a fluid and strong instrument. I do not subscribe to a single methodology when it comes to teaching style; I listen, I assess, I encourage and challenge. My approach considers your goals and experience, and once we recognize what you have versus what you want, I’ll design the best way for you and I to proceed.”
Thomas has been playing the viola since he was 11 years old. For many years, he was a student of Stella Anderson at the MacPhail Center for Music. He went on to earn his Associate of Arts from North Hennepin Community College and his Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Minnesota.
Thomas has ample performance experience, such as performing in pit orchestras for local theater productions and regularly playing viola for programs at churches around the Twin Cities. Thomas is also proud to be a member of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra since 2001."
In addition to performing, Thomas was previously employed as a Stringed Instrument Sales Representative for the Groth Music Company, where he taught private violin and viola lessons as well as assisted other musicians in the care of their stringed instruments.
Melissa Stoudt has many talents which include teaching, performing, and composing. Her studies have taken her to Luther College in Iowa, Berklee College of Music in Boston, and the Univeristy of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Locally, she has performed at the Guthrie Theater, Walker Art Center, and the Minnesota Zoo; other performances have taken Melissa to the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Boston City Hall. Melissa's students are known for their achievements within their schools and participation in youth orchestras outside of school.
Andrew Thomas has been a guitar and music instructor for more than 20 years and a self-employed musician his entire adult life. He teaches many styles (rock, pop, jazz, blues, country, folk) and all skill levels. AT emphasizes reading (notation, charts, tablature), technique, ear training, and theory. Beginning students can expect a rounded introduction to the guitar; intermediate and advanced students can choose their specific focus. Notes, chords, scales, riffs, licks, technique exercises, improvising, learning songs, writing songs, music theory, recording production and engineering, guitar and music
equipment, and general guitar maintenance are all possible areas of study. AT challenges students to push themselves, have fun, and enjoy the process of learning the guitar.
Andrew Thomas
Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Songwriting, Music Theory, Recording Production & Engineering
