Faculty

DR. GARY GRANING - piano

Dr. Gary Alan Graning earned his Doctorate in Piano Pedagogy from Columbia University, Teacher’s College where he was course assistant to Robert Pace. He received his Master’s in Piano Performance from The University of Michigan where he studied with Benning Dexter, Karen Keys and Marian Owen, and Pedagogy with Alice Mahler Kern, and his Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from Oberlin College Conservatory where he studied with Joseph Shwartz and Axel Sigunde and Pedagogy with Janet Owens. 

Gary taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music Preparatory Division for over 40 years, and is highly experienced in teaching children as young as age 5 up through adults. His teaching career began with teaching assistantships at The University of Miami and Florida State University. Later he taught at Cuyahoga Community College, and the University of Akron where he taught group piano, keyboard harmony, piano pedagogy, as well as private lessons. He also taught piano in New York City at the Stecher and Horowitz School of the Arts, Greenwich House Music School, and the Community Music Center.

He has performed as a collaborative artist at Pomona College, and the Aspen and Scotia Music Festival. Gary has premiered solo piano works with the following composers present: Samuel Adler (Sonatina 1979), Vohn Hilliard (Sonata in the Sun) and Camargo Guarnieri (Dansa Brasileira, Dança Selvagem, and Sonatina VI).

Anastasia Svyatlovskaya - piano and voice

 Anastasia Svyatlovskaya, a distinguished music educator and performer, was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she began her piano studies at the age of five. She graduated with multiple honors in Piano Performance from the prestigious St. Petersburg School of Music. Anastasia went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree in Voice Performance from the Music College of St. Petersburg and pursued graduate work at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. During her time at the college and conservatory, she was an active performer, participating regularly in concerts as both a pianist and a vocalist. She also served as a soloist for the TV and Radio choir and won numerous international competitions.

Anastasia has portrayed key roles in several renowned operas, including "Yolanda," "Marriage of Figaro," and "Eugene Onegin," performed at the Opera Theater of the Conservatory of Music of St. Petersburg. Furthering her education, she earned a Master's Degree from Cleveland State University. Anastasia has also been featured in live performances on WCLV, the local classical radio station in Cleveland.

With extensive teaching experience, Anastasia has successfully guided students of all ages. Her students have achieved remarkable success, gaining acceptance into prestigious institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, Eastman School of Music, Berklee College of Music, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and Lawrence University Conservatory of Music.

Dmitriy Isakov - piano and violin

Dmitriy Isakov earned his Bachelor’s degree with honors in violin  performing from Tchaikovsky Music Academy in Kiev, Ukraine. He is also passionate about piano as well as he studied it as minor instrument during his studies. During his career he performed music with many orchestras, participated in numerous festivals. As a participant of many international competitions, he won 1st prize at International Music Competition “Francesco Forgione” in Italy and a diploma from International Violin Competition “Remember Enescu” in Romania. 

Currently he is working on his Master’s degree in violin performance at Youngstown State University with Joseph Kromholz. 

Dmitriy teaches violin and piano in classical music, jazz, rock, and pop. He enjoys sharing music experience with students of all ages, and considers that music language is helping to learn life better than anything else. 

Gayle Getts - Flute

Gayle Getts have been a private flute instructor for over 4 decades with students going on the pursue music degrees at Temple University, Butler University, University of West Virginia, Baldwin-Wallace University and Miami University,  among others. Ms. Getts studied with Alexander Murray of the London Symphony and William Hebert, Piccolo player of The Cleveland Orchestra. Her students have been principal flute in The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony and Contemporary Youth Orchestra.  But - she is also very interested and encourage beginners and adults!  Ms. Getts happily cover all aspects of flute playing.

Gayle Getts truly love to see the progress in her students at the various levels.  It's not about the end game; for her it is about learning and spending quality time developing a passion for music.

Kevin Covney - Guitar

 Kevin Covney is a classical guitarist and guitar teacher based in Cleveland, Ohio, specializing in various guitarstyles including Classical, Jazz, Blues, and Pop. As a guitarist, he has performed extensively in Upstate New York with groups such as Opera Ithaca, The Ithaca Shakespeare Company, Ithaca College Madrigal Singers, The Cortland Repertory Theater, and as a Soloist at The Classical Guitar Society of Upstate New York.

​As a music educator, Kevin has taught general music, directed choir, and employed music therapy to students grades 1 – 8 with differentiated, culturally conscious instruction at various learning institutions such as Fox Lane Middle School in Bedford, NY and Immaculate Conception School in Ithaca, NY.

​An alumnus of Ithaca College, Kevin graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a concentration in guitar. While a student at Ithaca College, Kevin studied with Dr. Jeremy Harting, and Dr. Pablo Cohen. He is currently pursuing his Masters in Guitar Performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music with the guidance of Jason Vieauxand Colin Davin.

Gary Dacanay - guitar

Gary Dacanay has over 30 years of professional playing experience and over 20 years of teaching experience with a B.A. in Music from DePaul University and a M.M. in Guitar Performance from Cleveland State University. 

Gary has led his own solo music projects as well as recorded and performed with various rock, blues, jazz and hip hop artists such as Louie Bellson, Joe Henderson, Pete Cosey, Bob Fraser, Bob Ferrazza, Brad Goode, Paul Samuels, Dave Morgan, Kip Reid, John Perrine, Hamid Drake, Sugar Blue, Public Enemy, Snoop Dogg, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. 

He has also recorded music for movie soundtracks, played in  musical theater, and played music for yoga classes.