Find Music Lessons

Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Mr. Alvin revealed great promise as a musician at an early age. Moving to New York in 1983, Alvin became the first African American piano player to play for the Tony Award-winning production of “CATS” at the tender age of 16-years old. After a critically acclaimed 3-year run on Broadway, he returned to Houston and shortly thereafter earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Texas Southern University in Houston, the same prestigious program that produced Kirk Whalum, Yolanda Adams, and Lonnie Smith.
 
Alvin then embarked upon an international professional career, which allowed him to span the globe and share the stage with Jazz and R&B legends such as Ahmad Jamal, McCoy Tyner, Gerald Levert, and El Debarge. The philosophy of this man and his music is as simple as it is complex. He says, “In the scope of the inception of my music, my vision is based on love and passion.” 

He poses the question, ”Why do what you do, without loving what you do?” He believes that he is… part of a generation that has placed passion apart from music. “But I believe that without passion and God – there is no music.”
 

Mr. Bret is a composer, pianist, and teacher. His love for music started at an early age, and has persisted throughout his life. Beginning his classical studies on the piano at the age of 5, and composing his first piece of music at the age of 10, he has continued to study and develop his passion and love for music over the last 30 years. He began working professionally, playing and teaching, while still in high school, developing his skills in improvisation and music directing along the way, before studying Music Composition and Piano at the University of Houston.

Mr. Bret has extensive experience playing, music directing, and working in churches, theaters, and recording studios. He has performed and composed music for all occasions and events, all the while teaching piano, drums, guitar, voice, and composition when the opportunity has presented itself. As a producer and engineer, he has worked on hundreds of recording sessions in world class studios with some of the top musicians working today, and has released more than 50 albums of instrumental music on his own. In 15 years of teaching, he has worked with over 250 students of all ages in all styles and genres, from classical to pop and everything in-between. He believes every student deserves the opportunity to pursue a life with music, and enjoys working with students at any level, from beginner to advanced, and in any style or genre of interest. Incorporating classical technique and music theory in a practical and useful way, he believes that a solid foundation allows each student to confidently walk their own path on their musical journey. 

Currently residing in the Houston area, Mr. Bret is a full-time composer, producer, and teacher.

Since 1995, at the age of 13 Cory found his love for music. Since then, Cory has dedicated his life to learning, creating, and teaching music. A lover of all styles, he started formal studies in classical guitar from Mark Black, then later classical guitarist and guitar teacher Carlo Pezzimenti. Striving to learn and broaden his musicality, Cory went on to study many styles of music. In 2006 he started teaching voice, guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, and mandolin and has been ever since. During these times Cory toured around the nation with original and cover bands, playing multiple venues and festivals. Settling down later in small ensembles and duo's around Texas. 

Mr. Don is originally from California. He moved to Texas and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Houston. He has taught music and Spanish in the Texas public school system for twenty years and works with all age groups. He performs all over the Gulf Coast with his classic rock band, Red on Black, which he formed with his two children. Mr. Don has witnessed the miracle of music take place in classrooms, High School performances, and on stages throughout the Gulf Coast.

Teaching High School level pop-ensemble, he loved seeing music transform students’ lives. Mr. Don now focuses on guitar, voice, piano, and drum. He holds a Masters of Biblical Languages from Houston Christian University and speaks fluent Spanish.

Mr. Jiyan is a current Music Education major at the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. He has been singing in choirs for almost 10 years and has participated with choirs at the varsity level since an early age. Mr. Jiyan has also had solo repertoire experience for 5 years and is currently studying under Dr. Jones at Moores. Jiyan was also a former Allegro Academy piano student and has years of piano training.

In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and playing basketball. Jiyan is eager to work with younger students to help improve their musical skills in piano and voice.

Ms. Laura graduated from Houston Christian University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music specializing in voice. While at HCU, she performed alongside the Houston Choral Society and Houston Civic Symphony. Ms. Laura has performed with the Bay Area Chorus and at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in San Antonio. Ms. Laura has loved singing since she was a child and desires to inspire and help musicians of all ages to grow in their art and see their own potential. She strongly believes that music is for everyone, and no one should be discouraged from pursuing something that they love. Ms. Laura also believes that music is powerful and speaks in a way that words never can.

Graduate from Houston Christian University, Mr. Petro studied and earned his B.M. degree in Vocal Performance, Cum Laude, under the teaching of Emily Tello Speck and Dr. David Kirkwood. His passion for music started in elementary school where he began playing the trumpet. Unfortunately, he had to stop playing due to personal complications at home but that did not stop him from dreaming of music. His passion for music continued internally and when he went to high school he was involved in all the music that was available. It was in high school that he learned to play Guitar, French Horn, and Voice as he participated in the jazz ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Choir.

Mr. Petro was also in the Schola Cantorum at HCU and served as the section leader during his four years there, he participated in the Husky Band and performed for the Opera Workshop. He has been honored to have been part of many performances in his time at HCU, most notably performing the role of Masetto in Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni. He is a big believer that instruments are tools of self-expression and encourages everyone to give learning an instrument a try.

Mr. Shayne is a musician, teacher, and performer originally from upstate NY. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Buffalo State University, where he received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Music. Prior to that, he studied music and theater at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, completing a minor in piano performance. After graduating, Mr. Shayne taught for Buffalo Public Schools, where he directed vocal ensembles and musicals, and taught general music, music theory, voice, and piano in grades 5-12. During his time as the tenor section leader of the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, they (with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) won the 2021 Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance. With various choirs, he has sung in venues such as the Met Cloisters in New York City, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Mr. Shayne began studying violin and viola at the age of seven, and has played with several string chamber ensembles and orchestras. He is also a trained actor and dancer with an extensive background in musical theater, and has performed lead and supporting roles throughout the eastern US, in addition to his experience as a music director, choreographer, and pit musician. He enjoys composing and encouraging composition in his teaching.

Having recently relocated to Texas, he’s very excited to teach all musicians, and looks forward to working with Allegro students to create the music they want to make!