GROUP PIANO
NATALIE GALEY*
Voice |Piano | Guitar | Littletunes | Group Piano | Group Voice
ONLINE, LITTLETON STUDIO & CENTENNIAL STUDIO
Natalie Galey is a vocalist, guitarist, pianist and educator based in Denver, Colorado. She has performed and collaborated with numerous top-name performers and ensembles, including New York Voices founding members Peter Eldridge and Darmon Meader, and studied with jazz heavy-weights Theo Bleckmann, Dave Liebman, and Jim McNeely. She has performed in both the Chicago and New York jazz and pop scene, in venues such as Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Navy Pier, Millennium Park, and Gallagher Way at Wrigley Field. She uses her background in jazz, blues, and rock to bring creativity and spontaneity into her classes and believes that music should be fun first and foremost. She carries her love of music into the classroom, and encourages play, growth, and creative exploration with every song, and strives to build community and friendships through song.
Natalie has an equal passion for educating and performing. She received her Master of Music in Jazz Performance degree in 2011 and her Master of Music Education at Columbia University in 2013. She has had the opportunity to study under Kurt Elling, Jane Monheit, Gretchen Parlato, Rodney Whitaker, and Sunny Wilkinson. Natalie was raised in a rich musical environment, playing guitar, piano, singing, and songwriting from an early age. Her compositions are an eclectic fusion of jazz, blues, rock, and soul. As a singer of wide-ranging styles, she has established a reputation as a flexible and talented soloist, as well as a creative and reflective educator. She relocated to the Denver area and joined the Forté Academy of Music Family in July 2019.
DIANE WIELAND*
Piano
ONLINE, LITTLETON STUDIO & CENTENNIAL STUDIO
Diane Wieland is a passionate and dedicated teacher who teaches piano to students of all ages. Diane has been involved with music her entire life, starting when she was just six years old. She is a classically trained pianist, but also loves to play and teach pop and rock music. She worked at Imagine a Better World Recording Studio as a songwriter and producer for six years. After her time there, she began working as a Learning Specialist at Bear Creek K-8 School.
Diane is very excited to be a piano teacher at Forté Academy of Music! She believes that learning to play a musical instrument encourages students to excel in life skills such as having fun, problem solving, maintaining focus, developing discipline, and enjoying the results of hard work.
AMY ALSINA
Violin | Viola | Cello | Bass | Piano | Guitar | Group Piano
ONLINE & STAPLETON STUDIO
Amy Alsina teaches violin, viola, cello, bass, piano, and guitar. She began her music career playing Viola at age 11. She received her Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Wyoming and currently holds a professional teaching license in the state of Colorado. Amy has been teaching in the Denver area for 7 years. Amy currently teaches elementary music for Denver Public Schools in addition to Stapleton Music Lab. She is the principal violist for the Aurora Symphony. When not teaching, Amy loves to crochet and hiking with her husband and dog.
BRAD FURLOW
Piano | Voice | Saxophone | Flute | Violin | Group Piano
ONLINE & STAPLETON STUDIO
Brad Furlow teaches piano, voice and all band and orchestral instruments. He began studying music at the age of 5 on the piano. He began his study of instrumental music at 8 years of old on the saxophone in 3rd grade eventually expanding to include all instruments of the woodwind and brass families in his hometown of Mulkeytown, Illinois. Brad continued his study of music at the university level at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2002, he also pursued advanced study at the university level in instrumental conducting, brass pedagogy and music theory/composition. Brad continues to perform professionally as the Principal Tubist with the Aurora Symphony Orchestra and Denver Concert Band. Brad is also involved with the Denver University Pioneer Pep Band and other regional bands and orchestra on a freelance basis. Brad’s philosophy of music is that every person can be musical, it’s just finding the right instrument to bring it out. He enjoys working with students of all ages. When not teaching, performing or composing, Brad enjoys traveling with his partner, and spending time with their three Siberian Husky “kids”.