The following is a list of current teachers at the Academy and a list of the instruments and/or subjects that they teach.  Phone or email the school for more information.  Contact information for each instructor is listed if you would prefer to reach a particular teacher directly.
(Teachers' Act 33/151 and Act 34 clearances are available on file at the school.)

Alyssa Wells graduated from Seton Hill University with a B.A. in English Education and Art Education, of both the National Music Teachers' Association and Pennsylvania Music Teachers' Association.  She founded the Westland Academy For The Arts in 2002, and currently oversees operations at the school.  In addition, Alyssa teaches piano, flute, creative writing, and fine art classes and directs The Westland Flute Choir.  She believes that the humanities are an essential element of life and a vital bridge to successful learning in any field. 

Marianne Lewis teaches piano, composition, theory, and beginning drumming. She believes that every student is different and adapts her teaching to accommodate the needs of each student individually.  She teaches them the way that fits best with the way they learn, and helps them to reach their personal goals. She encourages them to enjoy performing and to be knowledgeable in music theory. Most of all, after over eleven years of teaching experience, she has learned that making it fun is the best path to success.  Marianne is a member of The Friday Evening Music Club and of both the National Music Teachers' Association and Pennsylvania Music Teachers' Association.

Rebecca Johnston graduated from Northland College with a major in Music and minor in Sacred Music.  Rebecca teaches private piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, voice, and band/group instruction at the Academy.

Valerie "Val" F. Uschock, LCAT, MT-BC, NMT, Fellow, Academy of Neurologic Music Therapy
Valerie has worked in the healthcare field for 14 years with an emphasis on Neurological Rehabilitation for the last 8 years. Val is a Board Certified Music Therapist, which is a recognized national credential and is a Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in the State of New York. She is the owner of Music Therapy Progressions, a private contractual company serving clients throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania. Additionally, Val is an instructor of saxophone, flute, and recorder at WAFA. She is an active member of The Pennsylvania Music Teacher’s Association-Westmoreland Chapter (PMTA-WC), an affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) where she serves as Recital Chair on a local level and Local Associations Chair on the state level. Val often serves as a judge for local music festivals and facilitates group experiences for the annual Music Achievement Festival. She performs locally with the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds (Saxophone), Pastime Consort (Recorder), and the Friday Evening Music Club. Val has presented seminars and workshops both locally and regionally at in-services, support groups, local universities, PMTA-WC events, and professional conferences. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from Duquesne University as well as her Fellow in Neurologic Music Therapy from the Center for Biomedical Research in Music at Colorado State University.

Natalie Williams holds a B.S. Music Education from Duquesne University.  She has six years of experience teaching private lessons in voice, piano and clarinet and four years of experience teaching in a classroom. Ms. Williams' classroom experience includes chorus, band and general music at both middle school and elementary levels. All students are expected to practice regularly and are encouraged to participate in performance opportunities. She is an active member of Music Teachers National Association, Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association and the Westmoreland local chapter.  Ms. Williams believes that education is a very individual experience. She recognizes that each student has different methods of learning and teaches them accordingly in the way that will benefit them and help them grow the most as musicians. It is her goal for all of her students to be complete musicians. This means that developing musicianship, including but not limited to musical interpretation, ear-training, theory and history, is as important as learning to use the voice or play an instrument properly.
 

Victoria Mull Leichliter holds a B. A. in Music Education from Seton Hill University and master credits from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in the field of music education.  She teaches voice, violin, viola, cello, piano and master theory classes utilizing the computer and keyboard as added teaching tools at WAFA and at her own Leichliter Studio of Music in Mt. Pleasant.  She has been playing in several community venues such as the Orchestra at Westmoreland County Community College and at Hempfield High School.  Victoria is a member of the Pennsylvania Music Teachers' Association and of the Friday Evening Music Club.

Denise Frisko is currently working toward her B.M. in Music Education at Seton Hill University. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Pennsylvania Music Educator's Association, and the International Trumpet Guild. In the Greensburg area, she is involved with the Westmoreland Symphonic Winds and the Westmoreland Youth Symphony Orchestra. Denise is a strong believer that musicality should always be the center of trumpet playing. She teaches her students to concentrate on producing the most beautiful tone possible, at all times.  Contact Information: fri5558@setonhill.edu