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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.)

Private & Group Music Instruction

  

Creative Writing & Private Tutoring Fine Arts Music

Creative Writing, Fine Arts, Piano and Flute
Director, Westland Academy For The Arts
Alyssa Wells (724) 850-WAFA

       
   

Piano, Composition, Theory, and Beginning Drumming
Marianne Lewis (724) 433-8901

       
   

Violin, Viola, Cello, Voice, and Piano
Victoria Mull Leichliter (724) 547-6035

       
   

Guitar and Bass Guitar
Joshua Carns (724) 261-9347

       
   

Saxophone, Recorder, Flute and Theory
Valerie Uschock (724) 217-8800

       
   

Clarinet, Flute, and Piano
Rebecca Johnston (724) 244-4643

       
   

Drums and Percussion
Tom Murphy (724) 989-7161

       
   

Piano
Jim Yumin (724) 493-8401

       
   

Trumpet
Denise Frisko (724) 787-9480

       
  Fine Arts

Photography
Autumn DeLellis (724) 889-3326

       
    Fine Arts

Fiber Arts: Knitting and Felting
Toni Ritchey (724) 832-5189

       
    Fine Arts

Collage and 2-Dimensional Design
Joel Brown (724) 516-7969

Music Classes
 
     

 Meet The Teachers:






Alyssa Wells graduated from Seton Hill University with a B.A. in English and Art Education, and is a member of the Friday Evening Music Club, and 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, as well as directing our Stomp Juniors, a non-traditional percussion group.  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 ten 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.

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.

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.

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  

Autumn DeLellis has been a professional photographer since 2000.  She specializes in weddings, portraits, photojournalism, and commercial advertising photography. She has been recognized for her photography three times on a national level, one of which was a first place winning photograph. In 2004 she opened her studio in Erie, PA which is now located in Greensburg, PA, called SKYSIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY. Autumn also is an accomplished landscape and wildlife photographer, shooting often in Colorado, Alaska, and Nevada. Her portfolio is available to view on her website: www.skysightphotography.com

Toni Ritchey, knitter and fiber artist extraordinaire, is a self-professed "jack of all trades" when it comes to various arts.  But 24 years ago when she learned to knit, she found her her niche.  Knitting has now taken a new dimension for her - felting  - formerly known as boiled wool.  Toni formed her own business, Raggz Fiber Art, last year and can be found at Ligonier Country Market and other select juried art shows.  Some of her one-of-a-kind original items (purses, hats, scarves, and decorative birdhouses) can be purchased at local boutiques.  Teaching has become a new passion for her in an effort to share the joys of these ancient crafts.  Young and old alike are encouraged to learn and create.
 

 
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