The Music School of Delaware adds new talent, expertise to faculty

The Music School of Delaware announces the appointment of several new faculty members this year at its Milford Branch: Melanie Leinbach, piano; Nancy Pikulik, piano/jazz piano; and Matthew Smith, guitar. These instructors join more than 90 other faculty colleagues statewide who continue to offer excellent instruction through the school.

For a complete roster of faculty, go to www.musicschoolofdelaware.org.

Milford resident Melanie Leinbach holds a bachelor of music degree in music history and organ from Mansfield State University. She did graduate work at George Washington University and has studied with Dr. Eileen Morris Guenther and Dr. David Herman. She has maintained a private piano teaching studio and is the organist for the Presbyterian Church of Dover.

Nancy Pikulik of Marydel holds a bachelor of music degree in piano performance and master of music in education from Manhattan School of Music. She has taught private piano and cello, and served as accompanist for instrumentalists, singers and shows, and is a founding member of Del Segno, a cello and piano duo.  Pikulik has performed as a soloist with the Dover Symphony Orchestra and other local ensembles. She is the founding chair of the Central Delaware Arts Coalition, and president and personnel manager of the Dover Symphony.

Matthew Smith of Wilmington is a 2014 Individual Artist Fellow for the Delaware Division of the Arts and was one of two performers selected to perform at the 2014 Governor’s Awards for the Arts held in October. He holds master of music and bachelor of music degrees in guitar from Jacob's School of Music, Indiana University. Through Teach for America, he taught first grade in Memphis, Tenn., and was an associate instructor of guitar and adjunct faculty in the School of Public Health at Indiana University and was a co-founder, faculty and director of publicity and marketing of Porterville Summer Strings in Porterville, Calif., an organization focused on providing quality music education to underrepresented youth. He has recorded with Christian singer TLisa, performed and taught at Stax Records in Memphis, and assisted in the production of the inaugural Indiana Guitar Festival and Competition.

The Music School of Delaware, founded in 1924, is the only statewide, accredited, community music school in the nation, serving residents of Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. For more information go to www.musicschoolofdelaware.org.