A Few Notes About the Instructors
Dawn Smith Salmons
The founder of Dawn’s Piano Studio, Dawn Smith Salmons has been teaching piano in Orlando since 2002. She holds a B.A. in contemporary music ministry, with an emphasis in voice and piano, from Spring Arbor University and a Master's of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. In 2009, she was recognized with the Young Leader Award from Spring Arbor University's alumni association. Dawn has accompanied and performed with various groups including bands, jazz bands, choirs, a ska band called The Smoothies, and WellSpring (Spring Arbor University’s traveling ensemble), in which she was the primary keyboard player. She has been the worship assistant for River Run Christian Church, the worship pastor at The Harbour Church, and is currently the worship leader at Asbury Seminary. In addition, she writes music, leads worship, consults and performs for a variety of venues and events including churches, camps, retreats, and conferences. Dawn believes that piano is best taught from many different angles so she focuses on combining note-reading with theory, ear-training, and chord playing. When put together, this well-rounded type of study helps students become pianists who are able to play many different styles with great understanding. Dawn’s students are encouraged to make suggestions about song selection so that they remain focused and move forward while learning songs that they specifically enjoy. Dawn enjoys watching students progress and her goal is for all students to grow in their understanding, ability, and love of the piano! In addition to music, Dawn loves to hang out with her three children and her husband, Blair!
Keegan Matthews
Keegan Matthews joined Dawn’s Piano Studio in 2011 with experience in a wide variety of musical areas. He began his musical studies on euphonium but switched his focus to piano after a group piano class in high school. He holds an associate’s degree in Music Education from Seminole State College of Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Piano Studies from the University of Central Florida. While at Seminole State, he was a mentor in music theory and piano for other students in classical and jazz music, music theory, improvisation, and piano technique and performance. He has won awards in multiple competitions and has performed with notable musicians such as Bobby Koeble, Jeff Rupert, Richard Drexler, Roosevelt Collier, Anthony Cole, Linda Cole, and Matt Lapham. Currently, Keegan performs weekly with The Orlando Jazz Orchestra, the funky-Latin quartet Con Leche, the Get 2nds, and Orlando’s up and coming band Leisure Chief. He is also a composer/arranger who has his music performed throughout Central Florida. Keegan loves teaching piano and is passionate about each student finding their own interests in their study. He has seen a positive impact in his own life as a result of his piano studies and wants to pass that on to his students.
Patrick Moreno
Patrick Moreno began studying music at the age of 12. After a brief time learning guitar, he received a keyboard for his birthday and switched instruments. He continued to study through college and received a minor in music from UCF in 2016, where he played in various school ensembles, including jazz chamber groups, and studied music theory, sight singing, and composition. He received additional training through master classes with Richard Drexler and Per Danielsson and jazz clinics with Benny Golson, Dan Miller, Addison Frei, Harry Allen, and Catherine Russell. Patrick is also an experienced performer. He has played with the Sanford Jazz Ensemble, the School of Performing Arts (Maitland), Soul Funktion, the Sweet Talkers, Holey Miss Moley, the Steamin’ Trio, Two Party System, the Christian Ryan Trio, his own jazz-pop band Honeypot, and several other local and regional artists. He is a substitute/sit-in pianist for various local music acts as well. In addition to his performing, Patrick has taught piano in Oviedo for several years and spends a great deal of time composing and arranging. Patrick is passionate about helping his students enjoy learning piano and he hopes that his teaching will inspire them to achieve a greater understanding of music as both an art and a language.
Jarell Beausivoir
An accomplished musician and composer, Jarell Beausivoir brings a strong passion for teaching to Dawn’s Piano Studio. He plays three instruments—piano, violin, and trumpet—and is currently pursuing a double major in Piano Performance and Music Composition from the University of Central Florida. During his younger years he was consistently selected for All-County and All-State ensembles and in 2018 had the honor of performing with Yo-Yo-Ma and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. In addition to his piano and composition studies at UCF, Jarell has been part of the UCF symphony orchestra and jazz band and recently had his thesis composition, “Their,” premiered at the Dr. Phillips Center. He has also taught at several music studios in Orlando. A highly regarded instructor, Jarell comes to lessons with a contagious passion, excited to share his love for music and to help students grow both artistically and personally.
Libby Sellers
Libby Sellers started playing the piano at a young age with her mother as her first piano teacher! An organist and pianist, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education and Piano Pedagogy from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. and was a student of Dr. Henry Doskey, a protégée of William Gillock and Menahem Pressler. Some of the highlights of her undergraduate years were being selected as a semi-finalist in the ECU Young Artist’s Competition and being inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. Libby spent thirty-three years teaching choral and general music at schools in North Carolina and Orlando and has been a music director at several Orlando area churches. Now she is excited to spend more time teaching students how to play her favorite instrument. Libby enjoys sharing the joy of music with her students and watching them grow as they learn about music and increase their piano playing skills. As an educator, she has learned that playing the piano has many benefits: it helps students develop good critical thinking and problem solving skills as they learn to read and analyze the music, gives students a sense of accomplishment as they meet their weekly practice goals, and creates a sense of confidence in students as they see themselves improve and move on to new and more difficult pieces. In addition to her teaching, Libby is on staff at St. Mary of the Lakes Catholic Church and also plays for theater productions. A sought-out musician, you will be captured by her talent, excitement, and enthusiasm!
Nicole Omat
Nicole was five years old when she discovered her singing voice. Her youthful curiosity soon blossomed into a passion for music through voice, piano, violin, and guitar. She was awarded a full academic scholarship at Rollins College, where she studied with Dr. Gloria Cook, was a member of the Honors Program, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with Bachelor of Arts degrees (with honors) in Music and Anthropology. Nicole has been a professional musician for over 25 years and especially enjoys playing classical, jazz, and Latin music. She has performed with the Rollins College Bach Festival Society Orchestra, the Florida Space Coast Philharmonic, and other local groups; she is experienced as a session musician; and she has performed at venues including Hard Rock Live, Madison Square Garden, the White House, and Amway Arena. Nicole is also a passionate and dedicated teacher, joining Dawn’s Piano Studio with over 15 years of experience in several local studios. She loves to guide students in an exploration of personal talent and creativity, sharing the expression that has enriched her life so deeply by nurturing her students' own desires to express themselves through music!
David Paz
Originally from San Pedro Sula, Honduras, David began studying music at age five. When he was nine years old, he started taking piano lessons with Maestro Sergio Suazo. His primary education was at the Escuela Primaria de Aplicación Musical, followed by secondary studies with a piano focus at Escuela de Musica Victoriano Lopez. In 2019, David received a scholarship to pursue studies in the United States and enrolled at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, where he earned dual bachelor's degrees in Music Performance and Music Business. He has taken master classes with internationally recognized pianists Jeremy Siskind, Sujung Cho, Jacob Clark, Diego Caetano, Ezequiel Barrera, Carl Blake, Alexandra Mascolo, John Bloomfield, and Chris Bullock. While at NSU, David played piano for jazz ensembles and was part of the Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony. In 2020, he won NSU’s Concerto Competition. He served as the pianist for the Natchitoches Northwestern Symphony Society for three years, including performing as a soloist in 2022, and has also played for a number of churches. David joins Dawn’s Piano Studio with years of teaching experience at both Escuela de Musica Victoriano and NSU’s Music Academy. He has a passion for nurturing a genuine understanding and appreciation of the musical art form and emphasizes a comprehensive musical education in his teaching in order to ensure students create a great foundation on which to build their future success!
