Instructors
Founder and Director: Carolyn Inabinet
| Piano | Voice | Guitar | Young Children |
| Carolyn Inabinet | Laura Hunter | Dave Buck | Rachel Hale |
| Carolyn Cates | King-Wea Ng | Malinda Novack | |
| Rachel Hale | Alex Zawilak | ||
| Laura Hunter | |||
| Garrison Jones | |||
| Francisco Naranjo |
Carolyn Inabinet is the owner/director and primary instructor at Music Works Academy, Ltd., a private music school in Phoenix, Arizona offering piano, guitar, voice and violin. Ms. Inabinet was a 1968 Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Tennessee with a major in piano and French. In addition, she has done extensive graduate work at both the University of Tennessee and Arizona State University in early childhood music, instructional design and technology, and music history as well as graduate study in piano and classical organ. She is co-author of Practice and Progress (1992) and The FJH Studio Organizer (2002).
Ms. Inabinet is a member of Phoenix Music Teachers Association (PMTA), Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA), Music Teacher’s National Association(MTNA), National Guild of Piano Teachers (NGPT), and the Early Childhood Movement and Music Association (ECMMA). She has an extensive background in music education for young children.with graduate work in early childhood music at Arizona State University. She began teaching Kindermusik in 1980 and holds Kindermusik and MusikGarten teaching certification in all curricula as well as Levels I and II certification in Orff/Schulwerke. Ms. Inabinet has Harmony Road certification and most recently Music Works Academy became a licensed KiddyKeys facility. In addition to her piano and young children’s expertise, Carolyn is a facilitator for HealthRhythms® and has a specialist certificate in Roots of Rhythm®.
Ms. Inabinet has received permanent professional certification with the Music Teachers’ National Association and has been a speaker at four national conventions. In 1988 and 89, she was a presenter at the first music technology symposiums held by MTNA. In 1996, her article “Beyond Piano Instruction: A Decade of Evolution and Revolution” appeared in The American Music Teacher, the national MTNA journal. This article addressed a nationwide problem with independent music teachers…zoning. In her 1996 MTNA National presentation, she shared her experiences and knowledge gained during a five-year zoning battle and subsequent resolution with the City of Phoenix. In 2003, Ms. Inabinet was a presenter in the MTNA National Conference Poster Session with PianoFonics®, resource materials for group and private instruction.
In addition, Ms. Inabinet is the author of The Cranial Connection, an introductory handbook to cranial osteopathy. She has received recognition from the American Academy of Osteopathy as well as the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association for her contribution to manipulative osteopathic literature.
After taking a guitar class in high school and later playing rock guitar in local bands for a few years, David Buck began to formally study classical guitar in 1992. In his first two years of study he won prizes in both solo and ensemble categories in the MCCCD Outstanding Performers Competition (1993-1994). He then went on to study under the direction of Frank Koonce at Arizona State University where he received his Bachelor of Music degree. Mr. Buck then attended the University of Arizona for a Masters Degree in Guitar Performance with Thomas Patterson. Dave is currently an adjunct professor of guitar at Paradise Valley Community College and Glendale Community College.
He has performed extensively both as a soloist and in chamber music settings since then and has received many honors including:
- 1st Prize; 3rd Annual Texas Guitar Competition, Dallas, Texas, 2004
- Prizewinner; Beeston Guitar Competition, Tucson, Arizona, 2003
- 2nd Prize; 2nd Annual Texas Guitar Competition, Dallas, Texas, 2003
- Prizewinner; Sholin Guitar Competition, Tucson, Arizona, 2003
- Prizewinner; Stevens Guitar Competition, Tucson, Arizona, 2002
- Semi-Finalist; Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition, La Jolla, California, 2001
- Prizewinner; Contemporary Music Society Competition, Tempe, Arizona, 1999
- Semi-Finalist; Portland Guitar Competition, Portland, Oregon, 1997
- Semi-Finalist; American String Teachers Association Competition, Phoenix, Arizona, 1996
- 1st Prize; Arizona Guitar Society Competition, Phoenix, Arizona, 1997
Mr. Buck was recently invited to give a performance at Arizona State University of the music for Guitar Solo by the Russian composer Nikita Koshkin. An all-Koshkin concert was also given at the 4th Annual Texas Guitar Festival. He was also invited to be part of the ASU Alumni Concert Series in 2004 and has performed for the Scottsdale, Arizona-based group Spirit of the Senses numerous times.
He has been active as a performer of chamber music as well, founding the Monsoon duo with guitarist Federico Reggiardo and the Romanza Duo with violinist Robert Dunger. He has been invited to perform with the Paradise Valley Chamber Ensemble, the ASU New Music Ensemble, and the ASU Guitar Orchestra and has been invited to play at ASU as part of the Showcase Chamber Music Series and at the Long Beach Guitar and Lute Institute Final Concert with guitarist Chuck Hulihan, and most notably, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. with guitarist Sean Beattie.
He has studied both in private and in master class with many world-class performers including Manuel Barrueco, Ricardo Cobo, Elliot Fisk, William Kanengiser, Nikita Koshkin, David Leisner, David Russell, David Tanenbaum, Scott Tennant, Benjamin Verdery, and many others.
Mr. Buck is currently an adjunct faculty member for the Maricopa County Community College District in Arizona.
Carolyn Cates graduated from Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota with a degree in music education in 1981. She has been teaching music in the Phoenix area since 1982 and joined Music Works Academy’s staff in 1999.
Ms. Cates has been teaching piano for fifteen years; in addition, she has sixteen years teaching experience in general music. Ms. Cates taught general music for grades K- 6 at Valley Cathedral Christian School for ten years where she directed handbell classes, an elementary choir, Orff-Schulwerke classes and recorder. During that time she coordinated the regional ASCI Vocal and Instrumental Music Festivals. In addition, she taught general music at Grace community Christian School in Tempe for four years as well as three years in the Phoenix Elementary District.
Ms. Cates is a member of Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), Arizona State Music Teachers Association (ASMTA), Phoenix Music Teachers Association (PMTA) and the National Guild of Piano Teachers (NGPT). She has certification in Harmony Road Music as well as Levels I and II certification in Orff-Schulwerke.
In addition to teaching piano and young children’s classes at Music Works Academy, Ms. Cates leads worship at Christ’s Community Church and is the director of the senior handchime choir at Classic Residence by Hyatt in Scottsdale. Carolyn is a songwriter and a vocal entertainer, specializing in Broadway and 1920s-1940s standards. She is married and has one daughter.
“Music has always been a big part of my life and it’s such a great blessing to me to see how it brings joy to people of ALL ages, from little babies to hospice patients. It truly is a language of the heart and I love sharing it with others.”
Rachel Hale is from Phoenix and graduated from Camelback High School. She received her Associate in Arts degree from Paradise Valley Community College in 2007 and her Bachelor of Music degree from Arizona State University in 2011, where she studied piano with Dr. Janice Meyer-Thompson. Currently, Ms. Hale is working on a Master of Music degree at ASU.
In 2009, Rachel received the first place prize in Piano Performance in Maricopa Community Colleges Music Competition; she received a scholarship and performed in the Orpheum Theater in Phoenix. Rachel studied music composition under Dr. Christopher Scinto at Paradise Valley Community College and furthered composition studies while at ASU, with an emphasis on 20th Century composition techniques. Her original piece Seep and Seethe, a twelve-tone trio, was performed at ASU in 2010. Rachel has been a director in the East Valley Music Teachers Association Piano Ensemble. While attending college, Rachel has been teaching piano at Rancho Solano Private School as well as maintaining private students
Rachel says: “Music has been a passion of mine since I was a little girl. I loved playing the piano from my first lessons. That love eventually led me to pursue a career in teaching piano. I am here to instill that love in students of mine. I find so much enjoyment working with piano students in discovering the meaning of music and sharing the joy of playing the piano. How can one live a life without music? I don’t know!”
Laura Hunter is a Coloratura Soprano and is going into her 14th year of teaching voice and piano, as well as performing professionally throughout Arizona. Her students can be heard performing in all musical genres in venues around the world…including Eger, Hungary, where she was invited to perform as well as establish a music program at Esterhazy University. Miss Hunter began her early studies with her Mother, Elaine Hunter, and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Grand Canyon University.
White attending GCU, Miss Hunter was honored to accept one of the most prestigious awards the academic community can bestow – selection to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Continuing her education, she attended California State University, Northridge, where she was accepted into a very prestigious opera program, “Opera Works.” Graduating from CSUN with a Masters of Music Degree in Vocal Performance, she went on to teach Vocal Performance students at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.
Miss Hunter has toured with the sensational singing group “Joyful Sound,” and has sung numerous roles as a coloratura soprano. She was invited as a guest performer at Mamoth, California, Northridge, California and Eger, Hungary, as well as many others. Miss Hunter has taught at the University level for over five years and continues to perform in operatic venues throughout Arizona.
Garrison Jones, pianist, and native of Phoenix, Arizona has studied music for most of his life. He was a piano student of Carolyn Inabinet since age 7 and was a lab monitor in her studio during high school. Garrison has also studied with Larry Loeber of the Phoenix Symphony and privately with Raul Yañez, and Andy O’Brien. Mr. Jones has completed the music program at Scottsdale Community College and is currently a student in music education at Arizona State University where he studies piano with Walter Cosand. He has earned a number of music awards, most recently a first place award in the SCC Bella Simons Memorial Scholarship and a piano award in the Maricopa Community Colleges Music Competition.
Garrsion is a student member of the Phoenix Music Teacher’s Association and the MusicTeacher’s National Association. Garrison participated in the PMTA Piano Ensembles for 10 years and now has students participating in this same event. Some of his students have also earned awards in piano festivals.
Garrison participates in a Jazz ensembles at SCC and directed the student organized jazz combo. Garrison is currently the keyboardist in the rock band Prague.
Garrison has a love of all types of music, especially Jazz and Classical.
Francisco Naranjo is a musician who has been involved in various musical groups throughout his life. From concert band, marching band, jazz band, choir, and piano ensemble, he has been involved in a wide variety of musical experiences.
Throughout high school, he participated in the Regional and District Honor Band as well as the All-State Choral Festival. Having attended Alhambra High School, Francisco had the opportunity to accompany various choirs and musicals including The Wiz and High School Musical.
Upon graduation, he received the prestigious Dorrance Scholarship Award as well as the National Hispanic American Educational Fund Scholarship to attend Northern Arizona University.
Naranjo studied piano at Music Works Academy with Carolyn Inabinet and participated in the PMTA Piano Ensemble and the National Guild Auditions for three years. While at NAU, he studied piano with Dr. Frank Scott and tuba with Dr. Alexander Lapins. He has participated in the Piano Ensemble, Men’s Choir, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Collegiate Band, and the NAU Lumberjack Maching Band; in addition, he has served as an accompanist for various instrumentalists and vocalists. Naranjo has been a piano instructor with the NAU Music and Dance Academy for three years. In 2010, he was awarded the Presser Scholarship Award from the NAU School of Music. The following year, he received the Gilman International Scholarship which aided his study abroad in Spain.
While in Spain, Francisco attended muic courses at the University of Granada, focusing on Flamenco music and the music education system in Spain He also participated in a choir and studied piano with Francisco Alvarez Diaz, piano professor at the Conservatorio Superior de Musica de Granada.
Naranjo is very interested in studying world music. He has had the opportunity to travel to several countries, including Mexico, Spain, France, Germany, England, Poland, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Turkey, where he has experienced a wide variety of musical cultures. In May 2012, Francisco will travel to China as part of a Chinese music and culture workshop through NAU. He and his fellow colleagues will be hosted by the Shenyang Conservatory of Music. They will study traditional musical instruments, folksongs and dance as well as forms of musical theater through classes, individualized study of native instruments, ensemble rehearsals, evening concerts and expeditions to historic landmarks.
In December 2012, Mr. Naranjo will graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree of Music in Music Education from Northern Arizona University. ”I am thankful to have had many great experiences that have guided me to pursue this career in music, and that continue to inspire me every day, witnessing the peace and happiness that brings to my life.”
Malinda Novack has been involved in music for fifteen years. Graduating from Pensacola Christian College in 2004 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with Piano Proficiency, Ms. Novack also was an accompanist for choral, instrumental and solo groups. In addition to teaching piano, she is a church musician, working in the capacity as a vocal soloist as well as an accompanist.
Malinda is married and has three children under the age of five. Her husband is a youth minister.
King-Wea Ng received his Master of Music degree in guitar performance from Texas Tech University and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Xian Conservatory of Music, Xian, China. He pursued post-graduate doctoral study at Arizona State University in guitar performance where he also received his Arizona Teacher Certification in Music K – 12. King was a scholarship student at Texas A & M, Texas Tech, and ASU.
In 1996, Mr. Ng was the Grand Prize Winner in the Malaysia Guitar Festival. In 2000, King was the winner of A Celebration of New Music 2000 Composition Recital at Texas Tech.
Teaching guitar and beginning strings since 1995, King has taught at Hin-Hua High School in Malaysia, Texas Tech University, Lubbock Christian University, Phoenix College, Arizona State University, and Estrella Mountain Community College. King has been on the MWA staff for two years offering lessons in guitar and violin. Since 2006, he has been employed by the Gilbert School District and services three schools with beginning strings instruction.
Mr. Ng is a dedicated instructor and says, “While I expect excellence from my students, I also respect their self-esteem. I use positive feedback and encouragement as motivation for improvement. Though I take music and my position as an instructor very seriously, it is my continuous goal to make learning an enjoyable experience for each individual.” As an accomplished performer, King demonstrates to his students the importance of reflecting expression and emotion in music. Several of his students have won first place and grand prize standings in competitions. “I attribute this, first of all, to their talent, and secondly to my teaching style.”
King is married and has two girls.
Alexander Zawilak received his DMA in guitar performance from Arizona State University and his Bachelor’s and Master of Arts degrees from Manness College of Music. He is currently on the staff of Scottsdale Community College as an adjunct guitar professor.
Mr. Zawilak comes from an eclectic musical background. His first loves were jazz, fusion and blues. While in high school, Alex played in the St Johns University Jazz Band, and undertook jazz studies at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music. While in high school, Alex also began to explore classical music. He played cello and up-right bass in the St. Francis Prep String Orchestra. With a lot of encouragement, Alex began to sing with various vocal groups. He discovered classical guitar as a way to intimately study the music of the great composers.
While studying at Manness College of Music, Alex studied guitar with Fredrick Hand, Benjamin Verdery, Terry Champlain and Michael Newman. He did work in composition and orchestration with David Loeb. A fundamental basis for his musical development was ear training and dictation taught by Frank Nuemhauser and William Needleman. Alex also took advantage of New York City by performing with various jazz combos in local music venues. He also spent his summers playing guitar, banjo and mandolin with the Light Opera Company of Falmouth Massachusetts.
While working on his DMA at ASU, Alex turned his attention to new music. He premiered Fantasy en Hussan by Nahla Matar for fretless guitar and Chamber works by Hector Martinez. He has participated in the George Crumb residency at ASU with the performance of “Night of the Four Moons” and was the only guitar participant in the Society of Composers conference held at ASU in April of 2001 with a performance of Rhapsodic Ignition for solo guitar by Karen P. Thomas. He has also,collaborated with ASU Dance, Drama and performed on the Baroque guitar in the ASU production of Telemann’s Dido and Aeneas.
Mr. Zawilak has an extensive teaching career, first in New York and then in Phoenix. When asked about a primary teaching philosophy, Alex states, “the goal of the instructor is to share an enthusiasm for the whole spectrum of musical expression. Music has given me many hours of enjoyment at home and has brought me to many fun places in the US and Europe where I was able to share it with others.” Alex stresses the need to be emotionally motivated by the beauty of the music and encourages the fun of making and sharing it.