Kupono Music Studio

Marti Kluth is a versatile musician with over 30 years of performing experience, and over 25 years experience as a music teacher. Marti studied at Oberlin Conservatory in Oberlin, OH for 3 years, finishing her schooling by earning a bachelor's degree from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN in piano performance. She is well versed in all classical styles, as well as pop, jazz, blues, Gospel, Broadway and other styles, so she can help you play any kind of music you desire.

She has also performed extensively, both as a vocalist and keyboardist. Over the past 14 years, Marti has been Music Director of 20+ shows on Maui, including Stellaluna, Pippin, Fame!, South Pacific, West Side Story, 2 productions of Scrooge, and The Music Man for Maui Academy of Performing Arts; Ruthless!, Cabaret and The Wizard of Oz for ProArts, and Sweeney Todd for Maui OnStage. She has performed in the orchestra for several other productions, which allows her to showcase her technical prowess first-hand for audiences. She has a flexible, well-trained voice, and is capable of singing all styles of music, including Hawaiian, gospel, pop, jazz and classical.

Marti is also familiar with a wide variety of contemporary music. You can learn the latest hit songs that are on the radio, or an old classic that you've always wanted to play. If you don't read music, Marti can help you with an easy to play arrangement of almost any song!

Ana Kalina began playing the violin at the age of 9 in Southern California. She followed in the footsteps of her grandfather whose love for music included playing all the classical stringed instruments and the mandolin. Ana later learned how to play the cello, piano, and ukulele. She has performed with alternative rock bands, chamber orchestras, and string quartets throughout her life. She currently performs with the Maui Pops Symphony, Maui Masterworks Festival, and the Maui Chamber Orchestra. Ana also sings backup vocals and plays fiddle in a classic band from Lahaina called ZĂ.

In 2004 Ana received her Master's Degree in Marital Family Therapy. In her private psychotherapy practice she uses music to facilitate and promote nurturing parent/child relationships. Parents and children are enriched through the process of learning music together. Parents learn to adopt and develop a nurturing parenting style that utilizes positive reinforcement techniques. Kids thrive and learn quickly when they are praised for doing well. Ana also strives to make the learning experience fun! When kids are able to create a foundation of accomplishments, it contributes to their sense of well-being. Experiences of being successful are moments a child can carry with them throughout their lifetime.

Lyman Abbott began learning to play the guitar at the age of seven. After playing Hawaiian music in High School, Lyman studied music composition at the University of Santa Clara, CA. Eventually receiving a Master’s degree in Forestry from Humboldt State University, Lyman now works for the State of Hawaii restoring the island of Kaho`olawe with native plants. “From time to time, I play guitar for the volunteers, and they often sing along and play too. They really seem to enjoy the music. It is such a unique place to be, and people are often inspired to compose their own songs while they are there.”

In addition to his environmental work, Lyman has instructed guitar and ukulele classes at Punahou High School on O`ahu and Hawai`i Preparatory Academy on the Big Island. Lyman has also played guitar and Tahitian drums with a Hula Halau in San Diego, and gigged in a Hawaiian Band named Kapalakiko (“San Francisco”) in the Bay Area.

Lyman enjoys playing many types of music, including Hawaiian Slack Key, jazz, Latin, and classic rock. He looks forward to bringing his unique style of instruction in these different musical genres to the students of Maui.

Leah K. Graham, who is nominated for best music score in the film “Absent” is an extremely accomplished pianist and composer. She was born in Victoria B.C. Canada, and has played piano since age 4. She is a graduate of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, the Royal Toronto Conservatory of Music, and attended University of Victoria, to study Composition.

She has composed music for the children's book “A Visit to the Circus,” and has had her music on the television show “Law and Order.” She also has music on the Stingray Spa Channel network. Her passion is composing music for film. She has worked with Sue Vicory on the documentary "One," and the short film, “Humanity.” She has also just returned as a piano teacher on Maui, where she spent 12 years teaching children and adults. You can listen to some of Leela’s music at www.leahgrahammusic.com.

Tracey Bloser, mezzo-soprano, received her Bachelor of Music in Voice from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and her Master of Music in Voice from The Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, CT. Shortly after receiving her degree, she became a founding member of Hartford Opera Theater, performing and producing new works and contemporary interpretations of opera theater in the city for several years.

Tracey moved to Maui in 2011 and began integrating into the classical music scene as a vocal performer and teacher in voice and piano. She was most recently featured as the Alto soloist for Maui Chamber Orchestra’s productions of Bach’s Magnificat and Handel’s Messiah at the Iao Theater in Wailuku. Tracey has been on staff at Maui Music Mission for two years, contributing as an instructor in voice, piano and theory in their after-school music club and music camps, working with keiki ages 6-12. She is also a board member for Maui Chamber Orchestra and board chair of their CHIMES program.

CHIMES is working to reintegrate music education at the elementary level in the Maui public school curriculum. Singing, piano, opera, choir and musical theater have all been a major part of her life since early childhood. Tracey is especially committed to imparting this love, knowledge and experience of classical music to the youth of Maui, by enriching the local music programs and focusing on their quality and expansion. Tracey is thrilled to be joining the Kúpono Music Studio team as an instructor in voice and beginning piano.

In 2015-16, John Rowehl held two academic appointments: as the sabbatical replacement at Wellesley College (choral conductor), and as Visiting Lecturer in Voice at Cornell University, where he was also a doctoral student in the Performance Practice program within Cornell’s Department of Music. Prior to that, he was affiliated with the Cornell Glee Club and Chorus 2002-15, as Assistant Conductor and Interim Conductor (2012-13). He also held an appointment as Associate Director of Choral Music 2010-15. He has conducted Cornell choral groups at such venues as Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center, as well as on international tours to Brazil, China, and the U.K.

Trained in classical piano from the age of seven and a competition-winning pianist as a teenager, John originally matriculated at Cornell as a Ph.D. student in Philosophy. His performance focus is on choral conducting, and his dissertation—a project in applied bio-musicology—examines how our ideas about performance change when we take seriously the latest findings in the neurophysiology of music and the growing body of evidence that music is hard-wired into us humans, in part because of the role it plays in creating and nurturing community.

John has been heard as a baritone soloist in the Fingerlakes Bach Festival and with New York State Baroque. He also enjoys working with singers from the keyboard, as a vocal coach and collaborative pianist. In 2014, John became a Certified Yoga Teacher. After enduring 29 winters in the Northeast, John came to his senses and moved home to Hawai`i, where he works as Director of Music and Organist at Keawala`i Congregational Church, as Executive Director of the Maui Chamber Orchestra, and as a voice teacher in Kúpono Music Studio.

808-276-4847

kupono@mkluth.com