Rebekah Ribando (Foushee) earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of West Florida, majoring in vocal/choral music education. Under the instruction of Sheila Dunn, Rebekah gave junior and senior solo voice recitals, focusing on German lieder and Oratorio; competed in the SERNATS competition; and was a Soprano soloist in UWF’s Opera Workshop, performing works by Mozart, Strauss, Sondheim, and others. While completing her degree program, Rebekah taught private voice and piano lessons, was president of the UWF University Chorale, where she coordinated and supervised choir rehearsals for UWF’s Summer Festival Choir program for three years; and was the Music Director for Northwest Florida State College’s summer musical production of Fame Jr.
After graduating, Rebekah accepted a position as the inaugural chorus instructor at a combined middle and high, college-preparatory magnet school in Atlanta, Georgia. This experience exposed her to a diverse, multicultural environment, where she was fortunate to teach many first-generation American students alongside their peers. She also taught humanities courses in the state’s first-ever Cambridge International Program.
Rebekah’s wide range of musical experiences guides her teaching approach, which is first learning from the student - believing that each student learns differently and putting the student’s needs at the heart of each lesson.
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Andrew Karkosiak earned both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music . While there, his guitar performances and research won him several prestigious awards, including the Dana Young Scholar Award, the McDonough Honors Recital Series award, and the YMTA-YSU Scholarship Competition award.
As a professor at Youngstown State University, Andrew teaches Music History and Literature, Music Theory, and Guitar Ensemble. He also contributes as a part-time visiting professor of music composition for the Film & Media Arts program at Cuyahoga Community College. Andrew is dedicated to unlocking the immense potential of music education and helping students communicate effectively while expressing themselves through their instruments.
A regular in Cleveland's jazz scene, Andrew frequently performs with various groups and as a soloist at venues locally and beyond. He also co-founded the West Creek Duo, where he performs on mandolin and serves as the group’s lead arranger. As an emerging composer, his works have been featured in art exhibitions, film projects, theater productions, and classical concert programs, including the Isabelle Firestone Fall Concert Series where he recently had a string quartet commission premiere.
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