Our Instructors
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Delaney Clifford
Preschool Piano and Beginner Piano and Voice
Specializes in young kids who are just starting in music!
Delaney only teaches in Cumberland
Monday through Thursday availability
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Will Sawyer
Piano and Voice Lessons: Ages 8 and up. Teaches All Levels.
Specializes with experienced students!
CUMBERLAND:
Friday & Sunday availability
SACO
Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday availability
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New Saco Teacher Incoming...
A new teacher will be arriving in the fall for our Saco Studio!
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New Cumberland Teacher Incoming...
A new teacher will be arriving in the fall for our Cumberland Studio!
Jacqueline Savage
She/Her/Hers
Teacher/Owner
No current availability.
Jacqui graduated from the University of Maine in 2008 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and is currently working on a MM in Choral Conducting at the University of Southern Maine (graduating April 2024) While in undergrad, she worked part time as the Organist and Youth choir Director at Brewer’s First Congregational Church in Brewer, Maine and was also Organist at Eddington Methodist Church in Eddington, Maine. After graduation, Jacqui accepted the position of Minister of Music at Standish Congregational Church where she directed the Choir, developed a Youth Choir, and played the organ and piano for church services, funerals and weddings for almost 10 years. During that time, Jacqui started her own private piano teaching business in her Portland home, Jacqui’s Piano Studio (JPS), and in 2017, moved JPS to a leased studio in Falmouth and has currently expanded again by moving her business to Tuttle Road Community Church in Cumberland.
The JPS program is a multi-teacher studio that includes weekly private piano and voice lessons, themed recitals, performances at Portland area nursing homes, group classes every other month and student participation in a variety of performing events sponsored by the Maine Music Teachers Association (MaineMTA) which is the state level affiliate of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). Jacqui is currently Vice President of Membership for MaineMTA and is also President of the local association, Southern MaineMTA.
Currently Music Director at First Parish Church in Saco, Jacqui leads the music program which includes directing the Senior Choir of 30 members, a Youth Choir of 10 members, accompanying the Junior Choir, collaborating with the Bell Choir director, organizing the music for Worship and playing the piano and organ for services, funerals and weddings since 2017.
Music has been a part of Jacqui’s life since a very young age and she has fond memories of playing duets and two piano music with her mother and grandmother. She took piano lessons as a child from Alison Barr in Hanover, MA and later studied with Baycka Voronietsky at the University of Maine. More recently, she studied piano pedagogy and repertoire with Christine Kissack of Piano Learning Center and had several lessons with Laura Kargul at the University of Southern Maine. Over the years, she has also studied organ technique and repertoire with Kevin Birch, Ray Cornils and Christopher Pelonzi.
William Sawyer
He/Him/They
Piano and Voice for All Ages
Saco & Cumberland Availability
William Sawyer has been playing music for over 25 years. He is a Thornton Academy alumni and earned his Bachelor's in Music Education and Bachelor's in Music Performance from the University of Maine in Orono in 2013. Since graduating, he has been teaching general music and piano at all levels. While in Arizona, he built Empower College Prep's Music and Electives Program from the ground-up for grade 3 through 12. While teaching, he was accompanying multiple choirs, theaters, touring groups and more. He was the lead Music Director at Phoenix Theatre's Summer Camp Program for 6 years and enjoyed Music Directing with professional theaters in All Shook up, American Psycho and many other productions. When he moved back to Maine, he became the music director at Cape Elizabeth Middle School directing their choirs, teaching general music alongside performance in Cape Elizabeth High School musical performances.
When Will is not teaching and directing he enjoys video games, recreational soccer and basketball, working at Aquaboggan, composing and producing music, and collaborating with other musicians.
Delaney Clifford
She/Her/Hers
Preschool Piano/Early Level Music/Baby Classes
Delaney Clifford is a Teacher and Musician with a love for music. She has studied the piano with Jacqui Savage since 2012 and studied voice with Janelle Loscuito for two years. Delaney participated in the music program at Portland Arts & Technology High School where she learned the fundamentals of music performance and expanded her knowledge on music theory and audio engineering in their state of the art recording studio. Along with having many performance opportunities while at Portland Arts & Technology High School, Delaney has since performed gigs at Cadenza in Freeport Maine alongside other professional musicians, gone through all the Technique and Artistry training for the Faber method books and is looking to study in a music theory professional development course.
While participating in church choir since she was nine, Delaney also ended up auditioning and getting a spot in her high school’s competition choir and won four Festival Disney Awards. With this choir, she performed at The State House, Portland JetPort, Festival Disney, Bonny Eagle High School, Tree Lighting Ceremonies, Football games and many fundraising events.
Currently, Delaney teaches preschool piano through intermediate studies at Jacqui’s Piano Studio, conducts a cherub choir and accompanies for the youth choir at Saco First Parish Church, and is working as a Shift Leader at Mexicali Blues. She has a passion for music and sharing the joy it brings. She is very excited to give her all in performance and teaching.
Sabrina Gallego
She/Her/Hers
Specializes with Beginners & Kids
Saco Availability
Sabrina Gallego is beyond excited to begin teaching at Jacqui's Piano Studio! An arts educator specializing in Music Education and Theatre who will graduate from the University of Southern Maine this May, Sabrina has a special relationship with the piano. From age 7, Sabrina self-taught herself, using only her musical ear and a lot of encouragement from her parents to play the music she heard all around her. One comprehensive musical education in high school later, she took lessons with Dr. Audrey Kaiser at the Community College of Rhode Island for a year, followed by 5 productive years with Dr. Laura Kargul at the University of Southern Maine. Sabrina knows just how important informal piano learning is as any formal learning, and is excited to find what balance is just right for any student!
She primarily works as a music director- having recently worked with Lyric Music Theater, Maddy's Theatre at CMTM, STAGES Youth Theatre, and South Portland HS. She performs onstage when the opportunity arises, as well, but will be starting life as a full-time classroom music teacher this fall! Sabrina believes a more accessible, inclusive, and diverse landscape in the arts is necessary to keep it alive and thriving, and is committed to that mission at every opportunity.
Miranda McDonald
She/Her/Hers
Miranda MacDonald has a Bachelors Degree in Music education from Rhode Island College where she sang with the Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Early Music Ensemble, and played flute in the Wind Ensemble. As a soprano, her specialty is in singing Renaissance and Baroque soprano music.
After moving to Maine in 2018, Miranda worked as a music teacher in elementary schools in Westbrook and Gorham, and now is a teachingartist at 317 Main Community Music Center, mostly working with preschool age students.
Miranda has been musical her whole life, first singing Canadian maritime folk music with her family, then singing with the Rhode Island Children's Choir for eight years. She now sings with ChoralArt Singers and Masterworks choirs.
When Miranda is not working she can be found exploring with her two puppies, baking, or crocheting.
Sarah Heath
They/Them/Their
Administrative Assistant/Graphic Design Collaborator
Sarah H. Heath graduated from Maine College of Art (Now Maine College of Art and Design) in 2020 with a BFA in Animation and Game Art (Digital Media) and a minor in Music. Sarah has been a student of Jacqui’s since they were 11 years old, first meeting Jacqui at Standish Congregational Church. They currently work as an administrative assistant and graphic design collaborator for the studio, designing and creating logos, flyers, and posters for all events, communicating with parents and students about scheduling and billing, and generally doing whatever Jacqui needs them to do. Sarah also works as Jacqui’s assistant at First Parish Congregational Church in Saco, singing in the senior choir and sometimes adding percussion.
When not working, Sarah is a freelance singer/songwriter, musician, and artist. They are a big-time music lover with some of their favorite artists including The Beatles, Janelle Monáe, Green Day, Fleet Foxes, Beastie Boys, Barenaked Ladies, Radiohead, U2, Gorillaz, and Todd Rundgren among countless others. Lots of their work can be found on their website Heathen Music and Art!
AP Nuri
She/They
Administrative Assistant
AP Nuri is a multidisciplinary artist that specializes in storytelling with multimedia means. Born and raised in Arizona, their multicultural home and environment provided an earthy foundation of inspiration for their watercolor technique and creative writing. Now residing in Maine, they are the co-founder and CEO of Wanda Entertainment, an entertainment and creative arts company that strives to produce accessible and community-based events that pay working artists and musicians. They are also a resident artist with Common Roots Studio.
Nuri’s work is that of a jack of trades and invokes a feeling of awe and connectedness in humanity. In art and music, they often connect thematic undertones of being a mixed American minority and the ever-evolving state of self-love and self-awareness. Her favorite projects have always and will continue to be ones that don’t just spotlight her work, but ones that are built on collaboration with other thought-provoking artists and hard-working small business owners..