Nick has been playing music for over 30 years. Nick began his studies under Dr. James T. Lidgett, focusing on classical, jazz and contemporary music. He also spent time in the southern United States to study with traditional American musicians such as John Jackson, John Cephas, Nat Reese, Pat Donahue and Steve James, and in the process he formed a lifelong love of traditional American music and a passion for early guitar styles.

Nick completed a graduate thesis focusing on American 20th century music at Wayne State University in 2002. While at WSU, Nick received the John Pantolao Scholarship, The Music Study Club Scholarship, and the Graduate Professional Scholarship.

As a performer, Nick has worked extensively as both a solo and ensemble player, releasing over 12 full length albums. His solo acoustic guitar albums are recognized as major works in the American Primitive guitar canon. He tours locally, nationally and internationally as both a performer as well as an educator.

A professional music educator for over 20 years, Nick has owned and operated Orion Music Studio since 2000.

Jennie is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has performed extensively in Europe and The United States in a wide range of musical styles, including folk, pop, choral, and new music.

Classically trained in both voice and guitar, she earned her BA in Performing Arts from Antioch College in 2001. Within this program she spent three months in Appalachia studying the music of the region, encouraging her love of traditional music.

With over 15 years teaching experience in music, songwriting, and theatre arts, Jennie guides each individual student to fuel their creativity with a strong back bone of technique, providing a language of music perfect for any genre.  Under her guidance, her students have participated in MSVMA Honors Choir, Blue Lake International Choral Ensemble, have won vocal scholarships from Lake Orion School District, received high ratings at Solo and Ensemble, as well as achieved awards in local songwriting competitions. 

Jennie's current musical projects include Americana duo Lac La Belle, an ensemble performing original and traditional music; a micro-tonal duo with pianist Clem Fortuna, and old-timey quartet The Post Imperial Jazz Band. She is also the principal vocalist in Matthew Barney and Jonathan Bepler's film, "Ancient Evenings," released in theaters in 2014.

Janet has been a music professional for over 15 years. Performing and teaching both flute and piano in small and large ensembles at private and public events, Janet brings her professional approach, gentle nature, and bright spirit to every occasion. 

Adept at teaching all ages, Janet is particularly gifted at helping the youngest of students start of on the right path. As a mother of two, Janet knows that it takes a special set of skills to gently nudge little ones in the right direction while at the same time creating a fun learning experience. Her ability to bring out the best in even the youngest musicians is a gift.

Janet is also a teaching member of the Tiny Tunes music program, teaches preschool classes at her church, accompanies the children’s singing class and is an active a fervent supporter of MADD.

Debbie’s philosophy is to meet each student where they are, regardless of age or ability, in an environment of patience and encouragement, to help them grow as musicians.

With a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Oakland University, Debbie has over 17 years of experience in piano teaching, children and adults alike. Debbie’s greatest joy as a teacher is to watch her students grow in self-confidence and maturity as musicians, finding it gratifying to see even the most timid students face their fears, rise to the occasion, and perform before an audience. 

Debbie believes that learning to play an instrument plays a very important role in a child’s development. It requires discipline, hard work and dedication, but at the same time deeply enjoyable and gives the student a feeling of accomplishment and confidence that carries over into other areas of their lives as well.

Debbie is affiliated with the Michigan Federation of Music Clubs, and serves as the Chairman for the Rochester Festival Center.

Sky Werth has been playing guitar for over 13 years. He began his studies at the age of 8 with Nick Schillace here at Orion Music Studio. Sky has gone on to study music at Wayne State University under the direction of Chuck Newsome, Edward Gooch, and Russ Miller, and will graduate with a B.A. in music in the fall of 2019. He has released several records with different groups and is currently a recording artist for Assemble Sound based in Detroit.

Sky can be found playing in various venues, festivals, and events throughout the midwest with groups including Class of ’98, The Mega ‘80s, The Square Pegz, and Boogie Dynomite. He also regularly works as a session guitarist from his home.

As an instructor, Sky aims for all of his students to easily understand the musical language as a whole. He also strives for each student to get to the point in which they are excited to learn and grow with the guitar every day.

Shannon Barnes has taught private lessons and group classes going on 10 years, predominantly in voice, guitar, ukulele, and piano, as well as beginning bass, alto saxophone, and drums. She received her degree in Music Therapy at Eastern Michigan University with a primary instrument focus of voice and is currently working on her board certification in music therapy. She has experience in music therapy clinical work, working with and teaching a wide range of populations of varying ages, cognitive levels, and abilities. Shannon performs around the metro Detroit area which includes fronting a soul band with singing and playing guitar, playing bass in a punk band, rapping in a cover band, and playing guitar in a modern jazz/progressive project.

Mattheas Boelter is an in-demand drummer, percussionist and educator who works all across the metro Detroit area. In his teaching, Mattheas emphasizes a well-rounded education where strong fundamentals are met with high standards of musicality. He believes that all genres are important to musical growth, and that seemingly unrelated styles can help bring context to one another.

In addition to Orion Music Studio, he has taught with Oakland Youth Orchestras, the Oakland Youth Brass Band, North Farmington High School, Rochester Public Schools and Ensemble Hanabi. In these roles he has mentored countless young percussionists across a variety of instruments and genres. Examples range from timpani with full orchestra, to percussion ensembles with marimbas and drum set.

Mattheas holds a degree in percussion performance from Oakland University, and has studied with some of the most successful metro Detroit drummers and percussionists. Some of his teachers include Dan Maslanka, Gayelynn McKinney, David Zwolinsky, Mark Stone, and Patrick Fitzgibbon. Mattheas maintains a busy performing schedule that spans multiple genres and instruments. From playing drum set in jazz trios, musical pits and even the occasional rock act, to playing percussion with orchestras. He has performed with the Michigan Philharmonic Orchestra, the Rochester Symphony Orchestra and the Oakland Symphony Orchestra. Some of the venues he has performed at include the DSO’s Orchestra Hall, the Scotiabank Centre, the Michigan Jazz Festival, and Aretha's Jazz Cafe.

While at Oakland, Mattheas won the Percussion Solo Competition, and was a member of a percussion ensemble that won second place in the Percussion Ensemble competition at the North American Brass Band Association’s Championships.

Josh began his studies at Orion Music Studio while in middle school, and continued on to complete his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies at Wayne State University in 2013, under the instruction of professors Steve Carryer, Chris Collins, and Russ Miller. He has also studied with guitarist Chris Buzzelli at Bowling Green State University where he earned several "outstanding musician awards". 

He is in-demand as a guitar instructor and also performs regularly with his Jazz and Tonic Trio. He has played throughout metro Detroit at venues such as The Detroit Athletic Club, The Rattlesnake Club (Detroit, MI), The Michigan Jazz Festival, and at the Detroit Jazz Festival. 

Lisa Clarke grew up in Imlay City, Michigan, where she began studying both violin and piano at the age of four. As she grew older she became actively involved with the Flint Institute of Music, playing in the Flint Youth Symphony, the Dort Honors String Quartet, and was the two-time winner of the Dort String Scholarship. 

Lisa graduated with a degree in string pedagogy from Maranatha Baptist University in 2009 under the tutelage of Betsy Pabon. After graduation, Lisa was head of the string department at Schaumburg Christian School for two years in Schaumburg, IL.. Lisa has taken Suzuki training courses with Wendy Azrak and Mark Mutter. She is the first violin in the Ambience String Quartet, and In addition to teaching and music making, she is an avid horseback rider and cyclist. 

Regardless of the students age, Lisa's goal is for each student to learn the violin to a proficient level. Lessons are goal oriented, crafted to each individual student, and focus on technique as well as musicality.