Akron Music Studios employs a wide variety of instructors from diverse backgrounds. All of our teachers are highly-qualified in their area of instruction and comfortable working with a wide-range of age and experience levels. If you would prefer to work with a specific instructor listed here, please let us know.

Stacey Nicastro:

Brass/Woodwinds/Strings: Mrs. Nicastro was a band director for four years for grades 4-12 in the Elba Central School District, but has been teaching instrumental lessons for over 20 years.  She holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Nazareth College and a Masters Degree in the same from the University of Buffalo.  In the past, she has worked with students locally through the Akron Community Education  Program and through the Akron Summer Music Program

Stacey remains active on the local music scene, performing with the Ladies First Jazz Big Band. She is a NYSSMA certified Brass Adjudicator and judges at several festivals each year.

Mrs. Nicastro is also the Owner of Akron Music Studios

Leah McWilliams:

Piano/Voice/Ukulele: Leah has over 35 years experience playing piano and singing. She has been teaching students for 20+ years and gets great pleasure from watching her students achieve their goals.

Ms. McWilliams has been leading worship music at different churches for over 20 years and has directed several musicals. She accompanies local choirs and performs piano solos and vocal solos several times a year. Currently, she is teaching general music in a local home school co-op for grades 1st through 12th. She recently began teaching ukulele lessons in order to build her own skills in this area.

Leah is a graduate of Eastern Nazarene College with a Bachelor degree in Social Work and Sociology.  She performed with the College’s Acappella choir for four years traveling the east coast.  

Ms. McWilliams enjoys teaching students of all ages.  She focuses on their strengths, helps them develop musical skills and encourages with fun activities and positive attitude.  She believes in building the fundamentals and theory of piano and singing in order for them to achieve their piano and vocal goals. Leah gives two recitals a year to help students build their confidence in performing and to share their progress.  

Nick Randall:

Electric/Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass: Nick first picked up a guitar when he was nine years old.  After years of struggling to play Billy Joel tunes, he decided to pursue music professionally at the Berklee College of Music.  A 2007 graduate, Nick can currently be found performing vocals and lead guitar for The Etchings, for whom he also writes and arranges music.

Nick is a master of improvisation, and uses an extensive background knowledge of music theory to help students gain insight into not only what they are playing, but how they are playing it.  In addition to teaching at Akron Music, Nick is also a guitar instructor at Hamburg Music Center.

Jeff Fischer:

Piano/Voice: Jeffrey has over twenty years of musical experience. He is a graduate of Villa Maria College in Buffalo, NY with a B.S. in Music Industry and a concentration in piano performance.

Jeffrey studied classical piano and organ with Dr. James Flood and jazz piano and composition with Michael McNeill, with a focus on American composers and styles of music.

Jeffrey has worked as a musical/vocal director, accompanist, and conductor for local theater companies including Batavia Players, Encore! Theater Arts, and Lake Plains Players. He has worked at various area churches and is currently the organist and choir director at Saints Joachim and Anne Parish in Attica and Varysburg, NY. He also plays piano and keyboards with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra where he has been a featured soloist.

Jeffrey has taught students of all ages and abilities. His teaching style emphasizes a strong foundation in technique and music theory while helping students find their strengths and achieve their musical goals.