Gary Panek

Gary Panek's musical life has taken him through many twists and turns. From playing piano, classical guitar, saxophone, to singing in a professional choir, Gary's experience with all types of music is vast. Gary graduated from the University of Washington in Piano Performance in June of 2006. He came to the piano relatively late in life. Starting at the age of 19, he fell in love with the instrument and devoted much of his time to playing and learning its intricacies. He started at Bellevue Community College, where he had already been studying Classical Guitar, and took lessons with Laurie Ketron for 3 years, advancing very quickly. He earned his Associates of the Arts degree from BCC and immediately transfered to the University of Washington to continue his studies with Dr. David Kopp, now an Associate Professor of Music at Boston University. After a year of studying at the UW he took some time off and devoted it to playing Keyboards and Guitar in a professional Rock/Funk band, playing all over Seattle and the West Coast, all the while still committed to bettering himself classically with Dr. Kopp. After 3 years away, Gary returned to the UW to finish his degree, changing teachers to Dr. Regina Yeh, now the Chair of the Piano Department at Pacific Lutheran University, and continues to study with her to this day. Gary has been teaching piano for 7 years to people of all ages. Having been one himself, he understands the difficulties for an adult beginner, yet has the patience and exuberance to teach kids as well. He, more than anything else wants to foster a love for music and piano in all of his students, the same love that has driven him in all of his musical journeys.