About Us
We know you love music, and we want you to love your lessons. That’s why we do everything we can to make learning piano fun, flexible, and convenient.
Our Teachers
Gretchen Church
Gretchen has been a performer, teacher, and coach for more than 25 years. Her formal music education culminated in a Master of Music degree from the University of Illinois. Most of her performing life has been in collaboration as an accompanist for choirs, singers, and instrumentalists. She has accompanied students and ensembles at Ilinois Wesleyan and Illinois State universities, as well as the University of North Texas. She plays regularly at Calvary United Methodist Church in Normal. Gretchen is a member of Music Teachers National Association, Illinois Music Teachers Association, and president of the Bloomington-Normal Teachers Association.
Asa Church
Asa has been a musician for 23 years and a music educator for 10. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Illinois State University. Violin is his primary instrument, and he spent 6 years as a middle school orchestra teacher. He also has a background in piano, viola, cello, double bass, music production, and audio engineering. Asa is excited to share his expertise and passion with the musicians at Piano Pathways. In his free time, he enjoys writing and performing music, and hanging out with his cat.
Olesia Pupina, PhD
Olesia Pupina, PhD, is a laureate of international competitions, pianist, music educator, and scholar. She currently serves as Vice President of the Bloomington-Normal Music Teachers Association and is a member of both the Music Teachers National Association and the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Dr. Pupina was previously a member of the European Suzuki Association and served on the board of the Ukrainian National Suzuki Association of Teachers as Deputy Country Director. She is also the author of sixteen publications.
Until 2022, Olesia Pupina was an Associate Professor in the Chamber Ensemble Department at the National University of Arts in Ukraine. In 2019, she was awarded the highly competitive DAAD Scholarship (German Academic Exchange Service), which enabled her to advance her expertise at three prestigious German music institutions: Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, Hochschule für Musik und Theater Leipzig, and Universität der Künste Berlin. She also holds a Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from Illinois State University.
Olesia Pupina has performed extensively as a soloist, accompanist, and ensemble artist at numerous international festivals and concerts across Ukraine, Sweden, and Poland. In the United States, she has served as a collaborative pianist with the Illinois State University Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestra, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, and has actively collaborated with a wide range of instrumentalists and vocalists.
Colleen Cavi
Colleen Cavi is a lifelong musician and resident of the Bloomington-Normal area. She has been trained classically in voice for 20 years. She holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Music Therapy from Illinois State University, with voice as her primary instrument. Since 2014, she has been the cantor and, more recently, music director at St. Mary Church in Downs, IL. She has always had a passion and appreciation for piano, and is excited to be teaching little ones with Piano Pathways!