Meet Our Teachers

Joe Morales: Saxophone

Joe Morales is a recording session player, arranger, producer, composer, and music teacher who has performed in Austin, Texas for the last 40+ years.

His professional performing career has included recording on albums for Linda Ronstadt, John Hyatt, Flaco Jimenez, Texas Tornadoes, Freddie Fender, Duck Soup, The Brew and hundreds more. He received a Grammy Plaque for his work in arranging and performing on a Flaco Jimenez CD. As a jingle singer, Joe has performed in over 100 jingles. In 1993, he received the “Joe Morales Day” award from Austin Mayor Bruce Todd in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the community through his musicianship. He holds a monthly Saturday residency with The Brew at the world-famous Elephant Room in Austin.

Joe has taught privately for over 40 years and has led summer jazz camps for children for over 30 years. He founded the weekly Austin Jazz Club, a music group for kids. Currently, Joe is the jazz consultant to the Eanes Jazz Program and the McCallum School of Fine Arts Jazz Program.

David Pulkingham: Guitar

David Pulkingham grew up traveling internationally, recording and performing from a young age. He was first published at age four and has his first recording session at age seven. Upon graduating from the prestigious Jazz Studies program at the University of North Texas, he moved to Austin, Texas for his professional career. He is known for his abilities in numerous styles, and has recorded and performed with a wide range of musicians locally and internationally.

Tony Visconti, the legendary record producer best known for producing David Bowie, called Pulkingham “the complete guitarist.” “David is one of the best guitarists I’ve ever worked with. “He is equally brilliant in pick styles, finger styles, classical, Flamenco, Brazilian — rock ‘n’ roll and jazz. He always amazes me.”

David toured as the right hand man of Texas troubadour, Alejandro Escovedo, for ten years. He was also the musical director of the Alejandro Escovedo Orchestra. He has performed on such stages as Carnegie Hall and has shared the stage with icons such as Bruce Springsteen. In December of 2012 he was asked to be the bandleader and guitarist for two shows with Robert Plant and Patty Griffin, and went on to tour with Patty Griffin in 2013 in support of her new album release “American Kid.” He has experience producing, and has released a number of EPs and albums.

David currently tours with Patty Griffin and plays internationally under his own name. He has extensive experience teaching music to young people and adults.

Seth Osborn: Piano

Seth has been teaching piano for more than 21 years in both in-person and online settings. He is a classically trained piano player with a degree in music and visual art from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He was drawn to composition and songwriting from a young age and that passion has driven his musical career for decades. He has composed for plays, soundtracks, and, with his ensembles, recorded and performed around Texas. His music blends minimalism with American Roots, songwriting, rock, pop, and world music in experimental settings. He was nominated for the B Iden Payne award for Best Original Score and Best Live Music Performance for his soundtrack to Penfold Theater's performance of the play An Iliad, and he is currently working on the score for a documentary about Judy Humber, former world champion female Muay Thai boxer, in addition to a string quartet inspired by American fiddle music.

His interest in American Roots music has always informed his compositions and performances which include - in addition to piano - banjo, and mountain dulcimer. He is also currently composing a series of songs for banjo and dulcimer, inspired by the pastoral tranquility and magic of his small hometown. 

Ileana Nikatakis: Violin

Having grown up in Cologne, Germany in a musical household, Ileana  started taking classical violin lessons at the age of six. She joined the first band at the age of ten; a cultural project, formed by the “SK Stiftung für Kultur” (SK Foundation of Culture), coached by Vassilios Nikitakis. The band was formed to keep the traditional music of Cologne alive and to pass it on to the younger generation. Throughout her teenage years, Ileana played in various formations of the band, as they explored various styles such as the traditional music of Cologne from the 20s through the 50s, blues, country, jazz, and world music. As part of her Greek heritage, Ileana grew up playing rebetiko music (a style of Greek music). Before she moved to Austin, TX in 2012, she played with Vassilios Nikitakis, Jimmy Kelly, and the Blue Armadillos, a duo she formed with Jan Flemming, while being coached by Vassilios Nikitakis to expand her musical knowledge.

Shortly after moving to Austin, TX in 2013, Ileana graduated with a degree in music, and played with the Nikis, a band she formed with her sister Alexia. Throughout the years, Ileana worked for several Country, Bluegrass and Swing bands as a fiddle player in Central Texas, as well as recording and playing solo violin at weddings and events. She played with the Drew Fish Band, Anthony Garcia, Allan Hendrickson, Jeremy Steding, and various other bands. Over the years, she recorded for The Merles, Allan Hendrickson, Hartley Hall, Hot Texas Swing Band, and more. 

Growing up, Ileana Nikitakis listened to the music of the Del McCoury Band, Miles Davis, Carole King, Vivaldi, Vassar Clements, Alison Krauss, Itzhak Perlman, Stéphane Grappelli and many more. These different influences have shaped her way of approaching the instrument.

In recent years, Ileana mostly played country and western swing with various bands in Austin, Texas, but never lost touch with the music she grew up with: Rebetiko, the Blues, the music of Cologne and classical music. Her interest in a wide variety of musical genres was influenced by her father, Vassilios Nikitakis, who always encouraged her to listen to as many different fiddlers and violinists as possible. He also inspired her to study songwriting, guitar playing and jazz violin.

She currently teaches violin lessons, plays shows in Texas, and records for artists in various places. Ileana is also working on rediscovering the songs she wrote a long time ago…

Jill Lunday

Jill is a beloved Bastrop, TX music teacher who has taught and mentored hundreds of students - helping them explore the basics of music theory, and develop proficiency on piano, guitar, and her special love - the ukelele! Teaching from her home in Bastrop, she has seen many of her students move on to successful pursuits in music, education, and, more importantly, the Art of being good and loving human beings who make the world a more beautiful place.

Sponsor a Music Student

We currently provide private music lessons and career mentorship to 5 passionate young musicians in Bastrop…

1 Saxophone student, 2 Piano students, 1 Violin student, and 1 Music Theory student. The monthly cost of piano lessons is $90/mo or $1,080/yr. The monthly cost of saxophone lessons is $300/mo or $3,600/yr. The monthly cost of Music Theory lessons is $80/mo or $960/yr. The monthly cost of a violin lesson is $100/mo or $1200/yr

Our program is made possible through YOUR generous donations: Please consider becoming a monthly sponsor to help us sustain this program. (P.S. Donating a year sponsorship up front is even MORE helpful because it allows us to schedule and guarantee a year’s worth of music lessons) THANK YOU