Meet the Team

The strength of Peak Music lies in our people. Our team is made up of dedicated musicians, educators, and mentors who are passionate about inspiring the next generation of artists. Each of our teachers brings a unique blend of professional experience and a deep love of music education, creating a supportive and energizing environment where students can truly thrive. Get to know the people who make Peak Music a place to learn, grow, and connect through music.

  • FOUNDER & MUSIC DIRECTOR

    A multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and educator, Pete is the fearless leader and creative force behind Peak Music, where he serves as Founder and Music Director. With 15 years of experience teaching music in a range of settings—from public schools and after-school programs to summer camps and private lessons—Pete is an expert facilitator who believes deeply in the power of music to build connection and community.

    In addition to his work as an educator, Pete has toured nationally as a guitarist and producer, performing alongside legendary acts such as Steely Dan, Parliament, Alabama Shakes, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. His original music has been featured in TV shows and commercials, including Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee and American Pickers.

    Most recently, Pete founded the Vermont-based funk/soul band Cheddar, which is making waves with performances across the state and holding summer residencies at The Alchemist and Eastside Bar at Outbound Stowe.

    Learn more at petecornellmusic.com, or check out his teaching style on his YouTube channel.

  • GENERAL MANAGER

    Meet our drum master and keeper of the schedule, Brandon. A world class drummer, skilled guitarist and pianist, Brandon has spent his life honing his craft and working as a touring musician and educator. He has managed several School of Rock locations in CT and NY, and knows how to make music education, engaging and fun for all involved.

    As a performer he has toured with Europe and the USA with the heavy metal band Fórn, and now has turned his focus to Jazz, playing throughout NYC with various ensembles including his own Brandon Terkzakis Trio. With such a diverse background playing hard rock and studying Jazz at the New School and Berklee, we are thrilled to have a skilled artist like Brandon on our side.

  • MULTI-INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTOR

    Avery Cooper is our Swiss Army Knife. He is a versatile musician who can teach almost any instrument you think of.

    He grew up in Richmond, VT. As a child, Avery learned to play piano, saxophone, guitar, and sing. He attended the Hartt School of Music before finishing his degree in Jazz Performance at University of Vermont.

    Since then, Avery has performed and recorded in countless groups on alto, tenor, baritone and soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and EWI (electronic wind instrument) and vocals. Avery is at home in the Burlington VT music community, playing as a sideman with various local bands. This includes, but is not limited to The Discussions, Satyrdagg, All Night Boogie Band, Chicken Fat Injection, The Good Parts, Strange Purple Jelly, The Reflexions, Into the Mystic (Van Morrison Tribute), Greg Rothwell Swungtet.

    In addition, Avery is a bandleader. His original project COOP (formally ACQ or Avery Cooper Quartet) is a funk/fusion band which Avery plays sax, EWI and sings. In Avery Cooper Trio, he plays jazz standards on sax, flute, clarinet and voice. The trio is accompanied by drums and piano. Finally, Avery is the bandleader of Nintendoods- a Nintendo soundtrack supergroup. Nintendoods is an 8 piece horn based band playing the themes from various Nintendo video games. You can even play gamecube while the band performs!

    He has taught music for almost a decade. Avery has worked in the school system for years, as a para-educator, a band teacher assistant, a lessons instructor, and a chorus and general music teacher. Outside of the classroom, he has experience teaching private lessons. From beginner to advanced saxophone and jazz improvisation lessons, to beginner to intermediate flute and clarinet lessons, to beginner drums, brass, bass and guitar lessons, Avery has skills to support your learning!

  • GUITAR INSTRUCTOR

    Will Downey is a seasoned guitar instructor with over 14 years of experience in both online and in-person teaching. Based in Burlington, VT, Will has cultivated a successful teaching practice, providing personalized lessons to students of all ages and skill levels. His teaching approach includes customized lesson plans, supplemental materials, and ongoing support to ensure each student’s success.

    Will has a unique ability to translate complex music theory into comprehensible and practical exercises, unlocking the fretboard for his students. He emphasizes understanding the notes and construction of chords over mere positioning and shapes, fostering a more organic and fluid approach to guitar playing. Will's flexibility and personalized pedagogy adapt to each student's pace, pushing them to the limits of their abilities and beyond.

    In addition to his teaching, Will is an in-demand session musician and composer, collaborating with various artists to enhance their recordings with his versatile guitar skills and compositional expertise. His live performance experience spans numerous tours across the United States, Europe, and Australia, showcasing his adaptability and proficiency in extreme metal and other genres.

    Will holds a degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and is proficient in several Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs), making him a well-rounded and knowledgeable instructor dedicated to helping his students achieve their musical goals.

  • Vocals & Guitar Instructor

    Lilly Golden (she/her) is a Vermont based singer-songwriter, currently working on her debut album! Her music puts a bubbly spin on indie pop, with a clear-toned, lyrical mezzo-soprano voice. Her songs feature complex harmonies and her lyrics are romantic pocket-sized memoirs that read as a glance into a private diary. Lilly’s versatility spans from pop hit to folk ballad, and her lyrical themes explore coming of age and exploring first loves in the green mountains. The quality of her musical style as well as simply her character draws you up a chair to sit before her fire. She recently finished her degree in songwriting, voice, and music at Bennington College. She performs both as a solo act and as the front woman of Lilly Golden and the Stars!

  • Piano Instructor

    As a lifelong musician from New York, Matt’s deep passion and experience are what have allowed him to succeed as a professional musician and instructor. He began gigging and studio recording in elementary school which later developed into playing in wedding bands, creative projects, and a charity concert series throughout middle and high school.

    Matt moved to Burlington in 2017 where he attended the University of Vermont to study philosophy and music.

    He continues his journey by touring the country with jam band and musical theater artist, Hayley Jane, as well as several Burlington local projects such as Lazy Bird (funk/fusion), Small Talk (jazz, funk, pop, country), AHOF (wedding band series), and more. These experiences have allowed Matt to understand the art of music in a much more detailed and wholistic manner, as the well as gain perspective on the industry and it’s people.

    Matt’s main goal as an instructor is to inspire and bring out the passion and creativity that everyone holds within them. This ranges from basic technique and theory practice, to ear training and transcription, and advanced improvisation, composition, and advanced harmonic/rhythmic concepts. Matt preaches nothing more than to learn what you like, to learn what inspires you, and to learn what really makes you feel something.

  • Guitar Instructor

    Will Sturcke is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter based in Burlington, VT. He has been playing guitar seriously since age 13 and has spent the past 5 years immersed in Burlington’s vibrant music scene. During that time, he’s gained extensive gigging experience, collaborated with a wide range of artists, and developed a deep knowledge of styles from folk and country to funk, jazz, and rock.

    Will brings this wide-ranging love of music into his teaching. He is a versatile and adaptable instructor who enjoys helping each student discover their own musical voice—whether through iconic rock solos, songwriting, improvisation, or building strong rhythm and feel.

    In addition to leading his original band, Moondogs, Will has performed in tribute projects honoring The Allman Brothers, The Rolling Stones, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Grateful Dead. These experiences give him a strong foundation to guide students in learning both classic and contemporary music with confidence and creativity.

  • VIOLIN INSTRUCTOR

    Suzuki Method, Irish Trad & Modern Techniques

    Annabel began piano at five years old and violin at seven. Her teacher, Romuald Tecco, used the Suzuki repertoire, along with his own French technique. As a teenager, she lived in Germany, where she studied the standard Central European violin repertoire, which Suzuki had chosen from as well. Her father is a pianist and conductor and provided her with a rich education concerning musicianship, ensemble playing, and an open mind to all kinds of music and musicians. She started a string quartet in ninth grade and has formed and played in many groups since then.


    The support and resources offered by the Suzuki Association, which are easily accessible despite the rural location, have been invaluable. She maintains connections with other violinists, teachers, fiddlers, camps and groups throughout the area,  to help the students be connected to their local community and the greater musical world. 

    She emphasizes musicality and technique from the first lesson. The students pursue what they wish with their music, while always continuing the Suzuki repertoire. She usually leads at least two groups per semester, one Suzuki group, and one Irish Traditional group. She helps her students with performances, on both electric and acoustic violins, if they want to do that. She strives to provide a well-rounded musical eduction to the students and their parents. 

  • VOCAL & KEYBOARD INSTRUCTOR

    Soprano Lillian Broderick has been praised for her "passionate lyricism and high notes" (Times Argus). A tenth-generation Vermonter, she has performed throughout the United States, as well as in Italy and Germany, most recently as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro in Scharbeutz, DE. Recent local performances include Lieschen in Bach's Coffee Cantata, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, and an opera extravaganza at Unadilla this summer, where she appeared as Gilda in Rigoletto, Marzelline in Fidelio, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, all in one evening.

    Lillian's favorite roles include Adina in L'elisir d'Amore, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Konstanze in Die Entfûhrung aus dem Serail ​and Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte. Noted for her ability to learn music quickly, Lillian has built a reputation as a jump in. She recently made her debut as the soprano soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with under one hour's notice. In Handel's Messiah, Lillian has been praised for her "brilliant, and lyrical singing [that] proved ideal for Handel, and was most rewarding in the aria “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!” and the beautiful duet, “He shall feed His flock.” (Jim Lowe, Times Argus). Other favorite concert repertoire includes Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, Schubert's Mass in G, Handel's Messiah (all parts), Mozart's Coronation Mass, Exsultate Jubilate and Vesperae Solemnes de Confessore, La Betulita Liberata, Saint-Saéens Christmas Oratorio, Weber's Missa Sancta No. 2 in G "Jubelmesse," and Vivaldi's Gloria RV 589 .

    ​Lillian holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre (UKOT). Here, Ms. Broderick performed The Rose in Rachel Portman's The Little Prince as part of the Graduate Opera Workshop and La Prima Cercatrice in the main-stage production of Suor Angelica. As a cover, she prepared the role of Abigail Williams in Robert Ward's The Crucible, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
    At UKOT, Lillian was a proud Getchell Scholar and the 2019 recipient of the UK School of Music Phyllis Jenness Vocal Scholarship.

    Lillian is also a alumna of the Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers of Opera (EPCASO). Attending for two years, she prepared Italian Bel Canto repertoire including Adina in L'elisir d'amore, Ilia in Idomeneo and Amina in La Sonnambula with Mo. Maurizio Arena, and the late soprano Claudia Pinza. She has been a long time student of bass Erik Kroncke.

    Lillian has appeared as many Gilbert & Sullivan heroines including Mabel (The Pirates of Penzance), the title role in Princess Ida, and Josephine (HMS Pinafore).