Eric Chu
Director of Music and Worship
Voice/Clarinet Instructor
Eric Chu is a former cantor at St. Patrick and St. Aloysius in Pewee Valley. He is a recent graduate of the University of Louisville with a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting and B.A. in Music studying Voice. Prior to following his passion in music, he completed his B.S. in Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is currently a member of the Louisville Chamber Choir, a premium choral ensemble that collaborates with the Louisville Orchestra annually for Handel’s Messiah and other events during the season. He is also an alumni member of the University of Louisville Cardinal Singers that provided him numerous opportunities to participate in national choral conventions and concert tours abroad in Europe and Asia.
Eric has a rich experience in the field of choral singing through performing in numerous international festivals and competitions. He has won numerous awards through singing with the Cardinal Singers, the most recent being the grand prize at the International Choir Competition in Zadar, Croatia.
Brady DeWitt
Guitar/Ukulele/Mandolin Instructor
Brady DeWitt recently graduated from Bellarmine University with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance. While there, he studied jazz guitar with Craig Wagner, a well-known musician in the Louisville community, and strives to become a better player and person every day. Brady was primarily self-taught when he started learning the guitar at 13 years old. He enjoys the works of other famous guitarists such as Kirk Hammett, Alex Skolnick, Matt Heafy, Dave Mustaine, John Petrucci and many more. Brady is very new to the world of teaching and has found it to be fun, challenging, and rewarding.
Bryce Peter
Guitar Instructor/Preschool Music Enrichment Teacher
Bryce Peter is a guitarist from Louisville. After picking up his first guitar at age 14, Bryce quickly discovered a passion for music. Though primarily self-taught, his diligence and commitment to his instrument helped him progress his abilities rapidly. Bryce has spent years playing in various bands, covering genres ranging from Pop to Punk and Rock to Funk. Bryce has studied the works of many great guitar players such as John Frusciante, Jimmy Page, Jack White, Eddie Hazel, Tom Morello, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix, and many others. Bryce began teaching guitar privately in his late teens to young kids around his neighborhood. Having several years of experience working with children through coaching local sports programs, Bryce was able to combine his two passions of music and teaching. To Bryce, being able to pass on the knowledge he has worked hard to attain is the most rewarding aspect of being a musician.
Darian Sears
Director of the Academy of Music
Piano/Violin/Viola Instructor
Darian Sears has been teaching piano at the St. Gabriel Academy of Music since its grand opening in 2018 and was appointed Director in July 2019. In addition to teaching privately, Darian conducts the Music Enrichment program at St. Gabriel Preschool where she teaches and engages young students by exposing them to many styles, genres, and instruments each week.
Darian graduated magna cum laude with her Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Pedagogy, Accompanying, and Arts Administration from Bellarmine University where she studied under Meme Tunnell (piano) and Jonathan Mueller (viola). She holds her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance & Pedagogy from Ohio University where she studied under Dr. Christopher Fisher. While there, she taught in the group piano program and served as an accompanist to the Ohio University Women’s Ensemble. She is also an active freelance musician around Louisville where she plays for weddings, musicals, choirs, and private events.