John Makara is a muli-faceted student and musician in Pittsburgh, Pa. At Carnegie Melon University, John is completing his Master of Music for collaborative piano, studying with Dr. Jocelyn Dueck. John has been awarded an assistantship, assisting in voice lessons and opera productions. John’s degree work gives him a solid foundation in standard vocal and instrumental repertoire. John is an apprentice under Heinz Hall piano technician, Peter Stumpf, who is preparing him for work as a piano technician after graduation.
John received his BFA in Piano Performance at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying piano with Dr.Henry Wong /doe and completing an organ minor with Dr. Christine Clewell. John likes to play upright ad electric bass in jazz groups and musical pits. In Spring 2025, John received the prestigious Gindroz Prize for Summer Travel and Study in Europe, where he spent two months in Slovakia studying folklore.