08/29/2026
🎶Please join us in welcoming John Makara as our new Collaborative Pianist at Slippery Rock University.🎶
John Makara is a multifaceted musician based out of Pittsburgh, PA. He received his Master of Music in collaborative piano (vocal track) from Carnegie Mellon University, studying with Dr. Jocelyn Dueck. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in piano performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, studying piano with Dr. Henry Wong Doe and organ with Dr. Christine Clewell. John is the organist and music director for Christ Lutheran Church Millvale.Â
John is a piano tuner and technician, studying Heinz hall technician Peter Stumpf. Aside from keyboard instruments, John enjoys playing bass for musicals and jazz groups. In spring 2025, John received the prestigious Gindroz Prize for Summer Travel and Study in Europe, where he spent two months in Slovakia studying traditional folk music. He attended many festivals, where he learned dances, music, and customs first hand. If you would like to read more about his time in Slovakia, please visit: JohnMakara.Wordpress.com. For any inquiries, you can contact him at [email protected].
