Abby Finkelstein

Abby Finkelstein is excited to be joining the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2025 as a visual instructor. Abby is a band director at both Moon Area Middle and High Schools in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of the Moon Area High School Marching Band, a position she has held since 2017. Abby has been involved with the MAHS Marching Band for over 10 years, and the band has enjoyed great success during that time, achieving finalist status at every BOA regional they have attended since 2016 and setting and breaking school records in championship scores in the local PIMBA circuit in 2022 and 2023. Abby holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Slippery Rock University and a Master’s degree in Trumpet Performance from Duquesne University, where she was a graduate assistant in Brass Techniques.

Abby is a highly driven educator and co-created an after-school auditioned middle school wind ensemble at Moon Area in 2022. Since then, the ensemble has played at the All-State Conference and received a Superior Rating at their first PMEA Music Performance Assessment. Abby has taught trumpet privately for over a decade and worked as a marching band clinician with several successful band programs in western Pennsylvania. As a performer, she has a diverse background including Spirit of Atlanta (2013, featured soloist), Carolina Crown (2014, including a tour in Japan), Rhythm X Winds (2015, WGI Independent Champion), and Slippery Rock University Winterguard (2014, TRWEA Collegiate Regional A Champion).

Abby resides in Oakdale, PA, just outside of Pittsburgh, with her husband Evan, dog Remington, and cat Pepper.