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Our staff strives, through our individual lessons, ensembles, and classroom instruction, to provide our students with a holistic approach to music. We believe that, in order to make great music, students must not only master the technical aspects of their instrument, but also learn to listen and interpret. We encourage students to play together, and listen to one another as they shape their sound as a group. We help students to understand the historical and cultural backdrop that influenced the genre of music in which they are interested. Finally, we help them master the technical aspects of their instrument, and gain an understanding of music theory, critical listening, musicianship and notation. PianoTatiana AbramovaTatiana was born in Chernogorsk, Russia in 1976. In 1987, she was admitted into Special Music School for gifted children attached to the Novosibirsk State Conservatory, and studied with Professor Sofia Gindis. In 1994, she entered the Novosibirsk State Conservatory under the tutelage of the distinguished professor, Honored Artist of Russia, Mary Lebenzon until her graduation from postgraduate in 2002.
She more recently was a second prize winner of Los Angeles International Liszt competition in 2006. Besides her native country, Russia, she has performed extensively in France, Italy, Israel and Japan. From 1999 to 2002 she had held a teaching position at the Special Music School attached to the Novosibirsk State Conservatory. Tatiana is currently a doctoral student at the piano department at Temple University, Philadelphia. Anton FominAnton Fomin holds a Masters of Piano Performance from Texas Christian University, a Masters in Chamber Music and Accompaniment from Temple University, and a Masters from Novosibirsk State Conservatory in Russia. He is an extraordinary performer with international performance experience. His students include numerous gold and silver place winners in the prestigious Golden Keys Piano Competition. Ellen AlpernEllen Alpern holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from West Chester University, and a Master of Music in Piano Performance from The Catholic University of America. Some of her major teachers include Alexander Fiorillo, William Masselos, and Charles Abramovic. Ellen's wide teaching experience has included all ages and levels and has led to an approach that is tailored to each person's learning style. In addition to piano recitals in the local area, Ellen has played for many theater productions, some which have included Renaissance ensembles featuring harpsichord. Also, she was on the faculty of The Camp Hill School for seven years and participated in many theater and opera performances during that time, including the play Parsifal and Mozart's opera The Magic Flute. Ellen's latest endeavor is a series of music salons in her home. She hopes to make these a regular part of the music scene in the local area. Aleksandr BernhardAleksandr holds a Masters of Music, piano performance from West Chester University. He has competed and performed internationally and achieved first-prize in numerous awards such as:
Leonardo DuganLeo holds a Doctorate and Masters of Philosophy / Composition, and Bachelor of Music from the Univsity of Pennsylvania. He is an Adjunct Professor of Theory/Composition at West Chester University, where he has taught Theory I, II, and IV, Fundamentals of Music, Aural Skills I, II, III, IV, and Advanced Chromatic Harmony. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Applied Music (Saxophone/Jazz Ensemble) at Immaculata University Adaptive Piano / Music TherapyLynne Hockenbury, MT-BCLynne is a graduate of Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, where she received a Bachelor's in Music Therapy with a minor in Psychology. She has worked with children with various abilities through work at the Kardon Institute / Settlement Music School (Philadelphia, PA), where she was responsible for creating and overseeing the Music Therapy Internship program, and the Academy of Community Music (Fort Washington, PA). She has been teaching private piano lessons for the past 10 years. Currently, she is employed by the Berwyn United Methodist Nursery School (Berwyn, PA). ViolinDiana VuoloDiana was awarded a full tuition scholarship to attend the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance. At PCPA she studied with the famed teacher, Dorothy DeLay. She was also a regular performer for the DeLay master classes at the Aspen Music School. She has had a variety of performing experiences, including a concert tour of Germany with the Concerto Soloists of Philadelphia, the Philly Pops Orchestra, and was Assistant Concertmaster for the International Lyric Festival Opera Orchestra in Italy. She also served as a substitute for the Saint Louis Symphony under Leonard Slatkin. Drum SetJames DudasJames is a graduate of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He obtained a degree in drum set performance, and studied under outstanding teachers including James Paxson, Joseph Nero SR., and Marc Dicciani. James has performanced in venues including the Merriam Theater, The Pennsylvania Convention center, The Paul McCartney Auditorium in Liverpool, England, The Japanese Womens College of Tokyo, Japan and Tamagawa University of Tamagawa, Japan. VocalPatty StoltzfusPatty achieved a Bachelors of Music from Combs College of Music in Philadelphia as a vocal performance major. She has a Masters in Divinity from Eastern Seminary in Philadelphia and is an ordained Minister in the Presbyterian Church. She studied voice under Dolores Ferraro, Vann Trapp, and Dorothy Symonds. Rebecca FieldRebecca holds a Doctorate and Masters in Music from the Indiana University School of Music, majoring in Vocal Performance with a minor in Song Literature. She served as an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at West Chester University where she taught voice for theatre students. She has extensive performance experience throughout the area. GuitarDave StoltzfusDave has been playing guitar for 40 years. He is fluent in Blues, Rock, Folk and Bluegrass. He frequently serves as an accompanist to vocalists as various venues including church and weddings. He also plays in the Pit Orchestra for community theatre. Over the years he has played in various bands, mostly focused on blues and classic rock. Dave is well versed in music notation and theory, and infuses this knowledge into his teaching approach. Matt RosenMatt is a graduate of The University of New Mexico where he obtained a Bachelors in Music, Guitar Performance. He is an extremely versatile guitarist and is competent playing a variety of styles including Accoustic, Rock, Blues and Jazz. He enjoys composing and performing original tunes. BanjoRick LondonRick has played 5 string banjo for 35 years resulting in a fluent, modern style that blends tradition with a contemporary approach. He has played in many bands over the years with experience on local television, radio and off broadway pit-band (NYC). Rick is fluent in Scruggs and melodic style playing, and the ability to weave these methods seamlessly for student's growth. Although self taught, Rick has taken extensive advanced lessons from banjo masters Tony Trischka, Pete Wernick, Bill Keith and Mark Johnson. Their decades of knowledge and innovation is infused in his teaching, benefitting all students. Instruction includes music theory, history, styles of playing, various tunings and more. Students for 3 finger style beginning to intermediate, and advanced-intermediate instruction.. FluteNicole AtkinsonNicole received a bachelors of music in music education from the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Her primary instrument is flute and her ensemble experience includes the renowned Band of the Hour Marching Band, Symphonic Winds, Flute Choir, Woodwind Chamber Group and Flute Quartets. She is currently teaching general music at East Goshen Elementary School in West Chester, PA. Trombone / Bass TromboneLeonard (Jimmy) LeviJimmy is a junior at West Chester University where he is studying Bass Trombone. He graduated from Great Valley High School, in Malvern, PA in 2006 where is won the National Orchestra Award. SaxophoneJoseph FisherJoe is a 2008 graduate of School of Music at West Chester University, where he received honors earning a Bachelor of Music Education with a minor in Jazz Studies. An alumnus of WCU�s top ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Mastersingers, and Criterions Jazz Ensemble, he also spent time performing with local jazz and rock groups at venues in cities such as Washington D.C., Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and New York City. An active musician in the Philadelphia area, Joe currently plays with various pop and jazz combos and is a musician for Apollo Artists Attractions. In addition to performing, Joe is an educator, teaching music at Springton Lake Middle School in the Rose Tree Media School District. He has also taught saxophone lessons, jazz improvisation, and jazz band at the WCU High School Music camp and technology courses during the WCU Jazz Week. ClarinetAaron IrwinAaron's teaching experience, spans 10 years and includes private lessons on the flute, clarinet, and saxophone, as well as jazz ensemble coachings, theory class, and flute class in private schools. His prior faculty positions include the New World School of the Performing Arts in Florida (saxophone), Abraham Lincoln School in NYC (flute and recorder), Town School in NYC (woodwinds), Our Children's Foundation in NYC (recorder, flute, clarinet, and saxophone), Douglaston School of Music, and Bergen Academy. Aaron recently finished my contract with the Broadway show, Ave Q, as the woodwinds player and is currently signed to Fresh Sound/New Talent Records, based in Spain, with two CDs released, one of which was featured in the New Yorker magazine, "Top Ten Best Jazz Album of 2006". TrumpetJohn ScavoneJohn Scavone is a graduate of West Chester University, where he received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with trumpet being his primary instrument of study. At WCU, John studied with Dr. Kenneth Laudermilch and Mr. Matthew Gallagher, and participated in the school's top jazz and wind ensembles. He has also performed alongside top trumpet performers such as Fred Mills, founder of the Canadian Brass, and Phillip Smith, Principal trumpet player of the New York Philharmonic. John currently teaches elementary and middle school band as well as middle school general music in the Interboro School District in Prospect Park, Delaware County. Classroom InstructionDebra TorokDebra has performed extensively on the piano and has released several CDs which are available internationally. Having been a faculty member at both New York University and Lehigh University, she is currently teaching at Moravian College. She studied in New York and Philadelphia with Jerome Lowenthal, Alexander Eydelman, Susan Starr, Antonio Barbosa, and Joseph Villa, and holds a Ph.D. in Piano Performance. Her CDs include "Through and Within This Century Past", and her highly acclaimed series of recordings for Albany Records of the complete piano works of Emmy and Pulitzer prize winning composer, Norman Dello Joio, who worked directly with her. |