ELENA ALLMAND   PIANO
Elena received a B.S. in Music Education from New York University.  She has taught music in the New York public school system as well as Norwalk Middle School.  Elena has taught community adult education classes and performs at public and private functions.

KURT BERGLUND   PERCUSSION
Kurt received his B.M. from Western Connecticut State University where he won the Music Chairman’s Award upon graduation.  He has been teaching drums for 18 years. Kurt has studied with many noted jazz artists including Kenny Washington, Joe Morello, and Joel Rosenblatt.  He was drill instructor for the drum line at Newtown High School 1994-2004 and accompanied them to the Rose and Citrus Bowl Parades.  Kurt has performed in various venues, including New Orleans Funk, Reggae, and Jazz styles.

STEPHANIE BIELLO     PIANO
Stephanie received a B.M. Cum Laude in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University where she achieved the Dean’s List every semester.  Her studies include classical piano, composition, improvisation and jazz theory.  Stephanie has been teaching piano for 4 years.

JEAN EARLY      PIANO
Jean received an A.A. with highest honors in Piano Performance from Montgomery College.  She has been teaching piano for 30 years.  Jean is also an organist, and has performed with and directed numerous choral groups.

RUSSELL HARDY     VOICE · GUITAR
Russell received a B.M. in Voice from Western Connecticut State University where he studied with Perry Price.  He has lead and provided guitar accompaniment for folk choirs.  Russ is also a solo performer.

JOHN HARTFORD    PIANO
John studied theory, composition, and piano at Julliard for four years.  He has also studied harpsichord.  John has worked as a teaching assistant to Sylvia Rabinof and has 20 years experience teaching piano.  He is a member of The American Bach Society, Music Teachers National Association and the Connecticut State Music Teachers Association.

STEVE ISAACSON   PIANO
Steve Isaacson has 25 years of piano teaching experience in both traditional and Suzuki settings. He graduated from Hunter College in New York City. He has performed in many chamber music ensembles, as an accompanist with soloists and choirs, and is currently a member of the Danbury Community Orchestra. He studied piano with Howard Tuvelle and Michael Boriskin.

WALTER JAKOBOSKI     PIANO
Walter has studied piano from the age of four, instructed by Bruce Simons, the director of Yale Music School.  He has taught piano and music theory lessons since 1966 to students of all ages.  In addition, Walter has performed studio promotion concerts.  He holds a degree from the University of New Haven in another field of study.

MAUREEN KELLY   PIANO · VOICE
Maureen began her vocal studies at Cornell University where she received a voice scholarship for non-music majors.  Maureen directed the sixth grade chorus at the Bethel Middle School for two years.  She currently is music director, with her husband, at the Newtown Congregational Church.

JOANNA M. KING    PIANO
Joanna received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western CT State University.  Joanna was the recipient of the Hamden, CT Arts Commission's "Salute to Young Artists", and has been awarded first place at the Minotti Music Festival on three separate occasions since 1999. Joanna was selected to serve on the staff of WCSU's Summer Music Program and is Treasurer of the local chapter of the Music Educators National Conference.  She has been teaching piano for 5 years.

NATALIA KOLENCIAK     PIANO · GROUP PIANO
Natalia has been teaching piano for 10 years.  She has a Master in Performing Arts, Piano Teacher degree from the Moscow State Institute of the Arts.  Natalia is an accomplished piano teacher and accompanist having held teaching positions at Moscow State College of Fine Arts, Voronezh State Music College, and Lipetsk State Music School.

JEFF McGILL  DIRECTOR · PIANO · JAZZ ENSEMBLE
Jeff received a B.A. from St. Lawrence University with additional studies at the Crane School of Music and Berklee College of Music.  His first teaching experience came as a member of the faculty at the Gunnery in Washington, CT, where he became chairman of the Arts Department and developed the music curriculum. Since 1985 Jeff has led his own jazz quartet and performed at jazz festivals and clubs throughout the tri-state area.  In 1993 he co-founded the Music Learning Center where he teaches jazz piano, ensembles, and works with students and instructors alike on the use of technology in music education.

MARGARET McKERROW     VOICE · PIANO
Margaret received a B.S. and Master of Science in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT.  She studied vocal repertoire and church music at Westminster Choir College.  Margaret has performed operatic roles in Lucia di Lammermoor, La Traviata, and The Magic Flute, just to name a few.  She has performed as a soloist with concert choirs and choruses, and has gathered extensive experience in church music serving as cantor and choir director.

CLAUDIA MICKELSON     CLARINET · SAXOPHONE
Claudia holds a B.M. in Clarinet Performance from Indiana University and a B.A. in Music Literature from the University of Washington.  She has been teaching privately since 1987 and also was a full-time instructor in several schools in Elkhart, Indiana.  Claudia has performed with the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, the Danbury Community Orchestra, Western Connecticut State University Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, and Hudson Valley Wind Symphony.

SHANE PETERS     GUITAR
Shane received his B.M. cum laude in jazz performance from Western Connecticut State University.  He is currently completing his education certification.  Shane has been teaching various styles such as jazz, rock, and country guitar for five years.  He has taught at the WCSU Summer Camp.  Shane performs regularly throughout the tri-state area, leading his own acoustic trio.

JOANN RANDI     SUZUKI PIANO
JoAnn received her Masters Degree in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University and has been teaching piano since for over 30 years.  JoAnn holds a New York State Certificate in Music Education and is currently teaching in the Ulster County Public School System.

MARY ROSS   CELLO · VIOLIN · VIOLA
Mary earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University, graduating Magna Cum Laude.  Currently employed as an instrumental music teacher at Danbury Public Schools, she has also been teaching privately since 2003.  Mary is completing her Masters of Science Degree in Music Education at Western Connecticut State University.

KEVIN SANDLER     BRASS
Kevin received a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Western Connecticut State University, where he performed with the Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Brass Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, and Orchestra.  He has also performed for several local orchestras and bands, including the Danbury Community Orchestra, as Principal Chair, and Danbury Symphony Orchestra.

DONNA SCOZZAFAVA      PIANO
Donna holds a Master of Science in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University.  She taught music in the New Fairfield Public School System for 8 years and has been teaching piano for over 35 years.

 JUAN TORRES    GROUP PIANO
Juan earned a B.A. in Music from Western Connecticut State University, where he was also a tutor of class piano and music theory.  Juan has been teaching piano for 10 years and is currently headmaster and supervisor at Waterbury Christian Academy in Prospect, CT.

BARBARA VOGEL     PIANO
Barbara has been teaching piano for over 30 years.  As the co-founder and Associate Director of The Music Learning Center, she oversees student placement and lesson schedules.  Barbara is a member of the Music Teachers National Association, the CT State Music Teachers Association, and the Western CT Chapter of the MTA.  In addition to piano performance, she is an organist, accompanist, conductor, and ensemble performer.

SARA VOKES      VOICE · PIANO
Sara received her Bachelors of Music from Ithaca College, and her Masters of Music from the University of Illinois.  She has participated in vocal competitions and received awards from NATS, the Florida Grand Opera, and St. Louis Symphony, among others.  Locally she has been the leading artist in the Merryall Arts Festival and the “Divas of Soul” Festival.  At the First Congregational Church of New Milford, CT, Sara serves as soloist for special services, and director of and performer with a cappella quartet.  Sara has been teaching for 17 years.

JAMES WALKER      PERCUSSION
James received his M.M. in Percussion Performance and Pedagogy from Northern Illinois University as well as a Performer’s Certificate with an emphasis on Jazz Vibraphone and Steel Pan.  He has been the leader and/or director of numerous professional performance groups including the James Walker Group.  James has also appeared on several recordings.  He is a member of the A.F.M. Local 400 (Hartford) and the Percussive Arts Society.

ASHLEY WILLIAMS     FLUTE · CLARINET · ALTO SAXOPHONE
Ashley is currently completing her B.S. in Music Education degree at Western Connecticut State University.  She has achieved the Dean’s List every semester, and is first chair flutist in the WCSU Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Flute Choir.  Ashley has been a counselor/performer for the Julius Baker Master Class since 2003, and counselor for the WCSU Summer Music Camp for 2005 and 2006.  She has performed in pit orchestras on flute, alto flute, piccolo, clarinet, and alto saxophone.

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