Faculty & Therapists

Abby Nixon is a recent transplant from Florida, where she taught and performed for 12 years, teaching students of all ages and performing music of all genres. Abby enjoys playing in a professional orchestra just as much as she enjoys playing in jazz ensemble or rock band, and she tries to instill her love of improvisation and a sense of creative possibility into her students, alongside a high standard of excellence in traditional violin technique. She graduated from Jacksonville University with a degree in violin performance and studied with Ivan Galamian pupil Aaron Krosnick. In addition to playing violin, Abby enjoys sewing, singing and sci-fi.

Staff

Education: Jacksonville University, BM Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Adam is a pianist, composer and recording artist based in Philadelphia. Beyond his activities as a performer/composer, his interests run to journalism. He was formerly the Philadelphia correspondent for the internationally published Pulse! Magazine and was a contributor to the Philadelphia Weekly newspaper. Adam completed a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he worked with pianist Paul Bley, bassist Cecil McBee, and composers Lee Hyla, Robert Ceely, and John Heiss among others. Earlier studies included a scholarship for classical piano at Syracuse University as well as a BFA in film production from the Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.

Regular

Education: Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, BFA Film Production; New England Conservatory of Music, MM Jazz Studies

Specialties: Jazz Piano

Divisions: Music

Aileen Bunch received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy from Temple University. She has a long history with the Kardon Center program; providing individual music therapy sessions at the Germantown and Mary Louise Curtis branches. She also teaches piano privately.

Regular

Education: Temple University, BM Music Therapy

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

Alan Ens graduated from the University of the Arts in 2009 with a BM in Jazz guitar performance. His teachers were Mike Kennedy, Matt Davis, and Mike Quaile. He has also had lessons with Jimmy Bruno, Pat Martino, and Tony Miceli while there. Outside of college Alan has studied classical guitar with John Penn. He taught guitar, bass and ran ensembles at the Philadelphia and Cherry Hill schools of rock from 2009-2015. Alan has played rock, jazz, free jazz, folk, funk, and original music in venues and restaurants from NYC to Nashville and has been a pit musician at Society Hill Playhouse. Since 2013 he has also been the live sound mixer for the dueling piano band at the Philadelphia Howl at The Moon, and a production sound mixer for video with SQ Productions out of Cherry Hill, NJ. His most recent musical project is a classical guitar quartet that includes Brendan Evans.

Associate Staff

Education: University of the Arts, BM Jazz Guitar Performance

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Jazz Guitar, Suzuki, Ukulele, Music Technology, Jazz Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Albena Stoykova received her teaching and performance degree from the Sofia Music School and the Sofia Music Academy (Bulgaria) in 1987. She spent time teaching in the Youth Palace in Bulgaria and South Africa’s Music School “Mmabana.” She has played with international orchestras, the Radio Sofia Orchestra and Mmabatho Chamber Orchestra, and locally with the Musica 2000 Orchestra, as well as with the Bucks County Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Stoykova has played with string quartets in Paris, Athens and Colmar and won first place in the International Competition in Middlesborough, England. She enjoys working with student ensembles, especially with the all violin ensembles. She has been with Settlement Music School for 12 years and the Doylestown Community Conservatory for 9 years.

Staff

Education: Sofia Music School and the Sofia Music Academy, Violin Performance and Pedagogy

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

Alexandra Ovrutsky is a graduate of the prestigious Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow, with a master’s degree in music theory, choral conducting, and piano performance, and received her bachelor’s degree from the Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College. She began her musical journey at the age of five with piano study. Mrs. Ovrutsky has been teaching children of all ages for over 25 years, including her own children, who are now graduates of Curtis and Juilliard, acclaimed musicians, and winners of many international competitions. Mrs. Ovrutsky was also a successful children’s choral instructor and served as a musical director and editor on the international programs of the Russian State Television and Radio. Mrs. Ovrutsky arrived in the United States in 1992 with her family, and has been teaching at Settlement since 2001. She has appeared as a chamber musician in the concert halls of Boston, Philadelphia, and the Florida Keys. Mrs. Ovrutsky believes that each student is unique and benefits from a unique approach.

Associate Staff

Education: Ippolitov-Ivanov Music College, BM; Tchaikovsky Conservatory, MM Music Theory, Choral Conducting, and Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Philadelphia native Alexis Stevenson began her career in Early Childhood Education when her daughter was three years old. She started as a parent volunteer in her daughter’s classroom. She would help with breakfast and read stories to the children. Volunteering lead to an offer of employment. Through her position, Alexis was able to gain a wealth of knowledge on child development in the early stages. In 2012, Alexis enrolled at Eastern University in the Accelerated Degree program for adult learners. In 2015, Alexis graduated from Eastern University with her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. After graduating, Alexis worked in a Pre-K counts program. In 2018, Alexis decided it was time to further her education and enrolled at Eastern University once again to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood education.

ECE Assistant Teacher

Education: Eastern University, AA Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K PS 5

Divisions: Early Childhood

Amanda Connor has been a member the faculty of the Settlement Music School since 209 where she is teaching dance. She is from Fairfield, CT where she received her dance training from D’valda and Sirico’s Dance and Music Center since the age of 4. Amanda pursued her dreams of attending the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she graduated from in 2017 with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Musical Theatre. Amanda formerly performed with a modern company called Jim Bunting Dance Company. She performed at various venues like the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, Performance Garage, The Trocadero, Kun Yang Lin’s Inhale Series, Koresh Artist Showcase and more. After leaving the company in 2018, Amanda continued to perform with the Broadway Theatre of Pitman in Pitman, NJ, performing as a featured dancer in Aida. Amanda has taught in many studios including NEST Center City, Philadelphia, Studio Ballet, Star Dance Academy.

Regular

Education: University of the Arts, BFA

Specialties: Hip Hop

Divisions: Dance

Amanda Hill started dancing at the age of four. Amanda then began intensive private coaching with Natasha Bar (of the Odessa Ballet, The Rock School) at the age of 11. Along with the excellent training she received from Ms. Bar, Amanda attended various summer programs including The Rock School, NYSSSA, Miami City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Kaatsbaan and the School of American Ballet. Amanda has also competed in ballet competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix, where she was awarded 1st place in the senior division semifinals. Amanda received her BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of the Arts on presidential scholarship, and graduated with honors. While working towards her BFA Amanda danced in multiple productions with the Pennsylvania Ballet and BalletFleming, including Pennsylvania’ Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” She is now a principal dancer with the Brandywine Ballet in West Chester, PA. Amanda loves teaching ballet and sharing her passion for the art form. She has been teaching throughout the Philadelphia area for over 5 years. She draws on her performance experience, and her own training from many world-renowned teachers.

Regular

Education: University of the Arts, BFA Ballet Performance

Specialties:

Divisions: Dance

Andrea Carlson received a BM in Classical Guitar from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, studying with Steve Klein. Teaching is her passion, and with it she focuses on technique, theory, and a repertoire that inspires and promotes skill and musical expression. Her back ground in music also involves performance in classical guitar, jazz, singing, and composing. In 2009, she was a winner with the Philadelphia Songwriters Project song writing contest. Actively, she performs with her classical guitar playing and singing her original music and jazz standards in a variety of venues throughout the Philadelphia area, as well as New Jersey, New York, and Chicago. In 2012 she released her debut CD, Drivin’ Myself Wild for You. Along with her music, Andrea studied art at Columbia College in Chicago and also enjoys painting and other forms of art in her free time.

Staff

Education: American Conservatory of Music, BM Classical Guitar

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Guitar-Plectrum

Divisions: Music

Andreia received her Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College, where she was taught by both Philip Clark and Debra Moree, and Master of Music in String Pedagogy from Temple University, where she was a student of Helen Kwalwasser. She is a regular freelancer and has performed with numerous groups in Philadelphia and the surrounding communities over the years, including playing with the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, Delaware Symphony, Delaware Valley Philharmonic, Newtown Chamber Orchestra, Riverside Symphonia, and the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble. She is also an active chamber musician, with piano trios being her main love. Andreia has been a member of violin faculty at Settlement Music School since 1994, where she teaches private violin lessons in both Traditional and Suzuki methods, Suzuki group classes, and coaches chamber music; her passion being helping kids explore and develop their creative expression. She also serves as Suzuki Coordinator for all 6 of SMS’s branches.

Read Andreia’s #facultyfriday profile

Staff

Education: Ithaca College, BM; Temple University, MM String Pedagogy

Specialties: Violin, Viola, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Andy Thierauf is a Philadelphia-based percussionist and composer who specializes in the creation and performance of contemporary music. He is particularly interested in combining percussion with theater, dance, and technology. He has appeared in Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Argentina, and across the Midwest at music festivals, conferences, and symposiums. Andy has performed at SEAMUS and PASIC on several occasions and is a member of the PAS Music Technology Committee. Andy is half of stb x at, a dance/percussion duo with dancer and choreographer Sean Thomas Boyt. The ensemble has performed at various universities, art galleries, and non-traditional venues across the Midwest and East coast. A native of Cincinnati, OH, Andy received his B.M. from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, his M.M. from The Ohio State University, and his D.M.A. degree in percussion performance and pedagogy at The University of Iowa under the direction of Dan Moore. He has studied percussion with Rusty Burge, Jim Culley, Allen Otte, Susan Powell and Joe Krygier, and composition with Tom Wells, Marc Ainger, Larry Fritts, and David Gompper.

Associate Staff

Education: University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, BM; The Ohio State University, MM; The University of Iowa, DMA Percussion Performance and Pedagogy

Specialties: Percussion, Music Technology

Divisions: Music

AnnaLisa Mariani has been serving on the faculty of Settlement Music School since 2008. She holds a Bachelor degree in Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University (1996) as well as Orff-Shulwerk Certification from Villanova and University of the Arts (2010). Previously, she served on the staff of Bryn Mawr Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, PA and Malmark, Inc. in Plumsteadville, PA. She is a member of the Abington Symphony Orchestra. Her interests include musical theater and costume design, and in her spare time, she is a competitive figure skater.

Staff

Education: Westminster Choir College of Rider University, BM Music Education; Villanova and University of the Arts, Orff-Shulwerk Certification

Specialties: Violin, Children's Music Workshop, Kaleidoscope Pre-K (Music), Suzuki

Divisions: Music, Early Childhood

April Keezing graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2013 with a BM in Professional Music and a minor in Performance Poetry. For nearly 10 years, April has been teaching songwriting classes, rock bands, vocal ensembles, and private music lessons to people of all ages. Along with teaching, April is a freelance songwriter and maintains a YouTube channel, which was listed among the Top Songwriting Channels to Follow in 2020.

Education: Berklee College of Music, BM Professional Music with a minor in Performance Poetry

Specialties: Songwriting

Divisions: Music

Ardian Cani graduated from Academy of The Arts of Tirana, Albania, in 1975 with a University Diploma in violin performance. His teachers were Pieter Gaci and Eno Koco. Ardian played for Symphony Orchestra of National Theatre of Opera of Albania for four years. Then he taught violin and viola at “Onufri” magnet music school (K-12) and performed as a violin soloist and concertmaster of the Elbasan city symphony orchestra. He was the founder of the chamber orchestra “Albanian Inspiration” and acted as a conductor and soloist of this orchestra in Albania and other European countries. In 2001 Ardian and his family moved to Philadelphia. He pursued his music studies and graduated from Eastern University at St. David’s, Pensylvania in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s equivalency degree. His mentor was Dr. Bryan Edgett. In 2007 Ardian was certified by the Pennsylvania Board of Education and holds a license to teach music K-12 in PA. Since 2002 Ardian has worked as a full-time string teacher for the School District of Philadelphia, and since 2001 he has taught violin at Settlement Music School.

Regular

Education: Albanian University of Arts, University Diploma Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Becky Ruiz is a former Settlement Music School alum who studied with Claire Belkovsky.  She earned a Bachelor in Music in Piano Pedagogy from Temple University.  Major teachers include Charles Abramovic, Alexander Fiorillo, and Maria Taylor.  Since graduation, Becky has worked as a church organist/pianist for Asbury United Methodist Church in New Jersey. She has also started and runs a private piano studio, and works as a preschool music teacher in South Philadelphia.

Education: Temple University, BM Piano Pedagogy

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Benjamin Hoffmann received his Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Houghton College, Houghton, NY in 2008. He received his Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at Syracuse University in 2010. His principal studies have been with John Spradling, Dr. William John Newbrough and Dr. Fred Karpoff; he has also received lessons and master classes from Vladimir Feltsman, Jon-Kimura Parker and Ann Schein. He maintains an active schedule as an accompanist and collaborative performer in the Philadelphia area and is the staff accompanist at the Wynnefield branch of Settlement.

Staff

Education: Houghton College, BM Piano Performance; Syracuse University, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Beth Benson has been a member of Settlement Music School’s faculty since 1999. She earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Florida State University. Major teachers include Elizabeth Camus, Eric Ohlsson and Daniel Stolper. She performs with Newtown Chamber Orchestra and Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra and is an active freelancer on oboe, oboe d’amore and English horn. Beth also teaches for the Continuing Education program at Bucks County Community College and at the George School.

Staff

Education: Florida State University, BM Performance

Specialties: Chamber Music, Oboe, Musicianship

Divisions: Music

Brendan Evans left his hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts at the age of 13, and has been playing and studying guitar with increasing intensity since then. Four years at Phillips Exeter Academy, where he studied with Bob Squires and Apostolos Paraskevas, led to to four years at the Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with Steve Aron, which led to two years at the San Francisco Conservatory, where he studied with David Tanenbaum. After graduating in 2008 from the SF Conservatory with a Master’s degree, Brendan went on to win prizes in eight consecutive competitions in the US and Canada, including 1st prizes in the Louisville and Rosario festivals. He plays on a guitar made by David Pace and has taught at Settlement Music School since 2009.

Associate Staff

Education: Oberlin Conservatory, BM Guitar Performance; San Francisco Conservatory, MM

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Guitar-Plectrum, Jazz Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Brian Bateman is a multidisciplinary vocalist and entertainer. Brian graduated from the Boston Conservatory in 2012, Cum Laude, with a BFA in Musical Theater and an emphasis in Directing. Brian’s theater credits include performances in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. Brian also works as a recording artist and background vocalist, he has performed his own show aboard Holland America Line. As an educator, Brian has directed theater for the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, the Boston Conservatory, Nazareth Academy Grade School and Settlement Music School’s Kaleidoscope + Arts After-School Program.

Administrative Assistant of Early Childhood Programming

Education: Boston Conservatory, BFA Musical Theatre

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Plus

Divisions: Early Childhood

Brian Brown earned his Bachelor and Master degrees from the Juilliard School. His major teachers include Paul Krzywicki, Don Harry, Donald Harwood and Vincent Penzarella. He is currently principal tuba of the Philly Pops, Delaware Symphony Orchestra and The Stamford (Conn.) Symphony Orchestra. As an active freelance musician, Mr. Brown has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, The Pennsylvania Ballet, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia, among others. He is the tuba player for NFL Films. He is a member of the Westminster Brass and the Rowan University Faculty Brass Quintet. Mr Brown is Adjunct Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at the College of New Jersey, Rowan University, and University of Delaware and instructor of tuba at Princeton University. Mr Brown has been a faculty member of the Settlement Music School since 1984.

Regular

Education: Julliard School, BM Tuba Performance; Julliard School, MM

Specialties: Trombone, Tuba, Baritone, Horn, Euphonium

Divisions: Music

Brian Osborne is a percussionist, sound artist, and educator who moved to Philadelphia in 2015 after more than a decade of active participation in New York City’s creative music scene, where he performed regularly at centers for new music such as: The Stone, Tonic, and Knitting Factory. Brian received his BM in Percussion Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, studying under James Massie Johnson, former principal timpanist of the St. Louis Symphony. Brian then moved to NYC, where he continued his studies for several years with master percussionist, free jazz legend, and polymath, Milford Graves. During this time, he also studied Javanese Gamelan Music through the Indonesian Consulate. Brian’s focus remains on performing and recording experimental and improvised music. He performs regularly across the US and Europe and has over twenty released recordings to date.

Regular

Education: University of North Carolina School of the Arts, BM Percussion Performance

Specialties: Percussion

Divisions: Music

Carissa Sandy is a Head Teacher for the Kaleidoscope Pre-school Arts Enrichment Program. She has worked for Settlement Music School for 10 years. Carissa started her career in Early Childhood Education as an Assistant Teacher working in a head start program in Philadelphia. That opportunity led her to finish her Early Childhood degree. Carissa has a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from Eastern University and is currently working on her Master’s Degree certification in Pre-K-Early Elementary Education. Carissa loves working with children and her goal is to always provide a safe and fun environment for her students, which allows them to experience learning through play that will leave them confident and excited to come to school.

Head Teacher

Education: Eastern University, BS Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 2)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Carla (Chana) Crawford holds a Bachelor of Music from The Boston Conservatory with an emphasis in voice, a Master of Music degree with an emphasis in opera performance, and she is currently completing her Master of Music Therapy degree from Temple University. Ms. Crawford has had clinical training at Shriners Hospital for Children, HMS School for Cerebral Palsy, Wissahickon Hospice and the Kirkbride Center, all located in the Philadelphia area. During her internship at the Kirkbride Center, Chana conducted both group and individual music therapy sessions with clients who have co-occurring disorders. Upon completion of her internship from the Kirkbride Center, Chana began working professionally at the Settlement Music School and is absolutely thrilled to be a part of the team. Chana is committed to providing each client with individual attention and looks forward to empowering her clients to achieve their goals!

Regular

Education: The Boston Conservatory, BM Voice Performance; The Boston Conservatory, MM Opera Performance

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

Originally from San Antonio, Texas, Carlota Rodriguez Ruiz-Healy is a violist, string teacher, and researcher who recently decided to call Philadelphia home. This is her tenth year teaching, during which she has taught and played in Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the United States. After playing in La Orquesta Sinfonica Infatil de Mexico (National Youth Orchestra of Mexico) she attended Sistema Nacional de Fomento Musical, an El Sistema inspired collegiate conservatory program in Mexico City, for two years. This experience fomented an interest in both music pedagogy and Latin American music. Following her time in Mexico City, she earned a bachelors degree in music education with a focus in string pedagogy from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 2015. After graduation, she moved to Los Angeles where she worked with the Boyle Heights Community Youth Orchestra, a socially-engaged music program. From there, she decided to explore music research and moved to London to pursue a Masters in Musicology from City University of London, where her main areas of research were Latin American Music and The Global impact of El Sistema programs. While in London, she was principal violist of The Central London Orchestra and a member of the City University Chamber Orchestra. Upon completion of her masters degree, she returned to San Antonio where she taught studio viola and violin lessons and performed with the Kerrville Symphony Orchestra and the Corpus Christi Symphony.

Regular

Education: UT San Antonio, BME String Pedagogy; City University of London, MA Musicology

Specialties: Violin, Viola

Divisions: Music

In retirement from full-time teaching, Caroline Davidson has enjoyed the collegiality of working as an accompanist for Settlement Music School’s Gleeksman-Kohn Children’s Choir for many years, alongside its dedicated director, a team of accompanists, and an endless number of talented and enthusiastic students. She is also an ardent amateur chamber musician on the viola. Her love of children, people, and music are fulfilled by her current position at Settlement, which reflects her ideals of community, love of music-making, and the satisfaction of bringing this aesthetic to generations of students. Caroline served as an elementary music teacher at Germantown Friends School from 1977 – 2008 and also served as a recorder instructor at Settlement Music School. She received her BM from University of London, was a graduate from the Royal Academy of Music in piano performance and violin pedagogy, and earned her MM in Musicology from the University of Pennsylvania.

Regular

Education: Royal Academy of Music, BM Piano Performance and Violin Pedagogy; University of Pennsylvania, MM Musicology

Specialties: Children's Choir

Divisions: Music

Carolyn Ellman, cellist, has a great variety of musical experience including symphony, opera, chamber music, television and theater. She has provided solo cello incidental music for local productions of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” and Arthur Miller’s “Broken Glass” and has presented many recitals with pianist (and fellow Settlement Music School faculty member) David Shunskis. During the four years she was cellist with the Serafin String Quartet, the quartet made its debut with a concert in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, playing there the following season as well and featuring works by local composers on both programs. While living in France and Switzerland, she performed in master classes offered by Gregor Piatagorsky and Maurice Gendron. While performing in Geneva, Neuchâtel and Lausanne she had the opportunity to play Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s opera “Le Devin du Village”.

Here in the Philadelphia area, she is a long-time member of the Delaware Symphony and has played in many other local groups.

At Boston University she earned her Bachelor of Music degree studying with Leslie Parnas. Chamber music coaches included Eugene Lehner at B.U. and also Raphael Bronstein and  Michael Tree at Kneisel Hall. Other special programs in which she participated included the Congress of Strings, the Music Academy of the West and the Institute for Advanced Musical Studies.

Of all her many pursuits, Carolyn is particularly proud of her more than twenty-five year association with the Settlement Music School!

Regular

Education: Boston University, BM Cello Performance

Specialties: Cello

Divisions: Music

Caryn began working as a music therapist at Settlement Music School in 2014 after 12 years at Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy, including 9 years as a full-time clinician. She has experience working with a range of clients including people with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, Alzheimer’s, dementia, mental illnesses and autism spectrum disorders. Caryn developed and continues to manage the therapeutic rock band to better meet the social, emotional and musical needs of several clients. Part of Caryn’s weekly schedule is spent at the off-site partnership with Widener Memorial School. She also supervises Master’s level students from Drexel University’s Creative Arts in Therapy Program. Prior to her work as a music therapist, Caryn was employed as a private school music educator and freelance horn player. Caryn’s education includes a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from James Madison University, a Master of Music in Horn Performance from Florida State University, a Master of Arts from the Hahnemann Creative Arts in Therapy Program at Drexel University and certification as a Neurological Music Therapist. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor in PA.

Staff

Education: James Madison University, BM Music Education; Florida State University, MM Horn Performance; Drexel University, MA Creative Arts in Therapy

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

Cathy Mazza has a Bachelor of Music in Keyboard Performance from West Chester University where she studied with Ben Whitten and a Master of Music in Music Education from The University of the Arts. She is the accompanist for the Philadelphia Women’s Music Project and is an active freelance collaborative pianist and pop and rock performer. Cathy has been a music teacher for over 30 years.

Education: West Chester University, BM Keyboard Performance; University of the Arts, MM Music Education

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Charles Parker, violinist, has studied with some of the most renowned teachers in the field, including Ivan Galamian, Paul Zukofsky, Isidore Cohen, and Helen Kwalwasser. At the age of 15, he was invited to join the School Orchestra of America, a People to People program in Washington, DC for a European tour of nine countries. That experience cemented his involvement with the violin and music. Along with his studio at Settlement Music School, he also teaches at Haverford College, Bryn Mawr College, and Temple Music Prep. He has been the coordinator of chamber music for Temple Music Prep’s Center for Gifted Young Musicians since its inception in 1985. A member of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra, he also performs regularly with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, Orchestra 2001, and other Philadelphia organizations. He was the Artistic Director and violinist of the Davidsbund Chamber Players, has toured internationally with The New York Chamber Players, and was a core member of The Vermont Mozart Festival for over 25 years. Enjoying the variety of experiences as a freelance musician, he has also been on hundres of recordings from disco hits in the late 70’s to more recent hits by Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Lana Dl Rey. He was the recipient of Temple Music Prep’s “Inspiration Award” in 2011.

Special Arrangement Staff Faculty

Education: SUNY Stony Brooke, BM Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

Christian Moehring has been performing professionally for 22 years, has over 19 years of teaching experience and earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University. While at VCU, he spent 7 years studying classical percussion, jazz, and composition with nationally recognized jazz musicians such as Howard Curtis and Doug Richards and Richmond Symphony members Jim Jacobson and Donald Bick. He continues his education by taking graduate classes and working extensively in the Philadelphia art scene. He is passionate about developing his art through his many bands and projects and enjoys passing all his knowledge and experiences on to his students. Over the many years of developing his craft and extending his education, Christian has acquired a wealth of knowledge and experience. He uses this collective pool of expertise to guide each of his students down their own creative path.

Education: Virginia Commonweath University, BM Jazz Performance

Specialties: Percussion

Divisions: Music

Christine Danoff’s principal teachers were Charles Wendt (University of Iowa), William Stokking (Philadelphia Orchestra), and Orlando Cole (New School of Music). She also studied violin and chamber music with Edgar Ortenberg (Budapest Quartet), and chamber music with Roman Totenberg, William Kroll, and members of the Stradivari and Colorado Quartets. Christine was runner-up in the National Federation of Music Clubs national competition, cello division, and Associate Fellow at the Berkshire Music Center, Tanglewood. She was also Principal cellist with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra. She is currently a member of the Danoff String Quartet and a freelance performer in the Philadelphia area. A child of music educators, she began teaching at age 18 as an adjunct instructor for the Des Moines Public Schools. She has taught class cello in four Philadelphia Archdiocese high schools. She is proud to have the opportunity to share the gift of music with students of all ages, abilities and playing levels in a community music school setting.

Staff

Education:

Specialties: Cello, Chamber Music

Divisions: Music

B.M., M.M, violin performance, Peabody Institute. Christof furthered his studies at the Konservatorium der Stadt Wien and has participated in the Taos Chamber Music Festival, New England Bach Festival, Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin, and the Institut fur Musik und Kirche, Bressanone, Italy. A frequent performer in the Baltimore-Washington area, Mr. Richter also regularly returns to his native Colombia as Artistic Director of the Festival Internacional de Música Barroca de Barichara, for recitals, concerto appearances and master classes. He has performed with the Washington Bach Consort, the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, The Delaware Symphony, Folger Consort, Brandywine Baroque, Philomel, Opera Lafayette, Public Musick of Rochester, Pro Musica Rara of Baltimore and the Four Nations Ensemble of New York. Currently Mr. Richter is a regular substitute player with the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, concertmaster of the Handel Choir of Baltimore Period Instrument Orchestra, a member of Tempesta di Mare in Philadelphia and of Melomanie in Wilmington as well as artistic director of La Rocinante Baroque Ensemble.

Associate Staff

Education: Peabody Institute, BM Violin Performance; Peabody Institute, MM Violin Performance

Specialties: Chamber Music, Violin

Divisions: Music

Chrysyn Harp is an international chamber and orchestral violist performing in Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway, Finland, Denmark, and Sweden. After studying with Charles Forbes at Settlement Music School, she received her Bachelor’s Degree from the Mannes College of Music, where she studied with Lillian Fuchs and Karen Ritscher, and her Master’s of Fine Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Purchase, where she was a graduate fellow and student of Ira Weller. While studying at Yale University, Chrysyn received her Master’s of Music Degree where she was the teaching and faculty assistant to Jesse Levine. Chrysyn began her teaching career under the tutelage of Roberta Gaspari of the East Harlem Violin Program, and later taught in the School District of Philadelphia where she founded the music department at the Academy at Palumbo High School serving as the choir conductor, orchestra conductor, and head of the music department. As an avid orchestral player, she has performed with many orchestras including the Norwalk Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Waterbury Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Classical Symphony, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

Regular

Education: Mannes College of Music, BM Violin Performance; State University of New York, MFA; Yale University, MM

Specialties: Viola, Violin, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Claire Coco is a cellist and music educator based in Philadelphia, PA. She earned a BM in Music Education from the Boyer College of Music at Temple University, where she studied with renowned cellist Jeffrey Solow. In addition to Settlement’s Music Education Pathways Program, Claire serves as a general music teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, where she aims to spread her love of music with young students.

Education: Temple University, BM Music Education and Cello

Specialties: Viola, Cello

Divisions: Music

Dan Schack is a designer, educator, clinician, adjudicator, and podcast host in the marching arts. He currently serves as the Creative Director of the George Mason University Indoor Drumline, the Production Manager of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Program Coordinator of the Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps.  Dan is the creator/host of the FloMarching program “On the 50,” on which he interviews the brightest minds in the marching arts. Dan proudly endorses Vic Firth drumsticks, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo drumheads, Pearl/Adams percussion instruments, and Lot Riot apparel. Outside of his musical endeavors, Dan holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and Women’s Studies from the University of Connecticut and a Master’s in English and Women’s Studies from Wright State University, where he specialized in contemporary literature.

Education: University of Conneticut, BA English; Wright State University, MA English

Specialties: Percussion, Drumline

Divisions: Music

Dana K. Fiero has been teaching for The Music Education Pathways Program since 2016.  She holds a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Music from Westminster Choir College and a Masters Degree in Music Education from Temple University where she focused on Vocal Development and Culturally Responsive Teaching.  She teaches K-8 music full time for the school district of Philadelphia.  She regularly performs with Singing City, PhilHarmonia and the Amici Opera Company as well as playing folk guitar and ukulele and performing original music.

Education: Westminster Choir College, BM Vocal Music; Temple University, MM Music Education

Specialties: Music Education Pathways, Choir

Divisions: Music

Philadelphia native Dana D. Jackson began her career in early childhood education in 1994 through volunteering at the Parent Infant Center. This experience led her to take classes at the Community College of Philadelphia, where she obtained an Associates degree in Elementary Education. After graduating from CCP, she attended Saint Joseph’s University, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 2000. She taught for five years at Educare Learning Center, then taught Kindergarten in the Philadelphia School District starting in 2004. Her love for the Early Childhood field led her to Settlement Music School, where her goal as a lead pre-school teacher is to provide a safe, healthy, fun, and inviting environment in which every child is able to experience new things through play, building healthy relationships, and feeling proud of who they are.

Head Teacher

Education: Community College of Philadelphia, AA Elementary Education; Saint Joseph’s University, BS Elementary Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 5)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Violinist/violist Daniel Elyar has been performing and teaching throughout the Delaware Valley region for ten years. After completing his Master’s in Baroque Performance Practice at the Royal Conservatory in the Hague, he relocated to Philadelphia and began teaching in the area and, following that, at Settlement Music School. He specializes in the Suzuki Method training and early aged instruction, but has really enjoyed the variety of other ages and backgrounds of students that Settlement naturally offers. Daniel Elyar has been at Settlement since 2003 and enjoys the challenge of teaching a full schedule there as well as actively performing and recording in Baroque music ensembles in NYC and up and down the East Coast.

Staff

Education: Royal Conservatory in the Hague, MM Baroque Performance Practice

Specialties: Violin, Viola, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Daniella Brown started dancing at the age of four at Kim’s Danceland in Springfield, Massachusetts. Daniella is trained in Frank Hatchett’s ‘VOP’ Jazz technique along with Ballet, Tap, Modern, West-African, and Hip-Hop. Daniella’s movement style reflects her Jamaican heritage and she has traveled to India and Nicaragua to study dance as a spiritual/therapeutic healing art. Daniella became Settlement Music School’s Kaleidoscope Preschool Creative Movement Instructor at the Germantown Branch in 2015, and also teaches Rhythm in Motion classes at Settlement. Daniella graduated from the Pratt Institute with a master’s degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and has experience working with adults with intellectual disabilities, youth in treatment programs, and children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Daniella founded Uzuri Dance Company at Temple University in 2013 and continues to perform professionally.

Regular

Education:

Specialties: Dance/Movement Therapy

Divisions: Creative Arts Therapy

David Shunskis is a pianist who is very active as a soloist, chamber musician, accompanist, and teacher. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Temple University in piano performance and music theory. His principal teacher was the late Vladimir Sokoloff of the Curtis Institute with whom he studied for over 10 years. He has also studied with Donn-Alexandre Feder, Orlando Cole, Edgar Ortenberg and Tana Bawden. Mr. Shunskis has taught at Settlement Music School for 40 years, where he also regularly presents recitals and children’s concerts. He is also Music Director and Organist of Trinity Memorial Church in Center City Philadelphia where he has conducted Fauré’s Requiem, Gounod’s St. Cecilia Mass and Stabat Mater. In 2011, as part of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts Mr. Shunskis played at the Kimmel Center as well as several times on the Jacob’s Music Noonday Recital Series at the Kimmel.

Regular

Education: Temple University, BM and MM Piano Performance and Music Theory

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

David Giles graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy (where he spent his last two years of high school) and then went on to Indiana University, where he studied viola with David Dawson and Abraham Skernick, and chamber music with Fritz Magg and Georgy Sebok.  From 1979-1982 he was a member of The Florida Orchestra, playing co-principal viola for the 1980-1981 season.  While there, he became a founding member of Tampa Musica Viva Chamber Players, whose NPR and PBS performances, as well as those at the University of Tampa and in St. Petersburg, received critical and audience acclaim. A Philadelphian for more than 25 years, David’s work has included performances with Pennsylvania Pro Musica, Orchestra 2001, Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, and Choral Arts Philadelphia, among many others.  He has performed in premieres of works by Rands, Fekete, Schnittke and others. He maintains an active studio, teaching privately and at Philadelphia’s venerable Settlement Music School.

Associate Staff

Education: Indiana University, BM Viola Performance

Specialties: Violin, Viola

Divisions: Music

David Keezing received his B.M. and M.M. in guitar performance at the Eastman School of Music, studying under guitarist and pedagogue Nicholas Goluses. David has also studied jazz guitar under Bob Sneider at Eastman and Rich Goldstein at The Hartt School, as well as performance practice and lute under Paul O’Dette. David has experience performing in a variety of contexts, from solo classical guitar; guitar ensemble performances, including a performance of Steve Reich’s Electric Counterpoint in Kilbourn Hall for the First Niagara Rochester Fringe Festival; chamber music; rock groups; jazz and jazz fusion; reggae; and renaissance lute in the continuo section of the Eastman’s Collegium Musicum. David also collaborates with his wife, April, who is a singer-songwriter, and helped produce and play guitars on her recent LP, Mountainview. As a teacher, David is on the faculty of the Settlement Music School. David has also taught guitar classes and coached rock bands and ensembles at Appel Farm Arts Camp in Elmer, NJ, where he was the director of the Music Department for several years.

Education: Eastman School of Music, BM and MM Guitar Performance

Specialties: Guitar

Divisions: Music

Denise Nix has been an Early Childhood Educator and music teaching professional for over 35 years. She earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education with High Honors from the Community College of Philadelphia, and while attending there, she earned the Phi Theta Kappa and National Hispanic Honor Society awards.

Denise is the founder of Denise’s Young Musicians & Performing Arts Studio, a home-based teaching studio where she teaches piano, violin, flute, guitar, and percussion to children and teens. Her studio has a professional Facebook page of over 500 followers where she has become most well-known for her patient, creative, and nurturing work with very young children. Her studio has served numerous families in her local community for almost 10 years.

Denise Nix is deeply committed to teaching children’s music, and her studio has provided musical scholarships, presented award ceremonies, and hosted solo concerts for the students in her studio. She has also written, directed, and produced several children’s plays and music recitals for her students at the Venice Island Performing Arts Theatre in Manayunk.

Denise has studied the Suzuki Piano Method with two of the founding members of the Kingston Suzuki Music Association, Valery Lloyd-Watts and Carole Bigler. Denise also trained under Irina Gorin, one of the most prominent piano pedagogues for children in the United States, who uses a unique blend of Russian and American piano teaching methods.

A licensed KiddyKeys piano instructor and member of the Piano Teachers Federation, Denise Nix is also the creator and founder of “BittyStrings”, her program for very young violin students from ages 2 and up.

As a former Childcare Director, Denise has had a wide range of experiences in the field of early childhood education.

Denise has volunteered many years as a Children’s Face Painter for public libraries, foster care agencies, and the Chestnut Hill Fall for the Arts Festivals. She currently serves on a women’s ensemble choir, and she is the children’s handbell choir director at her local church.

Denise is the proud mom of 3 talented young adult sons, one of whom performs the leading role of Lafayette/
Jefferson in the prestigious musical Hamilton. She enjoys preparing southern cuisine, crafting, writing, illustrating children’s books, and vlogging for her new YouTube channel.

Education: Community College of Philadelpia, AA Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Creative Movement, Children's Music Playshop

Divisions: Music, Dance

Diamond Franklin is a pianist and classically trained vocalist specializing in opera, jazz, and gospel music. A Mount Airy, Philadelphia native, Diamond has trained under renowned musicians Monnette Sudler, Ruth Naomi Floyd and Angel Joy Blue, and has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Walnut Street Theatre, and the Kimmel Center with Rock and R&B artists, Jon Bon Jovi and Estelle. Diamond received her Bachelor of Music from Cairn University in Langhorne, PA and has volunteered as a music therapist with the School District of Philadelphia for children with autism. Diamond is an early childhood music instructor at Settlement Music School. In addition to teaching and performing, Diamond loves reading historical fiction and spending time with her family and adorable tabby cat, Loki.

Education: Cairn University, BM

Specialties: Children's Music Workshop

Divisions: Early Childhood

Diane Goldsmith is a pianist who is much in demand as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and vocal accompanist. Winner of the Mason & Hamlin Competition, she regularly performs on regional arts series at cultural centers and colleges. Diane holds a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music and pursued her studies in chamber music, art song and opera at the Music Academy of the West. She did additional piano study with Gary Graffman. Diane has been a music critic and arts editor at major newspapers and also served as staff accompanist working with singers at Westminster Choir College. Her vocal trio, Follow the Drinking Gourd – named for the song used to guide slaves to freedom – and her chamber ensemble perform programs Diane develops, using music, narrative and images. With 20 years’ experience teaching, Diane takes special pride in bringing out the best in students by tailoring her approach to each student’s individual learning style, ability and musical interests.

Staff

Education: Manhattan School of Music, MM

Specialties: Piano, Musicianship

Divisions: Music

Ann Stookey and Joseph W. Waz, Jr. Distinguished Faculty Chair

Dolly Krasnopolsky was born in the USSR and graduated from Moldova State Conservatory in Kishinev with a Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Performing, Accompaniment, Education. Dolly has also had further training at the Moscow State Pedagogical University and at the Lithuanian State Conservatory, now known as The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. She was awarded the gold medal for Best Teacher in USSR for her outstanding work for preparing students. Many of Dolly’s students have gone on to win numerous competitions and awards. She earned her PhD in the study of Bach from the State University of Vilnius. Dolly arrived in Philadelphia in 1989 and began work as a faculty member at Settlement Music School. In 2012, Settlement awarded her with the Schoenberg Award for Teaching Excellence. Since then, many of her students have graduated from prestigious universities and have pursued music careers. Such notable students of hers is Quiara Alegría Hudes, who won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Staff

Education: Moldova State Conservatory Kishinev, BM and MM Performing, Accompaniment, Education; State University of Vilnius, PhD Study of Bach

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Born and raised in Decatur, GA, Donna Thompson is the youngest of 8 children. Raised by a mother and father whose careers are in music education, Donna began playing classical percussion and piano in the fourth grade.

She attended the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, where she became acutely aware of her race and gender while playing in orchestras across the United States. Donna began her studies with Tom Sherwood, now Percussionist with the Cleveland Orchestra, and Bill Wilder, Assistant Timpanist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. While in New York, she studied with the Principal Percussionist of the New York Philharmonic and Principal Timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.

Her performing career includes solo performances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, concerts with Opera Noire of New York as well as the Philadelphia Wind Symphony, and solo concerts for the National Black Arts Festival. Donna has also performed at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Carnegie Hall on numerous occasions.

After two years in New York, Donna transferred to Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where she began touring the east coast on jazz vibraphone.

Since beginning studies in the liberal arts, Donna has taken to writing about her experiences performing in a white, male-dominated field. She now writes about diversity, equity, and inclusion in classical music for the American Composers Forum.

Education: Spelman College, BA Music

Specialties: Music

Divisions: Kaleidoscope Preschool

Douglas J Tester, a native of Philadelphia holds a Bachelor of music from The Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts and a Master of Music from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. A frequent recitalist throughout the east coast, he has also concertized in Wisconsin and California. For fifty-one years he has served as organist and choir director for various main line Christian religions. Currently Mr. Tester is organist and choir director at St. Paul’s UMC in Warrington, PA and organist, pianist and accompanist at St. James School in Philadelphia. Some of his teachers include Dr. James E Hoy, organ, Audrey Tester, piano, Jodi Kidwell, voice.

Regular

Education: The Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, BM; Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford, MM

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Ed Contaldi is a Board Certified Music Therapist and certified Special Education Teacher. He received a Bachelor of Science in Special, Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Temple University. He studied Music Therapy in Immaculata University’s Graduate program . He is a Special Education teacher at HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy in Philadelphia. Ed provides individual music therapy at the Kardon-Northeast Branch. Ed is also certified in the Affect-Based Language Curriculum (Greenspan/Lewis) and Therapeutic Listening. His approach to Music Therapy is informed by Stanley Greenspan’s DIR/Floortime philosophy and techniques. He also specializes in the use of adaptive computer technology to enhance our students’ self-expression through music.

Regular

Education: Temple University, BS Special, Early Childhood, and Elementary Education; Immaculata University, Music Therapy Graduate study

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

Edward is a pianist/composer from the Dominican Republic. He received his early music education at The Fine Arts School in his hometown, San Francisco de Macorís, and continued at the National Conservatory of Music in Santo Domingo. Edwards was trained in classical and Afro-Caribbean piano as well as Dominican folkloric percussion, Harmony, and Latin American Orchestration. Upon moving to Philadelphia he attended the University of The Arts where he studied with AJ Luca, Tom Lawton, Norman David, Ron Kerber, Tony Micheli, Rick Hall, Arturo Stable, and Randy Kapralick among others. Edward graduated with a B.M. in Jazz Studies and a minor concentration in Music Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology. While at UArts, Edward performed with various ensembles including The Sound of Philadelphia, Salsa, and Standard Times. Adding to that, he had the honor to write original music for the Rick Kerber Tribute ensemble, and has also performed as a choral singer with the Philly Pops and the UArts choir, directed by Jeff Kern.  Edward is currently the keyboard player for two Latin American bands based in Philadelphia. One of his goals is to use music as a bridge to unite cultures.

Regular

Education:

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Clarinet study: A. Dell’osa, R. Schmidt, C. Turner, G. Rowe, A. Gigliotti, B. Portnoy, G. Mecoli. Sax study: V. Trombetta, H. Karabell. Flute study: J. Walker, F. Versaci, J. Kvell. Oboe study: S. Simon. Graduate of University of the Arts with Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education. Military Service with USMA Band. Glenn Miller Orchestra, Phil Giordano Jazz Orchestra, City Rhythm Orchestra, Philly Pops, many musical shows at various theaters. Opera Company of Philadelphia, extra saxophonist with Philadelphia Orchestra, Reading Symphony, Delaware Symphony Orchestra.

Regular

Education: University of the Arts, BM/BME

Specialties: Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone

Divisions: Music

A McBride Scholar and Bryn Mawr College Alum, Eileen Liebowitz has taught both piano and mixed ensemble at Settlement Music School for over four decades. A protégé of pianists Charles Engel and the legendary Natalie Hinderas, she also studied violin with Lillian Cinberg and counterpoint with Walter Burle Marx. As a frequent travelling companion of Natalie Hinderas, she often served as an additional set of eyes and ears for Hinderas, whether in rehearsal or at performance, in a role that afforded her unparalleled opportunities for the close observation of countless musicians: a notable array of prominent conductors, a diversity of solo and chamber artists, some of the most exuberant and accomplished black classical composers extant after the Harlem Renaissance, and at the colleges, an endlessly interesting assortment of academics.

One of the very first Settlement mainstream teachers to contribute to the school’s groundbreaking Manual for the teaching of children with disabilities and to thereby participate, as it were, in its concurrent founding of the Kardon Institute, Eileen Liebowitz quickly found herself inspired by and inspiring to a whole new set of students.

Undoubtedly, music is central to her existence, but an entire panoply of the arts is indispensable to Eileen Liebowitz as well. She has won prizes for poetry in several national competitions, collects museum-quality art, haunts film and film courses at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute; and while she would never wish her Steinway to lie too far beyond her ken, a well-stocked library, warm in winter and cool in summer, seems to represent the very essence of joy.

Regular

Education: Bryn Mawr College

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Elizabeth Nardone teaches music for Settlement and for the Community Partnership School in Philadelphia. At Settlement, Elizabeth conducts the Beginning and Junior orchestras for the MEP programs at Pastorius and Thomas Holme Elementary Schools. She also conducts the Junior and Intermediate Orchestras at the Germantown Branch and the Intermediate Orchestra at the MLC Branch. Elizabeth most recently earned her Masters of Music Education from Temple University in May 2018. She also has a Masters in Suzuki Cello Pedagogy from the University of Denver and received her undergraduate degree in cello performance from the University of South Carolina. When she is not teaching, Elizabeth enjoys running, reading, and gardening. She also loves to climb mountains in Colorado every summer.

Associate Staff

Education: University of South Carolina, BM Cello Performance; Temple University, MM Music Education; University of Denver, MM Suzuki Cello Pedagogy

Specialties: Cello, Music Education Pathways, Suzuki, String Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Emiko Edwards earned her Bachelors of Music in Performance from The Juilliard School and her Masters of Performance and Artist Diploma from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Ms. Edwards is currently based in Philadelphia where she is a Graduate Teaching Assistant and doctoral candidate at Temple University. Major teachers include Julian Martin, Ronan O’ Hora, Dr. Sara Davis Buechner, and Dr. Charles Abramovic. In addition to her principle study in London, she worked closely with Nelly Ben-Or (the first pianist to ever qualify as an Alexander teacher), studying the in-depth relationship between piano playing and the Alexander Technique. Ms. Edwards has been featured in performances at Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall), Merkin Concert Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Milton Court Concert Hall, and the Yamaha Salon. Her performances of Gorecki’s Piano Sonata and Four Preludes as well as Richard Rodney Bennett’s Noctuary: Variations on a Theme by Scott Joplin have all been recorded live for BBC and broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Regular

Education: The Juilliard School, BM Performance; Guildhall School of Music and Drama, MM Performance and Artist Diploma

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Emily Dawson moved to Philadelphia in the summer of 2020 and is excited to join the faculty at Settlement
Music School. A Maryland native, She began her musical studies in fourth grade when her mom required that
she learn to play the cello or the flute. She chose the flute because it was easier to carry and she never looked
back! Emily graduated from University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2016 with a Bachelors of Arts in both
Music Education and Flute Performance. She holds music teaching credentials in Maryland, California, and
Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching at Settlement, Emily teaches music in the School District of Philadelphia
at John Marshall Elementary School. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring Philadelphia, going to the gym,
and traveling to new countries. Emily loves her family, teaching music, and specialty lattes.

Education: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, BA Music Education and Flute Peformance

Specialties: Children's Music Workshop

Divisions: Early Childhood

Emily Larkin is a Board Certified Art Therapist and graduate of Drexel University’s Creative Arts Therapy Master’s program. She currently provides therapeutic art groups to families residing at Philadelphia’s Ronald McDonald House, while also working full time as the Assistant Director of Adjunctive Therapies at a local Psychiatric Hospital. She encourages patients to use art making as a form of self-expression as well as a non-verbal means of creating deeper connection with the self ; all of which serves to build the larger community. Emily studied Hatha Yoga in Dharamsala, India and incorporates mindfulness, meditation, and grounding in her art therapy practice. Increasing the mind-body connection through art making invites participants to tune in to the physical cues related to emotions such as anxiety and depression. Emily is passionate about approaching creating art as an exploratory process in which each person holds the ability to create their own unique and meaningful path.

Regular

Education: Drexel University, MA Creative Arts Therapy

Specialties: Art Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

As a Philadelphia native, Erin Ruggiero began her dance career at the age of 4 when she began taking ballet classes at Settlement Music School under the direction of Olga Blumenkrants. She went on to study dance education at DeSales University where she had the opportunity to study with various guest artists from around the world. Since receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Dance in 2001 she has been a featured dancer for Vada Dance Collective, a Philadelphia-based modern dance company. She has been teaching ballet and modern technique for 13 years in the Philadelphia and Bucks County area. Her choreography has been showcased at local and regional dance competitions. She excited to be teaching at Settlement Music School where it all began for her.

Regular

Education: DeSales University, BA Dance

Specialties:

Divisions: Dance

Eugene has taught Piano and Music Theory Instructor at Settlement Music School since 2000. He received his Bachelor’s in Music Education with Piano Concentration from Temple University, Esther Boyer College of Music. In addition to teaching Piano, Music Theory, and Choral Accompaniment, he has also played with a premier entertainment company – EBE, Events Beyond Expectations – for the past ten years.

Associate Staff

Education: Temple University, BM Music Education with Piano Concentration

Specialties: Piano, Musicianship

Divisions: Music

Eujin Bodek received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Piano Pedagogy at Temple University where she studied with Marian Filar and Charles Abramovic. She received a Master’s Degree in Science in Instructional Media at West Chester University. She also earned Suzuki Piano and Orff-Schulwerk Workshop Certificates. For over 20 years, Mrs. Bodek has been teaching piano and music classes at several local preschools and also at her family’s music school. She taught Traditional and Suzuki methods for piano and the Children’s Music Workshop at Settlement Music School and served as music teacher in the Kaleidoscope Pre-K Arts Enrichment Program from 1990 to 1996; she returned to Settlement’s faculty in 2013. She uses different pedagogical strategies to emphasize reading skills, basic theory, hand positions, and finger techniques with her students. Mrs. Bodek loves hiking with her husband and two children.

Associate Staff

Education: Temple University, BA Piano Pedagogy; West Chester University, MS Instructional Media

Specialties: Piano, Children's Music Workshop, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Felecia Williamson is an Assistant Teacher at Settlement Music School’s Kaleidoscope Pre-K program. She has a Child Development Associate accreditation. After having three children of her own, she fell into the field of early childhood education by a fluke opportunity in 2003. She realized from day one that she wanted to do nothing else and began to take classes and trainings to obtain the knowledge and skills to become a better teacher and co-worker and to continue to improve as a person both in and out of the classroom. She loves working at Settlement Music School and the Kaleidoscope program because it has allowed her to come in contact with so many families from all walks of life. She has never worked alongside people who were so compassionate and focused on their work.

Assistant Teacher

Education: Child Development, AA

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 3)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Fran Berge performs widely on both historical and modern instruments. She is a member of Tempesta di Mare and the Phoenix Ensemble and she performs frequently with the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Opera Philadelphia, Orchestra 2001, Melomanie, the Washington Bach Consort and the Carmel Bach Festival. Fran studied at the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, and Temple University. Principal teachers have included violist Karen Tuttle, Baroque violinists Marilyn McDonald, Stanley Ritchie, and Elizabeth Wallfisch. Through the EEFC and on the Greek island of Naxos, she has also learned a considerable repertoire of Romanian and Greek folk music by ear. She loves to teach and coach chamber music at all levels, which she does at Haverford College and Germantown Friends School as well as Settlement. When not playing music, Fran likes to be out kayaking in the Pine Barrens or camping in the mountains.

Associate Staff

Education: University of Michigan; Northwestern University; Temple University

Specialties: Chamber Music, Violin, Viola

Divisions: Music

Gail has many years of experience working in an early childhood setting. She has decided to make early learning part of her life’s work because she believes a child’s education is the most valuable thing in the world. Knowledge is power and she recognizes that the earlier it begins, the better for the child. Gail has been employed with Settlement Music School since 2008 and she truly feels that this is her second home.  She believes that some of the most important skills to have when working with little children is patience, flexibility and love. She is also thrilled to have obtained her teacher aid diploma, CDA and my associates degree in Early Childhood Education.

Assistant Teacher

Education: Early Childhood Education, AA

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 4)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Glenn I. Stanford is a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music with a B.A. in music education and an M.A. in elementary education from the then-Glassboro State College. A faculty member of the Settlement Music School saxophone staff for over 35 years, Mr. Stanford also has 37 years of public school instrument music teaching experience in the Camden City Public Schools. He has had many rich and varied performance experiences in classical, jazz, gospel and musical theater settings on the saxophone, clarinet and flute throughout his career. His primary approach to teaching is to foster and develop those skills that lead to a level of command of the instrument. With that command and appropriate stylistic knowledge, the student will be able to indulge in any kind of music that he or she desires.

Regular

Education: Boston Conservatory of Music, BA Music Education; Glassboro State College, MA Elementary Education

Specialties: Clarinet, Saxophone

Divisions: Music

Gregory Tsafos attended High school from 2001-2005 at Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). He attended undergrad at Temple University where he received a degree in Music Performance with a Tuba Concentration in 2011. He attended University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) where he received his Masters in Music Performance in 2014.

He began his teaching career as a Teaching Assistant with the UCLA Wind Ensemble as well as the UCLA Bruin Marching Band. When returning to Philadelphia, He was offered a position at Settlement Music School where he teaches Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Baritone and Tuba. He is also a teacher for weekend music programs geared toward teaching 3-8 year olds music and rhythm at Settlement Music School.

Some past teaching experiences have been teaching at Father Judge High school for 1 year as the Band Director as well as music outreach at Carnell Elementary, Hardy Williams Elementary and Lee Elementary as the brass teacher for after school programs. He also has worked offsite for Settlement at Hardy Williams High School as the Band Director as well as off-site with after school programs where he teaches Brass. He has also worked at several camps during summer break as a general music teacher. Such camps include the band camp at Ridley Park High School teaching the Low Brass, the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) where he taught young students the basics of music and rhythm in Camden New Jersey, as well as a summer program at Carnell Elementary.

Currently, Gregory is a Performer with the Philadelphia Wind Symphony as a member of the Tuba Section.

Associate Staff

Education: Temple University, BM Music Performance with a Tuba Concentration; University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), MM Music Performance

Specialties: Trombone, Trumpet, Tuba, Music Education Pathways, Baritone/Horn/Euphonium, French Horn, Children's Music Playshop, Children's Music Workshop

Divisions: Music

Guy West has been performing classical and flamenco guitar for over twenty-five years and has been teaching for over twenty years. His instruction primarily focuses on classical and flamenco styles and he enjoys teaching beginning to advanced students anything from Bach to bulerias.

After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Guitar Performance from Xavier University of Louisiana, Guy went on to obtain his Masters under Celin Romero from San Diego State University. It was during this time that he had the incredible opportunity to receive a private lesson with the legendary Maestro, Celedonio Romero. Masterclasses he has participated in include Pepe Romero, Jorge Morel and Adam Holzman. Guy has also studied flamenco guitar with Paco Sevilla and has researched the topic extensively.

Guy has been teaching at Settlement Music School since 2003 and currently performs as a soloist and flamenco accompanist.

Regular

Education: Xavier University of Louisiana, BM Guitar Performance; San Diego State University, MM

Specialties: Classic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar-Plectrum, Acoustic Guitar

Divisions: Music

Hannah Jordan holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Temple University, where she studied violin with Meichen Barnes of the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Hannah is currently an instrumental music teacher for the School District of Philadelphia, where she teaches strings at schools in West, North, and Northeast Philadelphia. She has also taught studios in Bucks and Chester County and has been on faculty at Temple’s Community Music Scholars’ Program, Musicopia String Orchestra, and the Philadelphia Music Alliance for Youth. In addition to teaching full time, Hannah enjoys performing regularly in the Philadelphia area.

Education: Temple University, BM Music Education and Violin

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

Prior to Settlement, double bassist Hans Hibbard worked as an Orchestra Director for various school districts around Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Central Jersey. Hans’ students have passed auditions for PMEA All-State Orchestra, PMEA District Orchestras, Youth Orchestra of Bucks County, and Rowan University Youth Orchestra, with his double bass sections always earning top awards. As a native of Philadelphia, Hans graduated from Central High School (262), studied music education at Chestnut Hill College, and earned a masters degree in Double Bass Orchestral/Chamber Performance from Rowan University. In addition to being a passionate educator, Hans is an avid freelancer in various symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, and pit orchestras in the Philadelphia region.

Education: Chestnut Hill College, BS Music Education; Rowan University, MM Double Bass Performance (Classical/Chamber Studies)

Specialties: Viola, Cello

Divisions: Music Education Pathways

A graduate from Tokyo University in Japan with BA in Economics, Sato completed her Master of Music in piano performance at the University of the Arts under Susan Starr and Marina Grin. She performed with various instruments and singers at the Academy of Community Music, Temple Music Prep, Wilmington Music school, as well as events of National Federation of Music Clubs. In pedagogy, Sato received the certificates from Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) for the completion of pedagogical seminars from Book 1 through 5 under Joan Krzywicki and Dr. Ray Landers. Sato has had the rare opportunity to observe legendary pedagogue Dorothy DeLay at Aspen Music Festival and School for 7 years. Aside from music, Sato holds Diplomas in Color Therapy and Aroma Therapy through the School of Natural Sciences in London.

Staff

Education: Tokyo University, BA Economics; University of the Arts, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Ian Sadock is an award-winning pianist and jazz composer from Philadelphia with unique research interests in the mechanics of improvised music, maintaining an active and expanding studio of piano and music theory students. With headline performances at world-class venues, such as the Kimmel Center, TIME, Chris’s Jazz Cafe, Sadock’s musical perspective is refreshing and innovative. His education included private study under John Swana, Dr. Theresa Klinefelter and Peter Paulsen at West Chester University, Don Glanden at The University of the Arts, Dr. Igor Resniaski and David Dzubinski at the Nelly Berman School of Music, and Arturo O’Farrill, amongst others. He holds a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from The University of the Arts, as well as a bachelor’s of music in Piano Performance with a concentration in Jazz from West Chester University. Honors and awards include two Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residencies, the Michael Falcone Jazz Scholarship and the Alta M. Ketner Outstanding Incoming Freshman Scholarship, Graduate Assistantship under The University of the Arts, and First Place in Nelly Berman 25th Anniversary Golden Key Competition.

Regular

Education: West Chester University, BM Piano Performance with a concentration in Jazz; University of the Arts, MM Jazz Studies

Specialties: Piano, Jazz Piano

Divisions: Music

Ilya Ovrutsky is a graduate of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow with a master’s degree in flute/piccolo performance and received his bachelor’s degree from the R. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music. Mr. Ovrutsky has performed extensively around the world  as a member of Symphony Orchestra of The Moscow Bolshoi Theater, and of the former USSR State Symphony Orchestra under direction of E. Svetlanov. He has performed in the major concert halls of Russia, USA,  Canada, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America under the baton of world renowned conductors including V. Gergiev, M. Jansons, P. Kogan, A. Lazarev, A. Litton, K. Mazur, G. Rozhdestvenski, Y. Simonov, Y. Temirkanov, A. Zhuraitis, and others. In the United States, Mr. Ovrutsky has appeared in Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall in New York, The Academy of Music in Philadelphia, and other top halls of the major cities.

A dedicated flute teacher since arriving in the United States in 1992, Mr. Ovrutsky has been teaching at Settlement Music School since 1993 and at the Main Line Music Academy since 2004.

Mr. Ovrutsky has created his own unique method of teaching kids ages 5 and younger, and has been using it successfully for many years. Among his graduate and his current students are winners of local and regional competitions, and worldwide concert performers. Mr. Ovrutsky’s students have been named top prize winners at the American Fine Art Festival (AFAF), and have repeatedly been First Prize winners at the Tri-County Competition as well as competitions of the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia.

Associate Staff

Education: R. Glier Kyiv Institute of Music, BM; Tchaikovsky Conservatory, MM Flute/Piccolo Performance

Specialties: Flute

Divisions: Music

Pianist Irene Pokrovsky was born in Baku, Azerbaijan. She started taking piano lessons at the age of 4 and continued her education at the Special School for Gifted Children with Sarra Axelrod. Upon her graduation, she was accepted to the Uzeir Gadjibekov Conservatory (Baku), where she received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Performance, Teaching and Accompaniment. Irene participated in music festivals and competitions throughout the former Soviet Union, receiving several major awards. In 1994, she immigrated to the United States and started teaching piano at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia in 1996. Since 2008, she has served as Sacred Music Director at McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst military base.

Staff

Education: Uzeir Gadjibekov Conservatory, BM and MM Performance, Teaching and Accompaniment

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Isabelle Sufler is a Settlement alumna and recent graduate of the world-renowned institution, Berklee College of Music, where she earned a degree in K-12 Music Education as a woodwind principal, specializing in musical theatre orchestra work. Isabelle is proficient in piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophones and has credits on productions of West Side Story, In the Heights, and Into the Woods, among many others. She currently is involved with the Broadway Theatre of Pitman as a pit musician.

Regular

Education: Berklee College of Music, BM K-12 Music Education

Specialties: Flute

Divisions: Music

Cellist Jacob Ginn enjoys a multifaceted career in music as both a performer and educator. He received his B.M. from the University of Arizona and M.M. from the University of Utah, both on full scholarship. Jacob is the cello instructor at Germantown Academy and previously taught in the University of Utah Preparatory Division and University of Arizona String Project. He frequently appears with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Pops, and Grammy-nominated True Concord Voices and Orchestra. During the summers, Jacob has received fellowships to attend Round Top Festival Institute, Texas Music Festival, and Britt Festival. When not thinking about music, Jacob enjoys traveling, hiking/trail running, and trying out new types of food.

Education: University of Arizona, BM Cello Performance; University of Utah, MM Cello Performance

Specialties: Cello

Divisions: Music

Jacqueline Westerduin is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music with a degree in
Classical guitar performance and has recently received her Masters degree in
Musicology from King’s College London. In addition to her academic pursuits,
Jacqueline is certified in the Orff-Schulwerk approach to music education and is working
towards her certification in the Suzuki method. Jacqueline has been teaching both
group music making and individual guitar lessons for over ten years, within which she
enthusiastically employs her Orff and Suzuki training. Jacqueline seeks to engage her
students in participation, play, and exciting challenges in an effort to instill a love of
music and desire learn.

In addition to teaching, Jacqueline has been a concert guitarist for nearly a decade in
her native New York City area, including performances at NYC’s Steinway Hall, the
Baruch Performing Arts Center, The Juilliard School, and Manhattan School of Music.
Jacqueline was also invited to Ward’s Pond Estate in Dolgeville, New York as a guest
performer and lecturer for the Dolgeville Philharmonia concert series.

Ms. Westerduin has participated in master classes with guitarists Jason Vieaux, Carlos
Barbosa-Lima, Pepe Romero, and David Russell.

Regular

Education: Manhattan School of Music, BM Classical Guitar Performance; King's College London, MM Musicology

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Ukulele

Divisions: Music

Jay (James) Klales is unique among Settlement’s faculty in that he did not attend a degree program. He studied independently with Classical Guitarists Peter Segal, Peter Colonna, and Joseph Mayes. He also studied Baroque and Renaissance Lute with Joseph Mayes. He studied improvisations with Jazz bassist Al Stauffer and Music Theory with Settlement’s own Donald Rappaport. Jay has also attended master classes in guitar with Oscar Ghiglia and Michael Lorimer and a master class in Ukulele with Jake Shimabukoro. “I tend to follow my curiosity and am fairly obsessive about my interests!” “Harnessing that obsessiveness to follow healthy choices has been my challenge!”
Jay began performing acoustic blues guitar and then became interested in Classical Guitar and the lute. He has performed with vocalist Molly Pyle, flutist Janet Schreiner and recorderist Orum Stringer. With Orum Stringer he has a recording on the Griffin Renaissance Label entitled “The Portable Weiss Festival”; Works for Baroque Lute and Recorder by Sylivius Leopold Weiss and Ernst Gottlieb Baron. The Portable Weiss Festival true to it’s name did a national tour sponsored in part by Borders Books and Music. The recording includes a premier of Weiss’ Sonata in F with a reconstructed flute part by Dr. Eileen Hadidian!

As a teacher at the Chestnut Hill College’s Arts camp , Jay developed a course called “The Art of Jamming”. The course made it possible for classically trained students and rock oriented students to collaborate. Jay also ran The Rock Shack at Burn Brae Camp for the Creative Arts for over a decade. Helping young students form bands and develop their performance and improvisational skills. Again with a preference for mixing instrumentation so that a clarinet or violin student can perform with an electric band or a rock oriented student can play with a string ensemble. The resulting “cross talk” between unlikely instrumentalists he finds fascinating. At the Willow Grove Branch this idea is also seen in the new ensemble “The XperiMentals”, a group using guitar, cello, violin and piano and some electronic technology!

Jay currently is interested in the Ukulele and it’s ability to create community and has taught both adult and children’s classes on that instrument. He has also attended two Ukulele Festivals as well as workshops on the technic and culture of the Ukulele.

Regular

Education: Private Study

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Guitar-Plectrum

Divisions: Music

Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kardon Distinguished Faculty Chair

Jean Louise Shook received her Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University where she studied violin and chamber music with Edgar Ortenberg (formerly of the Budapest String Quartet) and piano with George Sementovsky and Natalie Hinderas. She has been a faculty member of the Settlement Music School since 1975, teaching violin, coaching chamber music and performing as a staff accompanist. Since 1999 Ms. Shook has held the ‘Mr. and Mrs. Donald Kardon Distinguished Faculty’ chair at Settlement. In 2005 she was awarded the Sol Schoenbach Award for outstanding service to the school. As pianist, Ms. Shook has frequently accompanied master classes of Pamela Frank, Ida Kavafian, Jaime Laredo, David Kim, Kim Kashkashian and Michael Tree, sponsored by Philadelphia Chamber Music Society. Ms. Shook performs as violinist and pianist with the Elysian Camerata and is a member of and music arranger for the Danoff String Quartet. She has shared her passion for music and teaching with students of all skill levels and has had students presented on “From the Top” at Carnegie Hall, quarterfinalists in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and winners of the Tri-County Competition.

Staff

Education: Temple University, BM Violin Performance

Specialties: Chamber Music, Violin

Divisions: Music

Jean Rauch is a Head Teacher for the Kaleidoscope Pre-school Arts Enrichment Program. She has worked for Settlement Music School for 17 years. Jean has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Chestnut Hill College and is currently working on her Master’s Degree with a dual certification in Pre-K-Early Elementary and Pre-K-8 Special Education. Jean loves working with children and enjoys the feeling one gets when the children enter the classroom with a big smile on their faces. She also enjoys spending time with her own children and going to the beach.

Head Teacher

Education: Chestnut Hill College, BA Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 1)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Lillian Kraus Felber Distinguished Faculty Chair

Jeffrey Uhlig has appeared as collaborative pianist in many concerts in America and in Russia. He is in demand as a chamber music player and accompanist and has performed with many outstanding singers and instrumentalists including members of The Philadelphia Orchestra, The New York Philharmonic and The Metropolitan Opera. Some of his most notable collaborations have been with Metropolitan Opera mezzo soprano Barbara Dever, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Trombonist Nitzan Haroz and Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim. For over 30 years he has taught at Settlement Music School in Philadelphia where he holds The Lillian Kraus Felber Distinguished Faculty Chair in Piano. In New Jersey, Mr. Uhlig is Principal Keyboard and Vocal Coach with The Ocean City Pops Orchestra. For many years he served as Principal Keyboard with Princeton Symphony Orchestra. He studied piano with William Masselos and Gaby Casadesus and studied art song literature with Dalton Baldwin. He received a Master of Music Degree from West Chester University.

Staff

Education: West Chester University, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Originally from Philadelphia, Jenny Singer is licensed in Early Childhood Education and has experience teaching in classrooms as a preschool educator as well as an art and music instructor. She loves her dog, singing, yoga and knitting.

Early Childhood PS4

Education: The College of Wooster, BA Art History

Specialties:

Divisions: Early Childhood

Jessica Fein earned her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy at Elizabethtown College. Jessica is a classically trained mezzo-soprano and began singing and performing from a young age. Her love of music and helping others inspired her to pursue Music Therapy. She worked with children and adults of all ages and abilities throughout her clinical practicum experiences in college. She completed her music therapy internship at New Avenues to Independence working with adults aged 20-95 with developmental disabilities, emotional behavioral disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dementia, Cerebral Palsy, and multiple disabilities. She provided both in-person and telehealth services. Jessica has worked within adult day services, community-based services, group homes, a children’s hospital, and a music therapy clinic. In her spare time, she enjoys walking, reading, dancing during Zumba classes, and spending time with her family and friends.

Education: Elizabethtown College, BM Music Therapy

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Creative Arts Therapy

Jody Kidwell is a graduate of Ohio State University with a B.M. in Vocal Performance; a graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts; and twice attended The American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Ms. Kidwell was a winner in the Third Luciano Pavarotti/Opera Company of Philadelphia (OCP) International Voice Competition, and was chosen by Mr. Pavarotti to sing in a production of Luisa Miller filmed by PBS. She sang the role of Desideria in Giancarlo Menotti’s The Saint of Bleecker Street to critical acclaim at the Academy of Music, originated the roles of Mrs. Medlock in The Secret Garden with Pennsylvania Opera Theater and Ester Zikorn in Center City Opera Theater’s premiere of Slaying the Dragon, and has performed with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Columbus, Opera Delaware, and other opera companies. She has performed with orchestras throughout North and South America, is a frequent guest soloist with choral groups, and can be heard on the Lyrichord label in recordings of Mozart’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with Vox AmaDeus Ensemble.

Staff

Education: Ohio State University, BM Vocal Performance; Academy of Vocal Arts

Specialties: Voice

Divisions: Music

John M Frazier, a native of Philadelphia, holds a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from Temple University where he went on a full scholarship. Teachers include the late Anthony Gigiliotti (Philadelphia Orchestra), George Silfies (St. Louis Symphony) and Ronald Reuben (Philadelphia Orchestra). He has been on the faculties of Luzerne Music camp where he performed chamber music with members of the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has played with Delaware Symphony, Opera Delaware, Harrisburg Symphony and The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Mr. Frazier held positions at Ursinus College as well as Temple University and currently is an affiliate artist with Cairn University. He has played with The Lettermen, Van Cliburn and many others, and recorded with members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and worked with such conductors as Alan Gilbert, Lawrence Leighton Smith and Stephen Gunzenhauser. Mr. Frazier resides in Abington, PA with his wife Phyllis, their children Madeleine and John.

Regular

Education: Temple University, MM Clarinet Performance

Specialties: Clarinet, Saxophone

Divisions: Music

John Kairis is a versatile musician with many hats, including composer, pianist, vocalist, producer, and music educator. He earned a Master of Music in Composition from Temple University. John has experience composing and performing in a wide variety of genres, including classical, jazz, rock, electronica, and pop. He enjoys teaching students of all ages with unique musical goals.

Education: University of Delaware, BA Political Science; Temple University, MM Composition

Specialties: Musicianship

Divisions: Music

Jordan Graef graduated from Temple University in May 2013 with a B.M. in Music Education (Saxophone Concentration). While at Temple he studied saxophone with Marshall Taylor, Dick Oatts, and Tim Warfield and was part of the Diamond Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Lab Band, and University Chorale. In addition to teaching with Settlement, he teaches for The School District of Philadelphia as a Classroom Instrumental Music Teacher; he serves six schools throughout the week, teaching woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings to students in grades 4 – 12. Mr. Graef has also worked on the marching band staff of Strath Haven High School as a woodwind technician and marching instructor. He is active as a performer in many genre and is also an active member of the National Association for Music Education and a brother of the national music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Education: Temple University, BM Music Education

Specialties: Band, Woodwinds, Clarinet, Saxophone, Music Education Pathways

Divisions: Music

Jorge Ramos graduated from the Adventist School of Music and EAFIT School of Music in Colombia. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 2008 and a Masters Degree in Music Performance in 2017 with the Doctor in Music Samuel Brian Farley. In his career as a musician he has ben part of a variety of ensembles performing different music styles from classical music, Jazz, Bossa Nova, and Latin Music in Colombia, Venezuela, and Bolivia. As a professor Jorge was a member of the Colombia Adventist Music School Faculty from 2013 to 2017 as a piano and functional piano teacher.

Education: Columbia Adventist University, BM Music Education; EAFIT University - School of Music, MM Piano

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Joseph Mancuso is a graduate of The Eastman School of Music where he received his Bachelor of Music in Applied Music. His principal teachers include Ramon Ricker, James Kalyn, Frank Mazzeo, and Anthony Ciccarelli. Throughout his career, Joe has had extensive performance/teaching experience in classical, jazz, ethnic, pop/rock, and musical theater settings, as well as teaching music theory and improvisation. Joe has been on the faculty of Settlement since 1996.

Regular

Education: The Eastman School of Music, BM Applied Music

Specialties: Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute

Divisions: Music

Joshua Kwon is a pianist and educator with undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Music Performance from Appalachian State University in North Carolina and masters degrees in Piano Pedagogy and Piano Performance from Temple University in Pennsylvania.  His teachers include Bair Shagdaron and Rodney Reynerson in North Carolina and Maria Pico del Taylor and Charles Abramovic in Philadelphia.  He enjoys both teaching and performing and has been a performer for both small and large venues including a performance with the Asheville Symphony and small charity concerts for local organizations such as the LuLu Shriners organization.  Currently he is a teaching and performing in both New Jersey and the city of Philadelphia.

Regular

Education: Appalachian State University, BM Music Education and Music Performance; Temple University, MM Piano Pedagogy and Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

A native of North-Central Pennsylvania, Katherine Mallon-Day is an active performer in the Philadelphia area. She performs with the Opera Philadelphia chorus and the Philadelphia Singers Chorale, and is the alto soloist at St. Peter’s Church in the Great Valley. A singing actor as well, Katherine has performed with the Arden Theatre Company, the Media Theatre for the Performing Arts, the People’s Light and Theatre Company, Gretna Theatre, and the Lost Colony in North Carolina. She has been featured locally in cabaret and solo recitals. She is a graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Temple University, where she received Master of Music degrees in Vocal Performance and Musicology. Katherine has been a member of the Voice Faculty of Settlement Music School since 1987. Kate shares her life with husband Rich, and her favorite pastime (other than making music!) is hiking with family, friends and her dogs, Willow and Merlin.

Staff

Education: University of Pennsylvania, BM; Temple University, MM Vocal Performance and Musicology

Specialties: Voice

Divisions: Music

Organist and early keyboard specialist Kathleen Scheide earned degrees at New England Conservatory and the University of Southern California. Dr. Scheide has concertized as a throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Far East and the Caribbean. She is a published composer with a large imprint discography. She also teaches at several local colleges. Scheide lives in a 17th-century stone house, Wiggan, and plays organ in the 1740 stone barn at Church of the Loving Shepherd, Bournelyf, West Chester. Dr. Scheide is a Past Dean of the American Guild of Organists, San Diego Chapter, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Philadelphia Chapter. She was a Founding Member and of the San Diego Harpsichord Society and the Western Early Keyboard Society.

Staff

Education: New England Conservatory; University of Southern California

Specialties: Organ, Piano, Harpsichord

Divisions: Music

Kaveh Saidi is a violinist with eighteen years of full time public and private school teaching experience and a lifetime of professional performance experience. He has served as the String Orchestra Director at the Episcopal Academy and as adjunct instructor of violin and viola at Immaculata University. Kaveh has served on the faculty of the Settlement Music School as conductor and violin instructor, and has taught music theory and string orchestra at the Governor’s School of North Carolina.

Kaveh holds degrees in violin performance from the University of Texas (BM ’96) and Boston University (MM ’99) and is PA State certified in music education (K-12, level II). Kaveh is also a Suzuki registered violin instructor.

Kaveh Saidi is currently an instrumental music teacher in the School District of Philadelphia, where he teaches group lessons for violin, viola, cello and bass at six school locations. He is in his fifteenth year. Kaveh also writes and records original violin music and performs as an electric violinist in a pop wedding band and at wedding ceremonies with EBE Talent.

Education: University of Texas in Austin, BM Music Performance; Boston University, MM Music Performance

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

Kaye has been teaching Ballet at Settlement Music School since 1995. She received a Bachelor of Classical Dance from the National School of Ballet in Peru. She danced for five years in Ballet de Camara and seven years at Ballet Municipal in Lima. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Science and majored in Social Work Universidad Mayor de San Marcos. She moved to the United States in 1987 to attend the University of the Arts and the Pennsylvania Ballet. In 1988 she won first place at the Spotlight National Dance Competition and also danced for five years with the Mercury Dance Company in Philadelphia. In 1996, Kaye continued her education at Cabrini College and started teaching Creative Movement in the Kaleidoscope program. She offers teacher training and professional development workshops and collaborates with the Hispanic community. Kaye is the 2012 recipient of the Sol Schoenbach Award for Outstanding Service at Settlement Music School.

Staff

Education: National School of Ballet, BA Classical Dance; Universidad Mayor de San Marcos, BS Social Science

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (Dance)

Divisions: Dance, Early Childhood

Kayla Sadowy holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Capital University and a Masters of Music Therapy from Temple University. She has worked extensively in hospice care and bereavement, as well as in Hear Our Voices, an evidenced based song-writing program for children through Temple’s Arts and quality of Life Research Center. Kayla believes music therapy is a driving force of growth, discovery, and dignity and places these aspects at the forefront of her practice.

Regular

Education: BME, Capital University; MA, Temple University

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Arts Therapy

Kevin Robinson brings an intelligent, warm and sensitive presence to his performances.  A native of the Philadelphia area, he grew up in a family of professional musicians who planted the seed for his musical explorations.  He began playing electric guitar at the age of fourteen and shifted to classical guitar during his undergraduate studies.  He revels in the performance of new works and the expansion of concert repertoire.

Kevin played the U.S. premiere of Nikita Koshkin’s Megaron Concerto with string orchestra and has performed for a number of audiences, including the Reading Symphony Orchestra League, and the Settlement Music School – the home of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society.  In addition to classical performance, Kevin has played jazz guitar on stage with the eminent composer Maria Schneider, and saxophonist Dave Liebman.

Kevin completed a Master of Music degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the studio of Marc Teicholz.  He has been selected to play in masterclasses taught by Manuel Barrueco, Denis Azabagic, and Dominic Frasca.

Mr. Robinson completed his bachelor’s degree at The George Washington University in 2011 while studying with Berta Rojas. He presented a lecture-recital on Manuel Maria Ponce’s Sonatina Meridional as his graduation thesis, with the composer Douglas Boyce as his adviser.  He previously studied classical guitar with Orlando Roman, and jazz guitar with John Albertson and Chris Covatta.

Regular

Education: The George Washington University, BA Music; San Francisco Conservatory of Music, MM

Specialties: Classic Guitar, Electric Guitar

Divisions: Music

Krysta A. Fogel has been a cello and children’s music instructor at Settlement Music School since 2016 and has been loving every second of it! A classically trained cellist, Krysta has received a Bachelor’s of Music Degree in Violoncello Performance from Shenandoah University and a Master’s of Music Degree in String Pedagogy from Temple University. Throughout life’s journey, she found a passion for children’s music education and has additional training in the Suzuki method (cello levels 1-4) and Orff Schulwerk (levels 1&2). Krysta loves seeing a diverse age range of students each week and believes that music is a living, breathing entity that can grow and bring enjoyment all throughout life.

Associate Staff

Education: Shenandoah University, BM Violoncello Performance; Temple University, MM String Pedagogy

Specialties: Cello, Children's Music Playshop, Children's Music Workshop, Suzuki

Divisions: Music, Early Childhood

Russian pianist Larisa Kifyak was born in Moscow to the family of a military engineer. After living in Germany for a couple years, she moved to Moldova with her parents, bringing a wonderful, ancient piano. Probably, that fact had an influence on her future musical career. She loved her piano dearly and began taking lessons at the young age of five. In a few months, her first piano teacher recommended for her to become a professional pianist. After graduating from a professional music school, where she gave her first piano recital, Larisa then continued her studies and graduated from the Gnesin Music Academy, with honors (Master’s degree) in Moscow. Following that, she pursued her education at the postgraduate course of St. Petersburg Conservatory (Ph.D). During her studies, she gave many solo and accompanying performances. After graduation, she worked as a teacher and accompanist at the Moldavian Conservatory and continued to perform in Moldova, Russia, and abroad.

Staff

Education: Professional Music School, BM Piano; Gnesin Music Academy, MM Piano Performance; St. Petersburg Conservatory, Ph.D

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Latrisha is currently an Assistant Teacher at Settlement Music School. She has worked as an Early Childhood Educator for the last 10 years. Her specialty is with children ages three to five years old. She started her career in Early Childhood Education after graduating from Kingsborough Community College where she earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. Previously, she worked for the military where she continued to gain knowledge and experience in Early Childhood Education. Latrisha also owned and facilitated a daycare for five years. She currently attends the Community College of Philadelphia where she continues to pursue a meaningful education. Latrisha lives in Philadelphia with her young family.

Assistant Teacher

Education: Kingsborough Community College, AA Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 1)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Laura Kate Marshall, a voice teacher at Settlement Music School since 2016, is an internationally, classically trained soprano. A versatile singer, Laura has performed Opera, Zarzuela, Art Song and Musical Theatre across the United States and in Europe. Laura has worked with The Little Orchestra Society and the Oratorio Society of New York, opened the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and was a guest on The Late Show as a member of the Broadway production of A Christmas Carol. Her most recent project was serving as the Music Director and Vocal Instructor for the 2018 Summer Youth Musical Theatre program of Philadelphia’s production of “Beauty and the Beast”. Laura’s bachelors degree began at NYU in Musical Theatre and was completed in Vocal Performance at the Longy School of Music of Bard College. Laura also holds a Masters of Vocal Performance with a focus on Early Music from the Longy School of Music of Bard College.

Regular

Education: Longy School of Music of Bard College, BA Musical Theatre; Longy School of Music of Bard College, MM Vocal Performance

Specialties: Voice

Divisions: Music

Arthur Judson Distinguished Faculty Chair

Lee Snyder received his Bachelor’s Degree from the Oberlin Conservatory, where he studied with Stuart Canin (Paganini Competition winner). He earned two Master’s Degrees, one from Juilliard School while studying with Ivan Galamian and Dorothy Delay and the other from State University of New York at Stony Brook. He was a member of the American Symphony under Leopold Stokowski and the Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia under Anshel Brusilow. He has concertized in the U.S., Germany, and Central America. He has also performed concerti with several of the local orchestras. For many years, Mr. Snyder was a member of the Alverthorp Trio. As a teacher, Snyder has had nine students perform as soloists with the Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as having many students win the local community orchestra solo competitions. Two of his former students are presently members of the Philadelphia Orchestra while others have graduated from the Curtis Institute, the Juilliard School of Music, Eastman, Cleveland Institute of Music, Peabody, and others. His students have positions in other major orchestra and there are a number of former students on the Settlement Music School faculty.

Special Arrangement Staff Faculty

Education: Oberlin Conservatory, BM Violin Performance; State University of New York at Stony Brook, MM

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

Dr. Linda Reichert has enjoyed teaching piano at the Settlement Music School for more than 30 years; in addition, for the past seven years, she has coached the Benjamin and Carol Auger Contemporary Piano Quartet, an Advanced Study scholarship ensemble at Settlement. While completing her doctoral degree in piano performance at Temple University during the 1980s, she co-founded the Network for New Music, an organization devoted to performing and commissioning new music by living composers. As Artistic Director, she has helped lead NNM into prominence as one of the finest new music ensembles and commissioning organizations in the country. She regularly performs with the Network Ensemble, and is in demand as a speaker, music panelist, board member, and judge for numerous organizations and competitions. In addition to her passion for music, Linda enjoys gardening, dancing, hiking, traveling and being with her family.

Regular

Education: Temple University, D.M.A Piano Performance

Specialties: Chamber Music, Piano

Divisions: Music

Lisa Chae enjoys teaching, as it is a big part of her life. It is her passion to teach others and help them appreciate music in a special way. Lisa is a graduate of The Mannes College of Music with an artist diploma and studied with Ms. Powers and Ms. Hyman. She also received a Bachelors of Music from The Philadelphia College of Performing Arts. While there, she studied with Mr. Whitten and Dr. Feder. Lisa received Certificates from the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She taught piano at the Academy of Children’s Music in Fort Washington from 1983-91. She was the music director and accompanist at the Calvary Presbyterian Church of Elkins Park from 1984-87. Lisa has been teaching at Settlement Music School since 1992 using the Suzuki and Traditional methods. She has taught students of all ages and levels. Lisa enjoys painting, baking, running, traveling, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Regular

Education: The Philadelphia College of Performing Arts, BM Piano Performance; The Mannes College of Music, Artist Diploma

Specialties: Piano, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Lois Ann DiDomenico received her Bachelor of Music degree from The Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Alison R. Drake, and her Master of Music degree from the Philadelphia Musical Academy as a student of Genia Robinor and Jani Szanto. Additional studies were at the Peabody Conservatory of Music (Esteban), the International Summer School of the Arts in Nice, France, Suzuki Piano Certification with Patricia Freeman, and Children’s Music Workshop training with Martha Glaze Zook. She teaches both traditional and Suzuki methods. In 2007, she received the Sol Schoenbach Award for distinguished service to Settlement. She also taught piano for ten years at Friends Central School. Lois is a member of The Leschetizky Association of NYC and also serves on the board of her local community development corporation which supports start-up business/artist ventures. She and her husband have three sons who all studied at Settlement, and her other passions include gardening and raising Great Danes.

Staff

Education: Philadelphia Musical Academy, BM Piano Performance; The Philadelphia Musical Academy, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Settlement alumnus Luke Honer began his guitar studies with William Peters in 1992. He went on to study the classical guitar at The Hartt School of Music where he received full tuition scholarships for his bachelors and masters degrees and was the first undergraduate guitarist to be admitted into the “Performance 20/20” honors chamber music program. At Hartt, Luke studied with Richard Provost and competed in numerous guitar competitions, he was 2nd place national finalist of the 2003 MTNA Classical Guitar Competition held in Salt Lake City. Luke has been teaching guitar at Settlement since 2004, in addition to his many private students he also teaches guitar classes and coaches ensembles.

Staff

Education: The Hartt School of Music, BM Classical Guitar; The Hartt School of Music, MM Classical Guitar

Specialties: Bass Guitar, Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar, Electric Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar-Plectrum

Divisions: Music

Lynne Budnick-Lennon received a BA in Violin Performance from the New School of Music where she studied with Yumi Ninomiya Scott, violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She received Suzuki Violin certification after studying with Linda Fiore and is active as a chamber musician around the Philadelphia area. Ms. Budnick Lennon has received additional specialized training in the teaching of young children from Temple University.

Staff

Education: New School of Music, BA Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Madison Frank received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy at Temple University and is back pursuing her Master’s in Music Therapy and Licensed Professional Counseling. Madison began playing viola in 2007 and through her various orchestral experiences she saw firsthand the power that music has in the lives of all. This encouraged Madison to pursue Music Therapy as a career. She completed her music therapy internship at the Bucks County Intermediate Unit and Camp Pegasus working with students 5-21 with developmental disabilities, emotional behavioral disorders, psychiatric diagnosis, severe medical conditions, multiple disabilities, both undiagnosed and diagnosed ADHD, learning differences, and high functioning Autism. She worked within behavioral health facilities, pediatric specialty care facilities, therapeutic social skills camp, and within a juvenile detention center. Madison is excited and proud to be a part of the staff at Settlement Music School.

Regular

Education: Temple University, BM Music Therapy

Specialties: Music Therapy

Divisions: Creative Arts Therapy

Margarita Genova has been a member of Settlement Music School’s faculty since 2019. She earned a Master’s of Music in piano from the Academy of Music. Her major teachers include A. Kantardjiev, K. Fileva and Dimo Dimov, professor at the National Academy of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria. Margarita has performed as a soloist with Orpheus Orchestra and R. Christov, conductor in 1992 performing Haydn’s Keyboard Concerto in D Major, J. S. Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No.1 in D Minorin 1993, and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue in 1996. In 1997, Margarita came to the US to make an arrangement of the jazz opera Vanqui by L. Burrs for voice and piano. The premiere in 1999 in Columbus, OH featured Aretha Franklin.

Regular

Education: Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, BM Piano and Pedagogy; Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, MM Piano and Pedagogy

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Maria holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Baylor University and is continuing her graduate studies in piano performance at Temple University with Dr. Charles Abramovic. Maria enjoys performing both solo repertoire, which she has performed at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall several times, and chamber music of various styles. In addition to piano, Maria has played the violin since the age of 8, exploring musical styles such as classical, jazz, and fiddle, and holding positions in the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra, the Baylor Symphony Orchestra, and the Waco Symphony Orchestra. Maria is an avid learner of the Taubman Technique.

Regular

Education: Baylor Universtiy, BM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Marissa DeVita is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Board Certified Art Therapist with 10 years of experience. She earned her Masters in Counseling Psychology with a specialization in Art Therapy from Caldwell College. Marissa has provided art therapy through Settlement’s Kardon Center for the Arts Therapies (and formerly Kardon Institute) for the past 9 years. At the Widener Memorial School, she facilitates school-wide community based art projects including murals and art installations. Marissa also has experience working with populations including autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, child behavioral disorders, depression, anxiety, divorce, grief and loss and eating disorders. She has worked in varied settings including hospitals, outpatient facilities, schools and community health centers in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and has supervised several art therapy students. Marissa is also currently employed part-time as an art therapist at IBC Counseling outpatient facility in Trevose.

Regular

Education: Caldwell College, MA Counseling Psychology

Specialties: Art Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

In the last 50 years, Martin Knoblauch has conducted over 500 works of orchestra, opera and choral repertoire throughout the Philadelphia area. His musical interests extend from Gregorian Chant to Wagner. He has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Orchestral and Opera Conducting from the University of the Arts. From 1968 to 1978 he served as an Assistant Conductor with the Philadelphia Lyric Opera, the Philadelphia Grand Opera and the Opera Company of Philadelphia while also conducting the Symphony Club of Philadelphia, the Olney Symphony Gilbert and Sullivan Players and serving as Music Director for the Appel Farm Spring Opera Festival and Summer Program. For over 25 years he was the Music Director of the Chestnut Hill Orchestra and was Music Director of the Northeast Oratorio Society. He has also served in various teaching positions including posts at Girard College and West Catholic High School for Girls. Knoblauch has worked for many years as a Church Musician and recently retired from his post as Music Director and Principal Organist for the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Philadelphia.

He is Music Director of the Pennsylvania Lyric Opera Theater in Scranton, a regular guest conductor for the Orchestra Society of Philadelphia and the Amici Opera. He also directs Bach Cantatas from his harpsichord with members of the opera companies and churches with which he is associated. This coming April he returns to the Kokomo Campus of Indiana University to conduct West Side Story.

He has a Juris Doctor degree from Temple University School of Law and is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and the Federal Bar for the the Third Circuit.

When not involved in the practice of music or law, he pursues a myriad of interests including Amateur Radio, Astronomy, Medicine and Ancient Languages. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife Dianne of 46 years who is a violinist and singer.

Regular

Education: University of the Arts, BM and MM Orchestral and Opera Conducting; JD Temple University School of Law

Specialties: Adult Chamber Orchestra

Divisions: Music

Mary C. Willihnganz has been teaching flute and coaching both piano-based and woodwind ensembles for many years at Settlement. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance with a minor in Music Education from Marywood College, an A.M. in Musicology from Brown University and a Certificate from the Conservatoire Americain in Fontainebleau, France, where she studied flute with Rene LeRoy and Pierre Paubon. After Fontainebleau, she moved to Paris where she studied flute with Christian Larde and spent three years as a private student of Nadia Boulanger. Her American flute teachers have been John Krell and Murray Panitz in Philadelphia and James Pappoutsakis in Boston. She has taught on the faculty of College Misericordia in Dallas, PA, and has operated a private studio in Ann Arbor, MI, where she taught piano and flute. She is active as a freelance player in the greater Philadelphia area. She and her husband, Walter D. Willihnganz, M.D., live in Central Bucks County, where they are active members of the County Theatre and from which they make regular trips to the Metropolitan Opera in NYC.

Regular

Education: Marywood College, BM Flute Performance; Brown University, AM Musicology

Specialties: Flute

Divisions: Music

Max McBride earned two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Technology Education and a Bachelor of Art in Music from SUNY Oswego, where he also minored in Audio Recording and Production. He studied primarily with Eric Schmitz and Rob Auler. During his undergraduate education he had the opportunity to study in Cuba for five months, where he was able to further explore his love for Afro-Cuban music. He then went on to earn his Master of Music in Jazz Pedagogy from the University of Northern Iowa. In graduate school, he studied primarily with Chris Merz and Michael Conrad. He is an avid composer for both small and large jazz ensembles.

Education: State University of New York Oswega, BS Technology Education & BA Music; University of Northern Iowa, MM Jazz Pedagogy

Specialties: Piano, Jazz Piano, Music Technology

Divisions: Music

Settlement organ and piano faculty member, McEwan Walters began his early keyboard studies with Ruth Thompson and Stella Knobel in Winnipeg before moving on to his baccalaureate studies at the University of Washington. During his undergrad, McEwan studied organ with Lockreem Johnson, piano with Donald King, and music theory and counterpoint with Paul Creston. After receiving a bachelor’s in music and in music education, McEwan returned to Winnipeg as an elementary school music teacher while continuing his piano studies with Leonard Isaacs of the University of Manitoba. McEwan went on to earn his master’s of music at the University of Minnesota studying piano with Bernard Wieser and organ with Duncan McNabb, followed by post-graduate studies at Temple University where he studied organ with Robert Smart and John Binsfeld, music history with Eve Meyer, and Harpsichord with Temple Painter. Currently, McEwan performs in a piano duo with fellow Settlement faculty member, Michael Caruso, and serves as the Organist and Choir Director at Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Staff

Education: University of Washington, BM Piano/BME; University of Manitoba, MM Piano; Temple University, MM Organ

Specialties: Organ, Piano

Divisions: Music

Melissa Walton is the Head Teacher in PS7. She is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania in which she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and Family Relations. She also obtained her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Arcadia University.

Melissa has been teaching for 11 years and has taught children from age 1 up to the first grade. Being a teacher is her passion. She believes that children learn best in a safe, positive learning environment with hands on experience.

When she’s not in the classroom, she’s spending time at home with her mom and dog. She loves to read, shop, cook, clean and hangout with her friends.

Head Teacher

Education: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, BA Child Development and Family Relations; Arcadia University, MM Elementary Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 7)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Mervin Toussaint is an active saxophonist, keyboardist, producer, and music educator in the Philadelphia area.
With a B.M. in Saxophone Performance and an M.M. in Jazz Studies from the University of the Arts, Mervin
has gone on to perform solo as well as with a wide array of poets, singers, rappers, and spoken word artists.
You can often find him playing at different venues in the city, including SOUTH Jazz Kitchen, Chris’s Jazz
Cafe, JG Skyhigh, The Free Library, and Paris Bistro. Since 2016, Mervin has been sharing his knowledge and
experience as a private instructor and ensemble coach.

Education: University of the Arts, BM Saxophone Performance & MM Jazz Studies

Specialties: Saxophone

Divisions: Music

Michael Caruso has been a member of Settlement Music School’s piano faculty since 1986. He earned his bachelor of music degree from the Philadelphia Musical Academy in 1971 and his master of music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of Johns Hopkins University in 1973. His teachers have included Clement Petrillo and Julio Esteban, and he attended masterclasses with Leon Fleisher. From 1976 until 1986 he was the entertainment editor of the Main Line Times and the News of Delaware County; he has been the classical music critic for the Chestnut Hill Local since 1986.  He reviews performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Academy of Vocal Arts, Curtis Institute of Music, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and local performances in Chestnut Hill.

Staff

Education: Philadelphia Musical Academy, BM; Peabody Conservatory of Music, MM

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Michael Fahrner is a euphonium player and low brass educator based in Philadelphia, PA. Michael serves as
the Adjunct Professor of Euphonium at Rowan University and is on the brass faculty at Settlement Music
School and Rowan Community Music School. When he’s not teaching, Michael works on staff for
SchoolofBrass.com, an online brass education space that hosts masterclasses, conversations, and live streams
with brass artists around the world.

Michael received his Bachelor’s of Music in Euphonium Performance from the University of Massachusetts
Amherst, where he studied with Dr. John Bottomley, and earned his Master’s Degree in Euphonium
Performance from Georgia State University, where he studied with Eric Bubazc and Dr. William Mann.
Michael also was a longtime student of Dr. Adam Frey, renowned international euphonium soloist. Michael is a
member of The Philadelphia Wind Symphony and has competed internationally. He actively commissions new
works for euphonium and is in demand for clinics as a brass educator.

Education: University of Massachusetts Amherst, BM in Euphonium Performance; Georgia State University, MM in Euphonium Performance

Specialties: Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba, Trombone, Trumpet

Divisions: Music

Michael Liszka earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance with a minor in music education from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Since then, he has spent his time playing music all over the world. From playing anything from a small restaurant to a venue that holds thousands, Michael has gained experience playing various styles of music including, Jazz, Rock, Hip-hop, Classical and many more. Michael has seen success in his career thus far playing with bands that are signed to major labels and having his music played on many of the most well-known radio stations in the greater Philadelphia area. While his main focus is the drumset and percussion, he has experience playing many other musical instruments including the violin, viola, guitar, bass and piano. Michael has gained a lot of experience in the studio, recording with projects from Philadelphia, New York, and Delaware on both the drumset and violin.

Associate Staff

Education: The University of the Arts, BM Jazz Performance

Specialties: Percussion, Jazz Ensemble, Rock Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Michael Stambaugh is a pianist and composer based in Philadelphia. He holds a B.M. in Music Theory from the Boyer School of Music at Temple University, where he studied piano with Clipper Erickson, Cathy Liu, and Alexander Fiorillo, and an M.M. in Composition from the University of Delaware, where he studied with Jennifer Margaret Barker and Tyler Capp. As a composer, Michael has collaborated with numerous local music groups, including multiple seasons with Melomanie and a film score for Relâche’s residency at the Penn Museum. Students who study with Michael can look forward to creating and performing their own music, relevant and thorough applications of music theory, and, of course, having a lot of fun.

Associate Staff

Education: Boyer School of Music at Temple University, BM Music Theory; University of Delaware, MM Composition

Specialties: Piano, Musicianship

Divisions: Music

After teaching in Philadelphia for 5 years, Michelle she was chosen to jumpstart the music major at Franklin Learning Center to new levels of excellence as their new vocal music teacher. At FLC and elsewhere, Mrs. Frank has led concert choirs, jazz ensembles, and directed school musicals. A classical singer and former arts administrator, Mrs. Frank has performed leading roles with Opera Philadelphia, Center City Opera Theater, Garden State Opera, Florida State Opera, and ConcertOpera Philadelphia. She also served as Director of Foundation and Government Support and the Director of Development Services at The Curtis Institute of Music, specializing in grant writing, reporting, and relations for Curtis’ foundation and government prospects. Mrs. Frank holds degrees in Accounting, Music, and Theater from Lehigh University, a Master of Music from Florida State University, and a Post-Baccalaureate certificate in Music Education from Eastern University. Mrs. Frank loves teaching because it gives her the opportunity to share her love of music with the young people of Philadelphia.

Regular

Education: Lehigh University, BA Accounting, Music, and Theater; Florida State University, MM

Specialties: Music Education Pathways

Divisions: Music

Mike Bishop has been a member of Settlement Music School’s faculty since 2020. He is a freelance producer, percussion arranger & composer, educator, and international clinician. Mike also serves on the faculty of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania Incomparable Golden Rams Marching Band, the 2019 Sudler Trophy Recipient. He has extensive experience in the pageantry & marching arts, including two world championships, with Rhythm X in WGI and Carolina Crown in DCI, and has traveled to work with students from more than a half a dozen countries on three separate continents.

Education:

Specialties: Percussion, Drumline

Divisions: Music

Violinist Mitchell Newman was a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic from 1987-2020. He worked with most of the major conductors of that era, including music directors Andre Previn, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Gustavo Dudamel. Mr. Newman’s passions include playing chamber music and teaching young people. He is committed to making sure the voices of people diverse background are heard in classical music. Mr. Newman studied violin at The Curtis Institute of Music with Aaron Rosand, David Cerone, and Yumi Ninomiya Scott and chamber music with Mischa Schneider, Felix Galamir, and Karen Tuttle.

Education: Curtis Institute of Music, BM Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin, Chamber Music

Divisions: Music

Molly Germer is a violinist versed in multiple styles of performance. She is a violinist in Quartet121 and a member of Earspace, a Raleigh-based ensemble dedicated to contemporary music and interdisciplinary performances. Molly is a former member of the Erie Philharmonic, has recently performed with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the New World Symphony, Wordless Music Orchestra, Ensemble LPR, Contemporaneous, and Ensemble Signal. She can also be on Signal’s recordings of music by David Felder, Tristan Perich, and David Lang. She is a teaching artist at Play On Philly and collaborates with numerous groups in New York City, performing at venues such as The Stone, Miller Theater, Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, The Kaplan Penthouse, National Sawdust and (le) poisson rouge. Molly is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music (BM) with additional studies at University of Rochester and the Contemporary Performance Program at the Manhattan School of Music  (MM) with additional studies at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

Regular

Education: Eastman School of Music, BM Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

Molly Leary is a recent graduate of the University of Delaware, where she received her master’s degree in viola performance under the tutelage of Elias Goldstein. During her graduate studies, she was the conductor of the University Strings ensemble as well as the instructor of the String Methods courses at the University of Delaware. She also helped pilot the Connect2Learn program at the university, which aimed to foster meaningful connections between local public school students and music educators at UD. She holds her undergraduate degree in music education from the University of Florida. Currently, she is a freelance violin/viola instructor in the Philadelphia area.

Education: University of Florida, BME; University of Delaware, MM Viola Performance

Specialties: Violin, Viola

Divisions: Music

Monet Debose is a recent graduate from Bryn Mawr College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Theater. Her education was under the leadership of Mark Lord and Catharine Slusar, two distinguished Philadelphia artists. Her early career started at People’s Light Theater where she worked as an Artistic Intern working in theater education with youth from ages 7 to 13. As an actress and director, she recently performed in and directed a group of middle school students in her devised theatrical performance, In All Our Glory.

Education: Bryn Mawr College, BA Theater

Specialties:

Divisions: Kaleidoscope Preschool

Monique R. Johnson received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees from Temple University in Music Education. She studied violin with Larry Grika, Yumi Scott, and Lisa-Beth and conducting with Luis Biava, former Conductor in Residence of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She served as a member of the Educational Advisory Council of the Philadelphia Orchestra and interned at the Philadelphia Orchestra Library under former Principal Librarian Clinton Nieweg. Ms. Johnson has performed as a substitute violinist with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra. She was also a member of the Settlement Music School Music Education Outreach String Quintet. She was a member of the TSOP Orchestra during the filming and performance of the PBS Special “The Love Train, The Sound of Philadelphia,” which featured the O’Jays, the late Teddy Pendegrass, The Stylistics, The Delphonics, and the Three Degrees. Ms. Johnson served as a member of the string orchestra that accompanied Dionne Warwick at the Rehoboth Jazz Festival.

Staff

Education: Temple University, BM Music Education; Temple University, MM Music Education

Specialties: String Ensemble, Violin, Viola, Suzuki, Adult Chamber Players

Divisions: Music

Nataly Snipelishsky received a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the Moldova Institute of the Arts where she won regional performance competitions. Beginning in 1998, Nataly joined the piano faculty as a teacher and accompanist at multiple branches of Settlement Music School. As more of her students auditioned successfully for scholarships and won piano competitions, she was promoted to Staff status and continues to teach at Willow Grove and Wynnefield Branches. Fluent in Russian and English, Nataly is also an active chamber musician and performs with violinists, singers and in piano four-hand ensembles professionally.

Staff

Education: Moldova Institute of the Arts, MM Piano Performance and Pedagogy

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Natasha Colkett is a freelance violinist and violin teacher in the Philadelphia area. She has been teaching Suzuki and traditional violin lessons at Settlement since 2015, and also teaches group violin classes for Settlement’s Music Education Pathways program. After studying with Lee Snyder at Settlement in high school, Natasha got her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and Violin Performance at Ithaca College in 2007 and her Master’s in Violin Performance at the University of Denver in 2010. She completed her Suzuki certification through Book Six while in Denver and has been teaching lessons to students of all ages ever since. Natasha currently performs with the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, the Allentown Symphony, and the Bay-Atlantic Symphony regularly during the year, and during the summer, she plays with the Central City Opera and is a founding member of the Boxwood Ensemble based in Colorado.

Associate Staff

Education: Ithaca College, BA Music Education and Violin Performance; University of Denver, MM Violin Performance

Specialties: Violin, Suzuki, Music Education Pathways

Divisions: Music

Nathalie Burns: received her Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Dance from Eastern University and a Masters in Dance/Movement Therapy from Drexel University. Nathalie provides individual and group sessions at the Kardon Northeast and Germantown branches and also provides group session with agencies in the community.

Staff

Education: Eastern University, BA Psychology; Drexel University, MM Dance/Movement Therapy

Specialties: Dance/Movement Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

Nero Catalano studied classical guitar with Julian Gray at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and later went on to earn a BM from the University of the Arts, where he studied jazz guitar with Jimmy Bruno, Steve Giordano, and Tom Giacabetti. He taught guitar, bass, and coached ensembles at the Paul Green School of Rock Music during its formative years and went on to be the Music Director of the Downingtown and then the Philadelphia branches. Nero has recorded and toured playing original music as far as Shanghai and has played everywhere from CBGB to the Fillmore. He is also much in demand for pit orchestras and bands, performing most recently at the Arden and Walnut Street Theatres.

Associate Staff

Education:

Specialties: Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Classical Guitar, Electric Bass, Ukulele, Jazz Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Nia has been a part of the educational field for over 10 years. She attended Chestnut Hill College to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology and she took courses geared toward children’s psychology, development, assessment (educational and psychological) and education. She also acquired master level college credits in Early Childhood Education. During her years of employment, she had the opportunity to teach children of varying abilities spanning from atypical development to the autism spectrum. She taught ages three months to school-age, primarily working with the preschool/pre-K children. She worked closely with therapeutic staff of special needs children to implement and expand the goals they had set through her observations. She used the therapeutic staff’s goals to enhance her lesson plans. Working with children is truly her passion and vocation in life.

Head Teacher

Education: Chestnut Hill College, BA Psychology

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 6)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Nick Salcido is an electric and upright bassist based in Philadelphia. Well-versed in a variety of genres, he has performed at The Kimmel Center, Brooklyn’s BRIC JazzFest, Center City Jazz Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, and has appeared on FOX 29 News, WRTI 90.1, and WXPN 88.5. He also regularly appears at jazz venues such as Time, Heritage, Chris’ Jazz Café, and SOUTH. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Composition from Bates College, and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music and Dance. In addition to Settlement Music School, Nick also serves on the faculty of Friends Select School.

Education: Bates College, BA Composition; Temple University, MM Jazz Studies

Specialties: Electric Bass, Upright Bass

Divisions: Music

Nicole has a BFA in Fine Arts from Arcadia University and a Masters in Museum Education/ Art Education K-12 from the University of the Arts. She has taught and coordinated programs in a variety of educational settings including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Asian Arts Initiative, Appel Farm Arts, and Music Center and Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. Currently, she is the Art Coordinator for the ASEP program at The Philadelphia School as well as a teacher at Portside Art Center. Nicole loves to encourage youth to learn about the world around them through creativity and apply this to problem solving and critical thinking.

Artist Teacher

Education: Beaver College, BFA Ceramics and Printmaking; University of the Arts, MA Museum Education and and K-12 Art Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (Art)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Norman Carter received the B. Mus degree in applied piano from Houghton College in 1975 and the M.M. degree in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music in 1977. His private teachers were C. Nolan Huizenga, Jane MacMahon Allen, Donald Currier, and Ward Davenny and he performed in master classes taught by Murray Perahia, Arthur Balsam, and Claude Frank. He has been on the piano faculty both of Houghton College in Houghton, NY, and of Cairn University in Langhorne, PA. He has taught piano privately in his home for many years and has been involved in local church music ministries as accompanist, soloist, and choir director. Currently he accompanies choirs and soloists at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He has performed as soloist with local orchestras including the Haddonfield Symphony, Bucks County Symphony, Delaware Valley Philharmonic, and Rose Tree Pops. He regularly accompanies soloists for master classes and competitions in the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Regular

Education: Houghton College, BM Applied Piano; Yale School of Music, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Olga Blumenkrants studied at the Bolshoi Ballet School in Moscow, Russia. After completing her studies, she danced professionally with several dance companies touring around the world. In 1975, she immigrated to the U.S. and began teaching dance at Settlement in 1977. Olga is a legacy staff member, and in 2008 was named to the Settlement 100 list of distinguished Philadelphians whose experiences at Settlement shaped their lives. She is also an Arthur Judson Distinguished Faculty Chair.

Associate Staff

Education: Bolshoi Ballet School

Specialties:

Divisions: Dance

Pamela Johnson attended Saint Maria Goretti High School where she graduated with a diploma in business. Later, she attended the Thompson Institute and received a certificate in medical office management. Pamela has worked in the banking field, in hospitals, and later, as a substitute teacher for Settlement. She found it rewarding to work with children and decided to pursue a certificate/diploma as a Child Development Associate. Pamela is now an Assistant Teacher at Settlement Music School.

Assistant Teacher

Education: AA Child Development

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 2)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Pat studied with Orlando Cole at The New School, Curtis Institute of Music, and Temple University. She has completed up through Level 4 Suzuki Teacher Training. She has been teaching for 25 years, including 15 years at Settlement. She performs with the Philly POPS and Reading Symphony, has performed with the Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, Walnut Street Theatre, Suzanne Roberts Theatre, and has done recordings with Sigma Sound.

Staff

Education: The New School, BM Performance; Temple University, MM Performance

Specialties: Cello, Chamber Music

Divisions: Music

Peter Oswald has been teaching at Settlement Music School since 2019. He earned a Bachelor of Music Education at Shenandoah Conservatory, a Master of Music Education at Eastman School of Music, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Education at Temple University. Peter’s most influential teachers have been Clyde Thomas Shaw of the Audubon String Quartet and Grammy Award Winning Cellist Eugene Friesen. Prior to teaching at Settlement, Peter directed strings programs in West Philadelphia, Trenton, and Andover, MA.

Regular

Education: Shenandoah Conservatory, BME; Eastman School of Music, MME

Specialties: Cello

Divisions: Music

Rachel Nemer is a career musician, scholar, and educator who is particularly skilled at teaching music to the very young. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, her childhood included beginning cello as a preschooler and choral singing in early elementary school. She is dedicated to ensuring that other young people have access to quality music study and has taught privately (strings and voice), within elementary general music programs and at preschools. She is certified as a First Steps in Music instructor and combines this approach with her own Music Appreciation curriculum. She holds graduate degrees in Early Music Performance and Historical Musicology and maintains a performance career on viola da gamba, cello and voice. She has also worked as a yoga instructor and possesses a deep knowledge of body mechanics in relation to music-making. Rachel’s versatility on multiple instruments, knowledge of children’s musical literature and calming presence make her an effective and unique teacher for young musicians.

Music Teacher

Education: Pennsylvania State University, BA Music; Brandeis University, MFA Music; Bard College Longy School of Music, Performance Diploma in Early Music

Specialties:

Divisions: Early Childhood

Rae Ann Anderson started her tenure with Settlement Music School in 1989 as an organ teacher. In the winter of 2006 she became the Director of Children’s Choir for Settlement. This comprehensive program brings children from all six branches together to sing as the Gleeksman-Kohn Children’s Choir. Ms. Anderson, a native of Ohio, received the Bachelor of Music degree from Wittenberg University and the Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, in addition to a year’s study at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule in Berlin, Germany. As a church musician, she has served as Director of Music for churches in Ohio, Missouri, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and to date for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Glenside, PA. Ms. Anderson has served on the Executive Boards of the Philadelphia and Southwest Jersey chapters of the American Guild of Organists and as the Dean of the Philadelphia chapter.

Associate Staff

Education: BM, Wittenberg University; MM, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Specialties: Children's Choir

Divisions: Music

Rahel Inniger received her “Lehrdiplom” in 1979 from the Conservatorium Bern (Switzerland) where she was a student of Rosemarie Stucki. As a 1980 recipient of a Kiefer/ Hablitzel Stiftung scholarship, she continued her education in the United States at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. where she studied with Barry Snyder. She left Rochester with a Master of Music in Performance and Literature degree in 1982 to accept a teaching position at the Musikschule Kandertal in Frutigen, Switzerland where she remained until 1986. During this time, Ms. Inniger served as accompanist at the Konservatorium Bern in the master classes of clarinetists Jost Michaels and Kurt Weber, violinist Igor Ozim and cellist Siegfried Palm. In Philadelphia Ms. Inniger is on the faculty at Settlement Music School where she teaches both piano and chamber music. Rahel Inniger performs as a recitalist, collaborating with instrumentalists and vocalists, and is a member of the Elysian Camerata.

Staff

Education: Conservatorium Bern; Eastman School of Music, MM Performance and Literature

Specialties: Chamber Music, Piano

Divisions: Music

Becky Dadi is a board certified music therapist with a music therapy degree from Berklee College of Music. Becky’s primary instrument is voice and also plays guitar and piano. Becky did her music therapy internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia where she further developed her clinical music therapy skills. At the completion of her internship, she went on to join the wonderful team of arts therapists and teachers at Settlement Music School. Becky has been a music therapist at Settlement Music School since September 2017. Her work encompasses providing music therapy for individual clients at the KNE branch, supporting the Kardon Chorale which consists of adults of varying disabilities and parents and providing therapeutic music groups at an off-site location in lower Bucks County.

Regular

Education: Berklee College of Music, BM Music Therapy

Specialties: Music Therapy, Children's Music Workshop, Children's Music Playshop

Divisions: Art Therapy

Clarinetist Rié Suzuki is currently a member of The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Princeton Festival Opera Orchestra, and the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra. She is a frequent guest clarinetist with The Pennsylvania Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, The Philly Pops, among others. As an active chamber musician, Ms. Suzuki is a founding member of the Eastwinds Quintet, the New Horizons Chamber Ensemble, and Tripod Trio. Her recent solo appearances and collaborations include concerto performances with the Rowan University Wind Ensemble, co-premiering the wind ensemble edition of Leshonoff’s clarinet concerto “Nekudim”, and with the Black Pearl Chamber Orchestra, performing Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, a recital series with the Poulenc Trio in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and a concert tour of Central America sponsored by U.S. Embassy with the Liberty Winds. Ms. Suzuki has recorded on the Capstone, New World, Centaur, Naxos, and Warner Brothers labels, and her live performances on broadcast include WQXR in NYC, WRTI in Philadelphia, and podcasts from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.

Rié Suzuki holds a doctorate degree from The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University where she was awarded the Orchestral Fellowship and a Peabody Career Grant. Ms. Suzuki is a clarinet professor at Rowan University.

Special Arrangement Staff

Education: BM, Mussahino Academia Musicae; MM, Webster University; DMA, Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University

Specialties: Clarinet, Chamber Music

Divisions: Music

Robby Cruz is an American trumpeter, composer, arranger, and musical director. His Puerto Rican heritage has been a strong influence on his musical identity. At age 11, he enrolled in the Osceola Country School for the Arts, beginning his musical journey on trumpet. Since then, Roby has performed and/or recorded with Tony Vega, Dock Oatts, Jon Faddis, Renee Marie, Carlos Henriquez, Justin Faulkner, and Vince Mendoza. He recently graduated from Temple University where he studied under trumpeter Terell Stafford. Residing in Philadelphia, Robby continues to pursue greatness at the highest level. His mission is to spread truth, knowledge, and understanding through the arts, and to have an impact on the next generation of musicians.

Regular Staff

Education: Temple University

Specialties: Trumpet

Divisions: Music

Bob Gold grew up in an art-filled musical family, taking piano lessons at the Germantown branch of Settlement Music School with Irene Beck and violin lessons in his public school. As a science major at the University of Delaware, Bob re-connected with his passion for music, taking piano literature classes with pianist Michael Steinberg and discovering the beauty of jazz and improvised music. Upon graduation Bob concentrated on self teaching and forming a trio that performed, among other places, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia for many years. More recently, Bob has concentrated on solo piano, and in expanding his skills as both a private and classroom teacher. He has a Masters degree in Music Education from the University of the Arts and an Orff Schulwerk Certification from U. of Arts/Villanova University.

Regular

Education: University of Delaware, BA; University of the Arts, MM Music Education

Specialties: Children's Music Workshop, Piano

Divisions: Early Childhood

Robert Webb earned his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He has been fortunate enough to study with Bernard Purdie, Gerry Brown, and Joe Bergamini. Over the past 8 years he has toured with multiple artists all over the country, affording him the opportunity to play at Firefly Music Festival, BB&T Pavilion, and The World Famous Whisky A Go Go. In addition to playing drums he is also an experienced sound engineer working with many acts in the Philadelphia area recording and producing records.

Regular

Education: The University of the Arts, BM Instrumental Performance

Specialties: Music Technology, Percussion, Rock Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Robert Capanna Musicianship Distinguished Faculty Chair

Roberto Pace is a composer, music director, pianist and educator. He is recognised in concert music, as well as in music for theater and dance. Mr. Pace studied at the New England Conservatory of Music with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Donald Martino, and the late great theorist Ernst Oster. He holds an M.F.A. in composition from SUNY Purchase, where he was the first to be awarded the Anthony Newman Prize for artistic and academic excellence. Mr. Pace’s recent commissions include the American Opera Projects, The Greenwich Village Orchestra, the canonization of Padre Pio, the Viola Society of Philadelphia, the baroque/contemporary ensemble Mélomanie, Chamber Music Now!, the Elysian Camerata and the American Composer’s Forum of Philadelphia. His work has received public as well as critical success: “…a fantasm of shifting moods, featuring eloquent writing for strings” (NY Times); and “a kaleidoscope of colors wrapped in rhythms that leap with energy” (Philadelphia Inquirer). He has served as music director and conductor at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s “Next Wave Festival, directed the music program of Fordham at Lincoln Center and lectured for the New York Philharmonic.

Staff

Education: New England Conservatory of Music; SUNY Purchase, MFA Composition

Specialties: Piano, Musicianship, Music Appreciation, Composition

Divisions: Music

Romain Diaz is a licensed professional counselor who holds a Master’s Degree in Creative Arts Therapy from Drexel University and a Bachelor of Science Degree from The Pennsylvania State University in Kinesiology. She specializes in Dance and Movement Psychotherapy. With over a decade of experience in the field, Romain has worked diligently with individuals, groups and families as the Primary Psychotherapist in the all-female trauma unit in a psychiatric hospital. Romain also works with children on the spectrum in a elementary school where she facilitates dance movement therapy sessions with kids ages 7 to 9. Her passion for working with children and adolescents, as well as her deep understanding of mind, body, and spirit interconnectedness, drive her success in helping others experience the healing power of movement. Romain has spearheaded the development of family therapy psycho-education and specialized therapy groups to help patients transition to their home and communities after hospitalization. Romain currently serves as Vice President of Overbrook Preschool and Kindergarten. She is also a student relations officer for Black American and African Descendants (BAAD) Affinity Group. The goal of which is to unite, organize, and support black dance/movement therapy students and professionals in an effort to develop an approach consistent with the experience of Black people.

Regular

Education: Drexel University, MS Creative Arts Therapy; Pennsylvania State University, BS Kinesiology

Specialties: Dance/Movement Therapy

Divisions: Arts Therapy

For over 20 years, Russell Klein has been teaching piano at Settlement Music School. It’s not a job, but a passion. Russell comes with a background of BA in Music Ed. from Temple University and M.Ed. from Chestnut Hill College. Russell continues to enhance his teaching skills by attending Suzuki teacher training and other piano pedagogy workshops. He enjoys introducing children, from age four, to play delightful children’s songs on the piano, which they can hear on CDs at home and to reading music. As Russell uses both the Suzuki and Traditional Piano Curriculums, it is exciting for him to see each individual student grow from beginning pieces to intermediate and more advanced pieces of a wide variety of styles including Classical, Ragtime and Jazz. When he’s not teaching, Russell enjoys spending time with his wife, Fern, and two children Staci and Bobby.

Staff

Education: Temple University, BA Music Education; Chestnut Hill College, MM Music Education

Specialties: Piano, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Sara Hiner is currently Director of the Settlement Music School’s Germantown Branch, where she is also on faculty as a bassoon instructor. Prior to Settlement Music School, Ms. Hiner held a number of positions at a variety of arts organizations, including at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, and most recently as Assistant Dean at the Colburn School’s Community School of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, where she was also taught bassoon. Her high school seniors have been accepted to bassoon programs at schools such as USC’s Thornton School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. Her students have also regularly participated in honors ensembles like the Colburn Youth Orchestra, ensembles of the Southern California School Band & Orchestra Association, California Band Directors Association, California Music Educators Association, and in ensembles within the Colburn School’s Ed and Mari Edelman Chamber Music Institute, including the Honors Woodwind Quintet.

Sara’s primary instructors in bassoon were Judith Farmer and Rose Corrigan, and she performed frequently in master classes led by bassoonists such as Alan Goodman, Richard Beene and Michael O’Donovan, with additional studies with Matthew Ruggiero at Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute. Her performances have also aired on KUSC, KMozart, and Sundays Live at LACMA in Los Angeles. In 2000 her woodwind quintet won first prize at the International Young Artists Peninsula Music Festival Competition and she was a National YoungArts winner in 2001 (formerly the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts).

Sara earned her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Bassoon Performance from the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music, where she was a recipient of USC’s Dean Scholarship, Trojan Scholarship, and Music Merit Scholarship. She served on the Thornton Alumni Association Board of Directors for the 2013–2014 academic year, subsequently receiving a Certificate of Appreciation at USC’s Honors Convocation for her service to the school, and now serves on the Advisory Council for USC Thornton’s Alumni Association.

Branch Director

Education: University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music, BM and MM Bassoon Performance

Specialties:

Divisions:

Scott Coulter has been teaching with Settlement Music School since 2009. He has been actively involved in the Philadelphia music scene in a number of projects, ranging from straight-ahead jazz to progressive rock. He has played in a number of major local and regional music festivals, and performed in some of the area’s best known venues, including the Trocadero Theater, the TLA and World Cafe Live. Mr. Coulter holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where he studied with several notable jazz pianists including Fred Hersch, Paul Bley and Danilo Perez.

Staff

Education: New England Conservatory of Music, BM Jazz Piano Performance

Specialties: Jazz Piano, Piano, Jazz Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Scott Edmunds is an active Philadelphia based pianist, composer, and educator. Scott is a graduate of Temple University, where he studied under renowned pianists Bruce Barth and Josh Richman. While at Temple, Scott had the opportunity to work with many amazing instructors, such as Terell Stafford, Dick Oatts, Tim Warfield Jr., David Wong, Eric Alexander, and Elio Villafranca, among others.

Scott has performed with many influential musicians in the jazz field, such as Tim Warfield Jr., Wycliffe Gordon, and Dick Oatts, as well as with acclaimed musicians on the European scene, including Perico Sambeat. Scott has also performed at well known venues, including the Kimmel Center, Chris’ Jazz Cafe, South Jazz Club in Philadelphia, and Jamboree Jazz Club in Barcelona, Spain.

Regular Staff

Education: Temple University

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Scott Slezak graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. After starting his art career in Pittsburgh, he moved to Philadelphia, where he began to apprentice as a furniture finisher and began writing and performing original music. When Scott’s daughter was born, he left work to be a full-time, stay-at-home dad. Scott began babysitting for other families and was a play-group supervisor for the South Eastern Pennsylvania Mental Health Association. Scott’s daughter was enrolled in the Kaleidoscope program at Settlement Music School, and he was so impressed with the program he began to volunteer in the classrooms two days a week, and wanted more. He went back to school to study Early Childhood Education and became a substitute art and classroom teacher, and was then brought on as a full-time Kaleidoscope teacher after several years. Scott is currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education at Chestnut Hill College.

Lead Teacher

Education: Pennsylvania State University, BS Art Education; Chestnut Hill College, MM Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 3), Kaleidoscope Plus

Divisions: Early Childhood

Sean​ ​Markey​ ​is​ ​a​ ​new​ ​member​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Settlement​ ​Music​ ​School’s​ ​faculty.​ ​In​ ​2016​ ​he graduated​ ​from​ ​Temple​ ​University’s​ ​Boyer​ ​School​ ​of​ ​Music​ ​in​ ​the​ ​top​ ​5%​ ​of​ ​his​ ​class with​ ​a​ ​bachelor’s​ ​degree​ ​in​ ​Jazz​ ​Performance.​ ​Sean’s​ ​teachers​ ​include​ ​Tom​ ​Giacabetti, Terell​ ​Stafford,​ ​Dick​ ​Oatts,​ ​Bruce​ ​Barth,​ ​Greg​ ​Kettinger​ ​and​ ​Ben​ ​Schachter.​ ​Sean performs​ ​under​ ​his​ ​own​ ​name​ ​and​ ​is​ ​included​ ​on​ ​two​ ​records,​ ​one​ ​being​ ​the​ ​Temple University​ ​Jazz​ ​Orchestra​ ​Sinatra​ ​record.​ ​Sean​ ​was​ ​a​ ​Jazz​ ​Theory​ ​Tutor​ ​at​ ​Temple University​ ​where​ ​he​ ​worked​ ​primarily​ ​with​ ​a​ ​special​ ​needs​ ​student.​ ​Sean​ ​also​ ​currently teaches​ ​at​ ​The​ ​Philadelphia​ ​School​ ​and​ ​will​ ​be​ ​pursuing​ ​his​ ​Master’s​ ​Degree​ ​within​ ​the next​ ​year.

Regular

Education: Temple University's Boyer School of Music, BM Jazz Performance

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Guitar, Guitar

Divisions: Music

Sebastian graduated with a BA & BS from Pennsylvania State University, having received the Creative Achievement Award for music from the College of Arts & Architecture, where he participated fervently in every classical and jazz instrumental ensemble offered. He studied general percussion and timpani with Dan Armstrong, marimba and vibraphone with Giff Howarth, and drumset/keyboards with Marko Marcinko. Sebastian has worked closely with composer Dr. Paul Barsom and music theorist Dr. Steve Hopkins where his fascination with music theory, philosophy, and appreciation developed. Later, Sebastian went on to receive a Professional Performance Certificate in jazz percussion from Pennsylvania State University after a year of intense study. Sebastian is a former engineering scientist and has been published in Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He has skills in programming and recording technology and is an aspiring record producer and arranger at Philadelphia’s premier analog recording studio, Milkboy/Shake in Northern Liberties. Sebastian resides in the neighborhood of Kensington and is an active session drummer, gigging regularly around Philly with his progressive rock band, Palmlines.

Regular

Education: Pennsylvania State University, BA and BS

Specialties: Bucket Drumming

Divisions: Music

Sharon Neff holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Houghton College and a Master of Music Degree from Eastman School of Music. Previous teaching jobs include Gloucester County Christian School (2005-2016) and The Conservatory of Music and Dance (2013-2014). As a teacher, she places a strong emphasis on healthy vocal technique, and incorporates voice science into her teaching curriculum. She strongly believes that all singers should understand exactly how their instrument works, and use that knowledge to sing healthily throughout their entire lives. Equally active as a performer, Sharon has performed opera roles with Delaware Valley Opera, Opera New Jersey, Main Line Opera, and the New York Lyric Opera Theatre. She has also been featured as a church soloist throughout the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas.

Associate Staff

Education: Houghton College, BM; Eastman School of Music, MM

Specialties: Voice

Divisions: Music

A versatile singer comfortable in concert, oratorio and operatic repertoire, mezzo-soprano Sharon Rhinesmith has appeared as a soloist with The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Philadelphia Singers, Princeton Pro Musica, Opera Saratoga (formerly Lake George Opera), Taghkanic Chorale, The Music Group of Philadelphia, and ConcertOPERA Philadelphia among many others. She received her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Voice Performance from Temple University and has been teaching voice for over 30 years. In addition to her position at Settlement, she is also on the voice faculty at Cedar Crest College in Allentown and at Temple Music Preparatory division in Philadelphia.

Regular

Education: Temple University, BM and MM Voice Performance

Specialties: Voice

Divisions: Music

Shontaya Greer is the Assistant Teacher for Pre-School classroom seven at the Kaleidoscope Pre School Arts Enrichment Program at Settlement Music School. She holds an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from the Community College of Philadelphia. She has been working at Settlement since September 2005. Greer has worked with children for over twelve years. She enjoys arts and crafts, shopping, and spending time with her son.

Assistant Teacher

Education: AA Early Childhood Education, Community College of Philadelphia

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 7)

Divisions: Early Childhood

A member of the Philadelphia Orchestra for 42 years, including 13 as Assistant Principal Viola, Sid Curtiss now serves as a chamber music coach at Settlement Music School, where he coaches the Gabriel Braverman, Ann Newman, and the Gail W. Snitzer Advanced Study String Quartets. Curtiss graduated from New York’s High School of Music and Art, then attended the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music where he studied with the famed Leonard Mogill. A former member of the New Orleans Symphony and the National Symphony Orchestra, Curtiss was also a member of the Philarte Quartet and the New Philadelphia Quartet.

Special Arrangement Faculty

Education: Philadelphia Conservatory of Music

Specialties: Chamber Music, Viola

Divisions: Music

Silas Stewart is a percussionist, composer and educator in the Philadelphia area. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Performance from Western Washington University. Major teachers include Rob Tucker, Dr. Patrick Roulette, and Thomas Lawton. He regularly performs in the jazz and contemporary music idioms in the Philadelphia area as well as at home in the Mountains of the West.

Education: Western Washington University, BM Percussion Performance

Specialties: Percussion

Divisions: Music

Violinist So Jung Choi was born in Seoul, Korea, where she began formal violin study at the age of 4. She graduated from Sang Myung University, Seoul Korea. She has served a violin teacher and instructor in Yongsan Junior Orchestra and many other youth orchestra in South Korea. She is currently studying in the masters program in Violin Performance and String Pedagogy with Dr. Timothy Schwarz at Rowan University. She enjoys working with children and sharing her love of the violin with them.

Regular

Education: Sang Myung University, BM; Rowan University, MM Violin Performance and String Pedagogy

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music

A native Philadelphian, Stephanie Ben-Salem began her lessons at the age of four studying with her mother. She continued lessons at the Granoff Music School before coming to Settlement Music School at age 8, where she received numerous awards and scholarships and. at age 14, attained the senior graduate level. She continued her studies with renowned Philadelphia teacher and Curtis Institute graduate Bella Braverman Bookbinder and won the National Federation of Music Clubs’ first prize in music at age 17, resulting in numerous performances throughout the US as a soloist and with several orchestras. She received a full academic scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University studying under Eugene List and Natasha Snitkovsky, and later graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City, having studied with Karl Ulrich Schnabel. In 2008, Ms. Ben-Salem had the opportunity to study privately with Maestro Aldo Ciccolini in Europe until his death in 2015. Over the years she has given numerous solo and orchestral performances throughout the United States, Netherlands, England, Greece, France and Italy. Presently, Ms. Ben-Salem has taught piano privately since 1979, and has been a member of the Settlement Music School faculty since 1998. She has had many of her students continue in the field of music as educators and performers, attending first-rate conservatories such as Juilliard, the Manhattan School of Music, Peabody Conservatory, and the Curtis Institute of Music. She currently teaches Adult Theory as well as piano, and performs in various chamber music performances and regularly in a piano duo ensemble.

Staff

Education: Carnegie Mellon University, BM Piano Performance; Manhattan School of Music, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Stephen Duffy is an alumnus of Settlement, having studied with Sandra Carlock and Yolanda Kulik. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory, where he studied with Prof. Joseph Schwartz. Stephen has studied organ extensively as well and serves as organist at both Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church and Our Lady of Calvary Catholic Church, both in Philadelphia. He also performs as a piano soloist throughout the region and as part of the Cosgrove-Duffy Duo.

Staff

Education: Oberlin College and Conservatory, BM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Sue Liedke received a double BA in Studio Art and Communications from Houghton College, and her MEd in Art Education from Tyler School of Art at Temple University. As an art educator Sue’s experience includes Family Arts Academy and Summer Art Camp at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art, Children’s Art Classes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Visual Art Teacher at Settlement Music School’s Kaleidoscope and Kaleidoscope Plus programs. She is the recipient of a grant to incorporate technology into the classroom, allowing early learners to experiment with digital film-making and photography. Her classes at Settlement regularly collaborate with Philadelphia street artists, muralists, and local businesses, and she strives to incorporate contemporary artists and techniques into her lessons.

Artist Teacher

Education: Houghton College, BA Studio Art and Communications; Tyler School of Art at Temple University, MEd Art Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (Art), Kailedoscope Plus

Divisions: Early Childhood

Suhae Lee was born in South Korea, and started to play the violin at the age of six. During her study in Busan High School of Arts, she moved to Russia and studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory where she received her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees under professor Bladimir Yu. Ovcharek. Upon graduation, she moved to Europe and studied further under Ilya Grubert. After winning the Grand Prix Award in the 2002 IBLA Grand Prize in Italy, she was invited to Carnegie Hall. As a soloist, she performed with the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra (Walt Disney Concert Hall), Moscow Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Petersburg Capella Symphony Orchestra, TPK Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg State Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, Hermitage State Orchestra, KBS Orchestra, Korea Philharmonic Orchestra, Busan Symphony Orchestra and Romania Ploiesti Orchestra.

Associate Staff

Education: St. Petersburg Conservatory, MM and DMA

Specialties: Violin, Viola

Divisions: Music

After completing a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance at Chapman University, mezzo-soprano Susan Rheingans earned a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from California State University, Los Angeles. Susan performed extensively as a classical singer across the United States and in Europe and Asia, before settling in Pennsylvania and pursuing a teaching career. Susan continues to perform on the east coast in opera, concert and musical theater. Her post-graduate education includes seminars in Contemporary Commercial Music pedagogy at Shenandoah University and Musical Theater pedagogy at Penn State University.

Susan emphasizes strong vocal technique and the development of musical and interpretive skills in her studio, and her students perform in a number of different styles, including classical and musical theater. Her high school-age students are frequently awarded vocal scholarships, win in competition, participate in high school apprentice programs, are chosen for City, District, Regional and State honor choirs and perform leading roles in school musicals. Pre-professional students have been accepted into major conservatory and university vocal programs and have been awarded vocal merit scholarships, and adult students successfully participate in a number of community musical activities. For more information about Susan and her students, please visit her website.

Associate Staff

Education: Chapman University, BM Flute Performance; California State University, MM Vocal Performance

Specialties: Voice

Divisions: Music

Suzanne Sweeney started her musical career actively playing piano in her community and taking classical lessons and jazz classes at the HARTT School of Music. Following her undergraduate degree in music education and graduate degree in music performance, Suzanne Sweeney played locally and taught for several years in the West Philadelphia area, with experience leading professional development in the Philadelphia School District and the University of Pennsylvania. She was nominated twice and awarded the Lindback Teaching Award in 2014. She supports teaching her students perseverance, creativity, and expression through music.

Associate Staff

Education: Roberts Wesleyan College, BME; Rowan University, MM

Specialties: SATB High School Choir, Children's Music Playshop, Children's Music Workshop

Divisions: Music, Early Childhood

Born in Russia, Svetlana received her dance education at the College of Culture and Arts in Perm, Russia. She has performed with three professional dance companies, became a principal in Stavropol Cossack’s Dance Company, and toured Europe and the United States. In 2005, she received a diploma with Honors from Stavropol State Pedagogic University as a professional dance teacher. After immigrating to the United States, she taught ballet at the School of Dance Arts in Germantown and in Wissahickon Dance Academy’s summer programs.

Regular

Education: Perm State Institute of Culture and Education Russia; Stavropol State Pedagogic University, AA Dance

Specialties:

Divisions: Dance

Tamara has been teaching piano at Settlement Music School since 1997.  She earned her Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy from Moldavian State Conservatory and was fortunate to become a piano student of a well known, talented teacher Yevsey Zak . She participated in many trainings to deepen her teaching experience. Her desire to learn and teach music never ends. It gives her tremendous pleasure and a great feeling of satisfaction to see her students making consistent progress. For her, teaching piano is not a job- it’s a lifelong passion. She is proud to say that one of her piano students has been with her for 18 years and now drives from Maryland every Saturday. Music glued them together!

Regular

Education: Moldavian State Conservatory, MM Piano Pedagogy

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Teresa Cappello began her association with Settlement at the Germantown Branch as a 16 year old piano student of the late Irene Beck. Her teachers have included Jacques Voois, Jeanne Behrend and Lambert Orkis. After graduating from West Chester University with a B.S. in Music Education, Teresa obtained both Montessori and Dalcroze certificates and taught and developed music programs utilizing the Montessori philosophy. After completing graduate music therapy studies at Hahneman University, Teresa worked as a board certified music therapist with various populations, including persons with autism, developmental disabilities and adults living with mental health issues. She has also enjoyed being an accompanist and rehearsal pianist for regional musical theater and dance studios in the Philadelphia area. As a former accompanist for both the SMS Children’s Choir and Kardon Chorale, she collaborated in a music therapy study involving the first intergenerational choir between the school and the Germantown Home for Older Adults. Teresa presented the results of this study at a National Music Therapy Association conference in the early 2000s. Teaching piano to children, particularly those with special needs, has always been at the heart of her profession. Her other interests include antique shopping and flea marketing. She shares a home with her jazz bassist partner, Dennis, and their senior cat, Olivia.

Staff

Education: West Chester University, BS Music Education; Hahneman University

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Teresa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania, Registered Art Therapist (ATR), and Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS). She graduated with a Masters in Art Therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Teresa works in collaboration with each individual in the therapeutic relationship to identify areas that are inhibiting quality of life and focus on building existing strengths and new skills to work through these areas. She uses various materials and media in sessions, based on individual interests and needs.

Prior to joining Settlement Music School as the manager of the Kardon Center for Arts Therapy, Teresa worked with adults who have survived brain injuries and strokes, as well as adults who are experiencing mental health issues. She started and developed the art therapy component of a brain injury rehabilitation program in Chicago, IL, where she conducted two research studies on the efficacy of ceramic wheel-throwing in brain injury rehabilitation. She also worked in an inpatient behavioral health unit in Chicago, outpatient community-based brain injury program in New Jersey, and a private practice in Pennsylvania. When not at Settlement, Teresa enjoys teaching ceramics at a community art school and making her own ceramic work in her studio.

Zausmer Program Manager of the Kardon Center for Arts Therapy

Education: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, MA Art Therapy; Avila University, BA Art Therapy

Specialties: Art Therapy

Divisions: Creative Arts Therapy

Tessa Ellis has called Philadelphia home since 2011, when she joined David Bilger’s studio at Temple University and subsequently the Curtis Institute of Music. There, she completed a B.M. in 2017 and a Community Artist Fellowship Diploma in 2018. She has won the National Trumpet Competition as a soloist and with an ensemble and she placed as a finalist in the Ellsworth-Smith International Trumpet Competition. Tessa has taught trumpet, music theory, and general music to students aged 6 months- 80 years. As a teaching artist, Tessa strives to provide individualized instruction in a supportive learner-led environment. She is a founding member of the Arcana New Music Ensemble, whose mission is to play “beautiful, interesting and unconventional music in beautiful, interesting, and unconventional spaces.” She brings her preference for an unconventional aesthetic to her brass quintet, Opus 5, which will feature two works by living composers on its debut album.

Regular

Education: Curtis Institute of Music, BM

Specialties: Trumpet, Children's Music Playshop, Children's Music Workshop

Divisions: Music

Cellist Thomas Kraines has forged a multifaceted career, equally comfortable with avant-garde improvisation, new music, and traditional chamber music and solo repertoire. Mr. Kraines is the cellist of the Daedalus Quartet, and has also been heard with ensembles such as Music from Copland House, The Transformational Music Ensemble, the East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO), and the Network for New Music. An accomplished composer of chamber music, his works have been performed around the world. Mr. Kraines has taught at the Peabody Conservatory, the Longy School of Music, the Killington Music Festival, Yellow Barn, and Princeton University, and is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Juilliard School.

Regular Special Arrangement Staff

Education: Curtis Institute of Music, BM Cello Performance; The Juilliard School, MM Cello Performance

Specialties: Chamber Music, Cello

Divisions: Music

Thomas Meany is a graduate of the University of the Arts, where he studied with Adeline Tomasone and Loren Lind, later studying with Harold Bennett in New York City. Tom recently completed his Master of Music at Rowan University. He has performed at the Aspen Music Festival, Summertrio Chamber Music Festival and the Puccini Opera Orchestra in Italy. Thomas has played master classes with leading flautist such as the late Murray Panitz, Chicago Symphony’s Donald Peck, Samuel Baron at New York University and Toshio Takahashi at the East Tennessee Suzuki Flute Institute. In addition to performing regularly with guitarist Michael Simmons and the Philadelphia Flute Quartet, Mr. Meany has performed in recital for the Matinee Music Club, the Philadelphia Cultural Council, the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia, the Department of Recreation, Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour (PennPAT) and the Concerts on the Square at the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square. He has played flute for the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Orchestra Society, the Haddonfield Symphony, and the Lansdowne Symphony. Mr. Meany is a Certified Suzuki Instructor and has recently received three consecutive scholarships from the Suzuki Association of the Americas. In addition to the Settlement Music School Tom also teaches at Saint Basil Academy and Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. He is a founding member of the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia and has recently been named a Teaching Artist for Project 440. Tom plays a Brannen-Cooper Flute.

Staff

Education: University of the Arts, BM; Rowan University, MM

Specialties: Chamber Music, Flute, Suzuki

Divisions: Music

Thomas Moyer is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Piano Performance. While at Temple, Tom studied privately with some of Philadelphia’s most renowned jazz pianists, including Tom Lawton, Lucas Brown, and Tim Brey. He can be seen performing with a variety of bands in the Philadelphia and Montgomery County areas. Tom is also an advocate for music education and has worked with organizations such as The Philly Pops and The Kimmel Center on implementing music programs into under privileged schools.

Regular

Education: Temple University, BM Jazz Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Timothy Brown is a native of Columbus, OH, where he graduated from Capital University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance. He also received a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ. He is currently the music director and organist for historic Christ Episcopal Church in Riverton, NJ. He also performs frequently throughout the NJ/PA are as a soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician. He has served as an accompanist for VOICES Chorale, The Capital Singers of Trenton, RVSS Chorale, The New Jersey Gay Men’s Chorus, The Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus, The Princeton Ballet School, Westminster Choir College, and Princeton University. As a chorister, he has sung with Cantus Novus (formerly The Bucks County Motet Singers), The Capital Signers of Trenton, Caritas Chamber Chorale and the Madrigal Singers (Cranford/Westfield, NJ). Active in musical theatre, Tim has worked with many schools, universities and theater companies throughout the area as a pianist and musical director. He also appears frequently as a cabaret artist at venues throughout the area including Salon 33, Stockton Inn, The Bucks County Cabaret and the 1867 Sanctuary.

Regular

Education: Capital University, BM Piano Performance; Westminster Choir College, MM Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Internationally renowned vibraphonist Tony Miceli has been performing steadily on the jazz scene since 1980. In All About Jazz, Vic Schermer describes him as … “a vibraphonist of astonishing virtuosity, musical resilience, and inventiveness. His vibes playing is nothing short of phenomenal.” Tony Miceli is the consummate versatile musician who is involved in a number of musical projects and recordings. An artist who performs throughout the world, Tony has played in countless jazz festivals, percussion festivals, jazz clubs, colleges, and even prisons. Traveling around the world, he has performed in Spain, Ireland, South Korea, Australia, Canada, Belgium, and Patagonia. Based in Philadelphia, he performs and leads vibraphone workshops throughout the USA including Colorado, North Dakota, Delaware, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Regular Special Arrangement Staff

Education: University of the Arts, BM Performance

Specialties: Jazz Ensembles, Percussion

Divisions: Music

Vasiliy Kifyak holds a Master’s Degree in Conducting, Piano Accompaniment and Music Theory from the Professional Music School in Kishinev, Moldova, and studied at Music Academy of Moldova. As Conductor of the Philharmonic Society Doina Chorus, he traveled and presented concerts at halls throughout cities in Spain and Italy and has taught at independent schools and in other community venues throughout Philadelphia.

Staff

Education: Music Academy of Moldova; Professional Music School, MM Conducting, Piano Accompaniment, and Music Theory

Specialties: Piano, Musicianship

Divisions: Music

Viktor Repik graduated from the Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of the Ukraine, under the tutelage of Leonid Perenesienko and Yuri Mazurkevich. After graduation, Viktor performed in the Symphony and Pop Orchestras of the Ukrainian Radio and Television Corporation, and taught violin and chamber music in local schools. Viktor then went on to join as faculty member at the Music Conservatory in Oulu, Finland. Once in the USA, Viktor performed in various orchestras such as the Reading Orchestra, Bucks County Orchestra, and the Delaware Valley Philharmonic. Viktor is also an accomplished accompanist and has served as the accompanist for the Princeton Ballet School.

Staff

Education: Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of the Ukraine, BM Violin Performance

Specialties: String Ensemble, Viola, Violin

Divisions: Music

Wesley Curtis Robinson is an artist, pianist, and producer based in Philadelphia. Wesley grew up surrounded by music in a very musical family, beginning his classical piano studies at age 5. His father and the lead singer of the legendary Philadelphia R&B/Funk group Breakwater, Gene Robinson, was a major inspiration artistically and piqued Wesley’s interest in music at a very young age. After transitioning his studies to jazz piano at age 12, Wesley became involved in school bands and the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Program, now known as the Creative Music Program, where he studied under producer, touring, and recording musician Anthony Tidd. Around age 15, he began producing original content with a distinct interest in soulful Hip-Hop. After being awarded a full-tuition scholarship to University of the Arts, he began his studies as a jazz pianist. In January 2017, he completed his first UK tour with Breakwater, and has since been performing, producing, and collaborating with other artists in Philadelphia, NYC, and Los Angeles. He grew his core audience by gaining attention posting keyboard and production videos on Instagram. Wesley has been exploring a distinct but unique sound that blurs the lines between music genres, an exploration he seeks to continue throughout his career.

Regular

Education: University of the Arts, BM Jazz Piano Performance

Specialties: Piano

Divisions: Music

Will Brobston has been teaching private and group guitar lessons since 2011. In addition to Settlement Music School, institutions and organizations he has worked with include Birmingham School of Music, Denver Musical Arts, ArtistYear AmeriCorps, Aspen Music Festival and School, Philly Music Lessons, and the University of Denver as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Will holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Technology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance and Composition from the University of Denver. His musical interests and ambitions span many different styles and genres, as does his musical instruction. The artistic avenues closest to his heart include new music composition, electronic music production, and classical guitar performance.

Education: University of Alabama at Birmingham, BA Music Technology; University of Denver, MM Classical Guitar Performance and Composition

Specialties: Guitar

Divisions: Music

Bill Bonnell performs locally with orchestra and chamber groups. He is the K-12 Music Coordinator in the Phoenixville School District, where he directs the three concert bands, pit orchestra, and jazz ensemble at Phoenixville Middle School. Bill brings research-based practice and assessment strategies for musicians of any age to reach for peak performances. His teaching reflects the joy he has in sharing music with each student. Bill studied with Danny Carter of the National Symphony Orchestra, Ralph Lockwood at Arizona State University, and Randy Gardner of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Bill also performed for two summers at the Pierre Monteux School. He holds the B.M., M.M. degrees, and PA teaching certification from Temple University.

Associate Staff

Education: Temple University, BM and MM

Specialties: French Horn, Trombone, Trumpet, Baritone/Euphonium

Divisions: Music

Bill joined the Settlement faculty in 2012 after 30+ years of private teaching on the Main Line and in South Jersey. Bill’s areas of focus as both a teacher and performer include drum set, percussion, jazz and world music. He also has extensive experience helping students prepare for auditions for ensembles, college and graduate school. In addition to giving individual lessons, Bill has created the curriculum for and taught a wide range of group classes and workshops. Bill received a BA in Music from Rowan University and a Master’s in Music in Percussion Performance from Miami University. He has studied drum set with Jeff Hamilton, Greg Bissonette, and Armand Santarelli and percussion/world music with Tony Vacca, Randy Crafton, and Ustad Mohammed Lutfi. Bill also has extensive classical experience; he has played with The Haddonfield Symphony, Bridgeton Symphony, The Whitewater Opera Company and was the Principal Percussionist & Timpanist with The Philharmonic of Southern New Jersey. Bill currently plays drum set in several jazz groups in and around Philadelphia including Jazz Volcano.

Staff

Education: Rowan University, BA Music; Miami University, MM Percussion Performance

Specialties: Percussion, Jazz Ensemble

Divisions: Music

Julian A. and Lois G. Brodsky Distinguished Faculty Chair

William Kerrigan received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Temple University. His principal teachers include Alan Abel, Jack Moore, and Charles Owen. He has been principal percussion/assistant timpani of the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, principal percussion with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, principal percussion of Orchestra2001, and leader of the Phil-A-Rhythm Percussion Quartet. He also performed at the Aspen Music Festival, backed up such musicians as Shirley Bassey, Art Garfunkel, Al Green, Michael Feinstein, the Moody Blues, Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, and performed in the orchestras of the Pennsylvania Ballet and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. In addition to being Distinguished Faculty Chair at Settlement, he also has taught or continues to teach at the Community College of Philadelphia, Eastern University, Swarthmore College and the Wilmington Music School.

Associate Staff

Education: Temple University, BM and MM

Specialties: Percussion

Divisions: Music

Regular

Education:

Specialties: Musicianship

Divisions: Music

William S. Cahn, born in Cleveland, Ohio, studied percussion with Cloyd Duff and Robert Pangborn, of the Cleveland Orchestra. During high school, he began teaching private lessons to beginners. While studying at the Eastman School of Music with William Street, he taught for the Rochester, NY School System. After graduating from Eastman with a Bachelor’s Combination Degree in Performance/Music Education, he became timpanist of the United States Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. While there, he continued studying for a Master of Music Degree in Performance from Catholic University of America. He also studied percussion with Alan Abel of the Philadelphia Orchestra, who was head of the Percussion Department at Settlement Music School. Freelance performing has included Ambler Choral Society, Bach and Handel Chorale, Greater Trenton Symphony, Musica 2000 Symphony and the H.B. Smith Cornet Band. William has taught at Settlement Music School since January 1969 and taught at Cardinal Dougherty High School from 1971 to 1997.

Associate Staff

Education: Eastman School of Music, BM Performance/Music Education; Catholic University of America, MM Performance

Specialties: Percussion

Divisions: Music

Yael Tsoran is a New York City born and raised artist who moved to Philadelphia in 2018 to pursue her vision as an art therapist. Yael is known for her stylistic, expressive characters filling up her sketchbook, or 12-foot exterior walls. Her explorative and curious nature makes it easy for her to identify as a mixed media artist ranging from painting and drawing to mural work and photocopy art. Through her open studio art-making process, Yael encourages playful experimentation, inquiry, and the “third hand” approach in her sessions. Before moving to Philadelphia, Yael was employed in Brooklyn, working as an art therapist with adults with severe and persistent mental illness.

Regular

Education:

Specialties: Art Therapy

Divisions: Art Therapy

Yvette Dorsey is an assistant pre-kindergarten classroom teacher at Settlement Music School. She holds an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from the Community College of Philadelphia and has worked with children for over eight years. She is a firm believer that each child can learn at his/her own pace. She is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Additionally, she has gone through extensive training to become a certified treatment foster parent. She has cared for several families over the years and in the last two and a half years, has been caring for four siblings. Mollett has one biological son, Joseph, and a husband, Maurice.

Assistant Teacher

Education: Community College of Philadelphia, AA Early Childhood Education

Specialties: Kaleidoscope Pre-K (PS 6)

Divisions: Early Childhood

Zachary Poyatt graduated from the University of the Arts in 2009 with a BM in Jazz Guitar Performance. There he studied with Scott McGill, Tom Giacobetti, and Matt Davis, and participated in masterclasses with Jimmy Bruno, Vic Juris, and Pat Martino. While in high school, he was a student of Gerry Kunkel, guitar chair at the University of Maryland College Park, and took piano and theory lessons from Dr. Mark Cook, director of music theory and composition at Shepherd University. Zachary has played with a wide variety of Philadelphia bands and enjoys teaching a range of styles including jazz standards, funk, pop-rock, folk, and traditional music. Most recently, he performed a top 40 pop repertoire for four years at Howl At The Moon, totaling over 1,000 shows. Zachary loves Philadelphia and enjoys spending time with the friends he has met through the vibrant music community in the city.

Regular

Education: University of the Arts, BM Jazz Guitar Performance

Specialties: Classical Guitar, Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Jazz Guitar

Divisions: Music

Zoe Lynch currently attends the Boyer School of Music at Temple University where she is pursuing degrees in Music Education and Jazz Violin Performance. She began her studies at the age of 10 under Janka Perniss at The Eastman School of Music. Zoe’s high school years were spent under the instruction Diana Vuolo of The Juilliard School, while playing with the Chester County Youth Orchestra and local chamber ensembles. Her curiosity for music beyond the standard classical violin cannon brought her to study jazz violin at Temple, where she has been studying with Zach Brock and Diane Monroe. Zoe regularly performs with local R&B, funk bands, as well as the Philadelphia String Quartet. She has also developed an after-school string program at Hope Partnership Charter School.

Regular

Education:

Specialties: Violin

Divisions: Music