here - The Rye Arts Center

The Rye Arts
Center’s
Music Instructors’
Instructors’
Biographies
Jessa Callen (piano, voice, harp)
Jessa received her Bachelor of Music from SUNY Purchase. She has
studied with numerous renowned harpists among them Elizabeth Huntley,
professor at Skidmore College and Mario Falcao at SUNY Fredonia. In
addition to her teaching, Jessa is an active performer throughout New York
State.
Philosophy: I use a holistic approach in my teaching style. I stress music
theory and a solid technique as well as improvisation and creativity. I try to
make lessons fun and interactive in addition to educational.
Gerry Fitzgerald (drums)
Gerry has been teaching locally for 35 years, 20 of those here at
The Rye Arts Center. He has performed in the New York area with
varied bands and with many top level jazz musicians such as
Michael Brecker, Pizzarella and Bill Crow.
“Performing and teaching music has given me the gift of being a
part of something beautiful and bigger than myself and to be able to
share that gift with others.”
Philosophy: My teaching philosophy is to help each student to
develop at his/her own individual pace, to build on his/her natural
abilities and overall performance musically.
Anne Bach Fumasoli (flute, piano, piano pals)
Music School & Public Outreach Director
of The Rye Arts Center
Breathing
Embouchure
Tone
Technique
Enjoyment
Review
Anne is Music School Director at The Rye Arts Center. She received her B.S. summa cum laude in Music
Education from the University of Bridgeport. She has taught in the Stamford and Darien public schools,
Greenwich Academy, School of the Holy Child and in various community based programs. Her performance
credits include work with The Connecticut Grand Opera, Connecticut Public Television, Silvermine Art Guild
and The Whitney Museum. Anne continues to perform throughout the tri-state area as a soloist, chamber
musician and clinician. She is an active member of the New York State School Music Association and is a
certified woodwind adjudicator for NYSSMA evaluation festivals.
Peter Hand (guitar)
Guitarist Peter Hand leads his own jazz groups in New York and New
England. His credits include work with many top artists & bands
including Carmen Lundy, Claudio Roditi, George Coleman, the Kansas
City Jazz Orchestra and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. His
Savant Records CD, "The Wizard of Jazz-The Peter Hand Big
Band", was cited by leading jazz critics as one of 2009's best CDs, and
a new album will be recorded in the spring of 2013. A Berklee College
of Music graduate, Peter has twenty five years experience teaching
beginners through advanced students in a variety of styles, including
jazz, blues, rock, pop, contemporary and more.
Heather Rinello (piano, piano pals)
Heather is a graduate of Manhattanville College with a degree in music and
concentration in management. She studied piano privately at the Music
Conservatory of Westchester with the renowned Russian piano teacher Natalia
Krassii-Watson. For three years she held a position as Rental Manager at
Steinway Hall on 57th street in Manhattan, where her responsibilities included
performing for clients. In 2002 Heather played piano in scenes from the movie
Unfaithful, directed by Adrian Lyne, starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. For the
past several years Heather has taught at two Westchester music schools for
students’ ages 5 and up, teaching all genre of music and theory and all of her
students have performed in recitals.
J.P. Schlegelmich (piano, composition)
JP Schlegelmilch is a pianist, electric
keyboardist, accordionist and composer. His
current projects include music for solo piano
and electronics, and the indie-folk-jazz quartet
Old Time Musketry. In addition to his own
projects JP has performed with the indieclassical chamber group Fireworks Ensemble;
avant-jazz legend Tim Berne; and played on
the soundtrack to the Oscar-nominated film
Beasts of the Southern Wild.
“I believe in the power of music to bring people
together in a shared experience that
transcends differences such as age, cultural
backgrounds, and belief systems. My
involvement with music has allowed me to
connect with such a broad range of people throughout my life, both in performing and teaching, that I can
hardly imagine life without it.”
Philosophy: I seek to take inspiration from the great teachers I've known throughout my life and create a
personal approach to communicating musical concepts. Each student is treated as a unique individual and the
lesson plans are built around the student’s interests, learning style, and goals. I encourage my students to
explore a wide range of musical genres in the lessons ranging from rock, jazz, classical, and folk music.
Students are also encouraged to learn music of their own choosing. Some subjects students explore in lessons
are: rhythm, music theory, composition, improvisation, music history, ear training, and awareness of how the
use of the body affects musical performance.
Vera Tymochko (piano, piano pals)
Pianist Vera Tymochko is a dedicated educator and a passionate musician. Ms. Tymochko received her
undergraduate degree in piano performance from Manhattan School of Music, where she studied in a studio of
Dr. Aronov. Her previous piano teachers included Oxana Yablonskaya and Viktoria Mushkatkol of the Juilliard
School. Ms. Tymochko has received a number of awards and recognitions including The Robert Dodson
Memorial Scholarship, Jewish council of Yonkers Music Scholarship, Winner of First Round at the “Young
Virtuosos” International Festival, and a Kennedy Center debut under the baton of Leonard Slatkin.
Ms. Tymochko’s professional performance career includes solo and chamber performances in New
Hampshire, New York, and Europe. In 2006 she gave a series of charity piano recitals around the Western
Ukraine for numerous low budget schools. Recently Ms. Tymochko has earned her Master of Education
degree from Teachers College, Columbia University. During that time she had a wonderful experience
conducting and accompanying choirs, learning about different instruments including Hand Bells and violin as
well as singing.
“From an early age when I began exploring and learning technique of piano playing to recent days where I
enjoyed an orchestral performance or an opera, music has always been an important part of my life. As
Frederic Chopin once said “The piano is my second self”, I cannot imagine my life without music – it would be
unbearable.”
Philosophy: I want to encourage students to be critical thinkers in everything that they do: from learning how to
sing to learning how to play an instrument, how to feel the music through the movement. Furthermore I want to
provide my students with an opportunity to look for novel ideas, to think creatively and explore new techniques.
My goal as an educator is to provide students with technique and to encourage every single one of them to
appreciate piano playing and to love music.
Andrew Fox (voice, piano)
Andrew Fox is an award-winning musical theatre orchestrator and arranger
whose previous clients include Stephen Schwartz and Starkid Productions. He
co-runs Stacks of Wax Production, which creates music in all popular genres. He
is the co-founding faculty of Creative Vocal Lab & Choral Conservatory at
Purchase College and a teaching artist at Westhampton PAC.
“Music is groovy and wonderful and fun, and it expresses that which cannot be
expressed with words. Music has given me an entirely new way of
communicating, of feeling, of interacting. Whether it's the stankiness of a really good funk lick or the deep
sadness of a Chopin Nocturne, music is all about getting that thing that's inside of you to resonate in someone
else.”
Philosophy:
My teaching style is all about smart practice techniques, engaging musical choices, and asking the right
questions. At whatever level students are working, I want them to be making music that they enjoy making and
that other people can enjoy listening to. In the short-term, I want them to experience the feeling of competence
in creativity, and in the long-term I'd like them to appreciate music, dedication, and active listening.
Evan Feist (voice, piano, composition)
Evan Feist produces, manages, promotes, writes, and arranges music. As
general manager for Stacks of Wax, Evan pioneered a unique method of viral
marketing through social networking sites that guarantees results.
He has taught a cappella, vocal percussion, composition, and improv
workshops throughout the New York tri-state area, and his arrangements and
compositions are performed throughout the world. He is in demand as a private
vocal coach and several of his students have appeared on American Idol, The X Factor, The Voice, and The
Sing Off.
Evan is a founding faculty member of the country's only summer composing and improv chorus for high school
students. He serves as lead instructor at the Purchase College Conservatory Summer Program.
He received two master's degrees in music from Columbia University's Teachers College and is an alumnus of
the renowned Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. He continues to teach private studio lessons at both
institutions.
Lisa Rawson (voice, beginning piano, conducting)
Lisa has a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from
Michigan State University. She has taught voice and piano students
for over fifteen years and has conducted choral groups across the
country including the Edgewood College Concert Choir, the HarvardRadcliffe Chorus and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Choral
Union. She is currently Director of Choirs for Children and Youth at
Rye Presbyterian Church.
“Music has the power to speak to our deepest selves. I cannot
imagine a life without it.”
Philosophy: In my lessons I create a student-centered space that
caters to individual student interests and skill levels. Long experience
has convinced me that this is the best way to meet each student’s
needs and to nurture them in a way that helps them develop a love
for music. I also integrate music history and theory into my lessons to
help students bring their music more fully to life.
Anne Boccato (voice, piano)
Anne Boccato is a pianist, vocalist and composer based in the
NYC area. A graduate of SUNY Purchase with a degree in Jazz
piano, Anne writes music that combines elements of her native
Brazil with the modern jazz she encountered in New York City's
thriving scene. Anne has performed/recorded with John
Patitucci, Antonio Sanchez, Jean-Michel Pilc, John Ellis,
Brazilian guitarrist Fabio Gouvea and many others, at venues
such as Yale University, the University of Hartford and many
places abroad.
“Music plays a key role in connecting human beings to their
cultural roots, each other, and the world. In my life, it has
allowed for new discoveries, friendships and opportunities to
share my passion with people of all ages and nationalities. I love
how playing together transcends language and ethnicity, leaving
only joy and the memory of a shared experience.”
Philosophy: I believe that music is fun, and should be taught as such. As I work with very young children, I try
to expose them to as many sounds, styles and rhythms as possible, so as to broaden their "musical comfort
zone". I believe early childhood is a prime time to show them music they might not find on their own later in life.
This exposure opens many doors, enriching the child's musical and artistic sensibilities. I am not interested in
shaping my students into future musicians; what I do want is to give each of them the gift of loving good music.
This enjoyment has to start in the classroom, where we play games, dance, sing and clap, all with the goal of
bringing beauty and joy together in the child's first experience of a music class.
Kristen Davanzo (piano, voice)
Kristen D'Avanzo has taught piano and voice lesson for the past several
years at The Rye Arts Center. She is also a general music teacher in the Port
Chester School District at John F Kennedy Magnet School. Kristen holds a
Master’s Degree in Music Education from Manhattanville College.
“Music is an essential part of life that promotes creativity and joy.”
Philosophy: Kristen enjoys teaching music and loves the enthusiasm of her
students on a daily basis.
Marirose Dempsey (violin, viola, beginning piano)
Marirose Dempsey teaches violin, viola, and cello lessons here at the
Rye Arts Center. She has her Bachelors of Music in Music Education as
well as her Masters of Art in Teaching for Music Education from
Manhattanville College. While relatively new to the Rye Arts Center,
Marirose has been teaching private lessons in the are since 2010, and
has had students audition for and be accepted to the Lower
Westchester All County orchestras, as well as the Greater Westchester
Youth Orchestras Association. Marirose remains an active violist
herself performing in orchestras throughout Westchester and Fairfield
counties.
“Music is what keeps history alive for us, and gives us roots to grow as
a culture. Through history important events have been inspired works
of art, literature, and music, music is something that is fresh every
time it is performed because new eyes are looking at, new thoughts
change how a line sounds. This malleable pillar of social exchange
excites me, and when I can bring it to another person and excite them,
the effect is multiplied.”
Philosophy: Every child learns differently, so I try to keep my
methodology open to find a student’s best fit. That being said I think so much can be learned through scale work alone,
that I do emphasize the practice of scales in my studio. Scales warm up both the fingers and the ear to the instrument,
and with thoughtful playing can be used to develop great technique on any instrument.
Howard Levy (trombone, baritone horn)
Howard Levy, educator and professional trombonist
resides in Rye Brook. He holds a BMUS from
Manhattan School of Music and a MAT from Lehman
College. Howard has performed in and around New
York with Broadway shows, big bands, his own Jazz
Quartet, brass groups and the Concord Hotel
Orchestra and more. Howard has been teaching at
Blind Brook High School for the last 22 years.
“The passion that I have for music has provided me with life-long learning through study, performance and
teaching. “
Philosophy: Improve sound production through an emphasis on an playing in a relaxed state (free and easy)
while maximizing ones physical strengths and improving weaknesses. Improving technical skills through music
and exercises. Working on developing smooth legato playing through the use of beautiful melodies. Having fun
learning music of all genres while learning to play them stylistically correct. Learning and applying strategies for
effective sight reading.
Matt Garrison
(saxophone, clarinet, recorder,
beginning piano)
With confidence, lyricism, and a tonality that is
suffused in warmth, saxophonist Matt Garrison
fervently pursues the art-form of jazz as
reflected in his own words, "I like to think that I
am a translator of sorts. A jazz musician, in my
opinion, is supposed to interpret the world
around them and convert those situations and
feelings into music." This is the essence of
Garrison's voice and music.
Through hard work and determination, he
excelled and went on to earn, both Bachelors and Masters Degrees (including the Anthony Newman Award,
given to one exceptional jazz major) at Purchase Conservatory of Music in Westchester New York where he
studied with Javon Jackson, Ralph Lalama, Hal Galper, Todd Coolman, and Jon Faddis.
An aspiring musician who is coming into his own, Garrison has gigged or recorded with various players of note-the late Dennis Irwin, Pete Malinverni, Adam Nussbaum, Gene Jackson, Sam Yahel, Jeff Hirshfield, Jon
Cowherd, Andy Laverne--and was once in a band with trumpeter great, Ray Vega. Garrison continues to
establish himself and thrive in a variety of settings and states, "I am never satisfied with stopping the search for
a better way to express myself."
His pursuit has been witnessed in freelance performances at area venues in Albany at Justins, Philadelphia at
Chris's Jazz Cafe, and the Jazz Standard and Smoke in New York City. His own music came into fruition with
an album of original compositions entitled "Familiar Places", featuring an illustrious band of seasoned and
newer names with Michael Dease (trombone), Bruce Harris (trumpet), Zaccai Curtis (piano), Luques Curtis
(bass), Rodney Green (drums), Claudio Roditi (trumpet / flugelhorn), and Mark Whitfield (guitar). He released
a second album in May 2012, which featured six of his original songs and one arranged standard. The album
entitled "Blood Songs" featured Greg Gisbert on trumpet and Michael Dease on trombone, who also
contributed one composition each. A special guest spot by master tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander is
supported by the rhythm section of Roy Assaf, Dezron Douglas, and Ulysses Owens Jr, piano, bass, drums,
respectively. Garrison is scheduled to release his third album in the fall of 2013.
Markus Ling (piano)
A current student of Teacher’s College Columbia University
in Music Education, Markus Ling has already many
accomplishments many years of musical study. At the age of
14, he was awarded Third Place in the New York State Junior
High Competition, organized by the Music Teachers National
Association. Mr. Ling was a multiple award winner in various
competitions, such as the Young People’s Auditions Award
organized by the Rockland County Music Teacher Guild
(1998, 2001, 2002, 2003); the New York State Music
Teacher’s Association Award (1999, 2001, 2002, 2003); and
was given the Highest Recognition Achievement Award in the
New York State School of Music Association’s Spring
Festivals (1999, 2000, 2001). Mr. Ling completed has Bachelor’s and Master’s in Piano Performance at SUNY
Purchase Conservatory of Music under Stephanie Brown. Markus is on faculty at the Rye Arts Center and on
staff at the New York Summer Music Festival.
Mr. Ling preformed a solo recital at the Mannes School of Music, as well as many other recitals throughout
Rockland County, West Chester, White Plains, Flushing, Oneonta, and New York City. Markus has studied
piano at various music institutions such as the Mannes School of Music Preparatory Division, SUNY Purchase,
and Teacher’s College; working with teachers such as Greg Aslani, Antonio Fermin, Irina Edelman, Stephanie
Brown, and Evelyn Chen. He has also had the honor of attending the Shandelee Music Festival, the Brevard
Music Festival, and the New York Summer Music Festival where he studied under the guidance of Yong Hi
Moon, Nina Svetlanova, Ruth Slenczynska, Sandra Wright Shen, Reiko Uchida, Peter Miyamoto, Ayako
Tsuruta, and Emi Kagawa.
“For me, music is an integral part of my life. Music has taught me discipline, confidence, creativity, and
perseverance. Music has allowed me to meet all sorts of new people, some of whom became dear friends of
mine. Music is a way for me to learn about other cultures and the history of mankind. Most importantly, music
is a way for me to pass on all these wonderful things I have learned to our next generation.”
Valerie Luzzi (piano, voice)
Valerie has a Bachelors of Music with a concentration in voice from
Concordia College, and a Masters in Education from Mercy College. She
has 13 years of experience teaching piano and 10 years of experience
teaching voice. She has spent many years performing in multiple choirs
and community theaters as well as singing at other local events like walks
for The American Heart Association.
Joe Sabia (trumpet)
Joe is a resident of Westchester, NY and has been teaching privately
for almost a decade. He regularly performs as a soloist, chamber
musician, and section leader through a realization of his goal: being a
truly versatile musician. Joe expertly executes a variety of genres
from baroque to the blues, classical to club date, folk to funk, soul to
swing, rock to R&B, and from country to klezmer.
After graduating with honors from SUNY Purchase’s Conservatory of
Music, Joe earned a master’s degree from the Hartt School
(University of Hartford) on full scholarship.
In addition to teaching privately, Joe is the Assistant Director at the Westchester Summer Music Center in
White Plains. In his spare time, Joe plays piano and guitar and also loves arranging rock/pop songs for brass
ensembles of all sizes and skill levels: letting professionals take a break from Bach and giving students a
chance to be more musical than “Hot Crossed Buns” by tapping into their pre-existing knowledge of phrasing,
style, inflection, and tone.
“Without music to decorate it, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines or dates by which bills must
be paid.” - Frank Zappa
Adam Raymonda (guitar, bass)
bio coming soon
Jessica Westerman
(piano, group piano, piano pals)
bio coming soon
Jamielee Page (voice, piano)
Jamielee earned her Bachelor and Master of Music in Voice
and Opera Studies from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of
Music and is an after-school instructor at Convent of the
Sacred Heart in Greenwich, CT.
Lucas Brode (guitar)
Lucas earned a BA Honors in Music from
Skidmore College. He is an instructor at The
New York City Guitar School, Blue Bus
Music and the School of Rock. He has a
background in rock, jazz, and experimental
music.
Matthew Bauer (Percussion)
Matthew attended SUNY Purchase
Conservatory of Music and has a
background in orchestral, pop, rock,
contemporary, world, marching and
improvisational music.
Rachel Weishoff (voice, piano)
Rachel has a Bachelor of Music from NYU/SUNY Purchase
Conservatory of Music, Voice and Opera Studies. She has a
background in opera, musical theatre, jazz, pop and R&B music.
Naomi Graf (Suzuki violin, violin &
viola)
Naomi holds a Bachelor of Music from
The Juiliard School; earned her Masters
in Music from Yale School of Music. She
is the Director of Chamber Music and
Viola Programs at Hoff-Barthelson Music
School.
Deborah Scharbach (violin, viola) (photo coming soon)
Deborah holds a BM from Crane School of Music and a MS Ed in Mathematics from CUNY Lehman.
Her teaching experience includes several practicums in the Potsdam Central School district,
JFKennedy Magnet School in Port Chester and at Rye Middle School and Rye High School. Deborah
serves as a substitute teacher in the Rye City School District.
Jason Jacob (Suzuki guitar/guitar/guitar pals) (photo coming soon)
Jason holds a BM in Guitar Performance from University of Missouri and a MM in Guitar Performance
from the Rudi e. Scheldt School of Music, The University of Memphis. He holds an Artist Diploma
from SUNY Purchase as well as a Certificate of Suzuki Teacher Training from The Longay
Conservatory of Guitar, San Jose, CA. In addition to his teaching at The RAC, Jason also teaches at
The Guitar Conservatory of Northern Westchester and has taught at The Community Music School at
The University of Memphis.