MATTHEW

Matt received his BM in Music Education from Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts and went on to earn his MM in Orchestral Performance from Mannes School of Music. Throughout his education, Matt has played principal trumpet with both the Mannes Orchestra and the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra performing at Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall. He has studied trumpet with musicians from The Philadelphia Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic including Robert Earley, Vincent Penzarella, and Tom Smith. Matt has ten years of experience working with children and adults teaching brass, woodwinds, guitar, and piano in private, small-group, and classroom settings.

JONATHON

Jonathon is a recent graduate of Rutgers University with a B.M. in Music Performance from the Mason Gross School of the Arts. As a student, Jonathon studied classical voice as his primary instrument. He performed in both the Kirkpatrick Choir, the select choir that has a yearly performance in Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, and in the Rutgers University Glee Club, a men’s choir that recently toured Sweden, Finland, and Estonia. He also has experience performing musical theater, participating in shows throughout both high school and college. Jonathon has also studied piano since he was 7 years old. He has focused both on classical performance and jazz piano, which has helped him develop a unique musical ear. As a student at Rutgers, Jonathon excelled at ear training, and often tutored other students in music dictation and theory. Jonathon’s wide range of musical experience enables him to meet the needs of any students.

ALEX

Alex graduated from Westminster Choir College with a BA in Music and a concentration in Voice Studies. Studying voice as a soprano with Dr. Sharon Sweet, Alex was the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards and was counted a member of several select vocal ensembles, including Kantorei, Williamson Voices, and Symphonic Choir. In addition to her performances around the tri-state area at such prestigious venues as Lincoln and Kimmel Center, she has performed throughout France and England, including as a Choral Mentor at the Oxford University Choral Singing Summer School. In spring of 2018, Alex made her Carnegie Hall debut as the alto soloist in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nezet-Seguin, and the Westminster Symphonic Choir. She has been recorded as a chorister, and is a featured soloist on three releases. This season, Alex has been accepted onto the extended roster for Donald Nally’s professional ensemble, The Crossing, and sings as the alto Choral Scholar in the Voices Chorale NJ. Alex has a passion for teaching, especially younger students, and her rich background in performance allow for lessons that teach not only technicality, but also musicality.

ANNIE

Annie grew up in family of trained musicians. Her mother was a piano teacher for nearly 40 years, while her father taught high school music. As a result, Annie naturally developed a passion for piano and singing and began formal lessons by the age of four. After graduating with honors from Grove City College in 2005 with a Bachelors of Music with concentrations on voice and piano, she went on to earn a Masters in Music Education from Boston University. Drawing on her experience of teaching general elementary music for the past 10 years, she shares her passion about music with her students. While classically trained, she welcomes all genres and styles of music. She values teaching specific piano techniques including: ear training, notation, music theory, and sight reading. Annie believes with these techniques as a foundation, students can develop their own passion for music and creative expression.

JACQUI

Jacqui received her BA in Music Performance and Production from Ramapo College of New Jersey. Throughout her life, she has performed in choirs, musicals, gospel ensembles, concerts and a cappella groups. Jacqui’s experiences have led to her performing on stage with the likes of Whoopi Goldberg. She focuses on techniques to fortify growth and confidence in her students. Her fun and gentle nature combined with knowledge and passion for helping students fully comprehend material make her a great fit for anyone interested in pursuing voice lessons.

JENN

In addition to Jenn’s training as a violinist and pianist, she is also a certified teacher of Elementary Education. With a Bachelor’s of Science degree in K-6 education from Taylor University, Her expertise in pedagogy are matched by her masterful approach to technique and her dilligent focus on the many seemingly small details it takes to learn an instrument as complex as the piano. Jenn is a great fit for anyone getting started on the piano or seeking to learn more about it. Her many years of experience working as an instructor, including teaching many individuals with special needs, make piano lessons with Jenn a great fit for any student.

ANA

Ana attended the Music Conservatory of Puerto Rico, first pursuing a BA in Violin Performance. During her time there, she participated in multiple orchestral engagements, ensembles, and solo performances. In 2008, she was selected to participate in the Orchestra of the Americas Festival under the direction of Maestro Luis Biava. During her tenure at school, she was afforded the opportunity to teach new music programs which helped her realize her passion for instruction and prompted her to change her major to Music Education. After completing her degree, she taught in an outreach branch of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra called 100x35 Music. There, she had the opportunity to work with children, some of whom, had yet to experience the joy of playing an instrument. Ana has extensive experience working with students of all ages and skill levels, including those with special needs.