FITCHBURG STATE FOUNDATION MUSIC LESSON PROGRAM
Lessons available on campus on:
INSTRUMENT
INSTRUCTOR WEBSITE & BIO PHOTO
Flute April Showers-Michaud
http://www.aprilshowersflute.com
April is a professional flutist and instructor. She has been principal flute with the Thayer Symphony Orchestra since 1982 and is a founding member of the Bulfinch Duo (flute and piano), the Silver Cedar Duo (flute and guitar), and the Windhammer Chamber Players. April has taught students of all levels, from beginning to advanced and her students have won national competitions including first place at the National High School Solo Competition at the Annual National Convention. Presently, April is on the faculty at Fitchburg State University’s Foundation Music Lesson Program, Thayer Performing Arts Center, and the Minor Chord, and maintains a private studio.
Clarinet and Saxophone Instructor; Lesson Program Coordinator Monica Duncan
Clarinetist Monica Duncan freelances throughout the Greater Boston area, and has performed with the Cape Ann, Lexington, and Greater Lansing Symphonies, Symphony by the Sea, and North Shore Music Theater to name a few. Duncan has performed in Japan and Canada, and has premiered many works, including at the SCI National
Conference. She can be heard on the CDs Awaiting the Sun, Fleeting Visions, Metamorphosis and Ghosts through Beauport Classical, and Basically British with Philharmonia a Vént.
Guitar, Banjo and
Ukulele
Paul Luria
http://www.paulluria.com
Paul is active as a performer and teacher. He enjoys playing old-timey blues, gospel, pop, jazz, folk, world, and Acadian music and, depending on the occasion, performs on the banjo, mandolin, guitars, harmonica, street bass, percussion, jaw harp, or fiddle. Paul is currently an Adjunct faculty member at Fitchburg State University and teaches in the Foundation Music Lesson Program.
Voice Maria Ferrante http://www.mariaferrante.com
Soprano Maria Ferrante maintains a full schedule of performances on the international stage. A winner of the Mario Lanza Voice Competition, she has been acclaimed by the Washington Post and the Boston Phoenix. She is a vivid and active recitalist, working locally with numerous ensembles both in Massachusetts and nationally such as the Mohawk Trial Concerts, the Boston Ballet, the New England String Ensemble, the Ensemble for the Romantic Century (NYC), the Charleston Orchestra, the Delaware Symphony Orchestra, and the Florida Northwest Symphony. An engaging, enthusiastic teacher and coach, Maria has taught vocal masterclasses throughout New England and New York and offers unique and personalized strategies for her students.
Voice Mark St.
Laurent
Bass-baritone Mark St. Laurent taught at New England Conservatory from 1989 through 2013, and served as chair of the voice department for part of that time. He has sung extensively in oratorio and opera, with performances both in the U.S. and Europe. Solo performances have included the Aspen Music Festival, Bach Aria Festival, Boston Lyric Opera, Lake George Opera, Monadnock Music, Indian Hill Symphony, and the Liederkranz Foundation. Operatic performances have included La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, The Barber of Seville, and The Elixir of Love. He now devotes himself entirely to his teaching. His students have included Metropolitan Opera Guild Regional and National finalists and winners. Students from his studio have performed with the Metropolitan Opera, St. Louis Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Utah Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera. B.M., M.M., Performer’s Certificate, Indiana University. Studies with Carlos Alexander, Camilla Williams, John Humphry, and Ruud Van de Meer. Former faculty of Brandeis University and the Thayer Conservatory at Atlantic Union College.
Piano Roy Imperio A dedicated teacher, pianist Roy Imperio has mentored, inspired and taught piano and music students of all ages in the past three decades. His students have various backgrounds and musical aspirations yet attest to the joy of music making that comes from his classes. Importantly, many of his students continue to fulfill successful musical careers. He has also served on the piano faculties at Atlantic Union College, Andrews University, the Performing Arts School of Worcester, and the Groton Center for the Arts.
Piano Judit Ernst Judit Ernst received her Piano Performance
Diploma and her Master's Degree in Eurhythmics at the Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA. She studied under the tutelage of Dr. Faina Bryanskaya and Dr. Lisa Parker. She has been a faculty member at the Indian Hill Music Center in Littleton, MA since 1997. Ms. Ernst is a former member of the Wachusett Chamber players and has performed in various chamber music and solo settings. Ms. Ernst was born and raised in Budapest, Hungary and currently resides in Lunenburg, MA.
Piano Joey
Mazzarella
Joey Mazzarella is a pianist/composer who brings a unique blend of jazz, classical, and R&B music to his performances and teaching. He has played with many bands and as a solo pianist in the Worcester and Boston area. Joey graduated from New England Conservatory with a degree in Jazz Studies and has studied with Ran Blake, Danilo Perez, Frank Carlberg, Mark Marquis and Bob Moses. He composes and performs with his fusion band Planet Mannequin and R&B band De La High. You can check out Joey's videos and recordings at http://joeymazz.com
Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Jerry Sabatini www.sonicexplorers.com/home
Jerry earned a Masters Degree in Contemporary Improvisation as a trumpet performance major from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston in 2009. He studied jazz, world and
experimental improvisational music, personal style, and composition. Jerry directs small and large jazz ensembles, teaches music theory, composition, arranging, improvisation, and trumpet at The Joy of Music Program in Worcester, MA and from his home studio in Leominster, MA. He is a frequent clinician, guest director, artist-in-residence, and commissioned composer for many New England colleges and universities as well as elementary and secondary schools.
Violin and Viola
Hildy Schilling On a full scholarship (Artistic Achievement Award for violin performance), Hildy attended Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist
University, where she studied violin performance and psychology. She has played violin and viola professionally in numerous ensembles including Waco Symphony, East Texas Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony, and Thayer Symphony. Hildy is a professor in Psychological Science at Fitchburg State University, where she conducts the FSU Community Orchestra. She has taught violin and viola lessons for 15 years.
Violoncello Ning Tien www.celloandstrings.com
Born in Beijing, Dr. Ning Tien is a performer and teacher of violoncello, piano, chamber and orchestra ensembles. With over 30 years of experience, her career as a cellist has taken her around the globe from Boston to Bali, and from New York to Beijing, as well as to numerous cities in the U.S. and Europe. A resident of Massachusetts, she is the founding member of the New England Piano Trio and currently serves on the faculty of the Fitchburg State University Foundation Music Lesson Program, Atlantic Union College, the Joy of Music Program, and the Keene Community Music Center. Double Bass Nancy Kidd Nancy has been teaching and performing in New
England for the past fourteen years. Former Principal Bassist of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Mrs. Kidd is a current member of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and an active member of the Boston freelance scene. She earned an Advanced Certificate from The Juilliard School and a B.M. in Double Bass from New England Conservatory of Music. In addition to her busy performance schedule, Mrs. Kidd also teaches private lessons in Fitchburg, MA.
Drum Set/ Percussion
Evan Lattimore
Evan Lattimore earned a Bachelor of Music degree from The New England Conservatory in 1981 where he studied with Frank Epstein, Vic Firth, and Fred Buda. Evan earned a Master of Arts-Teaching degree from Rhode Island College in 1997. As a percussionist, he has toured the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa and performed with The Moody Blues, Aretha Franklin, Ann Murray, Don Rickles and Jerry Lewis. Evan is a member of the Massachusetts Symphony, the Thayer Symphony Orchestra, Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra, and Arcadia Players. Since 1994, Evan has been the band director at the Central Tree Middle School in Rutland.
Hand Drumming
Issa Coulibaly
http://issacoulibaly.com
Master Djembe Drummer Issa Coulibaly began studying the djembe and djun djun when he was 11 in his home city of Bamako, Mali. As his skill and reputation as a multi-instumental player, vocalist and arranger grew, Issa toured Africa and Europe extensively before emigrating to America. He continues to travel from Maine to Puerto Rico facilitating retreats and performing as the lead drummer and Musical Director for a variety of African Dance troupes.
Celtic Music Ensemble
Anne O’Connor
www.anneoc.com
Anne O'Connor holds a Bachelor and Master Degree in music, classical guitar. Celtic music is her lifelong love; she plays traditional music on guitar, ukulele, percussion, accordion, whistle and vocals. She has performed throughout the region and in California. Anne currently teaches in the after school program in Lunenburg and has taught at the Thayer Performing Arts Center, ALFA, Fitchburg and Leominster 21st Century programs, Pakachoag Community Music School in Auburn, the Worcester Performing Arts Center and the Graduate and Continuing Education program at Fitchburg State College.
