Faculty

All our faculty members are professional teaching musicians with at least a Bachelor’s degree in their chosen speciality.  Click on the instrument below to explore our available teachers, then click on their name to read their full biography, or scroll down to browse all our teachers alphabetically by last name.

The safety of our students is our highest priority. 

CMS teachers are employees who have all PA Act 153 Clearances including Child Abuse History Clearances, Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Checks for Employment, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Fingerprinting.  They have also completed mandated reporter training.

Marissa Amphay

Marissa Amphay

violin | viola | cello | double bass | piano (in-person & online)

Marissa holds a Bachelor of Music Education, with Honors, from The University of Texas at Arlington. Her honors thesis explored how students with autism can benefit from various methods of music education. She has two and a half years of experience as an elementary general music teacher and as a teacher of violin, viola, cello, double bass, and piano to children from age 5 to age 18. She has a passion for music making and loves to share that passion with her students. Along with music, Marissa likes to spend her free time outdoors camping and hiking.

Watch Marissa (Broome) Amphay perform on violin:
Senior Violin Recital – Part 1
Senior Violin Recital – Part 2

Kathy Anthony

Kathy Anthony

piano | voice (online)

Mrs. Anthony holds a B.A. in Music Performance in voice/piano from Moravian University.   She also studied at Berklee College of Music and with faculty members from the Curtis Institute of Music.  She has a love for all genres of music:  pop, classical, jazz, R&B, etc.  She also performs throughout the Lehigh Valley & surrounding areas.

Matthew Blanchard

Matthew Blanchard

tuba | trombone | piano | voice (in-person & online)

Matthew Blanchard holds a B.A. in Music Education, with a minor in vocal performance from The Pennsylvania State University, where he studied under Eric Henry, David Yinger, and Velvet Brown. While at Penn State, Matthew performed with the Marching Blue Band, Concert Choir, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, various jazz bands, and many other chamber groups on tuba, sousaphone, trumpet, and trombone.

He is a high school music teacher and the band director for the Palmerton Area School District. Originally from Boiling Springs, PA, Matthew uses inspiration from the outdoor world in his playing and composing to combine his two passions: music and nature.

Watch Matthew Blanchard’s PSU Senior Recital

Lynda Chen

Lynda Chen

piano accompaniment by request (in-person)

Lynda Chen is an accomplished pianist specializing in collaborative piano, solo work, orchestra, and various ensembles. She is a graduate of Ithaca College where she earned a B.M in Music Performance as well as a M.M. in Collaborative Piano. She studied with teachers Diane Birr, Nathan Hess, Dmitri Novgorodsky, and Tomoko Kanamaru.

During her time at Ithaca College, Lynda was a part of the Ithaca Talent Education (ITE) as a Suzuki pianist. She also performed in masterclasses with guest artists such as Margo Garrett, Benton Hess, Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, Libby Larsen, and Kate Baldwin. Ensemble work includes the Women’s Chorale, Madrigals, Ithaca Contemporary Ensemble, and collaboration with vocalists and instrumentalists at the school.

Lynda also teaches piano at DeSales University and is the choral pianist for Nazareth Area High School.

Request Piano Accompaniment.

 

Lauren Curnow

Lauren Curnow

voice (in-person & online)

Ms. Curnow holds masters degrees in Music and Opera Performance from The Juilliard School and The Curtis Institute of Music, respectively, and a Bachelor of Arts from Muhlenberg College in Theater Arts and English. She is currently a Doctoral candidate in vocal performance at The Mason Gross School of Music at Rutgers University (2024).

Ms. Curnow is a professional vocal instructor with expertise in classical and theatrical vocal repertoire.  Her teaching emphasizes the complete development of singers, which includes a vocal technique that is based in relaxation and body awareness, musicianship, communication, acting skills and language proficiency.  Although her training and career have mostly revolved around classical music and opera, she is equally skilled at teaching and performing musical theater and contemporary music.  In addition to teaching at CMS, she is an adjunct vocal instructor at DeSales University, Lafayette College, and Muhlenberg College.

“My teaching philosophy is built from years of experience as a student in conservatory training, a professional opera singer and a studio teacher. I believe that each singer should be viewed as an individual, and that lessons should be tailored according to the needs of that individual for artistic growth and development. The vocal technique I teach is classical in its core, and serves to build a healthy instrument for whatever type of singing one wishes to pursue.”

The mezzo Soprano has been known for her ability to take on a wide range of dramatic characters and a demanding vocal range.  She has worked and performed extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as a professional opera singer.  Recent engagements have included singing the role of Baba in Gian Carlo Menotti’s The Medium, Angelina in Gioachino Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Anna Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, and serving as mezzo soloist for Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.  Ms. Curnow has performed eight mainstage roles with The Lyric Opera of Chicago.  She has had the privilege of singing roles at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence, Italy, the Saito-Kinen Festival in Masumoto, Japan, and has worked with prominent conductors such as Maestro Seiji Ozawa and Sir Andrew Davis. In addition, Ms. Curnow has performed roles with the Wexford Festival Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Austin Lyric Opera, and completed apprenticeships with The Opera Theater of St. Louis, The Santa Fe Opera and The Wolftrap Opera.

Carolyn Gaul

Carolyn Gaul

violin | viola (in-person & online)

Mrs. Gaul started playing violin at the age of nine and went on to receive a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music in Wheaton, IL. She has performed in many orchestras and chamber groups and has a wide range of training and experience in classical, folk, jazz, and Celtic genres. Ms. Gaul has taught string students of all ages and skill levels in individual and group lessons. Her experience includes teaching in private studios, running a home studio, and instructing in public schools. She also enjoys composing violin arrangements in her spare time.

Daniel Gonzalez

Daniel Gonzalez

drums | percussion | Latin percussion (in-person & online)

Lecciones de batería disponibles en español 

Mr. Gonzalez holds an M.S. in Education and B.S. in Music Percussion Performance from Mercy College. He began playing music at a young age, developing his craft in drum corps activities and military bands. He is a former U. S. Army Bandsman & senior instrumentalist with the New York Army National Guard, which included a year-long deployment to Iraq with the 42nd Infantry Division Band.

His teaching experience includes many years as a paraprofessional and special education teacher in New York City public schools. This experience taught him to approach each student with empathy. He enjoys teaching students of all ages on drums, Latin percussion, drum circles, and marching drum line.

Mr. Gonzalez continues to perform around the world in a wide range of musical settings.  His technical abilities and unique sound are the result of formal study and years of experience performing on numerous stages in Hawaii, California, Las Vegas, New York, Pennsylvania, Russia, and more. Daniel has contributed musical talent to various artists’ recordings throughout the years and continues to enjoy an engaging music career as a live performer, recording artist, and teacher.

Visit drumiel.com

Lecciones de batería disponibles en español

El Sr. González tiene un M.S. en Educación y B.S. en Interpretación de Percusión Musical de Mercy College. Comenzó a tocar música a una edad temprana, desarrollando sus habilidades en actividades de bandas militares. Él es un ex miembro de la banda del Ejército EE.UU, e instrumentista principal de la Guardia Nacional del Ejército de Nueva York, que incluyó un despliegue de un año en Irak con la Banda de la 42 División de Infantería.

Su experiencia docente incluye muchos años como paraprofesional y maestro de educación especial en las escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Nueva York. Esta experiencia le enseñó a acercarse a cada alumno con empatía. Le gusta enseñar a estudiantes de todas las edades en batería, percusión latina, círculos de batería, y línea de batería de marcha.

El Sr. González continúa actuando en todo el mundo en una amplia gama de entornos musicales.

Sus habilidades técnicas y sonido único son el resultado de un estudio formal y años de experiencia actuando en numerosos escenarios en Hawai, California, Las Vegas, Nueva York, Pensilvania, Rusia y más. Daniel ha contribuido con sus talentos musicales a las grabaciones de varios artistas a lo largo de los años y continúa disfrutando de una atractiva carrera musical como intérprete en vivo, artista de grabación y maestro.

Su sitio web es drumiel.com.

Programe una lección hoy.

Kelly Hooper

Kelly Hooper

piano | piano accompaniment (in-person & online)

Kelly Hooper is a recent graduate of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University, where she received bachelor’s degrees in both music and psychology.  In college, she studied under Dr. Timothy Shafer and was recognized for exemplary jury performances in two honors recitals and participated in the university’s concerto competition. She also offered her skills to two weekly religious services, where she was applauded for both prepared and improvised performances.  In addition to teaching private and group piano lessons at CMS, as the Program Coordinator, Kelly is responsible for developing and coordinating new and existing classes, programs, and recitals for our students. In her spare time, Kelly performs music at local country clubs and vineyards; she plays and sings contemporary works on her keyboard and ukulele.

Visit Kelly Hooper’s personal website.

Watch Kelly Hooper perform Kapustin’s Prelude from 8 Concert Etudes

Seval Kanik

Seval Kanik

saxophone | clarinet (in-person & online)

Ms. Kanik holds a B.A. in Music Education from Ithaca College (Ithaca, NY). She is currently the Strings Teacher at the Circle of Seasons Charter School in Fogelsville and has been teaching privately for over 10 years.  Before attending college, she studied at the Eastman School of Music (Rochester, NY) with Chien-Kwan Lin and played in the Eastman Community Wind Ensemble. At Ithaca College, she played in the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Nuovo Saxophone Quartet and soloed with the Symphony Orchestra. While teaching in public schools in Maryland, she also performed with the Middle River Concert Band (Baltimore, MD), Anne Arundel Community College Concert Band (Arnold, MD) and Bay Area Community Band (Stevensville, MD). She currently performs with the Macungie Band on tenor saxophone and on cello in the Valley Community Orchestra.

Linda Kistler

Linda Kistler

violin (in-person)

Ms. Kistler holds a M.M. from The Juilliard School and B.M. from Oberlin College Conservatory. She has studied Baroque repertoire with Nancy Wilson, Princetown, New Jersey; and Stanley Ritchie. Ms. Kistler has served on the faculty of Lehigh University, Cedar Crest College, Kutztown University, and the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts. Currently, Ms. Kistler is a member of the CMS faculty, an artist-lecturer at Moravian University, and maintains a private studio. Performance schedule includes playing both modern and Baroque violin.

Chris Klump

Chris Klump

guitar | trumpet (in-person & online)

Mr. Klump is an experienced brass and folk musician, arranger, conductor, and music educator.  He holds a B.A. in music from Moravian College, where he studied trumpet with Larry Wright, voice with Trisha Budlong, and guitar with John Arnold.  He performs locally with the South Side Brass, Mariachi Montaña del Sur, the Peace Singers, and serves as Assistant Conductor for the Marine Band of Allentown.

Since 2001, Mr. Klump has worked as a private tutor, ministry leader, performance coach, and music teacher.  He is currently the Band Director at Notre Dame High School in Easton and was previously the Band Director at Bethlehem Catholic High School.  He is experienced in directing wind, string, and jazz ensembles and teaching music theory, history, and technology.  He has worked with all levels of learners, from beginners to pros, and joins the faculty of CMS to offer lessons in trumpet and guitar.

Mr. Klump hails from New England, where he grew up and attended school in western Connecticut.  He now makes his home in South Bethlehem.  When he’s not working, he toils with various home improvement projects, plays recreational tennis, and enjoys frequent trips to New York as an avid fan of the Mets.

Jonathan Leeds

Jonathan Leeds

clarinet | bass clarinet (in-person & online)

Mr. Leeds holds a Master’s in Performance from the Royal College of Music, where he studied with Timothy Lines, as well as a Bachelor’s in Music Performance from the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University, where he studied with Bil Jackson. He began playing the clarinet at age nine. Through his studies with some of the best players in the world, he learned the importance of making a connection with students and tailoring lessons to each student’s personal needs. His lessons focus heavily on clarinet fundamentals and external musical skills, such as sight singing, rhythm, and dictation. This approach prepares students to be flexible and to approach any music with confidence.

Mr. Leeds has been featured in some the most prestigious venues in the world, from playing principal clarinet in Queen Elizabeth Hall to participating in Royal College of Music’s residency in Cadogan Hall. Having played under the baton of today’s most sought-after conductors, premiered pieces by his generation’s most prestigious composers, and performed in chamber concerts in London’s most historic churches, Mr. Leeds has worn and continues to wear many musical hats. When it comes to music, he is always at home, whether it be performing a duet by Elliott Carter, playing a solo in a Strauss tone poem, or presenting a Mozart Serenade.

An experienced orchestral musician, Mr. Leeds has had the honor of playing under conductors such as Rafael Payare and Vladimir Jurowski. With these orchestras, he has performed in repertoire ranging from Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben to Dutilluex’s violin concerto Sur le même accord. As part of the RCM Symphony Orchestra, he twice had the opportunity to record at the Abbey Road Studios, making recordings of Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet and Holst’s The Planets in sessions produced by Grammy-winner Stephen Johns. As an active chamber player, Mr. Leeds has also presented concerts in some of the world’s most beautiful locales, including the St. Bartholomew-the-Great church, one of the oldest places of worship in London.

As comfortable in the world of contemporary music as he is in the classical canon, Mr. Leeds is an avid performer and advocate for new and modern music. With the RCM’s New Perspectives Ensemble, he took part in more than ten world premieres and performed standards of the modern repertoire, such as Webern’s Concerto for Nine Instruments. In 2019, Mr. Leeds had the honor to perform on various occasions at the Royal Academy of Art’s New Music Showcases; one performance included the premiere of Thomas Foster’s Bass Clarinet and Alto Flute duet, “Making Light.” Since then, he and flautist Sarah Parkes Bowen have performed the duet numerous times to great success, including having garnered commendations in RCM’s annual contemporary competition.

Mr. Leeds is currently a freelance clarinetist in the Philadelphia area. When not working, his favorite hobbies include playing with his cat, Snickers, and trying in vain to complete the New York Times Saturday crossword puzzle.

Visit clarinetjon.com

Elaine Martin

Elaine Martin

flute (in-person & online)

Mrs. Martin earned her B.A. in Music Education from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, summa cum laude. Elaine was principal flutist with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years. As principal, Mrs. Martin gave pre-concert lectures at retirement homes to prepare residents for concerts; so too, she performed in smaller ensembles as part of ASO’s outreach programs.

Mrs. Martin is a member, along with Andrea Wittchen, harp, of a duo, Elan, which performs for recitals, weddings, receptions, and church services. Currently, she is a Lecturer of Flute, Muhlenberg College as well as faculty here at CMS.

Leah McCann

Leah McCann

violin | viola | piano (in-person & online)

Lecciones disponibles en español.

Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Spanish from Gettysburg College.  She is classically trained in violin (advanced/professional level) and piano (late beginner/intermediate level).  During her collegiate career, Leah was active in music in the Gettysburg community.  She performed with the Gettysburg Community Chamber Orchestra, Crossroads Contemporary Band at Christ Lutheran Church in Gettysburg, and EnVaGe Faculty Ensemble at Gettysburg College. 

She has a wide range of private and group teaching experience in classical genres with students of all levels, in both English & Spanish.   While studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, she assisted with the Grupo Talía youth orchestra’s rehearsals and interned at WikiUp Las Rosas language academy.  She also interned in Allentown as a teaching artist with El Sistema Lehigh Valley.

As a former CMS student herself, she makes sure that her students feel both challenged and respected in their lessons, so that each student receives instruction that follows their unique needs and interests.

Watch Leah’s Senior Recital at Gettysburg College (March 2024)

Sunny Murthy

Sunny Murthy

violin | piano (in-person & online)

Ms. Murthy holds a B.A. in Music Education from Indiana University and a M.B.A. from Lehigh University. She is certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas and has extensive experience teaching and performing classical music. She is a member of the Moravian University Community Orchestra and performs locally at events.

Evan William Nelson

Evan William Nelson

voice | piano | guitar | composition (in-person Allentown/Berks & online)

Evan William Nelson holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance with a minor in Historical Performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, where he studied under the tutelage of baritone Randall Scarlata. 

Hailing from Sinking Spring, PA, Evan is a text-driven lyric baritone who found an affinity for song early in his career. He completed his first performance of Franz Schubert’s monumental song cycle Die Schöne Müllerin in April 2021. He also spent time singing chamber music in Austria as a participant in the AlpenkammerMusik festival in 2019.  In addition to song, he has performed standard operatic roles such as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte (Peabody Opera Theater), Papageno in Die Zauberflöte (LHSOW), and Top in The Tender Land (West Chester University Opera). Evan was an Operafest Fellow and Emerging artist at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival for two summers, performing bel canto, American opera, and musical theatre repertoire. He is a recipient of the Azalia H. Thomas Prize in academic excellence. 

He is equally dedicated to nurturing students’ creativity and honing their artistic skills, and is committed to fostering a growth mindset in learners of all ages with a deep understanding of the importance of grace and patience. He takes pride in guiding students toward achieving new heights, while cultivating a healthy relationship with their chosen artistic medium, whether it be voice or piano.

Watch Evan Nelson perform “Or vi dirò (Schaunard’s Entrance)”, from Puccini’s La bohème

Matthew Nieznay

Matthew Nieznay

trumpet (online)

Mr. Nieznay holds a B.A. in Music (Trumpet) and a B.S. in Music Education from Kutztown University. He has been teaching privately for over 20 years in the Berks and Lehigh County areas. He served as a Brass instructor for the Spring-Ford Area HS Marching Band in Royersford, PA from 2013-2018. Aside from his teaching obligations, Mr. Nieznay is also an active perform with the Mirandola Fanfare Trumpets, the Galena Brass, and the Little Brass Band of the Lehigh Valley. He was a member of the Municipal Band of Allentown for 16 years and their solo cornetist for 10 years. He has also performed with the Reading Choral Society Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Chamber Brass, the Pottstown Symphony, the Schuylkill Symphony, the Schuylkill Choral Society Orchestra, and as a member of the pit orchestra for Muhlenberg College’s summer theater programs. He is versed in all styles of performance and has also played in rock, funk and big bands throughout the tristate area. Mr. Nieznay is also a proud veteran of the United States Navy where he served 15 years as a Hospital Corpsman for the Fleet Marine Force. Currently, in addition to teaching with Community Music School, he is the Director of Operations for Zeswitz Music.

Dr. David Saturen

Dr. David Saturen

piano | composition (online)

Dr. Saturen holds bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and was the first to complete the doctor of musical arts degree at Temple University. He studied piano principally with Gisa Adler of the Chopin-Liszt tradition.

Before arriving at Community Music School in 1994, Dr. Saturen held full-time faculty positions at Fairleigh Dickinson University for 17 years and Moravian University for 6 years. The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia commissioned a good number of his compositions. Other compositions of his are recorded on the Contemporary Record Society and Verra Classics labels.

Dr. Saturen believes that a student should acquire certain basic skills but should be free to pursue his or her special interests. His musical styles include both the classical and jazz traditions as well as standard popular songs.

John Schwartz

John Schwartz

clarinet | oboe | saxophone (in-person & online)

Mr. Schwartz received his B.A. in music from West Chester State University and his master’s degree from Temple University. His principal clarinet teacher was Anthony Liberio, a protégé of Gino Cioffi, former principal clarinetist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Mr. Schwartz serves as principal clarinet in the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared with the Reading Symphony, Pottstown Symphony, the Pennsylvania Sinfonia, and the Allentown Band.

He organized and performed in the following chamber ensembles: Leval Woodwind Quintet, Allentown Symphony Woodwind Quintet, and the Chaleureux Trio. He has appeared with the Copeland String Quartet in a performance of the Mozart Clarinet Quintet and with the Lyra Quartet in a performance of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. His most recent recital included the Saint Saens Clarinet Sonato. In addition to frequent recitals and chamber music performances, he has also played for many musicals and for several dance bands.

Presently, Mr. Schwartz teaches clarinet at Lafayette College and at the Community Music School in Allentown.

Vincent Trovato

Vincent Trovato

piano accompaniment by request (in-person)

Vincent holds a B.M. in Composition from Boston University, where he studied piano with Anthony di Bonaventura and composition with Girolamo Arrigo, Betsy Jolas, Robert Sirota, and Joyce Mekeel. Vincent is the Staff Accompanist for the Muhlenberg College Music Department and the Conductor and Artistic Director of the Camerata Singers.

Vincent has extensive theatrical experience in arranging, accompanying, and conducting. The highlights of which include a European tour of “My Fair Lady” with Richard Chamberlain, arranging and accompanying “Free Fall”, a one-woman show starring Sandy Duncan, and contributing arrangements and accompaniment for a Noel Coward birthday celebration at Carnegie Hall. He has conducted over 40 area productions for the Muhlenberg Summer Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Company, DeSales University, Civic Theatre, and Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra.

Request Piano Accompaniment.

Joe Wagner

Joe Wagner

guitar | bass guitar | mandolin | composition | recording (in-person & online)

Joseph Wagner holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from Moravian University and a Master of Music in Jazz Studies through the University of the Arts, Philadelphia.  He was a Founder’s Scholar at Moravian University and the first graduate of the Martin Guitar Finger-Style Guitar Program. He has studied privately with the iconic Pat Martino.

Mr. Wagner is an experienced educator of all ages.  He has taught master classes with Jim Weider, (the Band), focused on improvisation, traditional jazz, and gypsy jazz styles.  In addition to teaching private lessons in guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, and mandolin, has also created and directed student ensembles and managed stage sound systems for student performances.  He ensures all students have a solid foundation in music reading, theory, composition, and ear training.  He is also a substitute teacher in the Saucon Valley and Bethlehem Area School Districts.

Mr. Wagner is an inventive guitarist, educator, and composer who leads several jazz ensembles comprising some of the most talented musicians in Eastern Pennsylvania.  He performs regularly around the region as a solo jazz guitarist, and leads a traditional jazz trio, a quartet, a gypsy jazz group, and an improvisational fusion band. Various distinguished musicians have appeared live with him, including Tony Marino, bass (Dave Liebman), Paul Rostock, bass (Frank Sinatra Jr), and Rodney Holmes, drums (Santana).

As the owner of Keystone Sound Design, Mr. Wagner is an experienced composer and recording engineer for TV and film soundtrack projects.  He has designed and installed soundscapes for local museum installations, including the Destination:  Northampton County at the Sigal Museum in Easton and at the National Museum of Industrial History in Bethlehem.

Visit joewagnermusic.com

Julia Katherine Walsh

Julia Katherine Walsh

voice (online)

Ms. Walsh, soprano, holds a M.A. in Voice (Opera) from Hunter College of The City University of New York and a B.M. in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She most recently performed the roles of Königin der Nacht in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Taufee and Sandmann in Humperdinck’s Hänsel & Gretel in Munich and Stuttgart, Germany with the Freies Landestheater Bayern.

She has participated in Masterclasses in New York City with Margo Garrett in 2020 at the NATS Winter Workshop, and with Mark Markham, as part of the 2019 Art Song Preservation Society’s Masterclass series. At the 2017 & 2016 Schubertiade Festivals in Schwarzenberg, and Hohenems, Austria, she was a participant in Masterclasses with Thomas Quasthoff & Justus Zeyen, and Thomas Hampson & Wolfram Rieger. She has also performed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the Richard-Strauss- Festival’s 2016 and 2014 Masterclasses with Angelika Kirchschlager, and Brigitte Fassbaender and Michelle Breedt. She has performed many solo recitals in and around New York City, Central and Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, Reading, and Allentown, PA, as well as Munich and Straubing, Germany, where she has received critics’ praise for her technical vocal mastery and her believable interpretations.

She is a champion of the music of women composers as well as the lesser-known works of Franz Schubert, Hugo Wolf and Richard Strauss. She has enjoyed operatic successes in both the USA and Germany, singing the roles of Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Theater Lünen, Oper Schloss Laubach), Königin der Nacht in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (Junge Oper Detmold, IVAI), Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Oscar in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (Center City Opera Theater), Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (Charlottesville Opera), as well as Lucia in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and Zerbinetta in Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, all in concert performances.

She has been teaching private voice lessons for 13 years and is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), as well as the New Jersey and Lehigh Valley chapters of NATS, the Professional Women Singers Association of NYC, and musica femina muenchen in Munich, Germany.

Visit juliakatherinewalsh.com

Griffin Woodard

Griffin Woodard

piano | clarinet | bass clarinet | saxophone | composition

Mr. Woodard is a pianist, composer, bass clarinetist, and bandleader who believes in the transformative power of music. Woodard graduated from Oberlin Conservatory in 2020 with a B.M. in Jazz Studies with a Composition Concentration and earned the equivalent of a minor in Africana Studies from Oberlin College. He earned his M.M. in Jazz Composition from the New England Conservatory in May 2022.

Mr. Woodard is a multifaceted composer whose pieces have been performed by a variety of esteemed ensembles and soloists including the NEC Jazz Composers’ Workshop Orchestra, the Bach Festival Orchestra of Bethlehem, the Allentown Symphony Orchestra, concert pianist Michelle Cann, and organist Stephen Williams. Woodard’s composition, Kyrie was awarded the 2022 ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award. The Griffin Woodard Quartet recently released their debut EP Kyrie, and is currently working on their full-length debut album, Completion.

Visit griffinwoodard.com.

Watch Mr. Woodard perform on bass clarinet.

Watch Mr. Woodard conduct one of his original compositions.

Learn more about Mr. Woodard’s recordings and performances.

Abigail Zuckert

Abigail Zuckert

piano | voice | ukulele

Abigail Zuckert is a prolific and experienced musical performer who has a passion for educating people of all ages in voice, piano, and ukulele. She is well versed in the instruction and performance of Musical Theatre, Pop, Rock, and Soul, Jazz (including improvisation and technique), and Classical singing. Abigail has nearly a decade of experience in the one-on-one instruction of voice, piano, and ukulele.

In her lessons you can expect to learn proper techniques required to produce a healthy and strong voice, music that excites and challenges you, and a lot of laughter! Abigail carefully tailors every lesson to the individual artist with the intention to create empowered, well-prepared, and comfortable performers, whether in voice, ukulele, or piano.

Originally from Connecticut, Abigail received a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theatre with concentrations in Vocal Performance, Acting, and Directing from Muhlenberg College. A graduate of the Stella Adler School of Acting’s conservatory (Acting and Musical Theatre) and Interlochen Center for the Arts (Singing-Songwriting), she is well versed in devising original works of music and theatre. Having been a musician for over 20 years, Abigail truly delights in teaching those who share a similar passion for music.

Abigail is also a Stephen Sondheim enthusiast – follow the links to watch her perform two of his very diverse pieces: “I Remember” and “The Glamorous Life”.