| | JIM ALTIERI (Drums)
Mr. Altieri has been playing the drums since age 15 and has performed extensively all over the state, including dance bands, orchestras, jazz and rock bands. He was a founder of the band, the Raquet Squad. He has been teaching drums and percussion for several years.
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 | BILLY BILECA (Guitar/Bass/Upright Bass)
Mr. Bileca studied with Joel DiBartolo (of The Tonight Show orchestra) at Grove School of Music, CA. He has toured nationally and internationally with many blues/rock groups, and is also a recording artist. |
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KATARINA BOUDREAUX (Voice/Piano/Songwriting)
Katarina graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX with two degrees: a BA in Vocal Performance with Piano emphasis and a BA in English Literature. She studied with Dr. Stella Allen for vocal perfromance, Dr. Judith Soloman for piano performance, and Dan Shook for acting.
She has performed with Casa Manana Theater, the Fort Worth Opera, Dallas Caring Friends Follies, and was a member of the Actor's Company in Dallas/Fort Worth. She has upcoming performances in a Dorothy Parker tribute with Potable Theater in lower Manhattan. She has performed in several venues in Manhattan – Dillon's, Leonardo's, and Uncle Charlie's. As a member of Equity, SAG, and Aftra, she has been in seveal principal SAG commercials, and has enjoyed working on films in Connecticut and New York. As a singer, dancer, actress and pianist, Katarina enjoys all forms of music–theater, classical, jazz, and standards. Her approach to teaching is to form a good technical foundation, expose the student to different musical styles, polish performance capabilities, and actively present challenging and rewarding material to the student. |
  | TUCKER CALLANDER (Violin/Viola)
Mr. Callander began playing violin in his hometown of Albany, NY at the age of six. He attended the internationally renowned Meadowmount School of Music during several summers as a young adult. Tucker received a violin performance scholarship to Syracuse University where he earned his B.A in Music Performance.
He served as the concertmaster in the University Orchestra and studied with James Krehbiel. He has been a member of several orchestras such as the Glens Falls Symphony, the Utica Symphony, and the Santa Monica Philharmonic. Mr. Callander has performed throughout the United States and Europe as a chamber musician and orchestral player.
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.jpg) | MICHAEL CHERVANSKY (Guitar)
Mike Chervansky has been teaching Guitar and Bass since 1977. He has toured and recorded with several bands and local artists up and down the east coast. His specialty is playing and teaching all styles of Blues: Chicago, St. Loius, Texas, Delta...etc. Mike is presently playing and recording with generation blues, a 9 piece Chicago style blues band. His influecnes include: Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Albert king, Clapton, West and Gilmore to name a few.
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 | DENISE DELMONTE (Piano)
Ms. DelMonte is an experienced teacher in Suzuki and traditional methods. She studied at Slippery Rock State College (piano and flute). Ms. DelMonte is a composer of choral and sacred music and has been teaching privately for 20 years. |
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NICK DiMARIA (Brass, Piano)
Mr. Di Maria has studied jazz and classical music since he was 10. He has been a private teacher for the past five years and has performed extensively throughout the country. He currently leads his own jazz project, among other musical groups. Mr. Di Maria earned his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Western Connecticut State University and is currently working on his master's degree and teaching certificate in music education.
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| | ALEX FAULKNER (Guitar)
Mr. Faulkner recently graduated cum laude from Western CT State University with a Bachelor's of Music degree in jazz guitar performance. Mr. Faulkner has performed extensively around the area in various rock/pop groups as well as jazz ensembles. He has been teaching privately for more than six years.
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 | VAL FEDOROV Mr. Fedorov began studying music in Russia at age 7. He graduated from Dnipropetrovsk Music College in Ukraine with majors in music education, performing, and orchestra conducting. He has been performing with many orchestras and as a soloist. Mr. Fedorov has been teaching music for over fifteen years. He plays piano, guitar, and accordion. |
  | TOM GEISLER (Drums)
Mr. Geisler has been playing the drums since he was 8 years old, beginning his studies with the late Paul Sher of Norwalk. More recently he has studied privately with Mike Marble and Tommy Igoe. He is currently studying with Fran Merante. In the drumming community, Mr. Geisler would be classified as a true "DrumHead" - one with a passion for all things relative to drums and drumming.
Mr. Geisler brings a high level of commitment, enthusiasm and expertise to our staff along with an extensive knowledge of drum products, technology and techniques that keep him and his students on the cutting edge in the drum world. He has been teaching drums for more than 10 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Connecticut. Check out his latest drumming videos on youtube:
Control and Motif Solo Instinctual Drumming Arabian 9 Groove 48 Groove 43 Fast - Nanigo
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 | NYOMI GUBERMAN-PFEFFER (Clarinet, Piano)
Ms. Guberman-Pfeffer teaches Suzuki as well as traditional piano and clarinet. She studied clarinet at the Yale School of Music with former dean Keith Wilson and later with Stanley Drucker of the New York Philharmonic. Ms. Guberman-Pfeffer completed studies in composition and harmony under Professor Arnold Franchetti of the Hartt School of Music.
She won national recognition for exceptional artistic merit from the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Ms. Guberman-Pfeffer is an active performer in a number of chamber and symphonic groups including the Earl Banquer Woodwind Ensemble and the Wayne Hiller Octet.
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 | ERIN KNAPP (Voice)
Ms. Knapp holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Pedagogy and Performance from Westminster Choir College of Rider University. She also graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from the same institution. Her fluency in French awarded her a minor in French Language and Literature. Principal teachers include Dr. Scott McCoy, President of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, with whom Ms. Knapp studied voice privately.
Ms. Knapp has extensive experience working with children in the field of music. She specializes in a multitude of musical genres, including classical, musical theatre, jazz, pop, folk, and country. She has performed in operas at the Spoleto Festival USA, including Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette and Braunfel’s Die Vögel. In addition to operatic work she has been a member of several professional choral ensembles, touring the United States and Europe. |
| | MARY LARSON (Flute)
Ms. Larson received her Masters in Music from the Manhattan School of Music. She also has studied at the San Francisco Conservatory. She has studied with Julius Baker, among others, and performed with several orchestras, including the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and the Augusta Opera. She has taught in New York and Connecticut for more than a decade.
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| NATALLIA O'LEARY (Piano)
Mrs. O'Leary hails from Russia where she studied piano at Mogilev Music College of Belarus and also the Pedagological State University of Belarus. In addition to teaching privately for more than 10 years, Mrs. O'Leary has worked extensively as an accompanist. |
| | GRANT OSSENDRYVER (Guitar) Grant is an accomplished guitarist who has mastered the stylistic techniques and concepts associated with a wide range of music. He plays all styles of Jazz Guitar, Blues Guitar, Classic Rock, Progressive Rock and Contemporary Rock. He studied Jazz Performance at the University of Bridgeport and Jazz Guitar from the legendary jazz guitarist, Sal Salvador. Grant has performed extensively for the last 16 years. He’s played shows at historic clubs in New York City and Borders Book and Music tours across Connecticut. Additionally, Grant has taught Mark Rothbaum, Willie Nelson’s personal manager. Throughout the course of those two years, Grant transcribed Mr. Nelson’s guitar compositions and taught the instrument arrangements of many of the legend’s compositions. Grant is also a guitar instructor at Trinity College. He is currently working on his fourth album of new songs to be released in January 2009. |
| | JENNIE PELLGRINO (Piano)
Ms. Pelligrino has been teaching privately for more than 10 years. She recently completed courses in music and early childhood education at Sacred Heart University and Gateway Community College. She has more than 12 years formal study of the piano and music theory, and has experience teaching children with special needs.
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 | KATE RICH Ms. Rich is thrilled to be celebrating 25 years of piano instruction. She has earned her degree from Niagara University and completed coursework from the Hartt School of Music. Ms. Rich has been involved with musical direction for such musicals as, "The Sound of Music, "The Music Man", "The Wiz", "Promises Promises", "Alice in Wonderland", "Fame" and more. She is also an experienced accompanist, playing for various groups and ensembles. "I feel very fortunate to share the fundamentals and joy of music with all age groups and levels" |
| | KEVIN SANDLER (Brass)
Mr. Sandler holds a B.A. in Music from Western Connecticut State University. Mr. Sandler has taught at several studios throughout western Connecticut over the past 12 years. He has had a number of students perform in their regional bands or orchestras. He is dedicated to introduce music to students of all ages and create the highest level of musicianship for young musicians throughout the area.
Over the past 15 years, Mr. Sandler has performed with many groups throughout Connecticut and New York, including the Danbury Community Orchestra, the Berkshire Big Band, Switch in Time, the Danbury Symphony, and the Danbury Brass Band. He also has performed with the Wilton Playshop and Musicals at Richter. Mr. Sandler currently performs as a soloist in churches throughout the state, including Danbury, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston and Waterbury.
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 | OLGA SCHRODL (Voice, Piano)
Ms. Schrodl studied orchestral conducting, piano and voice at Mopiler Music College of Belarus and also the Pedagological State University of Belarus. Ms. Schrodl has taught young beginners in voice and piano, and has extensive performance experience in many ensembles and with the Philharmonic Orchestra.
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 | ALAN SHERRY (Saxophone, Clarinet)
Mr. Sherry received his B.A. in Music from McGill University in Montreal with an emphasis on jazz performance. Mr. Sherry has been teaching for nearly 10 years.
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| | STEVE SULLIVAN (Guitar, Piano)
Mr. Sullivan studied guitar with Sal Salvadore at University of Bridgeport and piano with Julie Cavadini. He plays guitar professionally and works regularly with the Southford Falls Quartet. He has done extensive recording and has been teaching more than 20 years.
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 | LAURA USISKIN (Cello)
Miss Usiskin received her B.A. from Columbia University, M.M. from the Juilliard School, and M.M.A. from Yale University. She enjoys playing a wide variety of music, from Baroque to Modern and from solo to orchestral. She has taught in the New York City public schools, in the private school Pierrepont, and teaches Suzuki privately to students of all ages and levels. |
| | GEORGE WILKINSON III (Piano)
Mr. Wilkinson began playing the piano at age 5, studying with formidable teachers and eventually presenting recitals at the Julliard School in New York City. He has been teaching since 1992, and joined the CMA staff in 2003.
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