The AMS faculty is comprised of highly-trained musicians carefully selected to teach music in their specific area of expertise. Each of our instructors has extensive teaching experience, and most hold a master's degree in the performing arts. Our excellent faculty and staff have a passion for music education and are committed to helping you grow in your musical development.

Select from the following:

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Piano & Voice
   
 

DANIEL BEHLMAN

Daniel Behlman is a graduate of Berklee College of Music where he received his bachelors in Music Business and Management. He began playing guitar at the age of twelve and continued through at Berklee where he studied jazz and blues along with Music Business. In Boston he had played with several bands and toured the northeast with his band Abacus Crashing. They recorded with world-renowned producer and engineer Bill Schineman at the Berklee studios where they helped facilitate the recording process for other Berklee students.

   
 
ERIN BLATTI, Piano/Voice

Erin began studying music at the age of 6, first learning to play piano, and later the flute, oboe and at the age of 13 she started studying voice. During her work in completing a Bachelors degree in Music Education from The Ohio State University, she was involved in many musical/light opera productions, including Into the Woods, A Lullaby of Broadway- A Musical Review, and The Merry Widow with Opera Columbus. Once she graduated from OSU, Erin moved to Baltimore, Maryland to teach General/Vocal Music at Middle River Middle School. After finishing the year in Baltimore, she enrolled in the Berklee College of Music where she studied contemporary voice and songwriting. She has been singing funk/R&B/Pop/Rock with the Beantown Project for the last two years and the group is in the process of recording it’s second CD of original music with Erin sharing lead vocals. Now that Erin has completed a Diploma in Songwriting from Berklee, her future plans include singing and playing her own material and continuing to teach private piano and voice lessons.
   
 
DANIEL CHEH, Piano/Voice

Daniel Cheh holds a bachelor's degree in Music and Contemporary Writing and Production from Berklee College of Music. His debut CD, "Love letters", was released in (year). He also produced and performed in "Ever Ponder" by Brian Graves. For four years, Daniel directed music at Beacon City Church in Somerville, and he has been with Artisan's faculty since 2002.
   
 
DAVID CUCCHIARA, Piano

David holds a bachelor's degree in Music from the New England Conservatory and anticipates his master's in composition in 2006. Extensive musical education began at an early age, beginning with piano at the age of seven and composition by the age of twelve. He is well-versed in classical, jazz, rock/pop, and contemporary idioms, and his original compositions have been played in Boston, Reykjavik, Vienna, and New York among others. He is the recipient of several awards and scholarships at New England Conservatory and currently splits his time between composing, performing, and teaching in Greater Boston. In addition, David works as a theorist; his article, "Scriabin's Veiled Mode," is due for publication sometime next year. As an educator, Mr. Cucchiara encourages his students to explore a broad range of styles through a positive outlook on the music-making process. He has been with Artisan Music Studios since 2004.
   
 
PAULA DOWNES, Voice/Piano/Violin/Viola/Children’s Group Music

Paula Downes was born into a family of musicians in Worcestershire, UK, and learnt to play the piano and violin from a young age, taking them to advanced level through high school. She began to focus on her voice whilst singing with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, and then as a Choral Scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge University, UK. She later went on to train for the Birkbeck Opera Diploma, London University, and took acting classes at the Central School of Speech and Drama. At the same time, she sang professionally, both as a soloist in oratorios and recitals in venues such as the National Portrait Gallery, London, and in choirs such as 'The Sixteen' under Harry Christophers, and the 'Philharmonia Voices' under Andras Schiff. She also taught Music and directed choirs and orchestras at South Hampstead High School for Girls. She is now Resident Music Tutor and Librarian at Adams House, Harvard University, with her husband, musicologist and pianist, David Trippett. As well as singing professionally in the Boston area with groups such as Emmanuel Music and the Handel and Haydn Society, Paula is studying with Frank Kelley and has taken several classes at Harvard University. She enjoys teaching piano, singing, and violin.
   
 
OLGA FAIN, Piano/Voice

Olga Fainholds a bachelor's degree in Music from the University of Massachusetts Boston (summa cum laude) and master's degree in Music Education from the Boston Conservatory. She also received a diploma in music education from the prestigious Kharkiv College of Music in the Ukraine. She has been teaching general music and piano for seven years and has worked with students of all ages, both individually and in groups. This summer Olga was a lead piano instructor at the Chestnut Hill School Creative Arts and Sports Program.
   
 
YOSHIKO HIRAMATSU-KLINE, Piano

Yoshiko holds a BM from Toho-Gakuen Conservatory of Music; MM with honors, New England Conservatory of Music. Principal teachers have included Gabriel Chodos,Yoriko Takahashi and Tamiko Ishimoto. Performs as recitalist, soloist, and chamber musician throughout Japan and the New England area, and heard live from the studios of Boston radio stations WGBH & WMNB and Aspen CO Radio KAJX. In addition to classical
interests, Yoshiko excels as a contemporary artist; performing and premiering new works for resident composers and ensembles.
   
 
LEAH KOSCH, Piano/Voice

Leah Kosch is currently in the process of completing her master's degree in piano performance at the Longy School of Music. She completed her B.M. at Ohio State University, and while she was there, taught piano lessons for over three years to a large body of students that varied both in age and playing level. Upon arriving in Boston, she decided to continue teaching piano lessons through the Artisan program. Moreover, after having sung for many years in various college choirs and having taken individual voice lessons on her own, she decided to teach voice as well through Artisan. Leah feels that teaching challenges her to think in different ways about her own playing. Teaching also forces her to be creative about the approach to experiencing and understanding music, which she feels is a great benefit to both her students as well as herself. She hopes to continue to teach throughout her educational career and would like to continue to teach after the completion her degree.
   
 

DANIEL MOLKENTIN

Since childhood music has played an important role in Daniel's life. He started studying the piano at 5, played various brass instruments and in his junior year of high school decided to pursue a career in classical voice. Daniel moved to New York City and received his Bachelors of Music (B.M.) from the Mannes College of Music in New York City. During his time in New York he presented several solo recitals, premiered many new compositions and sang concerts in venues such as St. Bartholomew's Church, Miller Theatre, and Weill Hall (in Carnegie Hall). Daniel recently moved to Boston and is currently singing at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Weston, MA every Sunday. For more information please visit www.danielmolkentin.com.

   
 
LEAH NEMIROVFKAYA, Piano

Kira Nemirovskaya graduated from Rimsky-Korsakov conservatory (St. Petersburg, Russia) with a Masters in Musicology and Music education. She teaches piano, theory of music, and music appreciation on different levels, from pre-schoolers to college students. She also worked as a music critic reviewing concerts and opera performances for newspapers and magazines in Russia. Kira studied piano pedagogy in Longy School of Music (Cambridge, MA) under Prof. Faina Bryanskaya. She is happy to share all the diversity of her experience with her students.
   
 

VICTORIA RAZUMOV-LEARN, Piano

Victoria studied at Stony Brook University in New York where she completed the DMA program in Piano Performance under professor Gilbert Kalish. She acquired her Masters in Piano Performance at the University of Tennessee. She Studied under professors David Northington and Patricia Carter at the Saint-Petersburg Conservatory of Rimsky-Korsakov from 1998 –1999, and studied Classical Piano with Russian professor Edward Bozanov from 1993-1998 at the Voronezh Institute of Arts. Victoria teaches both Russian and American piano technique methods, ear training, theory, literature seminars, as well as chamber music ensembles. She enjoys teaching a variety of musical styles including classical music, Jazz theory, as well as more contemporary pop music in either group or private lesson settings for children and adults.

   
 

ANTHONY SCIBILIA, Piano

After pursuing preparatory studies at the Eastman School of Music, Anthony Scibilia earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Cornell University. Mr. Scibilia holds Master of Arts and Master of Philosophy degrees from Columbia University, where he is currently completing his PhD. While an undergraduate at Cornell, Mr. Scibilia began to pursue photography in connection with a project that combined his interests in art, architecture, and music, through an examination of the acoustics of Romanesque and Gothic churches in France. Since that time, his photographs have been published in the United States and abroad, and acquired by the visual resources collections at major universities and museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Anthony has taught piano for more than ten years to students of all ages, and has been invited by pianist Russell Sherman to teach on topics of visual art, music, and poetry at the New England Conservatory. His teachers include Patricia Hanson, Stephen Manes, Jonathan Shames, and Niels Ostbye. He has played in masterclass for Malcolm Bilson and Beveridge Webster. Mr. Scibilia has taught at Columbia University, the Massachusetts College of Art, the Rhode Island School of Design, and the École d’Architecture in Versailles, France.

   
 

DAVID SKINNER

Pianist and composer David Skinner attended the School for the Arts at Boston University where he majored in Music Composition and Theory, also studying Piano and Voice. At age eight he wrote and performed music for a short theater piece about a mad scientist who builds a machine which (unexpectedly) makes monsters. More recently, he has composed music for Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night," as well as for Boston Children's Theater productions of "Snow White," "Cinderella," and "Sleeping Beauty." David continues to write music for piano, voice, and various other instruments. He is pleased that many of his piano students are now taking an interest in creating their own original compositions.

   
LORENA TECU, Piano

Born in Romania, Lorena completed studies at the Academy of Music in Bucharest, Romania. She holds a master's degree from the International Menuhin Music Academy in Switzerland, and she completed the Artist Diploma program at Boston University in collaborative piano. She is currently accompanist at the Boston University School for the Arts and at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School.
   
 
NATALIYA TKACHENKO, Piano

Nataliya attended the Music School, Music College, and Institute of Arts in the Ukraine specializing in piano. She holds a master's degree and has 25 years of experience in teaching piano both to advanced students and beginners. She was granted piano teacher registration by the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, London where the vast majority of her students obtained high distinction marks. She was also three times the First Prize Winner in accompanist competitions in the Ukraine.
   
 
ERICA YENNIOR, Piano

Initially a self-taught pianist, Erica began her musical career as an accompanist in her home state of Pennsylvania. She later moved to Boston to attend Berklee College of Music and study with Bob Winter, pianist for the Boston Pops. After graduating from Berklee summa cum laude with a degree in Music Technology, Erica spent six years as studio manager of Cybersound Recording Studio. Recently, she returned to Berklee to earn her Massachusetts teacher license in music education. Erica is currently an Elementary Music Specialist in the Westwood Public Schools, and holds Levels 1 and 2 Orff Schulwerk certification.
   
Guitar
 
JAY HAMMOND, Guitar

Jay Hammond attended Berklee College of Music and graduated with a degree in Jazz Performance. While at Berklee he received an achievement based scholarship as well as being on the dean's list during his entire Berklee career. He was also given the rare honor in his final semester to play his own concert at the Berklee Performance Center. Jay teaches guitar from beginner to very advanced, as well as teaching a wide array of styles including Jazz, Rock/Pop, Blues,Country/Folk, and beginning Classical.

   
 
JOE MATZZIE, Guitar/Bass Guitar

Joe Matzzie began taking guitar lessons when he was 5 years old. He plays Classical guitar, electric guitar, steel-string acoustic guitar, bass guitar, ukulele, hammered dulcimer, mandolin,piano, viola, and sings. He has toured with the musical theater production of Really Rosie, directed by Maurice Sendak, and has played in parades, at Renaissance Faires, served as Musical Director for Shakespeare plays, and produced 4 CDs which are available on iTunes and on 59 other digital download websites. He has written songs that have been featured on the Discovery Channel, and on radio stations throughout the Northeast. He played in a New Wave band called The Wallflowers, that was nominated as a semi-finalist in the 1987 Snickers New Music Search. He has bachelor degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Duquesne University, and is currently studying Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music.

   
 
JASON MOORE, Guitar

Jason Moore is a recent graduate of Berklee College of Music where he received academic honors. He grew up in Indianapolis, IN where he experienced the city's rich jazz tradition. Jason plays guitar, bass guitar, and piano. He is a master improvisor in the styles of jazz, latin, funk, and other contemporary styles. Several years ago Jason realized his calling and has been teaching private lessons ever since.

   
 
ERIC PUSLYS, Guitar/Bass Guitar

Erik Puslys is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and is currently pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Guitar Performance at the Boston Conservatory. He has attended the Freiburg School of Rock and Jazz in Germany and the Bath International Guitar Festival in England. Recently Erik has participated in the Boston Guitarfest at New England Conservatory and The Bowdoin International Music Festival where he was awarded a performance based scholarship. Mr. Puslys has performed at Northeastern University’s Ryder Hall, St. Cecilia’s Parish Hall, The Berklee Performance Center, Copley Fairmont Hotel, Seully Hall and Jordan Hall in Boston. He is a member of the Musicales which perform regularly at Mass General Hospital. Erik has also performed in the master classes of Eliot Fisk, Sharon Isbin, William Kanengiser, Antigoni Goni, Ricardo Iznaola and Adam Holzman. Recently Erik has joined the Italian band Melodia where he enjoys the opportunity to play more contemporary styles.

   
 
SCOTT WOLF, Guitar

Scott began playing guitar in his teenage years and experimented in an array of rock and punk bands. Upon entering University of California San Diego, he began studying classical guitar while still giving small tours and regular concerts with a local rock group. During the final year of his degree, he studied flamenco guitar and Spanish literature in south Spain. Currently, he studies with Eliot Fisk at New England Conservatory, where he will be completing a master's in Guitar Performance in 2006. Scott has been teaching a variety of ages for almost a decade, both privately and in small and large groups, and in every style, from jazz, blues, and rock, to classical and flamenco.
   
Strings
 
PARAN AMIRINAZARI, Violin

Paran is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of music with a degree in violin performance and studied with James Buswell IV. She is an active freelancer and teacher and has performed with many orchestras including the Bangor Symphony, Dartmouth Symphony and most recently with Ian Anderson on his Orchestral Jethro Tull Tour. As a chamber musician she is a leading member in the Syrinx Ensemble, which has performed in a wide variety of venues. As a teacher she has been teaching violin and viola for seven years with students ranging in age from five years old to adults and students with diverse musical backgrounds. Lessons emphasize ease in playing, music theory, ear training, mental awareness, and practice techniques. A lesson is also taught with the consideration of the student taking something away and applying it to other aspects of their education, in addition to music.
   
 
MARK BRIDGES, Cello

Mark Bridges graduated from the School of Music at Boston University after completing his private studies with David Soyer, founding cellist of the Guarneri String Quartet, and international soloist, Leslie Parnas. He plays frequently in venues such as Jordan Hall and Boston Symphony Hall and has concertized in France, Spain and Canada where he appeared on CBC radio with his piano trio. Mark is an active chamber musician and orchestral musician and has played with the Marsh Chapel Collegium at Boston University, the BU symphony orchestra and ALEA III.
   
 
VELLEDA MIRAGIAS, Cello/Piano

Natively from Paris, Velleda started piano at age four and cello at age seven. She studied music at the "Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris" and the "Conservatoire National de Région de Boulogne" from which she won first prizes in instrumental performance, chamber music, and music theory. She went on to earn a Performance Diploma from Indiana University where she studied with renowned musicians such as Janos Starker, Iseut Chuat and György Sebok. She continued her studies at Boston University, where she was awarded a full tuition scholarship and graduated with a Master's degree in Music Performance. She currently performs with orchestras such as the Boston Ballet, the Symphony by the Sea, the Lexington Sinphonietta, Indian Hill, as well as in other solo and chamber music venues. Velleda is the co-founder of Artisan Music Studios with her husband Gus, and enjoys teaching all ages and levels.
   
 
NICOLE VALA CARIGLIA, Cello

Nicole holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Music from New England Conservatory. She currently is a DMA (spell out) candidate at Boston University and has studied under principal teachers Yeesun Kim, Terry King, and Rhonda Rider. An active recitalist, freelancer and teacher, Ms. Cariglia has performed with numerous orchestras, including the Symphony Orchestra of Iceland, The Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and the Boston Philharmonic. She has also appeared at the Pacific Music Festival, Japan; The National Orchestral Institute, Maryland; The Aspen Music Festival, and the Pitea festival in Sweden.
   

Woodwinds
 
AARON GELB, Saxophone/Flute/Clarinet

Aaron Gelb is a veteran educator and performer. Educated at Brown University, he received the Lemaire and Madeira prizes for musicianship. He has performed throughout the country with artists including Mollycoddle, Dave Aaronoff, Ryan Montbleau, and the Popgun 7. He has conducted student ensembles with guest performers including Yo-Yo Ma, Tracy Chapman, and Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith. He is the band director at the world-renowned and nationally endowed Charles River Creative Arts Program. A warm and enthusiastic instructor, Aaron brings an innovative approach to the classroom that emphasizes ear training and improvisation as essential elements of music education.
   
 
MEGHAN MILLER, Flute/Piccolo

A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, flutist Meghan Miller has performed as a chamber and orchestral musician throughout the US, England, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Cuba. Meghan currently freelances throughout the greater Boston area and has performed with the Hingham Symphony Orchestra, the Cape Ann Symphony, the Brockton Symphony, and the New England Philharmonic. From 2002-2003 she attended The Studio in Kent, England where she studied with legendary flute pedagogue, Trevor Wye. In 2006, she received her Master's degree from The Longy School of Music where she was a student of Robert Willoughby. A new music enthusiast, she has performed at the New Music Forum's Festival of Contemporary Music in Oakland, California and at the Society of Composers, Inc. convention in New York as well as in the Socially Awkward Composer's series, the Excelsior New Music concert series, and as a member of the new music group Longitude. She is also the flutist and co-founder of Boston's Fifth Tier New Music Ensemble. She has been a performer at the British Flute Society Flute Day in London, William Bennett's International Flute Summer School in England, and was a member of The Pierre Monteux School orchestra in Hancock, Maine. In addition to teaching with Artisan Music Studios Meghan is on the faculty of The Longy School of Music's Preparatory School, The Waldorf School in Lexington, MA and the Hayward- La Honda Music Camp in California. Other principal teachers and mentors include Michelle Caimotto and Dann Zinn.
   
 
GUS MIRAGIAS, Executive Director, Saxophone/Flute/Clarinet

Specializing in saxophone, flute, and clarinet, Gus holds an undergraduate degree from Humber College in Toronto Canada and a masters from New England Conservatory. He has studied and performed with renowned musicians such as Pat Labarbera, Jerry Bergonzi , George Garzone, and George Russell just to name a few. He also studied ethnomusicology and plays a variety of eastern folk instruments. He has extensive performance experience in both Canada and the U.S, mainly in the Jazz and eastern folk traditions. Gus is an experienced woodwinds instructor with over 15 years of experience and he founded Artisan Music Studios with his wife Velleda in 2001. He continues to collaborate with educators in both public and private sectors to expand the accessibly of quality music education within the greater Boston area.
   
 
ALEC SPIEGELMAN, Sax, Clarinet, Flute

Alec Spiegelman is a multi-woodwind player living in Medford, MA. As a saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist, Alec has performed and/or recorded with Bob Moses, Bob Brookmeyer, the Ayn Inserto Jazz Orchestra, the Chicken Slacks Soul Revue, Entrain, Eileen Jewell, Apollo Sunshine, Poludaktulos Orchestra, Miss Tess, and Little Joe Cook, among others. A graduate of New England Conservatory and Harvard College, Alec studied with Steve Lacy, Ran Blake, Bob Brookmeyer, and Bob Moses. Besides teaching for Artisan Music Stidios, Alec is the saxophone instructor at Milton Academy. He also spent two summers as the saxophone instructor at Camp Encore-Coda in Sweden, ME, and will be running a week-long "Funk/Soul Horn Camp" in Sebastapol, CA for the third year this June. "a very gifted clarinet, flute and bass clarinet player ... He's quite a guy" - Bob Brookmeyer (www.bobbrookmeyer.com)
   
Brass
 
JONAH KAPPRAFF, Trumpet/Brass

Jonah Kappraff is a first year Master's candidate in trumpet performance at Boston University. Jonah grew up in New Jersey and began studying piano at age 6 and trumpet at age 11. Prior to coming to Boston, he received his BM in trumpet performance and music education from the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, and his primary trumpet teachers include David Larson of the New Jersey Symphony, Jack Sutte of the Cleveland Orchestra, and Roy Poper at the Oberlin Conservatory. Currently, he is a student of soloist Terry Everson. Jonah has participated in orchestral, chamber music, and opera festivals in both the U.S. and Italy and, as a music educator, has conducted high school and college wind bands, and coached brass chamber music in the U.S. and Belgium.

   
 
JOEL YENNIOR, Trombone/Trumpet
   
Percussion Staff
 
ADAM NUJICA, Drums/Bass/Guitar/Piano/Harmonica

Adam Mujica Has been teaching Drums, Guitar, Bass, and Piano for over 15 years. Adam has played and recorded with Rounder recording artists The Tarbox Ramblers, New Orleans legend C.J. Chenier, Boston award winning funk band Chuck, and many others. Educated at Berklee College of Music, University of Massachusetts, and privately.
   
 
PATRICK BARTER, Drums

Patrick Barter began studying drumset at the age of 11 in Maine. As a high school student, he was given outstanding musicianship and soloist awards for his contributions to jazz bigband and combo at MDI High School. At the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Patrick studied jazz drumset with Billy Hart, classical percussion with Michael Rosen, composition with Ross Feller, and electronic music with Tom Lopez. He was given awards for outstanding musicianship and chosen for the Oberlin Jazz Septet (Oberlin's highest honor for jazz students) as a freshman. Patrick's studies continued at the New England Conservatory as a graduate student of Contemporary Improvisation on drumset.
   
 
SAM WAGNER, Drums

Sam Wagner has been performing on drumset and percussion for nearly 15 years. Starting at a young age helped him quickly develop a comprehensive knowledge of rhythm and the art of music. After teaching for 3 years in suburban New York, Sam decided to set up a recording studio in Boston, where he currently resides. He will be graduating from Berklee College of Music in May, and will continue to be a part of the ever-evolving, local music scene. He has been working happily with Artisan for almost a year.
   
Administrative Staff
 
KERRY CONWAY, Chief Administrator

Kerry is the Administrative Assistant for Artisan Music Studios. After spending six years in the event planning industry, Kerry came to AMS to handle scheduling, registration, customer service, and miscellaneous administrative work. Kerry has previously managed the registration and technology aspects of conferences ranging in size from 50 to 10,000 participants and holds a degree in Biochemistry from Regis College in Weston, MA.
   
 
KARI PAPADINIS, Administrative Assistant

Kari Papadinis graduated with her Bachelor’s in Entertainment Business in 2005 and her Associates degree in Audio in 2004. She began taking piano lessons at the age of 7 and continued lessons through High School. Throughout her schooling years she took an interest in singing, writing and the performance arts and began writing poetry at the age of 12 and original music at the age of 18. She believes in the mission of Artisan Music Studios and is looking forward to expanding her personal musicianship.
   
 
JAIME L. RIDDLE, Newsletter

Holding a bachelor's degree in from Duke University and a master's in Education from Regent University, Jaime manages the Artisan Music Studios newsletter. She has a musical background in piano, flute, and voice, and is currently the enthusiastic full-time mother of three while enjoying tutoring, curriculum design, and church work in her spare time.