Music at The Fine Arts Association

For sixty-five years, music has been the bedrock of The Fine Arts Association. At the organization’s founding, Jim and Louise Savage put their focus on creating opportunities for our local community to have the best musical opportunities right here, in Lake County Our gaze remains steadfastly on that vision today.

Yet we understand that for us to fulfill our mission, we must remain steadfastly focused on helping you accomplish your mission. Beyond individual music instruction, we provide programs for homeschool students, school field trips, and programmatic support to school and community theatres, bands, orchestras, and choirs. In everything we do, The Fine Arts Association wants to help empower the student and the teacher in their creative journey.

So why is The Fine Arts Association a great option? The teaching music faculty of The Fine Arts Association are among the best in the region, with years of experience in teaching and performing. We pair music students with teaching faculty who will inspire student growth, nurture musicality, and provide students the tools they need to reach their full musical potential. We make enrollment accessible through scholarship opportunities and affordable payment plans and work with students of all aptitudes and goals.

Because inspiration leads to aspiration, we are thrilled to offer our students opportunities to experience and learn from masters from across the region. Our Guest Artist programs bring national talent to our facility annually for performances and workshops. While these events are open to the public, they are specifically tailored for the students of The Fine Arts Association and their families.

Finally, we are privileged to offer an incredible facility with a 240-seat formal performance hall, an informal gallery performance space, and a multitude of teaching studios and chamber music spaces complete with Steinway pianos. Led by our incredible teaching faculty, The Fine Art Association is the destination for musical learning in Lake County.

PaulHolm CEO

Strings

BellaBrandelis,Violin Master’sDegreeinMusic

Morethan50years’experienceteachingviolin,piano,musictheory, andmusicappreciationtochildren,agepreschooltohighschooland adults

“Itrulybelievethatmusiclessonscangivechildrenmorethanjustthe abilitytoplayaninstrument Oneimportantlessonis,ifonedoes somethingregularly,theirbesteveryday,alotcanbeaccomplished.”

NataliaDePoy,Violin

Bachelor’sDegreesinMusicEducationandSpanish;Master’sDegree inViolinPerformance,SoutheasternLouisianaUniversity AccompaniedPlacidoDomingowithLouisianaSymphonyOrchestra, accompaniedJoshGroban,freelancemusicianfor10years.

“Whilestudyingmusic,studentsworkthroughmath,linguistic,historical, reading,&scientificconceptsIincorporateamulti-dimensionalapproach toeducatemystudentsinbroad&inclusivewaysTheaimistogrowasa violinist&usetheinstrumentasavehicletolearnotherskills.”

LaurenGodfrey,Violin

GraduateofHeidelbergUniversityandtheSuzukiViolinTraining ProgramatIthacaCollege.

AttendedaspecialsessionattheClevelandInstituteofMusicwhere DrShinichiSuzukiwastheguestteacherandcontinuestoteachhis repertoirewithSuzukiandtraditionalstudents

“Iloveteachingviolintostudentsofallages.Ibelieveallstudentscan learntoplayamusicalinstrument,reapingtheknownbenefitsofmusical studies.Apositivemusicalexperienceenhanceslivesinmanyareas."

Dr.CarolLinsenmeier,Violin/Fiddle/Viola/Cello

Bachelor’sandMaster’sdegreesinMusicEducation,PhDInSpecial EducationResearch

FrequentperformerincommunityorchestrasincludingLakelandCivic OrchestraandtheAshtabulaOrchestra

“Anychildcanlearntoplaytheviolinwhentheirmusicaldevelopmentis nurturedbyloveandrespect”

Jonathan"Skip"Edwards,Cello

BAinHumanitiesandMusic:TheNewCollegeofSan Francisco

Careerhighlight:performingDreamgirls

“Teaching gives me the opportunity to pass on my knowledgeandexperiencestofuturegenerations”

ElizaPoxon,Cello

Pre-CollegediplomafromTheJuilliardSchool

BachelorofMusicandProfessionalStudiesdiploma fromtheClevelandInstituteofMusic

SuzukiPedagogyCertificationinPrep-Twinklethrough Book10

MasterofMusicfromtheManhattanSchoolofMusic

“Learninganinstrumenthelpsdevelopconfidence.Ivalue theopportunitytofosteraperson’spersonalgrowth throughlearninganinstrument”

DennyCarleton,Guitar/Ukelele/Songwriting

Original music has had 200,000 listens on Internet Radio

HasplayedwithsomeofCleveland’sfinestmusicians. Loves to teach from a creative viewpoint, teaching youngmusicianstoimprovise.

GeorgeGecik,Guitar/Ukelele/Banjo

StudiedclassicalguitarwithAaronShearer,Carlos Barbosa-Lima,andattended/performedinParismaster classeswithNarciscoYepes.

Founder and CEO of Special Productions Inc.; supervisedandmanaged32plusmusiciansofvarying talentandtemperamentforover20years

Performedpersonallyandbookednationalactsin regionalareacovering5states.

“Iloveteachingandwatchingstudentslearn.”

NolanJuaire,Guitar

GraduatedsummacumlaudefromtheUniversityof SouthernCalifornia,ThorntonSchoolofMusicwitha BachelorsofMusicinClassicalGuitarPerformance. HasstudiedprivatelywithWilliamKanengiserandScott TennantoftheLosAngelesGuitarQuartet,aswellas PepeRomero,andJasonVieaux.

“I find both studying and teaching music extremely rewarding,andtrulyenjoyhelpingstudentsdeveloptheir voicethroughguitarIvaluetheflexibilityofguitar,andtry toreflectthatinanengagedandreactiveteachingstyle”

Brass

Dr.BryanDePoy,Trumpet/FrenchHorn

DoctorofMusicinTrumpetPerformancefromFloridaStateUniversity. NotedteachersincludethelegendaryRobertNagel,CharlesGorham, andAllenDean

PerformedwiththerenownedNewMexicoBrassQuintetandrecorded aCDwiththegroup.WasaleadingfreelancerinNewOrleans.

“Ilovehelpingstudentsachievelevelstheyneverimaginedattainable, reachinghigherlevelsofconfidenceIusetrumpetlessonsasa springboardforpersonalandprofessionalempowerment”

Dr.MatthewC.Saunders,Trombone

DMA,MusicComposition:TheOhioStateUniversity. CareerHighlight:Performingassoloistinhistromboneconcerto“Homo SapiensTrombonesis”

“Ifindthatworkingwithstudentsinspiresmuchofmycreativeand scholarlywork,fromoriginalcompositionsandarrangements,tomusic theoryresearch,toconductingtheLakelandCivicOrchestra.Seeingmusic throughtheeyesofstudentskeepsitfreshandinspiringeverysemester”

AndrewTatman,Tuba

MasterofMusicinMusicTheoryand BachelorofMusicinTuba PerformancefromOhioUniversity

"Istrivetohelpstudentsunlocktheircreativepotentialsotheycangrow intobeingthebestmusicianstheycanbeDevelopingtheskillstoplaythe instrument is key, but equally focusing on strengthening students’ musicality,creativevoice,andtheirabilitytoconveythattoanaudience opensupawholeworldofpossibilities.Ultimately,successisgiving studentstheconfidencethattheycanachieveanythingtheyputtheir heartandmindinto"

Woodwinds

JudithElias,Flute/Piccolo

BME:YoungstownStateUniversity;Graduatestudy:KentStateUniversityStudied fluteextensivelywithMauriceSharpandRaymondDeMattia.

Careerhighlight:performingwithrenownedorganistToddWilsonatLakeErieCollege

"Ihadawonderfulmusicexperiencewithfantasticteachers,andIlovetosharethat knowledgewithmystudentstohelpthembecomethebesttheycanbe Itisvery rewardingtoexperiencestudentsdevelopingmusicallyandalsotolearntobecreative andexpressive"

CharlesBaker,Clarinet/Saxophone

Graduate of Oberlin College Conservatory (BM) and Case Western Reserve University(MA);privatestudentofRobertMarcellusformanyyears

Highlevelofprofessionalandamateurclarinetplayingpartneredwithafullcareerin publicschoolmusicteaching.

"Itisaprivilegetohelpstudentsmaturemusically.Thisresultsinimmeasurable satisfactionforbothstudentsandteacher"

EdMichaels,Saxophone

MasterofMusic:NorthwesternUniversity;studentofDr.FredHemke.

Careerhighlight:thesuccessofhisstudentsinMusicPerformance&Education “Musicisagiftthathasthepowertobringpeopletogetherandbrightentheworld”

ZacharyElmore,Bassoon

BMMusicEducation(‘15)andMMBassoonPerformance(‘19)fromKentState University,studyingwithDavidDeBoltandMarkDeMio,ADBassoonPerformance (‘22)fromUniversityofCincinnatiCollege-ConservatoryofMusic,studyingwith MartinGarciaandChristopherSales

HasperformedwiththeCincinnatiSymphonyOrchestra,theMansfieldSymphony Orchestra,theCarmelSymphonyOrchestra,theKentuckySymphonyOrchestra,and manyothers.

Piano

BellaBrandelis,Piano

Master’sDegreeinMusic

Morethan50years’experienceteachingviolin,piano, musictheory,andmusicappreciationtochildren

“Itrulybelievethatmusiclessonscangivechildrenmorethan justtheabilitytoplayaninstrumentOneimportantlessonis, ifonedoessomethingregularly,theirbesteveryday,alot canbeaccomplished.”

CliffHabian,Piano

Internationalrecordingartist(Milestone/Fantasyrecords andalsoAzicarecords);majoredincompositionatCIM (Cleveland Institute of Music); International published author(JazzPianoEssentialsbyJameyAebersoldJazz)

Hasperformedorworkedwithmanyfamousmusicians including Dave Brubeck, Trent Reznor, Freddy Cole, BobbyVinton,WayneNewton,Dionandmanyothers “Arealartistisalwaysreal”

OlgaDruzhinina,Piano/Voice

Pianodegree,TashkentStateConservatory

HasworkedatTashkentStateConservatory,Tashkent CollegeofChoreography,StateInstituteofTheaterand Art,MusicCollege,InstituteofCulture,andInstituteof Pedagogy

PerformsasaSopranosoloistinconcertsand,since1999, hasservedseveralchurchesintheClevelandareaasan organist,pianist,Sopranosoloist,andMusicDirector

SanniKearns,Piano/Organ

MA in Music History and Literature; Suzuki Training Certificate;CertificateinDalcrozeEurythmics;BMof MusicEducationwithemphasisonpianoperformance.

“Pianoplayingisalife-longskillthatsuppliesfulfillmentof creativityEachstudent’sneedsareuniqueandaredeveloped specifically, and piano lessons include concentration on masteryofmanyconcepts.Performanceopportunitiesare encouraged.”

BarbaraKlonowski,Piano

Mastersstudies:CIM&PeabodyConservatoryBachelor ofMusicinPianoPerformance,4yeartalentscholarship, MiamiUniversity.ChamberMusicatBowdoinCollege.CIM PreparatorySchool.

“Iwouldlikemystudentstolearnasmuchastheyareable andwillingtolearnaboutthelanguageofmusicThepianois myvehiclePerformance,technique,theory,andhistoryare allapartoftheequationAboveall,musicissoundandis meanttobeheard.”

FerozaLaBonne,Piano

LTCL,LRSMPianoTeachingDiplomasfromtheTrinityCollegeof MusicandtheRoyalSchoolsofMusic,London,UK;Master’sin MusicEducationfromCWRU-CIMJointProgram

“Nothingmakesmehappierthantoseethelookofjoyonastudent’s facewhentheyconnectwiththeexhilaratingpowerofmusic!Iaimto inspireeachandeverystudenttoreachtheirfullpotentialviaacarefully tailoredindividualizedapproach,incorporatingartistrywithtechnical skillsrightfromtheverybeginningRecitalsandexamsareencouraged”

DarrylLewis,Piano/Voice

Master of Music: Kent State University; Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Performance:MercyhurstCollege

Has sung with the Chautauqua Opera, Michigan Opera, and Rome FestivalOpera

Takes pride in helping students find their own voice through the performingarts

MaryannMessina,Piano

Studentof:FineArts’founderJamesSavage,AndriusKuprevicius, PatPace,RonSmith,andMs.BarbaraBaumgartner;over35yearsof teachingexperience

Careerhighlight:havingperformedandrecordedwithmanytalented localmusiciansfromtheClevelandarea

“Mystudioisaplacewherestudents’creativityisvaluedandnurtured Anindividual’slearningstyleisoftheutmostimportanceNotwopeople arealike.Asenseofcommunitymakesmusic-makingevenmorefun!”

Dr.TimothyMinnis,Piano

D.M.A.,PianoPerformance

“Ithaslongbeenmycontention,provenovermanyyearsofexperience, thatallstudentsarecapableofplayingthepianowellandwith understanding, and that along with that ability comes a deeper understandingofmusicandtheartsInanincreasinglypolarizedworld, thehumanizingeffectofmusic,cancounterbalancemuchofthe brutalityofhumanexperience,creatingintheprocessyoungmenand womenofempathyandcompassionIcanthinkofnomorenoblecalling thanassistingintheformationofsuchpeople”

MargeSyroney,Piano

• B. M. in Piano Performance: Cleveland Institute of Music; B. S. in Education: University of Akron; MM in Education: University of Akron; Certificate in teaching Suzuki Piano; Certificate in Orff Schulwerk:ClevelandStateUniversity

“Musicians are the Peacemakers of the world. My goal is to teach students to enjoy creating music so they can help people feel peace,contentmentandlove.”

Percussion

EvanMitchell,Percussion

StudiedwithRichardWeiner,PrincipalPercussionistoftheClevelandOrchestra attheClevelandInstituteofMusic.

PerformsfrequentlywiththeClevelandPopsOrchestraandtheBuffaloandFort WaynePhilharmonicOrchestras

TeachingphilosophiesstemfromNigeriandrummerTonyAllen“Tobe thebestmeansyouhavetofindawaytoputsomethingontheroad, createsomethingthatwasn’tthere,forotherpeopletolearnfrom.”

Voice

BobGodfrey,Voice

Master’sDegreeinVocalPerformance:KentState Hasperformedinnumerousshowsinavarietyof localvenueshighlightedbyasupportingrolein ClevelandOpera’sproductionof“DieFledermaus” andtheleadroleintheworldpremiereofanew musical,“TuningIn”inEJThomasHallinAkron “Afteraperformance,Ihavealwayslovedtoseemy studentsproudlysmilingwithsatisfactionrealizingthat theirhardwork,dedication,andpursuitofexcellence reallycarriedthemtosuccessinthisinstance”

DarrylLewis,Piano/Voice

Master of Music: Kent State University; Bachelor’s DegreeinVocalPerformance:MercyhurstCollege Has sung with the Chautauqua Opera, Michigan Opera,andRomeFestivalOpera

Takesprideinhelpingstudentsfindtheirownvoice throughtheperformingarts

PhyllisSpeirs,Voice

BAinVocalPerformance:KentStateUniversity; continuedstudiesatCIMandCSUStudiedwithDr FaulksandDrWilliamMartin,designatedsingerfor theClevelandOrchestra.SangunderRobertShaw, andLouisLane,BobPagewiththeClevelandOpera, andtheClevelandOrchestraChorusandOrchestra

"Myphilosophyistoteachastudenthowtosing,a conceptthatthebodysingsforyouisaspecific techniquecalleddiaphragmatic–costalbreathcontrol. Thiskindoftrainingwillallowyoutosinganygenre.”

AbigayleWilliams,Voice

BachelorofMusicattheUniversityofAlabama, currentlypursuingMasterofMusicattheCleveland InstituteofMusic,whereshestudieswithMary Schiller

"Discoveringwaystomakesingingmoreeffortlessly beautifulandbringingacharactertolifeonstageare twoofthegreatestjoysofmylife Ihopetopassthese joysontomystudents.Forsome,thisfeelingisinnate, butforothersitmustbenurturedItismyjobtomeetmy studentswheretheyareandencouragethemalongtheir pathofvocaldiscoveryandjoyfulmusic-making."