John Kelly

Chair of Undergraduate Music, Director of Guitar
Mus.B., M.M., Five Towns College

Professional guitarist and mandolin player. Currently working as musical director and staffing coordinator for one of New York metropolitan area’s premier entertainment companies. Featured soloist of The Concert Pops. Performances with The Platters, The Coasters, Charo, Robert Klein, and Fred Travalena. Numerous radio and television appearances, including the show Fox and Friends. Recipient of the Tony Mottola Award.

Steven Briody

Professor
B.A., SUNY Fredonia, M.M., D.M.A., Five Towns College

Dr. Briody was recently named Chair of the Undergraduate Music Division. He brings a wealth of experience in both the practical, real world of the music industry as well as theoretical, educational and musical applications to students here. Dr. Briody  is a recognized guitarist, composer, educator and arranger. He has played guitar with legends such as Randy Brecker, Jeff Lorber, Dave Valentin, Jane Monheit, Charlie Daniels, Funk Filharmonik, Carl Fischer, and the Long Island Music Hall of Fame All-Star Band. He is the author of the Jamey Aebersold book Jazz Guitar Lines of the Greats, which has become a popular Jazz guitar publication.  Steve is a staff arranger at Smart Chart, prominent publisher of college and high school jazz ensemble arrangements. He has also contributed lesson articles to Guitar Player and Guitar World magazines. His song “Footsteps” appeared on the #1 Jazz album of sax great Eric Alexander. He has had the honor of being guest conductor of the Nassau All-County Jazz Ensemble in 2018, performing at the Tilles Center. In addition to his international credits, he often performs in the NY area with jazz, funk, and top-40 bands.  At Five Towns College, Steve currently teaches Graduate-level Jazz Harmony, Arranging, Big Band Arranging, Improvisation, Guitar Instruction, Jazz/Pop Composition, Popular Music Lab, Graduate Jazz Pedagogy, and directs the Jazz Orchestra. He has represented the College at many virtual Open Houses during the pandemic and is always available on campus to share his love of music and his expertise with students.

Margaret Thiele

Professor; Coordinator of Graduate Music Studies
B.M.E. The Ohio State University, M.A. Eastern Michigan University, D.M.A. Boston University

Dr. Margaret Thiele recently joined the faculty at Five Towns College as the Music Education Department Chair. Dr. Thiele holds degrees from The Ohio State University (BME), Eastern Michigan University (MA), and Boston University (DMA). She previously taught at both the undergraduate and graduate level at Heidelberg University and Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Thiele’s specialty is Elementary General music having taught elementary general music and choir in the Dexter Community Schools in Dexter, MI for thirteen years. In the private sector, she ran a successful piano studio for over 20 years and served on the Piano Faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, MI.

Dr. Thiele has presented research at conferences in Utah, Virginia, Nebraska, Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan. Published articles have appeared in TI:ME, the FMEA Research Perspectives in Music Education, and the OMEA Triad. Her research interests include music development and cognition, and the impact of public policy on music education. Professional affiliations include the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, having served as Chapter President and Vice-President of the Detroit Orff-Schulwerk Assoication, and NAfME. A mother of four and grandmother of six she enjoys hiking, biking and traveling with her family.

Kristi Adams

Director of Vocal Jazz
B.S., Dowling College, M.A. SUNY Stony Brook

Kristi Adams has been an educator of music, dance, and theatre for Middle County Central School District on Long Island for 19 years. Throughout her career, Kristi has taught sight-reading, vocal pedagogy, and professional singing techniques to students ranging from sixth grade through the college level. Most notably, Kristi has directed both the Rhapsody in Pink Girls Ensemble and the Spartan Barbershop Chorus, an ensemble that competes internationally. Kristi has won numerous achievements for her work, including the Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Award and special recognition by the New York State School of Music Association as being an expert on the male changing voice. This recognition earned her a place on the organization’s “Music Views” DVD. In addition to her educational accomplishments, Kristi is also an accomplished dancer who has trained professionally with members of the Joffrey Ballet and Julliard Ballet School. Her training enabled her to teach beginning through advanced ballet, modern, lyrical, jazz, tap, and hip-hop styles at various dance schools. Currently, she sings with the award-winning Greater Nassau Chorus and works full-time as a music teacher at Newfield High School.

Scott Ballin

Assistant Professor, Jazz Piano, Director of American Songbook Ensemble
Mus.B., M.M., D.M.A. Five Towns College

Professional engagements include: Pianist for Isotope Stompers, numerous concerts including main stage Hechsher Park in Huntington. Musical Director for Gene Santini, at Feinsteins N.Y.C. Pianist with Long Island Jazz All Stars directed by Mike Carubia. Jazz concerts and club appearances with Byran Carrott, Teddy Charles, Jerry Weldon, Jay Hogard. Music Director for Rat Pack Show, Rainbow Room, N.Y.C. Pianist/Music Director for Henry Prego, Harrah’s Atlantic City. Pianist Garden City Hotel, Parker Meridian Hotel N.Y.C. Bandleader and pianist on Carnival Cruise ship M.S. Tropicale. Contributing writer for Jazz Improv Magazine – Concert and CD reviews, instructional articles. Undergraduate and Graduate instructor at Five Towns College for: Keyboard classes, Ear Training, Harmony, Music History and Private Instruction. Director of American Songbook Ensemble, Upbeat Entertainment, Jazz Piano Concert Series. Professional Development: IAJE Conventions, Jazz Times Conventions, N.Y.C., Chick Corea Workshop, Lenox, Mass., JEN Convention, Reno, Nevada. Host of radio program The Music of Miles Davis on WFTU radio.

Michael Blutman

Adjunct Professor – Trumpet
B.M., University of Maryland, M.M., Julliard

Michael Blutman enjoys a diverse career as a trumpeter and music educator. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the University of Maryland, some of his performing and recording credits include: Sting, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Jonathan Batiste Jazz Band, Broadway shows, David Bowie’s band, and many others. As an educator, Michael has taught at Five Towns College, Ithaca College, Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, East Meadow’s (NY) Fusing Culture and Curriculum, Nassau Suffolk Performing Arts, and has a private trumpet studio on Long Island. Michael also co-founded Pinnacle Music Press (www.pinmusicpress.com), a music education publishing company, and has written articles for several music education journals and websites.

Mary Alice Domenica

Assistant Professor
B.M. Covenant College, M.M. Belmont University, D.M.A. University of Miami

Dr. Mary Alice Domenica’s musical background includes undergraduate and master’s degrees in classical solo piano performance, and a doctoral degree in collaborative piano with a cognate in music theory. Her chamber music experience includes frequent work in instrumental chamber ensembles, musical theatre accompanying, and extensive experience as a choral and instrumental accompanist, including accompanying the Nashville Symphony Chorus. She is currently the owner of Dix Hills Piano, a studio where she teaches beginning through advanced piano and specializes in teaching piano technique to promote relaxation and improve artistry. In addition to being a piano instructor, Dr. Domenica also coaches vocal students at the studio. Dr. Domenica is also a trained organist and vocal coach. She has worked as an organist for the Astoria Community Church and a piano instructor at the Community School of the Arts at Austin Peay State University. At Austin Peay State University, Dr. Domenica appears as a recording artist on several albums produced on campus.

Frank Doyle

Adjunct Professor, Jazz History
B.A. Queens College, M.M. New England Conservatory of Music, D.M.A Five Towns College

Frank completed a D.M.A in Music History and Literature with a dissertation titled,“Horace Silver: Transcription and Analysis of Ten Blues Compositions including the Piano Improvisations 1954-1969.” He has additionally studied computer music synthesis with Barry Vercoe and taken additional courses with futurist, Issac Asimov at MIT. Professor Doyle was inducted into The LI Music Hall of Fame as the “Educator of Note 2016” for his pedagogical career in music theory, composition and musicology. Frank’s numerous literary contributions include the editing of Barron’s Review Book in AP Music Theory and co-writing of the 2014 National Standards in Secondary Music Theory and Composition. He is currently an editor for The Journal of Music Pedagogy Online and serves as program evaluator and workshop leader for NYSSMA, NAfME and the AP College Board where he presents lectures and training sessions on creative applications of popular music and music technology in the music theory curriculum. Frank has performed and recorded as keyboardist with Meatloaf, as musical director/composer with Weird Al Yankovic on his, “MTV’s Big Al Show,” and has scored original music for television, commercials and films. He plays piano with his quintet, “Lush Life” in jazz clubs throughout Long Island and NYC.

Bill Farrish

Assistant Professor
A.A.S, Mus.B. Five Towns College, M.M. SUNY Purchase

For the past 30 years, Bill Farrish has earned his living as a performing musician touring throughout the United States and Canada in various groups ranging in size from solo to big band. Bill has performed with Shunzu Ohno, John Stowell, Dennis Wilson, Bernard Purdie, Tiny Grimes, Charles Eubanks, David Garibaldi, Arthur Prysock, Ray Alexander, Jimmy Halperin and many others. His work also includes Off-Broadway productions of: Man of LaMancha, Lil’ Shop of Horrors, Hair, and Tapestry. Television credits include: Bea Moss Productions and “The Carl Bruno Show“ (TCI Cable), featured artist in the independently released production “An Evening with Bill Farrish” by Raven Productions, QPTV., composer of the theme and incidental music for The Park, Eun Kyung Show, Radio Seoul, Flushing NY and many jingles. Having released six CD’s for MCR Records under his own name, Bill’s music has been featured on several radio broadcasts in Europe, the Far East, and South America. In 2014 All About Jazz featured an article about Bill entitled “Practice, Do You? Part 3-3” Bill has also published two books, entitled Jazz Guitar Volume I and Basic Musicianship.

Kenneth Friese

Associate Professor, Voice
B.S., SUNY Potsdam, M.M., Boston University

Before his employment at Five Towns College, Professor Friese worked for many years as the choral director of the Plainview Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School, where he led the choir to numerous accolades, including multiple “gold with distinction” medals at choral festivals held by the New York State School of Music Association. His choirs have performed at various concerts and events nationally, and most notably, multiple performances at the Tilles Center on Long Island. He is currently the organist and director of music at Old First Presbyterian Church and Temple Beth-El, both in Huntington. In addition to his multiple directorships, he is also a prolific vocal coach, specializing in vocal development and Baroque singing techniques. He has taught classes in secondary choral methods, choral conducting, accompanying for the high school teacher, and multiple levels of sight-singing.

Jeffrey Glemboski

Assistant Professor, Director of the Barbershop Harmony Ensemble
B.M., M.M. Five Towns College

Jeffrey Glemboski is a professional public-school music educator at the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School in Merrick. He is a member of the National Music Educators Association (NMEA) and the Barbershop Harmony Society (BHS). Recently, he was the recipient of the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) Founders Award. Professor Glemboski is currently the musical director of the Long Island Sound Barbershop Chorus and its scholastic offshoot at Five Towns College. In addition to his educational pursuits, he currently sings bass in the internationally known barbershop quartet Round Midnight. The quartet recently achieved Top 10 Finalist status in the BHS International Barbershop Quartet Contest and they are past BHS Mid-Atlantic District Quartet Champions. The group has received praise for their recording efforts too, garnering multiple Contemporary A cappella Recording Award (CARA) nominations. The foursome has won the New York City Harmony Sweepstakes Championship and was appointed an official “Arts Envoy” group by the U.S. State Department.

Masatora Goya

Assistant Professor
B.A. Kyoto University, M.M. New Jersey City University, D.M.A. Five Towns College

Trained as a vocal performer first, Masatora explores the musical landscape of drama, space, and emotion. Described as a “composer of cultural crossroads” by American Composers Forum, his unique eclecticism has attracted many musicians performing in nontraditional chamber ensembles, such as Alturas Duo, Duo Anova, Liberté Mandolin Orchestra, Duo Yumeno, Tomoko Sugawara, Thomas Piercy, and Hidejiro Honjoh. Masatora also frequently collaborates with visual artists and filmmakers, such as Yuki Ideguchi, Sam Platizky, Andre Lewis, Nori Mizukami, Chloe Miller, and Takashi Nasu. His music has been performed worldwide and his album “Dream of Sailing” has been released from Ravello Records. Masatora received a BA in Integrated Human Studies from Kyoto University and studied music at Koyo Conservatory. Since relocating to the United States, he earned a Master of Music from New Jersey City University and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Five Towns College, and studied in the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop. A resident composer of Kadoma Film Commission as well as a recipient of ASCAP Plus Awards, Jerome Fund for New Music, and Diversity Doctoral Fellowship at SUNY Purchase College, Masatora served assistant director of Vox Novus Composer’s Voice and taught at NJCU and Purchase College.

Peter Hansen

Assistant Professor – Music Technology
B.A. Queens College, M.A. Hofstra University

Peter Hansen, an expert in the area of Korg sequencers, taught in the public school system for 27 years.  As an active composer, guitarist, vocalist & performer, sound engineer, and producer his compositions include jingle work, radio & television spots, pop songs in many styles, guitar sonatas, electronic works, and orchestral works.  He has been a clinician at NYSSMA All-State and Balanced Mind conferences. Member of NMEA since 1991, member of Nashville Songwriters Association Inc., Long Island Blues Society, BMI, he is TI:ME Level I & II certified.  He is currently working on a publication Jack of All Trade – Survival in the Music Business, a diversified approach to the career path of being a professional musician. Former students include two MENC National winners in Electronic Music Composition (2008, 2012), the Northeastern University 1^st place winner in Composition (2009), and dozens of NYSSMA/All-State Conference selections in Electronic Music. His teachers include studies with Billy Bauer, George Perle, Bruce Saylor, Robert Starer, Don Muro.

Kelly Horsted

Assistant Professor
B.M., M.M. Eastman School of Music

Pianist Kelly Horsted, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, enjoys an active career in NYC as an accompanist, music director and vocal coach specializing in new opera, art song, and role preparation. An enthusiast of new music, Kelly has enjoyed a long relationship with American Opera Projects including his sixth season as a co-music director for the Composers and the Voice series. Other notable collaborations with AOP include Hershel Garfein’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Tarik O’Regan’s Heart of Darkness, Paula Kimper’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey as well as Patience and Sarah for the chamber opera’s premiere at the Lincoln Center Festival. Kelly has been a frequent collaborator at NYU’s Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Program, and Ann Baltz’s Operaworks. He has taught at Hunter College, Mannes College of Music, the International Workshops in Graz, Austria, the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival and the Hartt School of Music. Mr. Horsted has appeared at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, Zankel Hall and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, and Symphony Space in NYC. He has also performed at the Wintergreen Festival, in Fountainbleau, France, and on the Opera America Songbook. While at Eastman he was a 1st place winner in the Kneisel Lieder Competition.

Joseph Kimura

Adjunct Professor – Cello
B.M., M.M., Juilliard School of Music

Currently a member of the Five Towns Master Quartet, Joseph Kimura has had a very diverse musical career.  Formally a member of the Laurentian String Quartet, he has appeared as a soloist with many orchestras, including the Stamford Symphony, Hoboken Chamber Orchestra, Garden State Chamber Orchestra, Korean Symphony, Gloria Chamber Orchestra, and the Orchestra of the State of Mexico.  Joe appears on recordings for the EOS ensemble and Riverside Symphony, as well as numerous movie and TV soundtracks.  He has performed live on National Public Radio and appeared on Broadway with The Will Rodgers Follies and Beauty and the Beast. He has taught at Summertrios and the Greenwood Junior Music Camp during the summer.  He studied with Harvey Shapiro at Julliard, including studies with Paul Katz and Channing Robbins.

Dave Lobenstein

Adjunct Professor – Director of Jazz Ensemble
B.M. SUNY Fredonia, M.F.A. California Institute of the Arts

Dave Lobenstein currently teaches orchestra for the Long Beach Public School System, and is an Adjunct Professor at Five Towns College where he instructs Jazz Combo and Jazz History classes. Dave has been very involved around the NYC area as a jazz clinician. He has conducted workshops at local colleges and high schools which focus on beginning improvisation and introduction to the jazz repertoire. As a performer, Dave has worked with a variety of musical styles. His credits include: Performances at the JVC Jazz Festival w/ The Dave Lobenstein Quartet, Interplay Jazz Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, Roscoe Mitchell, Leo Smith, Jeff Jarvis, Jimmy Wormworth, Kevin Clark, Sam Dillon Quartet, Manhattan Vocal Project, Regis and Kathie Lee, Danny Holmes, and the Mike Fahn Quartet. Dave’s primary teachers have been: Charlie Haden, Darek Oles, Marc Johnson, Peter Rofe, Scott Colley, and Harry Jacobsen.

Andrea Lodge

Assistant Professor
B.M. Memorial University of Newfoundland, M.M. University of British Columbia, D.M.A. Stony Brook University.

Pianist Andrea Lodge has been called a “Must See” (The Telegram, St. John’s, Canada).  A specialist in the performance of contemporary music, she frequently collaborates with composers on the creation of new works including Herbert Deutsch, Elliot Cole, Nicholas Deyoe, Andrea Mazzariello and C. Curtis Smith. Andrea was awarded top prizes at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Canadian National Competition for the Performance of New Music, including the award for best performance of the commissioned work, Curlicue, by Karen Sunabacka. She was featured in the Village Times Herald (Long Island, NY) for her showing at this competition in an article called “Stony Brook Pianist Hailed as One of Canada’s Best!” Dr. Lodge is an integral part of nief-norf, a contemporary music organization and ensemble focused on bringing together new ideas in performance, composition and research. Since 2014, Andrea has been faculty pianist at the annual nief-norf summer festival and for nief-norf project performances. She performs regularly as soloist, with guitarist Jay Sorce as the Sorce/Lodge Duo, and with Hypercube, a cutting-edge new music quartet of saxophone, percussion, guitar and piano/accordion. Hypercube has been bringing their music to new audiences with tours across the country. Her piano studies include work with Gilbert Kalish and Christina Dahl.

James P. McCrann

Director of the Wind Ensemble
D.M.A. in Music Education and Wind Conducting Rutgers University, B.S. and M.A. Hofstra University

Recently appointed Wind Ensemble Conductor at Five Towns College, Dr. James P. McCrann has experience at the higher education level for other institutions. This experience includes directing a Symphonic Band and teaching graduate courses in conducting and music education. Since 1994, he has been High School Director of Bands in Garden City, having also served as a District Arts Coordinator and orchestra conductor. During his tenure, Garden City music programs expanded by over four-fold, earning national recognitions from the Grammy Foundation and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).

McCrann holds a D.M.A. in Music Education and Wind Conducting from Rutgers University, a B.S. and M.A. from Hofstra University, a P.D. in Administration, and membership in National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE), National Band Association (NBA), New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA), Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and Nassau Music Educators Association (NMEA). He was recognized by Grammy in the Schools, Pi Kappa Lambda, Tri-M, and School Band & Orchestra (SBO) magazine as one of “50 Directors Who Make a Difference.”

McCrann is Band/Wind Ensemble Editor for NYSSMA, with research appearing in national and international publications and regional conferences. His collaboration with renowned composers, including Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec, Stephen Melillo, and Brian Balmages, culminated in new works for band, chorus, and orchestra. Active as a clinician and guest conductor, McCrann has worked with various ensembles from across the country.

Audra Moricca

Assistant Professor – Voice Coordinator, Administrative Assistant for Applied Instruction
B.M. Mannes School of Music, M.A. CUNY Queens College

Dramatic Soprano Audra Moricca, a native of Northport, New York, began her musical studies as a violinist, studying at Manhattan School of Music. Ms. Moricca maintains an active performing career and is a highly respected interpreter in both the operatic and concert arenas. Audra specializes in the dramatic roles of Strauss, Verdi and Wagner, as well as the title roles of Tosca, Turandot, and Vanessa. With pianist Kelly Horsted, Ms. Moricca has performed extensive recital repertoire exploring less standard expansive song works reflecting their particular affection for modern dramatic song in venues across the US. As a scholar, Audra has studied with internationally respected pedagogues, notably, Joanna Levy, Ruth Falcon, Leo Lozito, Barbara Peters, Elisabeth Vrenios and Robert C. White. As a pedagogue, Audra has taught both performance classes and private study. She is a technical specialist working with students in all musical styles frequently noted for accomplishing extensive range and power and quick progress among her students. In addition to Five Towns College, Audra has served as a vocal faculty member at Molloy College, the Hartt School at the University of Hartford and at Music in Chappaqua. She maintains a private studio in Manhattan, West Hartford, Connecticut and Northport, New York.

Jeb Patton

Assistant Professor
B.A., Duke University, M.A., CUNY Queens College

Jeb Patton has toured throughout the United States and abroad with the Heath Brothers and with Jimmy Heath’s Generations Quintet, performing in theaters, festivals, concert halls, colleges, and clubs. Recent highlights include two performances with the WDR Bigband in Germany, a tour of France, Spain, Germany, and Switzerland with his quartet, a solo concert in Versaille, a tour of Mexico with his trio, and a solo/duo performance honoring Thelonious Monk as part of Monk@100 Duke Performances Series in North Carolina. He has recorded and published a number of workbooks and transcriptions of comping by artists such as Horace Silver, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Art Tatum. Career highlights also include performing at the Opening Nights of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jimmy Heath’s 75th Birthday Celebration, October 2001 as well as at Jimmy Heath’s 90th Birthday Celebration, October 2016 at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center.

Andrew Perea

Assistant Professor

B.A. CUNY Queens College, M.M.,Univ.of S.Florida,D.M.A., Univ. of Texas at Austin
Dr. Andrew Perea is recognized as one of the foremost string music educators on Long Island. As well, he is known as an inspiring violin, viola performer, chamber musician, and orchestral director. He earned his Bachelors of Music degree from the Aaron Copland School at Queens College CUNY, Masters of Music from the University of South Florida in Tampa, and Doctorate in Violin Performance from the University of Texas at Austin. His extensive resume includes Executive Musical Director of The Hampton Festival Orchestra, Assistant Concertmaster of the Choral Society of the Hamptons, Co-founder and Executive Musical director of the Peconic Youth Orchestra, Conductor of both the String and Repertory orchestras in the Gemini Youth Orchestra program, and Director of the String Program at Five Towns College. Along with his wife, Rebecca, Dr. Perea performs with the dynamic Counterclockwise and Poetica Ensembles. He has directed various music festivals, including SCMEA All-County, William Floyd All-District, and HMEA All-Area. His many professional collaborations have included performances with such legendary artists as Ray Charles, Johnny Mathis, Yanni, Gunther Schuler, and the world-renowned violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman.

Tony Romano

Adjunct Professor – Guitar, Jazz Harmony
Mus.B., Five Towns College, M.A., CUNY Queens College

Guitarist, composer, and Centaur Recording Artist Tony Romano has been a visible part of the New York City music scene for over twenty years. Just Jazz Guitar magazine wrote “His tone is beautiful and soulful, and his remarkable technique is a servant to his rich musical imagination and broad harmonic palette.” With a wide range of playing styles, Tony has toured worldwide and performed and recorded with many notable Jazz, Latin, Pop, and Broadway artists, including Randy Brecker, Joe Locke, Michael Feinstein, Bill Warfield, Steve LaSpina, Joe Bataan, Dave Valentin, Candido Camero, Chembo Corniel, Yomo Toro, Joel Frahm, Thomas Chapin, Brit Woodman, Santi DeBriano, Paul Bollenback, Stanley Jordan, Debbie Gibson, Kat Gang, Alex Gemignani, and Chuck Cooper. Tony’s guitar work can be heard on all 52 episodes of the BBC series 3rd & Bird as well as the Discovery Channel miniseries Going, Going, Gone! He has also performed for NPR broadcasts, and has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, Telemundo, and the ABC Morning Show. Tony is an adjunct Professor at Five Towns College, and has been a Teaching Artist for the Kupferberg Center at Queens College, as well as an instructor for the National Guitar Workshop. MA from the Aaron Copeland School of Music at Queens College, BM from Five Towns College.

Jeffrey Sultanof

Adjunct Professor
B.A Queens College (CUNY); M.A. Seton Hall University

Jeffrey Sultanof is a composer/arranger/conductor/author and editor.
He was editorial director at Warner Bros. Publications, where his clients included John Williams, Burt Bacharach, Gordon Lightfoot, Chick Corea, Michael Jackson and many others. He edited “Arranged by Nelson Riddle,” and annotated four Gershwin scores in Facsimile Editions. He wrote arrangements for many different solo and instrumental combinations.
He later worked at Hal Leonard Corp. where he edited books and produced CDs for Gerry Mulligan, Ron Carter, et. al. From 2002-2004, he was an administer in the Music Business division of Five Towns College.
He is senior editor at Jazz Lines Publications, where he has assisted in the editing and publication of arrangements written for Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., as well as composers such as Thad Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Frank Foster, Bob Brookmeyer, Marty Paich, etc. Walrus Music distributes his compositions and arrangements. He has composed concerti for clarinetist Ken Peplowski and pianist Ted Rosenthal.
He is the author of “Experiencing Big Band Jazz: A Listener’s Companion” which is a required text in the University of North Texas Jazz Program.

Chris Tibaldi

Assistant Professor – Percussion
B.B.A., Hofstra University

Prof. Tibaldi is a highly-regarded, and versatile drummer in the NY area.  He is endorsed by Sabian Cymbals, Vic Firth Sticks, Evans Drumheads, Rhythm Tech Percussion and GMS Drums. Chris was a member of the renowned band “The Touch” for several years, and continues to be an in-demand studio musician and clinician. He has performed for a sold out Nassau Coliseum and Hammerstien Ballroom as well as hundreds of other venues from Maine to Miami. Additional studies at Five Towns College and Berklee College of Music. Session Experience for studios such as Deep Wave, Killingsworth, Sabella, and Cove City Studios.

Mark Verdino

Assistant Professor
B.M. SUNY Potsdam, M.M. Manhattan School of Music

Mark is fluent on both acoustic bass and fretted and fretless electric bass.  He is a sub on the Broadway show Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, School of Rock, Jersey Boys, The Book of Mormon, Aladdin, Mean Girls, Waitress, Hello Dolly, Pretty Woman, Matilda, Miss Saigon, On Your Feet, Groundhog Day, Finding Neverland, Bandstand, The Great Comet, Fun Home, Gigi, Mary Poppins, Spring Awakening, Young Frankenstein, The Pirate Queen and Movin’ Out.  Mark held the bass chair for the Jersey Boys 1^st National Tour, Jersey Boys 2^nd National Tour, Aladdin 1^st National Tour and the Spring Awakening 1^st national tour.  He also subs in the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra and in the band for the Big Apple Circus.  He plays in the corporate party/club date band LUXE.  He played for 10 years in the acclaimed Dave Matthews Tribute Band Ants Marching, as well as the Billy Joel Tribute band Glass Houses.  He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and The 55 Bar along others.  Mark is endorsed by D’Addario stings, New York Bass Works basses.

Deana Verone

Assistant Professor, Voice
B.A. Molloy College, M.A. Long Island University

Deana Verone has been an adjunct professor of Vocal studies for over 10 years.  As a well-known Mezzo-Soprano vocalist, she has performed at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts, NJPAC, and Hofstra University.  She performed with Sal Valentinetti, Chris Macchio, and Jim Sergi.  Ms. Verone’s performing career has taken her throughout the tristate area, as well as Pennsylvania and Florida. When Ms. Verone is not performing she is a music educator for a local school district, and teaches Early Childhood Music Education and Beginner Piano at Nassau Community College. She holds an advanced certificate in Educational Leadership from Long Island University and graduated with the Music Achievement Award of Excellence.  She has been a proud member of the Music National Honor Society and Delta Omicron. Ms. Verone has worked as a music librarian/backstage assistant for many performing artists who include:  Brian Stokes Mitchell, Idina Menzel, Nathan Gunn, Kelly O’Hara, Natalie Merchant, Linda Eder, Kristin Chenoweth, Johnny Mathis, and Frank Sinatra Jr.

Jonathan Waxman

Adjunct Professor, Music History
B.M. Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, M.A. Ph.D. New York University

Jonathan Waxman completed a Ph.D. in historical musicology at New York University with a dissertation titled “Prefacing Music in the Concert Hall: Composer Commentaries, Program Books, and the Conflict over Musical Meaning.” He has recently published an article in the journal Popular Music History which examined the influence of Ives’s music on the film scores and concert works of Bernard Herrmann. As Vice-President of the Greater New York City chapter of the American Musicological Society, Jonathan has supervised several scholarly conferences for the society, and has recently given papers on concert program books at the national meetings of the Society for American Music, and the American Musicological Society.