INSTRUCTORS
CHRIS STIBOL
Drum/Piano Instructor
Chris has been drumming for the past 30 years and has a degree in music. Performing since the age of 10, he has trained in many different styles of percussion and is proficient on the drum set, marching drums, bells, and piano. Chris has been teaching for the past 17 years, his students ranging from 5 to 70. Many of them have gone on to do great things with their talents, including becoming members of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey, reaching the Studio Band at Princeton Highschool, and becoming members of percussion lines at the college level. Chris approaches lessons with a fun attitude, ensuring students learn the core fundamentals while they grow in their own artistic abilities.
JEREMY
Guitar/Piano Instructor
Jeremy has been playing guitar for over 20 years and has been performing in bands for the past 16 years. He frequently plays throughout New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia. Jeremy is a very dedicated teacher who brings his real world experience to his lesson approach. He ensures students understand the songwriting process by breaking down the song structure. By doing this and actively engaging students the “ins and outs” of a song, he gives them the tools to start writing songs of their own.
VINNIE
Guitar/Bass/Piano Instructor
Vinnie has over 20 years experience playing professionally in bands throughout the Princeton, Philadelphia, and New York City region and is a student of jazz and classical performance. His approach puts a strong emphasis on fundamentals and music theory but also encourages students to be creative and uses examples of modern music to put those fundamentals to use.
JOSEPH
Woodwind/Vocal/Drum/Piano Instructor
Joseph has been teaching woodwind instruments for the past 16 years. He has earned a B.A. of music from Kean University. Joe has played in many ensembles including, NJMEA Intercollegiate Wind Ensemble, Kean University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and Kean University Concert Choir and Orchestra. Joe keeps his students engaged and motivated by learning and dissecting popular songs, and making scale learning a fun competition/game.
MARK
Piano Instructor
Mark has been playing piano since the age of 9. Throughout college, Mark was involved in several ensembles including Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Chamber Music. He has also provided musical accompaniment with the Kean Theatre Department. In 2017, Mark graduated from Kean University with a B.M. in Music Performance degree. Mark's favorite artists include ABBA, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Bruce Springsteen, and R.E.M. He also loves to play music from Broadway musicals and Nintendo video games. Mark uses a hybrid of classical and contemporary in his lessons to ensure students that they learn the core fundamentals of music in a fun and festive atmosphere.
Grant
Drum Instructor
Grant has 28 years of drumming experience. He specializes in rock, rhythm and blues, funk, and zydeco beats. He is well known by the local music scene for his diverse and unique approach to the craft. His goal is for creativity to flourish, while maintaining a productive and friendly learning experience!
ELLENRENEE
Vocal Instructor
EllenRenee has been in the Performing arts industry since age 6. Started under Julliard trained professional. Sang and performed Professionally for many years in: Italian Operas, Classical & Standards Vocalist, New Jersey and New York (Radio City) stages, lead singer in 2 bands (Rock 'Midnight Rain' band & Wedding 'Touch of Class'), Atlantic City, elite restaurants, JBundy Master Illusionist Assistant, Singing recording Artist managed by Bill Deal, opened for Charlie Daniels band and L Jackson. Teaches & trains Novice through Professional levels: All genres of Music. Classical, Rock, Punk, Broadway. Former Director of 450 student Academy of Performing Arts over 10 years. She trained and placed many Artists in Lead Roles such as 'Cats' and 'Phantom of the Opera' ON Broadway, top billing Artist performances on the 'Main Stage at Walt Disney World Florida', placed Rock Bands on many stage performances & venues, teamed with Sony Records professionals, her students were in commercials, print & appearances on major channels and she worked with Original Musical Artists that hit top charts. Teaches Singing, coaches vocalists, manages bands & musical artists.
Long standing Member of National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Is an agent through American Federation of Booking Agents of United States and Canada. Performer, Vocalist, Dancer, Choreographer, Educator. Mantra is strive for excellence in voice, stage performance & life.
Aaron
Drums/Guitar/Bass/Piano Instructor
Aaron is a guitar player of 8 years and a drummer of 4 years. He is a performer and has been in several bands throughout his career through school and with his friends. He has experience in marching band, jazz band, musicals and cover bands. He prioritizes foundational knowledge to ensure great practice and great performance.
Scott
Piano Instructor
Scott started his musical journey on the Hammond organ as his father was an amateur organist. He went on to private classical piano lessons a few years later and slowly fell into a love of classical, jazz and rock music.
He went on to play many establishments such as the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, NJ, Steakhouse 85 in New Brunswick NJ and Nordstrom Department Store in the Menlo Park Mall, Edison NJ. both as a solo and with trio. He continues to play around the tri state area for hotels, restaurants, senior centers and private functions.
Nikki
Guitar/Bass/Piano Instructor
Nikki is a local musician/singer/songwriter with classical, punk, ska, polka, and metal roots. While performing for over 25 years starting with the piano, cello, sax, trumpet, bass, and singing in bands, with orchestral, marching band, and punk spaces for outlets, Nikki found out that guitar was indeed the favorite instrument out of them all. With a diverse musical palette, Nikki aims to aid you on your own musical path, by providing tools, tricks, theory and philosophy to get you where YOU want to go.
Nick
Drum Instructor
Nick was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and grew up in the neighboring communities across the Delaware River in Cherry Hill and Medford, New Jersey. After moving to Medford, Nicholas was accepted to Bishop Eustace Preparatory School, a prestigious private co-ed High School in the Tri-State area. While at Eustace, Nick won the Bishop Eustace Leadership in Music Award & The John Philip Sousa Award. The second being a national award to honor the top student in the high school band as it recognizes musicianship and outstanding dedication by one of the senior year members of the band.
Nick graduated from Rider University, located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey with Cum Laude Honors after successfully pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in History and a Minor in Film and Media studies.
Specialties: Rock & pocket drumming, jazz improvisation, compositional approach.
A veteran of the Greater Philadelphia Area music scene, Nick Santangelo has performed in several bands garnering several local music awards for his outstanding drumming. In addition to teaching, Nick frequently works as a session musician for recording artists of all genres.
Annie
Viola/Violin/Cello/Upright Bass Instructor
Annie has played violin and viola for 14 years with an emphasis on classical and chamber music. During that time she has performed in Newark Symphony Hall, as well as overseas in Sicily, major cities in China, and several other countries as principal violist of Stretto Chamber Orchestra and violist of the Aurum Quartet.
Rik
Drum Instructor
Rik received his first drum lesson at the age of six from his father Bob, also a drummer.
Throughout elementary school and freshman year of high school, Rik played various percussion instruments in concert band & marching band. While in high school, he began drumming primarily in metal bands.
Sometime around the mid-90's he co-founded a death metal band with his younger brother Zak. They still jam/write when possible.
Since then Johnson has played in several other metal bands, plus The Beatles tribute band, Shabby Road as well as an 80’s Metal parody tribute called Headbanger.
His earliest influences include his father, Animal from The Muppets & Dennis Wilson (The Beach Boys).
As an instructor, Rik encourages every musician to find their own voice & will help you get started with drumming!
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Lisa
Vocal and Piano Instructor
Lisa is a professional, classically trained vocal artist who is also a voice and piano teacher, as well as a coach in speech and theater. Lisa has performed internationally for opera houses, symphonies, and other art organizations. Lisa has experience in multi genres of music to include gospel, jazz, musical theater, jazz and pop music.
Noted opera companies she has performed with include the Metropolitan Opera in New York, New York City Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Opera Company of Philadelphia aka Opera Philly, the Royal Danish Opera Copenhagen, Denmark, Welsh National Opera Cardiff, Wales and many other internationally and domestically. Lisa has been engaged with orchestras to include the Philadelphia Orchestra, the LA Symphony in California, the Chicago Sinfonietta, the Radio Filharmonisch at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Shanghai City Symphony in China among others. Additionally, Lisa has been the recipient of many awards and grants to include the Metropolitan Opera National Council, the Sullivan Award, The Olga Forrai Foundation and the Joy in Singing Award.
Her career has recently incorporated sharing music vocally in community, local and regional venues believing that everyone should have the gift of professional level music in their lives. Though including teaching throughout her 30 year career she is now more focused on sharing her years of applied knowledge to the next generation of musicians and performing artists.
Lisa's professional training was completed at Westminster Choir College (now the music/performing arts college of Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ).
Nate
Guitar and Bass Instructor
Nate has been playing guitar and bass for more than 10 years, and currently holds both an Associate's in Music and a Bachelor's in Music with a concentration in Jazz Studies from Mercer County Community College and Montclair State University respectively. His background is mostly in Jazz improvisation and pop, although has played in other styles, especially rock and Latin music. His teaching focuses on catering to students' wants and needs and most importantly, fostering a deep appreciation for all types of music!