Faculty: Academy of Performing & Creative Arts: Clinton, New York

Musical Theater

Jovita Bernard-Copeland, Piano and Managing Director of the Academy of Music and Academy of Performing & Creative Arts. Jovita Bernard-Copeland has been active in the private music education field locally for over 23 years. Originally from Malaysia, she started her piano education at age 5 and completed the internationally recognized curriculum through the Associated Board of the Royals Schools of Music, United Kingdom. She has been the sole owner and managing director of the Academy of Music located in Clinton. The school has expanded its services from offering private piano lessons to music lessons in voice, guitar, violin and viola. Jovita also holds degrees in FInance and Management Science and has worked locally in the economic developement field. She is also an active member in the Clinton Chamber of Commerce and performs frequently in the community together with her students and staff at local venues for charity and events. Jovita has also created a successful complimentary business in custom designing and arranging of music to be performed live at special social functions such as corporate events, weddings and specialty social functions.

Charito Byrne, Soprano. Charito has a B.A. in vocal performance from the Mannes College of Music, studying with both Marion Thompson and Neil Goren. She also holds a Masters of Music Ed. from the University at Albany, where she studied under Frances Wittmann. Charito has performed in many venues including Glimmerglass Opera, where she spent a summer in their Young Artist Program, and along with the Albany Chamber Singers, under David Griggs-Janower, where she was showcased as a soloist during their choral tour of Costa Rica. She can be heard in the 1999 recording of Medea, performed through Opera Quintonius and recorded by Newport Records. Recently she was chosen as the lead actress to play the role of Dolly in the Stage Two production of "Hello Dolly" to be performed Summer of 2007 here in the valley. Charito has been a faculty member at the Academy for over a year now and is excited to continue with her students in the new facility!

Jonathan Lessels, Guitar, Electronic Keyboard ,Brass, Trumpet, Mandolin, Percussion, & Euphonium. After a brief sabbatical, we are glad to announce the return of Jonathan Lessels. His musical journey began in grade school where Jonathan was introduced to various instruments while participating in several ensembles including; wind ensemble, concert choir, marching band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, and guitar club. Upon graduation from Camden High School in 2000, Jonathan went on to continue his musical education at Oswego State University. While at Oswego he studied music with a focus in Audio Engineering and Recording Technology. Major courses of study included; music theory, music history, jazz, opera, and music appreciation, as well as continuing lessons for guitar, baritone horn, voice and piano. He participated in concert band and orchestra as well as running the sound for the Solid State Jazz Band and Singers. Jonathan graduated from Oswego State University in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in music. Outside of school Jonathan has been playing lead guitar in a local band at establishments around Central New York since he graduated high school.

Olga Megedyn, Violinist. Olga is a professional violinist holding aMaster's in violin from Lviv State Conservatory in Ukraine. Originally from Ukraine, Olga was not only an educator, as an associate professor of Ivano-Frankivsk College of Music but also performed with the Ivano-Frankivsk Philharmonic Chamber as first violinist and the Ivano-Frankivsk Symphony Orchestra as Concertmaster of the second violin section. In 1994 she also successfully competed and won the International Competition of Chamber Music held in Chmelnitsk, Ukraine. Olga is proud to share her knowledge of the instrument with her students and encourages them to always play and perform with their local school programs. In addition to being on faculty with the Academy, Olga also performs with Utica, Catskill and Colgate University Symphonies and is an active member of the Academy's String Quartet ensemble.

Yevgen (Eugene) Matskiv, Violist. Eugene is a professional violist with a Master's Degree from Lviv State Conservatory in Ukraine. Eugene spent thirteen years in education; as aprincipal of Nadvirna School of Music and as associate professor of viola and chamber ensemble at Ivano-Frankivsk College of Music. Locally, he is on faculty for the string department at the Academy. As a performer, he performed in Ukraine with the Lviv Symphony Orchestra performing with them in their European Tour of "Leopolis" as concertmaster of the viola section. He also performed as a member of the Ivano-Frankivsk Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra as concertmaster of the viola section. Eugene continues to perform here locally as an active member of the Utica, Catskill and Colgate University Symphonies as well as the Academy's String Quartet ensemble.

acting and creative writing

Kristy Mandour, Acting and Creative Writing. Kristy is an alumna from the Roy H. Park School of Communications Television/Radio department at Ithaca College. Kristy's passion for acting and writing was discovered while working on various television shows at the college's student run television station, ICTV. This lead to future theater and acting classes along with the completion of her first full length play, "Me, Myself, and I" that was extremely well received by both her peers and theater instructor. Upon graduation, Kristy moved to New York City and worked at the fine arts non-profit organization, Young Audiences/NY furthering her acting skills at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting. Kristy continued her studies in New York City at Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse in an intensive two-year acting program with Richard Pinter, scene study workshops at The Barrow Group with Seth Barrish and writing and acting workshops with Michael Knowles. Her acting experience ranges from regular work on the soap opera "All My Children", the feature films "Mona Lisa Smile" and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", and numerous independent films. Most recently she has written "Open Road", a feature length screenplay and "Sides", an independent short film, both in development. She is currently writing her second feature length screenplay, "Part of the Process" and continuously writing material for her students to use in workshops. Having grown up in New Hartford, NY, Kristy is thrilled to work with the young artists in this community.

Dance and Fitness

Ambi Daniel, Latin American Ballroom, Young Jazz, Latin and Hip Hop Ambi is an award winningcompetitive International Latin Ballroom dancer. Dancing on the collegiate and amateur circuits, her many accomplishments include a United States national silver medal with partner Stephen Howard. Beginning her ballroom career with the RPI Ballroom Dance Team in Troy, NY., she continues to train with world class coaches from New York City and Canada. She is currently the head coach and choreographer of the Syracuse University Ballroom Dance Team.

Yan Kit Pang, Hip Hop. "Kit" originally comes from Boston, MA by way of Hong Kong. His passion for the Hip Hop culture stems from a strong belief that the dancing of it is an art form and a skill that anyone can learn to express their own creativity and to show who they are individually. His desire is to also share the true history behind the Hip Hop culture and to encourage the learning and appreciation of this dance form for its real elements. As a performer who has performed around the city of Boston, Kit's goal is to bring the true essence of street dance and its culture through sharing his talent, skill and experiences with his students.

Nicole Rocci, Ballet,Jazz, Lyrical and Modern. Nicole was classically trained in the RAD ballet syllabus by Delia Foley at Mohawk Valley Ballet. Nicole spent summers studying with Boston Ballet, Columbia City Ballet and American Repertory Ballet. She holds a B.A. in Psychology with high honors from Syracuse University where she also obtained all dance major credits through a bridge program with Hamilton College. Upon her arrival in New York City in 2001, she completed the professional scholarship program at Peridance International performing works by Igal Perry, Richard Rivera and Yugi Udon. Her professional credits include Saba Dance Theater, Mariana Bekerman Dance Company, Figments Dance Ensemble, Meriminne Dancers, Undertoe Productions and Push Factor Dance Company. She has taught dance at various private and public schools throughout the five boroughs of NYC. She was also a master teacher at the 2006 DanzJam Convention and Competition in Peabody, MA. After seven years in NYC, she is excited to be home and bring her dedication and love of dance back to the Mohawk Valley!

*Substitute Instructor*

Sean Jackson, Tap. Sean Jackson began his dance training at age three with his parents Stephen and Canan Jackson at the John Hayes O'Neill Studio of Dance, in Rome, New York.Â Sean began performing at a very early age and has not looked back. This past year he has performed in Tandem Act Productions, "Tappy Holidays" in Cleveland, Ohio and at Symphony Space in New York City. Sean has also performed in "Wonderland: A Tap Tribute to Stevie Wonder" at Playhouse Square Center in Cleveland, Ohio and at Aaron Davis Hall in New York City. He has also had the esteemed oppurtunity to share the stage and study with Sarah Savelli, Ayodele Casel, Jason Janas, Jumaane Taylor, Travis Knights, and Michela Lerman. Sean performs in Central New York with other performers that range from percussionists, jazz ensembles, and other dance forms. He also teaches at various dance and performing arts schools around Central New York.

Justin Caldwell, Hip Hop. Justin currently lives in Westchester, but is originally from New York City. He has always loved dance and from the time he was a child would watch the music videos of pop icons such as Michael Jackson, Usher and Justin Timberlake imitating their moves. As a freshman at Horace Mann School he took his first professional dance class learning styles such as Salsa, Ballet, Jazz, Swing and Hip-hop. By junior year he had greatly improved in both Hip-hop and salsa, but was still searching for his own specific Hip-hop style. Justin currently runs the Hip-Hop group at Hamilton, called Heat, and has taught and choreographed many dances. In addition, he occasionally teaches hip-hop and Salsa classes at Horace Mann School to both the students and faculty. Over the years Justin has managed to develop his hip-hop style and challenge himself by creating new and exciting dances. Dancing is a very important part of Justin's life that has helped give him confidence and encouraged him to challenge and push his limits. His goals in teaching dance are to challenge his students with intense and fun choreography, teach them to be comfortable and confident with dance, and help them to develop their own hip-hop style.