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Instrumental and vocal instruction
Jovita Bernard, Piano and Managing Director of the Academy of Performing & Creative Arts- Jovita Bernard has been in the music world for as long as she can remember. Coming from a naturally musical family not necessarily academic in nature, Jovita was fortunate in her upbringing to receive the full support of a loving family to receive her music education formally. Having completed her education through the Associate Board of The Royal Schools of Music, London, UK, Jovita then took a detour through the world of business to receive her Bachelor's and Master's in Business.
Working in the corporate world for five years and learning a tremendous amount of valuable information in the "entrepreneurial" sector of the business world, Jovita returned to her first love- music. She operated and developed The Academy of Music from being a sole instructor to developing the school with many instructors. After numerous years in the music world, an opportunity arose that could not be ignored- an abandoned bowling alley located one block down from the music school that would provide the next step, a performing arts center!
Jovita's passion for the performing arts world and her stint in the corporate world, gives her the unique ability in merging what is normally considered "oil and water". Love and passion for music, dance, and acting should never just be left as just "love" but to do something with it because all through your life the world is your stage. It is a mantra that Jovita still lives her life by.
Catherine Barfield, Contemporary Vocal Coach- Graduating from The New School University Jazz & Contemporary program at Mannes College of Music, Catherine has been fortunate enough to learn from Jazz masters such as Reggie Workman, Junior Mance, Dennis Chambers, Richard Harper, and others. Her rap sheet includes performances at the Blue Note and Birdland Jazz, as well as studio work with Wold Wide Audio- including test tracking for Ja Rule and Jennifer Lopez. Cathie has a voice that quivers with Jazz and quakes with Soul. Her percussive vocal styling has been adequately called a complimentary throwback of the great scat masters of the Jazz era. She has been performing her original music since 1999 all around NYC to the four corners of the United States, and as far as the mountains of Alaska. She strives to empower the next generation of vocal talent with successful building tools, incorporating the vocal styles of today such as Jazz, Blues, Rock, Country, Folk, R&B, and Soul. She wants every student to love his/her vocal skills, as well as have the ability to read, write, compose, and lyricize. Feel free to listen to some CLIPS of her own professional compositions:
Michael Winkler, Classical & Musical Theater Vocal Coach- Michael studied Vocal Pedagogy, String, Brass, Woodwind, and Percussion instruments at the Crane School of Music- State University of New York at Potsdam. While in College, Michael continually worked with local public schools, assisting Choral Directors in preparing their Elementary, Middle and High School Choirs. Winkler has worked with students ages 5 to 18, and during his student teaching, has prepared several for their NYSSMA solos at Levels 5 and 6. His repertoire includes Classic Art Song of Schubert, Faure and English Composers, and Broadway Musical Theatre. He played Pippin and Charlemagne in "Pippin" and has performed several large Choral works including Brahm's Requiem, Poulenc's Gloria, Vivaldi's Gloria, and Hindemith's "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd". Below is a clip of Michael singing a Musical Theater piece:
Olga Megedyn, Violin & Viola- Olga is a professional violinist holding a Master'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.
John Freleigh, Strings, Woodwinds (including oboe and bassoon), Brass, and Piano- John has been teaching instrumental and vocal/general music in public schools in the Mohawk Valley since 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Hartwick College, and Master of Music Degree from Syracuse University, in addition to a permanent New York State Music Certification to teach in public schools. His performance credits include Catskill Symphony (viola), Binghamton Community Symphony (principal viola), Greater Utica Chamber Orchestra (principal viola and associate conductor), and most recently, Floyd Community Band, where he played flute, oboe, bassoon, and trumpet. In additional to instrumental performance, he has sung tenor in the Catskill Choral Society, where he participated in the Musical Heritage Society recording of “Jonah,” (documented to be the first oratorio written in the “new world.”)
Lynn Jacobs, Guitar, Contemporary Composition Coach- With a BA in Music Theory & Composition, and a minor in classical guitar, Lynn has also written an eclectic variety of music. Her forte is in guitar, but she also teaches keyboard, bass, banjo, and voice. Having performed nationally with her original works, Lynn's song repertoire spans from pop, blues, jazz, rock, electronica, rap, and classical. Feel free to listen to some of her own professional compositions on: http://www.mindawn.com/artists/LynnJacobs. Feel free to listen to a CLIP of her own professional composition:
acting, Creative Writing, and Art
-Updating Soon!-
Melissa Emmerich, Creative Writing- Melissa has a long-standing love of performing and creative arts. As an experienced dancer, a member of the APCA competitive ballroom team, a local theater performer, and creative writer, Melissa has passionately been involved in the arts for many years. After receiving her B.A. in English and her Master of Science in Education from LeMoyne College, Melissa has worked as an English teacher for the past 13 years. Melissa has attended various local, state, and national conferences sponsored by the Mohawk Valley Writing Project and the National Council for the Teachers of English. She also delivered a presentation on the creative writing of poetry at the New York State English Council conference in New York City in 2007. She has written various poems and stories, and she is currently working on writing a children’s book. As a creative writing instructor, Melissa fosters a love of writing in students. Through the use of highly engaging activities and positive encouragement, she believes in nurturing her students’ writing so that they utilize a unique writing voice, colorful and descriptive vocabulary, and their own style in their writing.
Alyssa Stock, Art Instructor- Raised in Little Falls, NY- Alyssa has been fascinated by the creative arts, and visual arts in particular, since she was very young. While attending SUNY Fredonia, she gave private lessons in fine arts media and composition. Her coursework focused on drawing and painting with a wide range of mediums, her favorite subject being the human face and form. Alyssa's style encompasses both realism and abstraction but she places strong importance on the cultivation of core drawing skills, rendering from life and direct expression. After earning her BA in Illustration and Visual Communication, Alyssa returned to the Mohawk Valley, where she has been honing her craft and participating in the local arts and music community. View examples of her skills, click the links below:
Dance and Fitness
Ambi Daniel, Latin Ballroom & Dancesport- Ambi is an award winning competitive 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.
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 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.
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