Teaching and Administration Careers at MTC

Craig Spear is a graduate of Drexel University’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design with a Bachelors Degree in Music Industry Recording Technology. Craig began his piano studies at age 5 and continued to study privately through college. As a youth, he learned classical technique under the Suzuki Piano Method. In high school he was also introduced to jazz technique which later inspired him to study and perform under Lynn Riley with the Drexel University Fusion Band. Craig enjoys performing the works of Rachmaninoff and Chopin. His diverse piano training has supported his creativity to compose and record his own music. His recordings can be heard on the popular television station Animal Planet.

April 22, 2015

Erica Gibson is a graduate of Lebanon Valley College, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance and Composition. In addition to playing the piano Erica also plays the flute, piccolo, guitar, and mallet percussion. Erica has been teaching piano in the south NJ area since 1998, and has been a teacher in NJ public schools.

April 22, 2015

Ben Bowles is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, where he studied guitar and composition, and of Boston College, where he studied physics. Ben has been teaching music and guitar for eight years to both young and adult students in all styles of electric, acoustic, and classical guitar. In his teaching, Ben emphasizes a strong foundation of music theory combined with efficient technique and repertoire that the student enjoys

April 22, 2015

Joe Aiello holds a Master of Music Degree from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. Joe also studied with Frank Epstein of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Michael Bookspan of the Philadelphia Orchestra, jazz great Freddie Waits and Philadelphia icon and drum teacher Al Ipri. Joe was on the music faculty and head of the percussion department at the University of Southern Maine and has been teaching privately for over 20 years. Many of his students have gone on to successful music careers having graduated from West Chester University, Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Berklee College of Music.

April 22, 2015

Katy Vona is a graduate of Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music with a Bachelors Degree in Voice Performance. Katy began her journey at an early age in musical theater, and studied voice, guitar and piano. After graduating Magna cum Laude from Temple University, Katy was accepted into a prestigious vocal program with the University of Cincinnati, in Lucca, Italy. Upon her return to the U.S., she performed in venues including Candide at the Arden Theater. In addition to teaching voice, Katy is a singer/songwriter performing original acoustic/electronic projects. She enjoys sharing her knowledge and love of music with her students.

April 22, 2015

Andrew Brown is a graduate of Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, California with an Associate’s Degree of Arts in drum and percussion performance. At Musicians Institute he studied with drum book authors: Ed Roscetti, Chuck Silverman and Gary Hess, as well as World Snare Drum Champion: Rob Carson. Prior to attending Musician Institute, Andrew studied music theory at Bucks County Community College. Andrew was awarded, “Teacher of the Year 2007/2008” at Southern California Music School. He also received, “Best Drummer Award” at the Emergenza’s Battle of the Bands contest. Under Andrew’s instruction, Carver Middle School was also awarded 1st place during the NVISION Battle of the Bands contest.

April 22, 2015

Yelena Rader is a graduate of Kiev State Pedagogic University, with a Masters Degree in Piano and Voice Performance. Yelena completed her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from Kiev State Musical College in 1982, with a concentration in Piano Performance and Music Theory. A classical pianist and music teacher by training, Yelena was born in Kiev, Ukraine. At the age of 5 she decided to pursue piano as her chosen discipline and entered the Music School for Gifted Children in Kiev. When Yelena was 12 years old she won a silver medal in the Tchaikovsky competition. Yelena has been teaching for twenty years, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with all aspiring students.

April 22, 2015

Felicia Kaufmann is a graduate of King’s College with a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Theatre. Prior to attending King’s College, Felicia attended a performing arts high school for theatre. Throughout her high school and college years she taught numerous theatre and dance classes with On Stage and Off and North Penn High School. Just last year, Felicia had the pleasure with working at the Walnut Street theatre’s performing arts camp and worked back stage for the Broadway Inbound Program at the Philadelphia’s Forest Theatre. Felicia has been dancing for the past fifteen years specializing in jazz, tap and musical theatre. She has been performing on stage since middle school and has been in many shows at King’s College, Theatre and Kids and The Dutch Country Playhouse.

April 22, 2015

Stu Gollin is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston with a diploma in Film Scoring and Guitar Performance. Prior to attending Berklee, Stu trained with famed Philadelphia jazz guitar teachers Joe Federico and Dennis Sandole. Stu is an accomplished teacher with over 20 years of teaching experience. He is fluent in jazz, rock, funk, classical, fusion, and heavy metal

April 22, 2015

Andrew Farace is a graduate of Musicians Institute College of Contemporary Music in Hollywood, California with an Associate’s Degree of Arts in Guitar Performance. At Musicians Institute he studied with renowned classical guitarist: Frank Hoffmeyer, jazz prodigy: Sid Jacobs, and contemporary guitar players: Pathik Desai and Antti Kotikoski. Andrew began his private guitar studies in South Jersey at age 12. He has also attended private vocal lessons, professional vocal performance workshops, and informally studied drum set. During the course of his studies, he performed and recorded with Philadelphia area and Los Angeles-based rock and metal bands. Andrew is fluent in many styles such as rock, jazz, blues, metal, and classical. He enjoys performing a fusion of these genres and helping his students find their own voice within their instrument. Andrew believes that creating music is one of the most rewarding things that life has to offer that benefit beyond, “simply playing an instrument”.

April 22, 2015

Brian Horvath is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Guitar Performance, and is also a graduate of Kutztown University with a Bachelors of Music in Music Education. While at Temple University, he studied under Ed Flanagan and Tom Giacabetti. Brian began his music studies on the saxophone at the age of nine. At age twelve, inspired by Eddie Van Halen, he began guitar lessons. His teaching experience includes 15 years of private instruction of guitar, saxophone, violin and piano, including having taught guitar and piano classes for seven years at Fullerton Union High School in California.

April 22, 2015

Judy Sanger is a graduate of Wilkes University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education. Judy has been teaching and performing professionally for thirty years. As a classical soprano, Judy has performed for composers’ weekends (Ben Steinberg, others), for The West Coast Chamber Orchestra and as a Cantorial Soloist in Congregation B’nai Brith. As a popular singer and pianist, Judy has performed venues on both coasts. Judy has performed in theater productions in New York City, California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey and has garnered several acting, singing, and directing awards. Judy has had leads in over twenty-five shows, and directed and musically directed a dozen more, including “Underground Goddess” at the New York Public Theatre.

April 22, 2015

Ruth Good is a graduate of Cairn University with a Bachelor of Church Music and concentration in piano. Ruth first began her piano studies at the age of 10, and continued under pianist Kenneth Borrmann at Cairn University. Along with her piano lessons at Cairn University, Ruth also studied guitar and voice, and performed in chorale, handbells, and contemporary ensembles. Ruth performs and listens to composers from the Romantic period such as Chopin and Debussy, classical, jazz, and contemporary styles of music.She continues her own music studies with jazz improvisation piano and guitar lessons.

April 22, 2015

Don Bozzuffi attended Camden County College for classical guitar performance along with receiving private lessons in classical guitar at Rowan University. Don has over 13 years experience as a guitar instructor and taught at The Gift of Music Academy, The School of Rock, and Mars Music prior to joining Music Training Center’s faculty. Don has also been actively performing and recording in the Tri-State area for over 13 years, and has had the opportunity to play at New York City’s famous CBGB’s multiple times, as well as the closing night celebration of Philadelphia’s Doc Watson’s, and the grand opening of Philadelphia’s The Legendary Dobbs.

April 22, 2015

Joshua Steingard is a graduate of the Berklee College Of Music with a Bachelors Of Music Degree in Professional Music and Drumset, and has been teaching drums at MTC since 2009. While attending Berklee, Joshua studied under drum legends Rod Morgenstein, Mike Mangini, Kenwood Dennard, and Skip Hadden Joshua started playing drums at the age of 9 and has years of gigging, recording, and teaching experience in Boston, Philadelphia, New York, Salt Lake City, and Montreal. He also shared the stage with bands such as Soulive, moe., Brothers Past, Will Lee, and Tally Hall. oshua received praise from Billy Joel saying, “He’s a monster!” after being in the audience for a show at Berklee. In addition to teaching full-time at MTC, Joshua has performed with R&B/ reggae/pop artist Erin Barra, out of Brooklyn, NY, and rock/dub reggae trio Sugar Mama, out of Boston, MA.

April 22, 2015