Our Staff
Meet Our Staff!
Quick Guide by Instrument – Click on a Teacher’s Name for their Bio.
| Piano Lessons | Kevin Rose, Virginia Morgan, Tina Smith, Dr. Joscelyn Fisher, Nicole Sheeler, Valerie Harvey, Simeone Tartaglione, Scott D. Farquhar, Celia Balzer |
| Jazz Piano Lessons | Kevin Rose |
| Jazz Theory & Improvisation | Kevin Rose, Said Tinat |
| Guitar Lessons | Said Tinat, Sven Rainey, Celia Balzer |
| Voice Lessons | Emilie Hodgin, Virginia Morgan, Dr. Joscelyn Fisher |
| Flute Lessons | Celia Balzer |
| Clarinet Lessons | Celia Balzer, Nicole Sheeler |
| Sax Lessons | Celia Balzer |
| Trumpet Lessons | Dr. Jon Cresci |
| Trombone Lessons | Dr. Jon Cresci |
| Baritone / Tuba Lessons | Dr. Jon Cresci |
| Horn Lessons | Dr. Jon Cresci |
| Violin Lessons | Dr. Joscelyn Fisher |
| Viola Lessons | Please call! |
| Cello Lessons | Kevin Rose |
| String Bass Lessons | Now Hiring! |
| Drum Lessons | Kevin Rose |
| Electric Bass Lessons | Now Hiring! |
| Music Theory Lessons | Scott D. Farquhar, Said Tinat, Tina Smith |
| Music Composition Lessons | Scott D. Farquhar, Tina Smith |
| Conducting Lessons | Simeone Tartaglione |
|
|
| Scott D. Farquhar, Executive Director Instructor: Piano Lessons, Music Theory Lessons, Music Composition Lessons, Music Theory Group Classes |
| Biography: Scott earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Theory and Composition from Towson University and an Associate of Arts Degree in Music, With Honors, from Montgomery College. He studied piano with Dr. Richard Werder and Christina Giorgilli, jazz piano with Mark Cook, bass clarinet with Edward Palanker of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and composition with Dr. William Kleinsasser and Dr. John Bowen. Scott’s compositions are published by C.L. Barnhouse, and Splunge Music. |
|
|
| Said Tinat, Principal Instructor Instructor: Guitar Lessons, Music Theory Lessons, Brazilian Guitar Group Classes |
| Biography: Guitarist and composer Said Tinat is a graduate of The Peabody Conservatory of The Johns Hopkins University where, as a scholarship student, he studied classical guitar with Manuel Barrueco and Ray Chester. He has also studied Jazz Composition and Arrangement with Jeane-Christophe Hoarau and Flamenco Music with Claude Worms at the Ecole Atla in Paris. As a performer he has appeared on many concert series on both coasts of the United States as well as European Capitals. Two of his Albums, ‘Probe’ and ‘Fresh Air’ have won critical acclaim. For a closer look at his work please visit www.saidtinat.com. His music has been aired live on WGMS Sunday series, Adventure Divas on PBS, and on French and Canadian radio networks. He has held teaching posts in many centers of musical education including The Brighton School of Music in The United Kingdom, and The Music and Art Institute of San Francisco. Mr. Tinat is currently residing in Maryland and we are pleased to have him as an instructor at The Maryland Academy of Music. |
| Testimonials:
“Said was the perfect match for our son. He is very patient and encouraging!” Said’s Students of the Month: |
|
|
| Kevin Rose, Principal Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons, Jazz Piano Lessons, Cello Lessons, Drum Lessons |
| Biography: Mr. Rose holds his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz/Commercial Piano Performance from Towson University and studied classical piano under Lisa Bussing for nine years. Kevin first studied cello starting at age 9 and played in orchestra throughout his secondary school years. He has been the drummer for the Contemporary Worship Service at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Laurel, Maryland since 1996 and became Assistant Music Director in 2008. He performs regularly with his jazz trio. |
| Testimonials:
“He is TERRIFIC. You are very lucky to have him on your staff!” “He has the patience of a Saint.” Kevins’s Students of the Month: |
|
|
| Sven Rainey, Instructor Instructor: Guitar Lessons |
| Biography: Sven Rainey is a patient and experienced guitar instructor who believes in engaging each student at his or her ability level to encourage their musical development. He has been teaching private lessons in multiple styles (rock, pop, classical, folk, and blues) to students of all ages and abilities since 1999. Mr. Rainey earned a Bachelor of Music from Southeast Missouri State and a Master of Music from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He is currently attending the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University and studying with renowned pedagogue Julian Gray. Sven is an advocate of bringing classical music to new and underprivileged audiences and performs regularly at community venues. |
| Testimonials:
“We are so pleased with your program and Sven.” |
|
|
| Dr. Jon Cresci, Instructor Instructor: Trumpet Lessons, Trombone Lessons, Baritone Lessons, Horn Lessons, Tuba Lessons |
| Biography: From Baltimore, MD, Jon Cresci received his Bachelor of Music Performance and Bachelor of Recording Arts and Sciences from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in 2001, studying under Mr. Wayne Cameron. While in Baltimore, he performed as principal trumpet with the Maryland Chamber Orchestra, fourth/utility for the Columbia Orchestra, principal with Newton Massachusetts Chamber Orchestra, Second trumpet with the Washington Summer Opera Theater Company, and with the Mt. Vernon Brass Consort. In 2004, Mr. Cresci completed his Master of Music in Performance from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. Throughout his time in Lafayette he was a member of the UL-Lafayette faculty brass quintet and third trumpet with the Acadiana Symphony. In 2009, he completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Trumpet at the University of Memphis under the direction of Dr. David Spencer. He currently resides in Towson and is professor of Trumpet at Coppin State University and professor of Recording Arts and Sciences and Music History at Montgomery College in Rockville, MD. |
| Testimonials:
In May of 2010, one of Jon’s students returned from the Maryland State Solo and Ensemble Festival with all A and B grades on his Adjudication Form! |
|
|
| Tina Smith, Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons, Music Theory Lessons, Music Composition Lessons |
| Biography: Tina Sinclair Smith has been active in arts management and music education in Howard County for over 30 years. She is founder and former director of Piano Perspectives School of Music, an innovative private school which was the resident music school at Howard County Center for the Arts for 16 years. She is a specialist in solo and group piano pedagogy, keyboard ensemble, music theory and composition, with broad teaching experience at all levels from beginner to conservatory prep. In addition, she has successfully prepared many students for local and statewide contests and competitions. Her teaching philosophy is holistic, aimed at developing reading literacy, technical proficiency, and independence through the understanding of music theory. Her students receive a carefully chosen, graded course of study using high quality materials with a range of styles and periods. Ms. Smith received her education in both music and fine arts at Towson University; The Maryland Institute, College of Art; UMBC; the University of Maryland, College Park; and Westminster Choir College of Ryder University in Princeton, New Jersey. Her private teachers were Dorothy Woodcock, Paul Hoffman, and Grace McFarlane. She received in-depth training from nationally known authors and leaders in piano pedagogy including Frances Clark, Louise Goss, Tony Caramia, Sam Holland, and Mayron Cole. |
| Tina’s Students of the Month: |
|
|
| Celia Balzer, Instructor Instructor: Clarinet Lessons, Flute Lessons, Saxophone Lessons, Piano Lessons, Guitar Lessons |
| Biography: Celia Balzer is a graduate of West Virginia University, having completed a Master of Music Education degree with an emphasis on woodwind instruction. She has more than 30 years of teaching experience in public school music and private tutoring. She has a special interest in the young child and enjoys working with students of all ages. Mrs. Balzer worked for many years as the choir director for St. Jude in Rockville, where she successfully created a guitar and wind ensemble for monthly service music. She recently retired from Montgomery County Public Schools and is now living and working in Columbia, MD. |
|
|
| Emilie Hodgin, Instructor Instructor: Voice Lessons |
| Biography: Emilie Hodgin has studied solo voice, vocal pedagogy, choral singing, the flute, hand bells and conducting. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from St. Olaf College in Minnesota in 2000, and her Master of Music degree in Voice from The Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University in 2005. Her opera roles have included Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, The Donkey in Aesop’s Fables, and Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. She has also prepared the roles of The Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Muriel/Miriam in the Peabody production of The Alien Corn, and Hedwige in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell. She has been a soloist with some of the finest choirs in the world, and performed as such in venues including Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh and Carnegie Hall in New York. She has studied under the vocal tutelage of Ruth Drucker, Marianna Busching, Mary Kay Schmidt, James McKeel and David Neal, and has participated in master classes given by Elaine Bonazzi and Ken Noda. |
|
|
| Simeone Tartaglione, Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons, Conducting Lessons, Italian Opera Coaching, Italian Opera Workshops |
| Biography: Simeone Tartaglione (b. 1973), is a versatile conductor whose passion for music in many forms keeps him busy. His preparation was in the European tradition, covering conducting, composition, opera and chamber music in Rome at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory and piano performance at the V. Bellini Institute. In addition to his various degrees and honors, he is Doctor in Philology (Italian Literature and Musicology). Mr. Tartaglione has had extensive conducting experience in symphonic and operatic repertoires with orchestras from Italy, Spain, the United States, Russia, Romania, Mexico, Ukraine and Bulgaria. He has won numerous competitions and prizes along the way (Allied Arts, Leon Guide, Athanor, Le Arti, Telamone, Diamante della Musica, Sykele’, Rapisarda). In Rome he worked as the Artistic Director of the Theatre Fusillo and the MUSA Cultural Association. After winning an audition at the University of Denver as Assistant Conductor he moved to Denver in 2005 and soon after he became Adjunct Professor of Conducting. He worked as guest conductor, vocal coach, pianist and harpsichord player with Central City Opera, Marilyn Horne Foundation, Colorado Symphony Orchestra Education and Outreach Programs, Augustana Musica Sacra Orchestra, Broadway Music School. He has served as cover conductor and assistant for the London Symphony Chorus, Colorado Symphony, Baltimore Opera, Baltimore Symphony, Peabody Symphony, Peabody Opera, and MidAtlantic Symphony. Invited in 2007 by Maestro Gustav Meier, Tartaglione refined his craft at the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore with a conducting assistantship. He also serves as the Artistic Director of the Symphonia Association in Sicily. He performs regularly in Europe as a conductor and in duo concerts with his wife, violinist Alessandra Cuffaro. |
|
|
| Dr. Joscelyn Fisher, Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons, Voice Lessons, Violin Lessons |
| Biography: Joscelyn Fisher received a Bachelor of Arts (majors: Music and Psychology) from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She won piano competitions in NJ and has been a piano accompanist for numerous soloists and choirs over the years. Dr. Fisher also studies voice and has sung in various choirs in NJ, MD, VA and IL. She most recently sang with Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Handel Choir of Baltimore, Chandos Singers and Concert Artists Chorale. Dr. Fisher has also studied the violin and organ and has been a church organist. Currently, she sings professionally with a church choir and sings and plays the piano for weddings and special events. |
|
|
| Virginia Morgan, Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons, Voice Lessons |
| Biography: Virginia Morgan earned a Bachelor of Music from Oberlin Conservatory in Music Education: Vocal Emphasis. She sings with the Baltimore Choral Arts Society and is the Alto section leader for choir of The Church of the Good Shepherd in Roxton, MD. She has been studying piano since the age of 6. Ms. Morgan has been teaching elementary vocal music for Baltimore County Public Schools since 2003. |
| Ginny’s Students of the Month: |
| Nicole Sheeler, Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons, Clarinet Lessons |
| Biography: Nicole is a recent graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on clarinet. She also studied piano with Isabel Waters in Mechanicsburg, Pa for 12 years. Presently, Nicole has a position as the Orchestra Director at C. Milton Wright High School in Bel Air where she teaches strings, guitar, piano, and music theory. |
| Valerie Harvey, Instructor Instructor: Piano Lessons |
| Biography: Valerie has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and has 15 years of experience teaching piano privately. She participated in the National Guild Auditions for Student Musicians and has taught music theory to prospective Elementary School teachers. Valerie is an active pianist and accompanist for church services and school assemblies. |