Rebecca Helm
DirectorOriginally from Louisville, Kentucky, Rebecca Helm began her study of piano and violin at the early age of two. She obtained her Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin Conservatory in both piano performance and vocal accompanying and began her Masters degree on a full scholarship in accompanying at the University of Miami. While in Miami, she was on faculty at the New World School of the Arts as staff vocal accompanist/coach. She also has played the violin since the age of 5 1/2.
She has been in attendance at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Bowdoin International Music Festival, and the Oberlin in Italy program in addition to receiving various awards at competitions including the Kingsville International Competition, New York Piano Competition,and the Oberlin International Piano Competition and is currently a member of the Music Teacher’s National Association (MTNA) and MA Music Teacher Association (MMTA). Rebecca served on faculty at the Yamaha Music School of Boston as a Yamaha Music Education System Specialist and Education Supervisor for 9 years and is currently focusing on Go Go Allegro which she founded in 2007.
Birthday: July 1
Born/Grew up: Louisville, Kentucky
Musical/Educational Background: First piano lesson at the age of 2 1/2-years-old, Oberlin College-Conservatory of Music, University of Miami, Florida
The Best Part of Running Go Go Allegro: Helping to expose students to different types of teachers, music, and instruments.
Favorite Music to Listen to: Classical, Pop, Latin
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my family and 4 teacup shih tzus, Simba, Nala, Mosi & Zuri, traveling
Something most people don’t know about you: I broke my wrist a week after graduating from college and Danny DeVito signed the bright pink cast!
Zack Bacak
InstructorZack Bacak is a rising performer, educator, and composer on the current music scene. A recent alumnus of the Florida State University, Zack has worked with artists such as Ana Gasteyer (Saturday Night Live), John Clayton (Count Basie, Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra), Carmon Bradford (Count Basie), Steve Houghton (Chick Corea), and Gordon Goodwin (Disney, Warner Bros), and the Tallahassee Jazz Symphony Orchestra. Most recently, he has toured with NETworks production of “Elf: The Musical”, and was worked as a multi-instrumentalist for theaters such as The Palace (NH), The Tallahassee Theatre (FL), and the Interlakes Summer Stock (NH). After graduation, Zack was selected as the lead alto saxophonist for the 2017 Disneyland All-American College Band, and has remained in the greater Los Angeles area since. He will be featured on the upcoming productions of singer Whitney McClain, and will be moving to Boston as director of instrumental music at Lawrence Academy. This year be on the lookout for releases from his upcoming EP. Zack is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Birthday August 8
Schools Attended The Florida State University 2017 (BME Music Education/BA Jazz Performance Dual Degree)
Instruments You Teach Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet, and Flute (all styles)
Age you Started Lessons I started lessons very late, in college! Would have loved the opportunity to had them younger, and am hoping to give students opportunities and insight I never had!
Performance Experience Orchestras, wind ensembles, choirs, jazz bands, corporate bands, musical theatre, Disneyland, Ana Gasteyer, studios
Favorite Music to Listen to I enjoy all musics! I spend a lot of time with various styles of jazz and classical music, but also lots of contemporary musics like soul, hip-hop, R&B
Favorite Music to Play As a saxophonist, I’ve always enjoyed jazz and other contemporary musics, but enjoyed playing various classical settings in college as well. I would love to do more orchestra, especially as a clarinetist or flutist!
Other Hobbies, Interests Outside of music, I really enjoy reading, skateboarding, exercising, and playing any kinds of sports. Hopefully will get to more traveling with work in the future, too!
Something most people don’t know about you Most people don’t know I spent several months teaching students who speak little English and mostly Chinese, and loved it
Where you were born/grew up I was born in Connecticut and lived there for about 9-10 years, then spent the rest of my time in Florida, followed by California
Hero(es) As for musical heroes, theres so many: Chris Potter, John Coltrane, Dick Oatts, Oscar Peterson. Outside of music, Steve Jobs, Tom Brady (Go Pats!), Tim Galleway, Teddy Roosevelt… And of course my girlfriend and parents!
Practice Tips Some of the best practice tips I’ve been given are: make it fun, be patient and work slow, and become obsessed with it. If you think of anything else that you’ve been successful at in life, you probably approached it in a similar way. Keep an open mind and enjoy the journey!
Robert Bell
InstructorRobert Bell has been performing and teaching guitar for over ten years. A Native of Southern California, he has been active in the West Coast and Northeastern music scenes as a guitarist and instructor in a variety of styles. Robert began his musical studies as a child, learning the blues, jazz, pop, and rock standards that we have all grown to love. As a classically trained musician, Robert holds a Master’s of Music Degree from New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor’s of Music from University of California in Music, both in guitar in performance. He has performed in masterclasses with internationally recognized musicians such as Andrew York, Benjamin Verdery, Joaquin Clerch, Maryanne McCormick, Michael Nicolella, Freddie Bryant, and Lisa Saffer. Robert spent his time in Boston studying classical guitar with internationally renowned virtuoso and guitar revolutionary Eliot Fisk and jazz improvisation with saxophonist Dr. Brian Levy. In California, he worked with Grammy award winning classical, Celtic, and steel string guitarist William Coulter, and Turkish guitarist and composer Dr. Mesut Ozgen. Also while on the west coast, Robert was the recipient of the Matthew Wynbrandt Guitar Award and Nicole Auclair Memorial Award, awarded to the most dedicated and promising musician at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Robert has also studied music theory, music history, Indian and African music, contemporary songwriting, and jazz/classical composition.
Birthday: July 21
Schools Attended: Coronado High School, University of California at Santa Cruz, New England Conservatory of Music
Instruments You Teach: Guitar (Acoustic/Electric), Electric Bass, Piano
Performances:
Bachelor’s of Music recital, Santa Cruz CA, 2015
WGBH (Boston NPR Radio) Eliot Fisk and Friends Boston 2016
Carriage String House Boston Guitarfest Outreach Concert Series, 2016
Boston Guitarfest Masterclass Series (Joaquin Clerch) Boston, 2016
Master of Music Recital, Boston, 2017.
Favorite Music to Listen to: Classical Guitarist Julian Bream, Jazz guitarists Joe Pass, Wes Montgtomery, Julian Lage; Gengres: Latin Jazz, Bebop, Flamenco, Folk, Classic Rock
Something most people don’t know about you: I grew up in a military family! My father was a Captain in the Navy as a helicopter pilot.
Other hobbies & interests: Surfing, Scuba Diving, American Football, basketball, gardening, social reform/politics
Where you were born & grew up: Born in New Orleans, grew up in San Diego
Heros: Eliot Fisk, Julian Bream, Joe Pass, Julian Lage
Practice Tips:
1. Listen to yourself! It takes different parts of your brain to listen, play, and analyze the music you’re interacting with and all of them are of equal importance!
2. Slow Practice!
3. Practice the phrase backwards! It engages your brain in ways that haven’t been triggered before. The results will surprise you! Practicing in different keys applies similar concepts.
4. Mental Practice! (with just the score/aurally in your head)
Keelin Brennan
Instructor
Jean Elder
InstructorJean received her Master’s Degree in Piano Pedagogy and Performance from Penn State University, where she held a graduate assistantship and studied with Dr. Christopher Guzman. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Ithaca College, where she studied with Dr. Jennifer Hayghe. Jean began her studies at age five with Julia Hawkins and attended the New England Conservatory Preparatory School.
Jean has performed in numerous ensemble and solo recitals, and has performed in masterclasses for esteemed pianists such as Jerome Lowenthal, Gilbert Kalish and Awadagin Pratt. She has extensive teaching experience through an internship at Ithaca College, her pedagogy degree and assistantship duties at Penn State, as well as through years of private teaching. Jean is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
Birthday – March 22
Schools Attended – Runkle, Brookline High, NEC Prep, Penn State, Ithaca College
Instruments You Teach – Piano
Age you Started Lessons – 5
Performances –
Penn State Performances:
Solo Master’s Degree Recital (February, 2014), Solo Performance Certificate Recital (April 2012), Opera Acting Class, Bernstein, Trouble in Tahiti (April 2012)
Ithaca College Performances:
Chopin Festival Concert (Fall 2010), Senior Recital (Fall 2010), Half Recital at Corning Community College, Corning, NY (Fall 2010), Piano Vocal Duos Concert (Spring 2010), Junior Recital (Spring 2010), Piano Instrumental Duos Concert (Fall 2009), Chamber Music Concert (Spring 2009)
High School:
Performance at Jordan Hall (2006), New England Conservatory Preparatory School Recitals, Annual New England Piano Teachers Association Recitals
Masterclasses:
Jerome Lowenthal – solo work (Fall 2011), Awadagin Pratt – solo work (Fall 2009), Gilbert Kalish – cello and piano duo (Fall 2009)
Favorite Music to Listen to – I love listening to classical music (especially piano), but I also love listening to jazz! Duke Ellington is a favorite.
Favorite Music to Play – Classical music is my favorite. I like Romantic Era composers like Chopin and Schumann and also more modern composers, such as Bartok and Prokofiev.
Other hobbies/interests – I like to run, cook and spend time with family and friends. I like to be outside when the weather is nice!
Where you were born/grew up – I was born in Boston and grew up in Brookline
Practice Tips – Always have goals with your practicing. What do you want to accomplish in your practice session? Maybe you can fix your counting in one section, or practice a really hard part until it feels easy. Don’t set goals that are impossible (like learning your whole piece in one sitting) – choose challenges that you can complete!
Remember to always try to make your music sound as beautiful and interesting as possible – even when you’re practicing and maybe nobody else is listening!
Melanie Miller Himmel
InstructorBorn in Sydney, Australia, but raised in Southern California in a musical family, Melanie Miller-Himmel began playing piano at age 8, and then flute at age 10. She obtained a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from San Diego State University, graduating magna cum laude, having studied with Claude Monteux and Demarre McGill. Before graduating, she began freelancing and teaching around San Diego County. She has served on the board of directors of the San Diego Flute Guild, and has been a longtime member of the Music Teacher’s Association of California (MTAC). Her students have participated in MTAC’s Certificate of Merit program (a comprehensive program involving theory, technique, ear training, and performance), and have gone on to pursue music in many different forms (as music majors, minors, and often simply as a form of stress relief and creative outlet). She now calls Boston home, as she is pursuing a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at BU – seeking to ultimately blend her love of music with her desire to help people pursue meaningful occupations.
Birthday: February 14th ❤
Schools Attended: San Diego State University
Instruments You Teach: Flute, Piccolo, Piano, Voice
Age you Started Lessons: Piano age 8, Flute age 10
Performance Experience: several years freelancing around Southern California (church services, chamber orchestras, weddings, corporate events, chamber music)
Favorite Music to Listen to: depends on my mood…I like a little bit of everything
Favorite Music to Play: each day is different (sometimes I even like playing scales!)
Other hobbies/interests: Yoga, running, ballet, reading, traveling, and long walks with my teacup chihuahua, Coco
Something most people don’t know about you: My first language was not English (even though it’s the one I am most fluent in)
Where you were born/grew up: born in Sydney, Australia, grew up in San Diego, CA
Practice Tips: if it’s too overwhelming or tricky start small (even 3-4 notes at a time) – practicing in small chunks and then puzzle-piecing them back together can make a world of a difference!
Seba Molnar
InstructorSeba Molnar is a jazz saxophonist, woodwind artist, and private instructor, based out of Boston, Massachusetts. He has been gigging on saxophone and clarinet since the age of twelve. Seba grew up in Canton, New York, where his high school band director, Tim Savage, introduced him to jazz. After getting the music bug, he attended the Berklee College of Music, majoring in saxophone performance, with a concentration in jazz. He has had the opportunity to study with world-renowned saxophonists George Garzone, Bill Pierce, and Tia Fuller.
In addition to leading his own jazz groups, Seba performs throughout Boston and New England with a variety of bands. He currently makes regular appearances with The Seba Molnar Band, The New Review, The Collective, and Java Jukebox.
Seba’s curiosity for new sounds and innovation has enabled him to create a wide array of music that transcends genre. His music, though heavily rooted in jazz, explores sounds and cultures from all around the world.
“Music speaks to the soul and brings people together affecting everyone in their own way. Music is a beacon of hope and peace in this tumultuous world.”
Birthday: April 30
Schools Attended: Little River Community School, – H. C. Williams High School Canton, NY, – Berklee College of Music
Instruments You Teach: Piano, Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
Performances Music to Play: Jazz
Favorite Music to Listen to: Jazz, Classical, Funk, Pop
Something most people don’t know about you: I grew up in a military family! My father was a Captain in the Navy as a helicopter pilot.
Other hobbies & interests: Cooking, Soccer, Traveling
Where you were born & grew up: I grew up on a farm in up state NY in a small town called Canton. About 20minutes from Canada.
Heros: Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Stevie Wonder
Practice Tips:
Always practice slow and with a metronome. Listen to the masters.
Amy Thomason
InstructorAmy is a pianist, singer, and actress new to the Boston area. Born in music city- Nashville, Tennessee-Amy has lived and worked at theatres across the country, and attended the Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University. While studying acting and voice, Amy had the opportunity to workshop material with many artists including OCU alumni Kristen Chenoweth and Kellie O’Hara. Amy began taking piano lessons at the age of 4 and vocal lessons at the age of 11 and has worked as a music director, vocal coach, and pianist for many professional theatre companies. Amy has taught private and group classes with ages four to seventy! Most recently, Amy has worked as a costume designer and wardrobe supervisor with theatres including The American Repertory Theatre, Huntington Theatre, The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company, and The Ogunquit Playhouse!
Birthday – January 27
Schools Attended – Oklahoma City University
Instruments You Teach – Piano, Voice, Guitar
Favorite Music to Listen to – Folk, Bluegrass, Musical Theatre
Favorite Music to Play – Classical music is my favorite. I like Romantic Era composers like Chopin and Schumann and also more modern composers, such as Bartok and Prokofiev.
Other hobbies/interests – Sewing, Hot Yoga
Fun Fact – I spent six months working in entertainment on a cruise ship
Practice Tips – By the inch, it’s a cinch!
Bryan Voelz
InstructorBrian Voelz is a trumpet performer and educator from Boston. He directs ensembles and teaches private and group lessons at several public and private schools grades 3-12. In addition to teaching, Voelz is an active freelancer and is especially passionate about volunteering his services to play “Taps” for military funerals. Voelz graduated from the Eastman School of Music, where he studied with James Thompson.
Birthday – Februrary 25
Schools Attended – Needham High School and Eastman School of Music
Instruments You Teach – Trumpet and Trombone
Age I started lessons – 10
Favorite music to listen to – That’s tough! But Sabrina Claudio right now.
Other hobbies/interests – Basketball, baseball, golf, cooking, and going to the beach.
Something most people don’t know about me – I’m a quarter Japanese – most people don’t see it!
Where I grew up – Needham, MA
Practice tips – Get inspired
Matt Zettler
InstructorIn 2017, Matt earned a bachelors of music in trumpet performance from the University of New Hampshire. During his time at UNH, he had the opportunity to study classical trumpet under Dr. Robert Stibler. Since graduating from school, Matt maintains an active performing schedule throughout New England as a freelance trumpet player.
His main working projects include Groove Alliance, a nine-piece wedding band, Introduction – The Chicago Experience, tribute to Chicago the band, and many others.
As a trumpeter, Matt has had the honor of sharing the stage with many incredible musicians including Trent Austin, Eguie Castrillo, John Clayton, Donny McCaslin, Chris Potter, Danny Seraphine, Bob Shepherd, Bobby Shew, Terell Stafford, and Bobby Watson.
Birthday – April 19
Schools Attended – Westborough High School & University of New Hampshire
Instruments You Teach – Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone
Beginning to Play Music – My first experience playing music was studying the piano with my Mom who also studied music in college.
Notable Performances – Montreux Jazz Festival, Umbria Jazz Festival
Favorite Music to Listen to – Jazz, Classical, R&B, Rap, Soul, and Funk
Other hobbies/interests – Sports! I love the Red Sox, New Jersey Devils, Patriots, and Celtics. I also enjoy playing baseball, and soccer when I have the opportunity.
Where you were born/grew up – Ringwood, New Jersey
Practice Tips – Practice as if you were performing for an audience. Hold yourself to the same standards you would if you were performing in front of hundreds of people!
Trumpet Heros – Roy Hargrove, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Clifford Brown