CAROL ARRUCCI - Owner / Founder of CSPA Music
Carol is an award winning, 30-year veteran music teacher. Opening CSPA has been a dream for many years and in 2012 became a reality when she and her husband opened the school in Croton, followed by Mohegan Lake in 2017 and Pleasantville in 2021. She retired from the Hen Hud School District to give CSPA her full-time attention. Carol has been passionate about training professional children and adults for over 25 years, having done so in the community and on Broadway.
RAY ARRUCCI - Business Manager
Ray Arrucci serves as business manager and retail purchasing agent for CSPA. He is a vocalist, guitarist and Equity actor with over 40 years of rock 'n'roll, musical theater and film experience. His 25 years in sales experience enhances the buying power of CSPA's retail and allows us to pass substantial savings on to our clients and customers. He also has initiated a Concert Series in the CSPA Cabaret Room and in the community, providing the community with jazz, pop, rock and entertainers.
OUR STAFF (in alphabetical order)
ANDREW BEALS - Saxophone, Flute, Piano, Violin, Viola
(Pleasantville and Croton Locations)
Andrew Beals received his Bachelor of Arts Music degree at Livingston College, Rutgers University, and has a Master of Arts Music degree from New York University. His teachers were Paul Jeffery, John Stubbelfield, Frank Foster, George Garzone (saxophone) and Jim McNeely (composition) and National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master George Coleman (saxophone). He joined legendary jazz organist, “Brother” Jack McDuff and the “Heatin’ System” in 1986. Beals became the latest in a long line of Jazz Saxophone greats to work with Jack McDuff. Andrew Beals’ fourteen-year tenure in this band included lengthy tours of North America and Europe. Andrew Beals is a featured soloist and arranger on Jack McDuff’s compact discs for Concord and Summit records. He began his recording career as a leader with his compact disc “Gravy Train” on NASMusic.
TRAVIS CARPENTER - Violin, Viola, Cello Instructor (Croton and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Travis Carpenter has enjoyed teaching strings for nine years and counting. In 2007, he graduated from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam with a Bachelor's in Music Education and a Certificate of Performance. He taught middle school and elementary orchestra in Whitesboro, NY from 2007 to 2012, and he also played viola in the Utica Symphony Orchestra and other regional groups during that time.
In 2012 he returned briefly to his native Burlingon, VT, where he began teaching private string lessons and became involved in community music organizations. He played with the University of Vermont Symphony Orchestra, the Burlington Civic Symphony
DENNIS DWYER - Drum Instructor (Mohegan Lake)
Dennis Dwyer is a graduate of Manhattanville College with a degree in percussion performance. A lifelong Westchester resident, Dennis has performed in numerous local theater productions and music venues in rock, classical, folk and jazz styles. He practices an interactive approach with students and intertwines student style with their personality and self expression. He has performed in the East Coast tour of the Broadway show Godspell and locally at Westchester Broadway Theater, Tarrytown Music Hall and in numerous local theatres throughout the Tri-State area.
Dominik Forero - Voice Instructor (Croton, Mohegan and Pleasantville Locations)
Dominik is currently a signed recording artist and a voice instructor. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Performing Arts, majoring in Musical Theatre and a Conservatory in Acting for Film. Dominik is no stranger to the entertainment industry as she started performing on stage at the age of six years old. Throughout the years Dominik has been in multiple theatre productions, from local stages in Los Angeles to International stages, in South Africa. Alongside her career in the Arts, Dominik loves to give back to others by teaching singing and assisting in students voice development to achieve their personal goals. Dominik's classes draw from her Eve's Boswell Contemporary Voice Training, in combination with the experiences and techniques she has picked up from being in the industry. She believes in a personable approach, meeting students where they are at and tailoring each class to each student's unique personality, learning approach and goals. Dominik has over three years of voice teaching experience with students from all ages and levels from across the world.
SANTIAGO FORERO - Guitar (Croton, Mohegan Lake and Pleasantville Locations)
Santiago is a current student at Berklee College of Music Online as a Guitar Performance Major where he is studying to be a well rounded musician with an emphasis on blues and jazz. He is very experienced teaching music to kids as young as 6 as well as adults of all ages including students with special needs. Santiago is able to simplify or help you embellish your favorite songs to make them playable or challenging and unique to you. He has a strong foundation of music theory and is great at helping his students understand the language of music step by step. Santiago believes that by studying your favorite musicians you are able to learn, understand, and reinterpret their music in your own unique way, so come learn your favorite songs and solos with him!
STEVE FRIEDER – Saxophone, Clarinet, Composition & Improvisation (Croton and Mohegan Lake)
Steve Frieder is a dynamic saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and improviser whose versatility has led him to perform across a wide range of musical styles and stages. Since graduating in 2013 as the valedictorian of The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, Steve has built a career balancing his love for jazz with vibrant collaborations in pop, funk, and experimental music.
He has performed the national anthem at Citi Field for the New York Mets and at Madison Square Garden for St. John's basketball, and in 2023 completed a world tour with Boy George and Culture Club, including performances at the Hollywood Bowl and the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. Read More
D.J. GROMULAT - Bass, Piano, Guitar, Ukulele Instructor (Pleasantville and Croton Locations)
DJ Gromulat is a musician, performer, and composer who found a love for music at the early age of five, when he began playing the piano. Since then, DJ has picked up and learned several other instruments including the bass, guitar, and others. He studied at Westchester Community College where he earned the school’s first ever Associate’s Degree in Music Performance, and more recently achieved his Bachelors in Music from CUNY Lehman College. DJ currently works with several programs as an accompanist, teacher, and musical director, while improving the craft of his original pieces in his free time.
JENNY HILL - Woodwinds (Croton Location)
Jenny Hill has a diverse musical resume that includes jazz, classical, reggae and Latin experience. She is currently performs with the Easy Star All-Stars and and is active as a jazz and classical educator. She is a member of the woodwind faculty at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the New York Pops Salute to Music program, and the 92nd Street Y. She is a graduate of the Berklee School of Music, with a degree in Tenor Sax Jazz Performance. She has been the recipient of several honors including National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Studiesgrant with Joe Lovano, winner in the JAZZIZ Woodwinds on Fire competition and the Lennie Johnson Outstanding
GREGORY HUNTER - Bass, Cello and Guitar Instructor (Pleasantville Location)
Greg Hunter is a 24 year old musician from Pleasantville New York. He has two degrees from the music conservatory at SUNY Purchase, one in classical upright bass and one in Studio Composition. Hunter has played and recorded with an eclectic variety of bands and ensembles in styles ranging from contemporary classical music, to folk, to experimental electronica. Gregory has been teaching for 5 years, and has had experience teaching students of all ages and skill levels, in group and individual lessons.
TODD ISLER - Drums, World Percussion (Croton and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Drummer, percussionist, teacher and author Todd Isler has been active in the jazz and world music scenes for over 20 years. He co-leads the band, International Orange, which released their second album in 2018. He has released two original CDs, Two Step: Duets and Beyond and Soul Drums, and authored the book “You Can Ta Ka Di Mi This”, a manual for all musicians to ground and expand their sense of rhythm, using the South Indian Syllable system, published by Gerard and Sarzin in 2005, reprinted by Hal Leonard in 2017.
SOPHIA JIMDAR - Violin, Viola, Cello
Sophia Jimdar is a string player based in Westchester with a wide range of musical interests. She is passionate about teaching, inspired by students who want to learn to play a string instrument. She has performed a wide range of orchestral and musical theater repertoire, including a recent concerto appearance with the Chamber Orchestra at her alma mater, Hendrick Hudson High School. Sophia previously served as Assistant Principal 2nd Violin of the Greater Westchester Youth Symphony Orchestra and has performed at venues such as Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. A motivated and collaborative musician, she is dedicated to continuous learning and to inspiring her students to keep music an integral part of their lives.
JIM KEYES - Piano, Guitar, Accordion, Ukulele, Banjo Instructor (Mohegan Lake)
Jim is a multi-instrumentalist and teacher with 30 years experience. In addition to teaching, he scores films, digital media, and installations. As half of the duo Carla & Keyes, he performs educational and musical programs at schools, libraries and museums. Jim is a welcome addition to the CSPA staff, with his knowledge of so many instruments and great personality.
BOAZ KIM - Harmonica instructor (Virtual Lessons Only)
Boaz Kim is a harmonica teacher and performer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His love of the harmonica with his father, who taught 12 year old Boaz the single note basics. Boaz soon started to imitate classic Chicago Blues recordings on his diatonic harmonica. While finishing his Music Education program at West Chester University (PA) with a focus on classical voice, he began a chromatic approach (using techniques like overblows) that has led to many recording sessions, performances, and teaching seminars. Some of his favorite performances were playing solo at the Phillies baseball game for Make Music Philly, and at the SPAH harmonica conventions. Since then, his repertoire has expanded from the common blues harp diatonic to also include the chromatic, chord, and bass harmonicas playing in various genres like jazz, blues, and baroque classical music.
One of his other unique specialties is his ability to teach music theory to harmonica players who only play by ear, which is a common topic advancing students often seek out. When not performing or teaching, he repairs and customizes harmonicas for clients around the globe. In 2021, Boaz Kim has proudly joined the legendary Hohner team as a performing artist endorsing their harmonica line.
MATTHEW MARANO, Voice and Beginning Piano (Croton Location)
Matthew Marano, tenor, graduated from McGill University in 2020. He has studied and performed art songs, operas, oratorios, and choral pieces from the Baroque to the Romantic period. He has also sung at Pollack Hall with Opera McGill with the McGill Symphony Orchestra. Since the Summer of 2020, he has portrayed several lead roles with New York Opera Conservatory, including Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia De Lammermoor, Nadir in Bizet’s Pearl Fishers, Luigi in Puccini’s Il Tabarro and Pollione in Bellini’s Norma. In April of 2021, he sang the role of Gaston in La Traviata with Taconic Opera and had finished performing Brétigny in Manon’s Massenet this fall. This summer he recently finished performing the lead roles as Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca and as well as Nemorino in Donizetti’s Elixer of Love this month with New York Opera Conservatory. He just finished singing Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos with the Taconic Opera last October.
JAMES McCARTHY - Voice and Piano Instructor (Pleasantville Location)
James McCarthy holds a Master of Music degree from Rice University and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. A bass-baritone with a love for opera and musical theater, Mr. McCarthy has performed the roles of Seneca and Mercurio in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Il Commendatore and Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Prince Gremin in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Thomas Brockwiller in Lehar’s Die Juxheirat, and Frank Maurrant in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. He has also appeared as Zuniga in Francesca Zambello’s production of Carmen at San Francisco Opera, where he was fortunate enough to be an Adler Fellow. A proud teacher of all ages, Mr. McCarthy strives to help each of his students build a solid foundation in music theory and technique, allowing them to find their most authentic musical voice.
ANDREA MOFFETT - Piano Instructor (Mohegan Lake Location)
Andrea Moffett is a native of Westchester County. With her love of playing piano at a very young age, she went on to earn a masters degree in Music Education from Manhattanville College. She enjoys performing at parties, events and is also a piano accompanist for vocalists and instrumentalists. She is a certified NYS K-12 music teacher. In addition to teaching public school music education, she has been teaching piano lessons at various levels for over 20 years.
CADE MONTEZ - Voice and Piano Instructor (Mohegan Lake and Croton Locations)
Cade Montez, tenor, has been surrounded by music his entire life. He started vocal training a teenager and has performed roles in over twenty operas. His repertoire has included characters such as The Duke from Rigoletto (“La donna è mobile”), Tonio from La fille du régiment, Rodolfo from La bohème, and more.
In addition to his opera career, he has been playing the piano for his entire life and has played two of his own solo recitals. He graduated from Suny Purchase in 2024. When he’s not singing high C’s, Cade’s many hobbies include chemistry, woodworking, chess, and origami.
DAN MONTEZ - Voice Instructor (Private Studio only)
Dan, General Director of Taconic Opera, has been an opera singer and stage director for twenty-five years. He has performed principal roles in or directed more than one hundred productions and has appeared in numerous houses, including San Francisco Opera, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has also performed and conducted oratorios and recitals throughout the United States. Montez received a BMu from Brigham Young University in Vocal Pedagogy and his M.A. in Vocal Performance from San Jose State University.
KY MONTEZ- Voice and Piano Instructor (Croton and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Ky Montez, soprano, has been singing opera and classical works since she was five years old. With a flexible dramatic range and a lifelong love of music fostered by a family of musicians, she has performed leading operatic roles and concert solos in more than thirty different productions over the past eight years, Puccini’s Turandot, Richard Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, Verdi’s Un ballo in mascera and Bellini’s Norma, as well as solos in Poulenc’s Stabat Mater, Duruflé’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. In addition to her passion for singing, Ky is a skilled pianist, visual artist and writer.
MELISSA MONTEZ, Piano Instructor (Croton and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Originally from Iowa, Melissa Montez earned her music degree from Brigham Young University before moving to the Bay Area in California where she taught music and history at the renowned Challenger School for nearly a decade. While in California, she played violin in the San Jose State Symphony and sang with Opera San Jose. Since moving to New York, she has taught piano lessons for more than twenty years in Westchester County, maintaining a private studio of more than two dozen students, ranging in age from four to sixty-eight. A firm believer in developing well-rounded musicians, she incorporates ear training, theory, music history, and sight-reading into
JOHN REID - Brass Instructor (Croton, Mohegan Lake and Pleasantville Locations)
John Reid has been a free-lance trumpeter for over 30 years. Starting in Nashville, working and touring with some of the finest Country stars, he was a co-founding member of “Brass Works” brass quintet for ten years. He then relocated to New York City where he continued to tour, record and play on Broadway for the last 20 years. John’s numerous Broadway credits include Seussical, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Ghost and most recently Rocky. John holds a master’s degree in trumpet performance from George Peabody College and has taught private trumpet throughout his performance career at Read More
REBECCA SIMPSON-WALLACK - Voice Instructor and College Audition Specialist
Rebecca Simpson-Wallack is a passionate and experienced vocal coach who wants to help you find your voice! She holds her BFA in Musical Theatre from Ithaca College. She has been working with students of all ages in Westchester county to add to their “vocal toolbox.” Rebecca is focused on helping her students find safe and practical techniques in order to ensure vocal longevity, as well as giving students an opportunity to explore the magic of storytelling through song. She is excited to work with you on your journey to building your confident voice!
CHRISTOPHER TALIO - Double Bass and Electric Bass
Christopher James Talio studied Double Bass performance at the Manhattan School of Music from 2008-2012 studying with Jay Anderson (Maria Schneider), David Grossman (New York Philharmonic), Chris Rosenburg, Garry Dial and many others. He is a multi-media artist, musical performer, and philosopher. A career bassist since the age of 16, he has played on illustrious stages such as Carnegie Hall, The Allen Room, Symphony Space, The Blue Frog (Mumbai, India), Club WM (O2 Arena, United Kingdom), and many more. In the year 2020, CJT began releasing original songs as a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist leading to the production of “Man on a Mission” a visual art piece. His influences are wide and include the musical stylings of American song, romantic era classical music, modern jazz, grunge, soul, r&b, folk and notably the literary works of Herman Hesse.
ANNETTE A. VACCARO - Piano/ Voice - In House Substitute
As a retired Music Educator and District Wide Music Administrator from the Lakeland Central School District, Annette has instructed thousands of students from elementary through high school vocal music, piano, music theory and theatre arts while she acted as the "Wig 'n' Whiskers" Theatre Director/Producer for over 20 years. For a short while, she served as an adjunct professor at Mercy College and Westchester Community College. Her high school performing groups earned Gold Awards and Excellence in Performance recognition at many NY State and National Music Festivals.
IN MEMORY OF CSPA TEACHERS-
You have given great gifts of your talent to our students.
Gone but never forgotten.
Brian Delma Taylor, Flute
