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 and Concert 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 retail sales enhances the buying power of CSPA's Music Depot, 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)
DAVID AUGUST - Piano, Guitar, and Composition/Arranging (Croton)
David August has performed and taught professionally in the tri-state area for over forty years. A versatile and accomplished musician, David studied jazz arranging and composition at The Berklee College of Music in Boston and continued his studies in orchestration and composition with John Corigliano at City University of New York.
In addition to a BA in Music from CUNY, David earned a MST in Elementary Education from Pace University, NY. Recently retired after 25 years as a middle school music teacher, he not only taught general music, directed and accompanied choirs and ensembles, but also created innovative lessons and arranged vocal music to complement the children’s talents and skills. The students loved his engaging guitar classes and enjoyed performing for their peers. David also held an adjunct faculty
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
BRITTNEY CONCIA - Violin, Viola (Croton and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Brittney received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Ithaca College and her Master of Arts from New York University. She has been teaching Middle and High School orchestras as well as chamber ensembles, since 1993. She has also had several years of experience teaching grades 3 through 5 strings as well. Though violin is her main instrument, she has been playing viola and cello since her undergraduate studies and has been teaching all of the stringed instruments for almost three decades. Brittney has performed regularly as a freelance classical violinist in a variety of local symphonies and pit orchestras, and she also plays the electric fiddle in
KRISTINA COOK - Voice and Violin, Viola (Croton and Pleasantville Locations)
Kristina Cooke, an emerging soprano originally hailing from Chicago, is excited to be joining the staff of CSPA. She holds a Master’s degree from New England Conservatory in Voice, a Bachelor’s in Music for Voice and Viola from TCU, and is an active performer. Ms. Cook most recently appeared in April, 2018 with Taconic Opera as Amelia in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera. In 2017, Kristina created the role of Tammy Smithson in the new opera In Bocca al Lupo by Dan Montez, appeared as Rosalinde in two productions of Die Fledermaus, and made her New York concert stage debut with the Chappaqua Orchestra singing Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5 by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Having performed as a mezzo-soprano for the bulk of her career, Ms.Cook recently began singing lyrico-spinto repertoire and has developed a significant upper extension. She sang her first soprano role in 2016 as Mercedes in Taconic Opera’s production of Carmen and covered the
JENNIFER DASHNAW - Clarinet and Saxophone (Mohegan Lake and Croton Locations)
Jenn Dashnaw is originally from Peekskill NY. She received her BA in Clarinet Performance from SUNY Purchase in 1991.
Jenn joined the US Air Force in 1995 and served her country as an Airman musician for over 20 years. While in the service, she had the extraordinary and unique opportunity to perform all over the world on clarinet, saxophone, and as a vocalist. She performed in various ensembles such as concert bands, clarinet quartets, jazz bands, country bands, and Dixie bands.
LARRY DELCASALE - Guitar (Mohegan Lake and Pleasantville Locations)
Mr. Del Casale is a graduate of the Mannes College of the New School of Music in Manhattan and received a Masters degree in education from the University of New York’s Hunter College. He has NYS Certification in Music (K-12) and served as a Choral Director/Guitar Instructor/Music Department Leader through his exciting career in public school music education. He has achieved performance excellence as a Latin Grammy Nominee!
In September of 1987 Larry began his teaching career as a Music teacher in the New York City Public School system (Bd. of Ed.) but his life as a musician began at the age of seven and continues to this day. He is now retired from Public education and devotes his life to performance, recording and teaching.
BEATRIZ DE MELLO - Piano (Remote Only)
Beatriz is a college educator, composer, church musician and performer. She comes from a diverse musical background and has appeared in venues ranging from unpresumptuous The Bowery Mission to illustrious Carnegie Hall. After being mentored by some of the great icons in the musical world such as American composer David del Tredici and Jazz pianist Herbie Hancock, Beatriz is now passionate about sharing the love of music with students of all ages. She presently was appointed vocal coach and choir director at
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.
CAROLEE FINNEY- Violin, Viola, Cello (Mohegan Lake Location)
Carolee Finney has been the director of the string orchestra program at Peekskill Middle School since 2019 and previously taught strings, general music, and chorus in the Bedford Central School District. Carolee holds Bachelor's and Masters degrees in music education from the Hartt School of Music and Adelphi University. She has taught string instruments in both public schools and private studios for over seven years and enjoys working with beginners, advanced musicians, and every level in between. She also performs regularly with the White Plains-based New Westchester Symphony Orchestra and has been the principal violist for several years. When not teaching music, Carolee directs and choreographs Peekskill Middle School’s winter musical.
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.
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.
ANDREW KNEBEL - Violin, Viola Instructor (Pleasantville and Croton Locations)
Andy Knebel is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music/University of Hartford where he was a student of Steve Larson. He holds a Bachelor's degree in viola performance and music education. He has participated in master classes with John Largess (Miro SQ), Chauncey Patterson (Miami SQ), and Heidi Castleman.
In addition to teaching violin at schools in southwestern CT,, Andy is a member of the Eastern CT Symphony in New London, CT, the Norwalk Symphony in Norwalk, CT and freelances on viola and violin in Connecticut and New York. He has also taught with the Hartt String Project and Project Music. He is on faculty at Summertrios and The Lake Placid Chamber Seminar. He has also taught at The Young People's Institute for Chamber Music. He is also a member of Quartetto Vivo and has played with The Living Room Players, the Spectrum String Quartet, and the Rocio String Quartet.
AMY LINDEN - Voice instructor (Mohegan Lake and Pleasantville)
Amy Linden, originally from Cleveland, OH, is a lifelong musical theatre artist and, as a Voice Teacher, specializes in the teaching of contemporary styles. A graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with degrees in Voice and Theatre, Amy moved to New York to pursue a stage career and began her teaching career along the way. Most notably, Amy appeared on the First National Tour of The Bridges of Madison County by Jason Robert Brown, and was most recently seen Off-Broadway as Shannon Miller in the new musical The Magnificent Seven (cast album to come!). Amy is currently pursuing a Masters in Applied Teaching for Music Education at CUNY Lehman College. Other music education includes the New York City Vocal Coaching Teacher Training Program (Justin Stoney, director) and the Shenandoah University CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute (Matt Edwards, director). Amy lives in Peekskill with Josh the Husband and Dewey the Cat. Sing with me!
CANDACE LYNN MATTHEWS, Voice instructor (Mohegan Lake and Croton)
Fresh from her Italian debut; Singer/Performer and Operatic Soprano; Candace Lynn Matthews is a Bronx native, currently residing in Westchester. Candace has been performing around the tri-state area for over 15 years and has been featured in numerous productions Off-Broadway, with New York City Opera, Opera North, Queens Symphony Orchestra and as a Soprano soloist at Carnegie Hall. She was also featured singing on an episode of the hit Netflix drama, “Orange Is the New Black.”
Candace released her debut Christmas album titled “Baking Spirits Bright” in November 2020 and in 2021 released a follow up EP, “Spirits Even Brighter.” When she's not singing abroad, she regularly performs locally performing classics/standards with a variety of ensembles.
KESSA MEFFORD, Piano Instructor (Croton, Pleasantville and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Kessa Mefford is an award-winning pianist who has been performing piano in public since the age of six. A native of Peekskill, New York, Kessa is an active artist with the Piatigorsky Foundation, performing for them on fully funded tours all around the USA. She has performed piano concertos with the Taconic Opera Chamber Orchestra in Westchester, and she has also started her own concert series “Whimsical Birdsong,” based out of New York in which she performs and collaborates with others in presenting the complete works of the composer Maurice Ravel that include piano.
At the end of 2019, Kessa released her debut CD with Whole Note Publishing featuring live performances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and other solo piano works. Since the pandemic started she has been active in maintaining an online presence through live stream concerts and practice sessions from her home through the “Piano at Noon” quarantine project. She is also an active opera pianist with Taconic Opera and the New York Opera Conservatory. Kessa received an MM in piano performance from the Mannes School of Music in May 2020, studying Simone Dinnerstein. Kessa received a BM in piano performance in August 2017 at Brigham Young University, where she studied under Dr. Richard Anderson and Dr. Irene Peery-Fox.
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.
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.
DAN MONTEZ - Voice Instructor (Croton Location)
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.
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
OLIVIA MURRAY, Flute and Beginning Woodwinds (All Locations)
Olivia Murray is a passionate flute player who hopes to make students feel accomplished, while also enjoying music. She loves teaching students of all ages and getting them excited about playing flute. Oliva has a passion for small ensemble and enjoys playing in flute choirs and quintets during her free time. She is a recent graduate from Eastman School of Music, receiving her Master of Arts in Music Leadership. She taught band in public schools for 6 years after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University.
JILL PAICE- Voice Instructor (Croton and Mohegan Lake Locations)
Jill is an award-nominated actress and singer and recent transplant to Croton on Hudson. Her Broadway credits include An American in Paris (Milo), Matilda (Miss Honey), The 39 Steps, Curtains (Niki Harris) and The Woman in White (Laura Fairlie). She also appeared on the West End in The Woman in White and Gone with the Wind (Scarlett O’Hara). Some of her other credits include Company starring Neil Patrick Harris and filmed for PBS, Maury Yeston’s Death Takes a Holiday (Grazia, original cast recording), the national tour of Les Miserables and Mamma Mia (Sophie, Las Vegas). She is a voice student of the incredible Joan Lader. Jill has a Bachelor of Music in Musical Theater from Baldwin Wallace Conservatory where she studied under Victoria Bussert.
Jill loves teaching voice to all ages and helping her students find material that brings them joy!
TRAVIS RAMIREZ - (Croton, Mohegan Lake and Pleasantville Locations)
Piano and Voice Instructor and Office Manager
Travis Ramirez, pianist and opera singer, has been studying voice and piano for several years. He has recently been added to CSPA's roster of teachers and specializes in teaching beginner piano to children and young adults. Travis has worked with the General Director of the Taconic Opera Company, Dan Montez, and has completed serious studies in voice, composing, music history, and music theory. Mr. Ramirez has also performed several operatic and theatrical roles including appearances in Cosi Fan Tutte, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, Faust, Carmen, and I Pagliacci. He has also played leading roles in several musical theater productions including Seussical the Musical and Beauty and the Beast and performed the role of Young Guido with
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
SAM SULTAN - Voice, Piano, Guitar (Croton and Pleasantville Locations)
Sam was born and raised in Katonah, New York and fell in love with performing from a young age. As a musician and specialist in music preparation and engraving, Sam has worked extensively with broadway and off-broadway talent like Laura Bell Bundy and Bobby Cronin, pop artists including Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson, and entertainers like Mario Cantone!
Sam has a decade of experience as an instructor in voice, piano, guitar, and drums and loves working with students of all ages and levels. His high energy personality and knowledge of pop, rock and musical theatre repertoire makes him a great asset to the CSPA staff.
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
