string faculty - Dwight-Englewood School

Dwight-Englewood School
Music Lesson
Program
2012 - 2013

Dear Dwight-Englewood
Parents and Students…
We are pleased to offer the opportunity for students to be
able to study with our professional faculty in a familiar
and convenient environment.
Please read the information in this booklet carefully.
There are details about policy, scheduling and payment as
well as biographical material about the faculty. We hope
it will answer most questions you may have about the
program. A contract form is enclosed with this mailing.
Jake Lloyd
Music Lesson Program Coordinator
John Herrick Littlefield
Chairman, Department of Performing Arts
WELcoME
to the Dwight-Englewood School Music Lessons Program. We are
pleased to offer our students a variety of lessons with highly qualified
professionals, on an annual contractual basis. Because we are situated in
one of the cultural capitals of the world, we have access to exceptional
teachers who provide the best possible learning experiences.
There are two different parts to our program, each designed to meet
specific students’ needs:
Available to Lower School students only, there is the Lower School
String Program which offers 24 half hour private lessons on either
violin or viola during the school day in addition to a Lower School
String Ensemble which meets after school hours.
Available to Dwight-Englewood students in all grades is the Private
Music Lessons Program which offers 45 minute private lessons on each
of the orchestral instruments, piano, voice, set drums (and percussion),
saxophone, harp, classical and electric guitar as well as electric and
upright bass. The curriculum for this program includes 27 private
lessons, one master-class. (Hour long lessons may be possible by special
arrangement.)
These programs will be described in greater detail on the pages that
follow.
Above and beyond learning to play and appreciate music, the study of
music offers many benefits to your child including cultural awareness,
self esteem and an opportunity to experience the direct and beneficial
results of self discipline. The skills associated with music are long term
goals which take time to master. Though progress will be seen from week
to week, it is only over time that the overall musical development can
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egin to unfold. The most successful students tend to be those whose
parents are able to be involved in the learning process, encouraging
consistent practice at home, being aware of what their child is working
on musically and keeping in touch with the teacher from time to time.
As this is a long term process, the program has been set up as a full
year curriculum. Students will benefit most from a full year of study
to be able to implement what that individual teacher has to offer.
once teachers reserve lesson times for students they have to turn away
others, so please note that the contract for this program is a full year
commitment. Refunds will not be given for withdrawal from the
program or for missed lessons unless special arrangements have been
made and agreed to in advance due to extraordinary circumstances.
Please read this brochure carefully to be sure you understand all of the
policies prior to enrolling in the program.
Teachers’ biographies can be found on the later pages of this booklet.
Lower School String Program
Kimberly Syvertsen, Director of Lower School Strings
LESSoNS WITH ENSEMBLE
Students in the Lower School may take half hour private lessons on violin
or viola during the school day and also participate in a string ensemble that
meets weekly for one period immediately after school. Each student receives
24 private lessons and 24 ensemble sessions during the school year. This is
a Suzuki based program with an added component of reading notes and
rhythms.
Private lessons are taught during the day. Students leave their classrooms to
take the private lessons. Every effort is made to work with academic teachers
to coordinate the best available lesson time for each student.
There are usually two ensembles that meet simultaneously from
3:00 - 3:45 on Wednesday afternoons. Placement in the ensemble best suited
to the student’s playing level will be determined by the faculty in September.
The Ensembles are part of the curriculum for the Lower School String Program.
The fee for 25 half hour lessons and the ensemble is $1,199.
Fees are for the year and are payable at registration.
To enroll in the Lower School String Program submit a completed and
signed contract to Jake Lloyd with payment for the program desired by
September 6, 2011.
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Lower School String Program
Faculty Biography
KIMBERLY SYVERTSEN, VIoLINIST & coNDUcToR, is in her sixth
year as director of the youth symphonies at the Montclair State University John J.
cali School of Music, where she conducts the Junior orchestra, Youth orchestra,
and chamber Sinfonia. She received her B.M. in violin performance from the
Peabody conservatory of Music where she studied with Shirley Givens, and her
Artist Diploma from Montclair where she was a scholarship student with Yi-Wen
Jiang of the Shanghai Quartet. She has taught in both the college and pre-college
divisions of the cali School. As a member of the strings faculty at the Dwight-
Englewood School, she directs the Lower School’s string program and conducts
its summer String Society ensembles, chamber Virtuosi and Prelude orchestra.
Miss Syvertsen has been the conductor of the overture Strings ensemble in
Youth orchestras of Essex county since 2006. More recently she was named
coordinator of orchestral Ensembles in 2010 and director of the Thurnauer
Philharmonia in 2009, both at the Jcc on the Palisades. During her tenure in
the Verismo Quartet, she was an Artist-Fellow at Hampden-Sydney college and
appeared on the colonial Symphony’s chamber music series opposite tenor Bruce
Rameker. An advocate in both music education and performing arts medicine,
she has been on the faculty of the Peabody conservatory outreach Program and
the Jcc Thurnauer School’s Music Discovery Program. The ergonomic pedagogy
materials she developed received acclaim at a Maryland State Medical Society
lecture, and she has appeared as a panelist at a Medchi performing arts forum
at Peabody. Under her direction as president, MSU’s American String Teachers
Association Student chapter was nationally awarded “Most outstanding Student
chapter” for 2007. Miss Syvertsen is a member of the ASTA/NJ Board, where
she is editor-in-chief of NJ Strings. Her students have won awards, scholarships,
and concerto competitions.
Lower School Group Lesson Program
New to the Private Lesson Program for fall 2012 is the Lower School Group
Lesson Program. This program is open to 4th and 5th grade students. It is offered
in a select variety of instruments (see contract at middle of book). 3-4 students
will take a 45 minute lesson together on a particular instrument. The benefits
of taking group lessons are numerous. Students will gain early exposure to an
instrument as they gain a solid base of technique and basic playing skills. Being in
a group lesson naturally allows students the experience of playing in an ensemble
as they perform duets, trios and quartets. Students interested in being a part of
orchestra in 6th grade will be better equipped to meet the challenges of orchestral
music. Group lessons are a great way for friends to study together and support
each other in this learning process.
Private Music Lessons Program
Jake Lloyd, Coordinator
(201) 569-9500 x4004
The Private Music Lessons Program offers 45 minute private lessons on all of
the orchestral instruments as well as harp, piano, voice, saxophone, classical
and electric guitar as well as upright, electric bass and music theory. The course
of study includes 27 private lessons, one master-class and, for those who are
adequately prepared, one formal concert during each school year. Lessons
are offered to match the needs and skill level of each student from beginner
through advanced. Middle and Upper School students are encouraged to
inquire about performance opportunities in the various instrumental and
choral ensembles offered through the Performing Arts Department academic
curriculum.
The fee for the 27 lessons and 1 master-class is $1,540 which is due with the
contract at the time of enrollment. Financing arrangements can be made by
speaking with James Lloyd prior to submitting the application. If the lessons
end up being scheduled at the student’s home, there will be a surcharge of
$15.00 per lesson to be paid directly to the teacher to cover travel time and
expenses. If the scheduling of lessons, after the contract has been processed
but before the first lesson has been given, proves to be impossible, the fee will
be refunded in full to the parent. once the lessons have been scheduled and
the student takes the first lesson the contract is in effect for the full school
year and the no refund policy takes effect. (Schedules permitting, hour long
lessons may be able to be arranged at the parent’s request. The annual fee
for hour long lessons would be $2,035. Please contact the Music Lesson
coordinator, Jake Lloyd, to inquire about the feasibility of this if you are
interested.)
GETTING STARTED - once a signed contract has been received with
payment, the coordinator will instruct the teacher to contact the parent to
arrange a mutually agreeable lesson time for the student. Times immediately
following dismissal are obviously very limited and also very desirable. Please
have alternative options to discuss when you speak with the teacher. Most
private lessons are taught at the school but they may be taught at the student’s
home (for an additional fee) or at the teacher’s private studio when necessary
to facilitate scheduling. To assure the best chance of being scheduled into
this program, please submit contracts by September 6, 2012.
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UPPER ScHooL STUDENTS may take lessons during free periods within
the school day if they can be coordinated with the teacher’s schedule and an
available studio. Lessons are generally scheduled after the school day if there
is no compatible free period during the school day. Upper School Students
should be especially careful not to schedule lessons at times that will conflict
with any seasonal sports activities that they may wish to participate in.
MIDDLE ScHooL STUDENTS usually take lessons after school hours
as they have very few free periods during the class day. They are permitted to
take their music lesson during the school day on the rare occasion that they
are able to schedule a time during a study hall or free period. Middle School
Students should be especially careful not to schedule lessons at times that will
conflict with any seasonal sports activities that they may wish to participate in.
Lower School students take private lessons after the school day. Lower
School students must be escorted to and from their lessons by a parent or by
the private lesson teacher. Please note that escort time on the part of teachers
is part of the contracted lesson time and thusly shortens the amount of time
in the studio for the student. Parents should arrange to pick up their children
at the conclusion of the lesson. This is a good time for the parent to compare
notes with the teachers regarding what has been assigned for the week and to
be updated on the progress of the student. Students not picked up after their
lessons in a timely fashion will be escorted by the teacher to the Explorers
After School Program to wait for their parent or guardian. Parents will be
billed for the time spent there. Lower School students may not wait in the
Middle/Upper School Library.
Master-classes will be scheduled by each private lesson teacher for their studio
or in conjunction with another teacher’s studio sometime between the winter
break and the spring recitals. These master-classes will be performance classes
to give every student the opportunity to practice and discuss performance
skills. Master-classes may be held at the School, at the teacher’s studio or at a
student’s home (if offered by the parent) as best suits the needs of the students
and the teacher involved.
Recitals are scheduled at the end of the school year for students who have
demonstrated excellent preparation and technique throughout the year of
study. Recitals are presented in Hajjar Auditorium. Accompanists will be
provided by the school when needed for single line instrumentalists and
vocalists.
Absences and rescheduling lessons – When a parent knows that a student
will be absent for a lesson the teacher must be notified directly. Under all but
the most extraordinary circumstances, if the teacher has not been notified of
an absence prior to leaving his or her home to teach that lesson, the lesson will
be considered as having been given and the student will not receive a makeup
lesson. Please note: The Dwight-Englewood attendance office does
not notify private music teachers when their students are absent from
school. When properly notified, teachers will expect to make up lessons due
to illness. Parents should acquire cell phone numbers and other means of
reaching the teacher at the beginning of the year when they schedule lesson
times with the teacher. When students have an occasional conflict with a
lesson time and can notify the teacher more than 24 hours in advance, the
teacher will endeavor to schedule that lesson at another time if possible. As
the contract simply calls for a total of 27 lessons to be taught during the
year there is some room for flexibility even if one week is missed. Please
do not expect teachers to make up lessons for absences due to play dates
or birthday parties. once a teacher schedules a regular lesson time, that
teacher has excluded the possibility of taking another student at that time.
As all scheduling is done at the beginning of the school year, teachers are not
likely to be able to reschedule students in the middle of the year. With the
exception of mutually agreeable changes in scheduling between the teacher
and students, students are expected to schedule all other activities (sports,
tutoring, Senior Focus, etc.) so that they will not interfere with the scheduled
private music lesson time. Failure to be able to reschedule lesson times
as necessary to accommodate a student taking on conflicting activities
will not constitute justification of a refund for missed lessons or for the
expectation that those lessons will be made up.
Teachers and parents are expected to resolve any issues that may arise.
Teachers or parents may contact the coordinator of the program (Jake Lloyd
at (201) 569-9500 ext. 4004 or by e-mail: lloydj@d-e.org) at any time if they
have questions about the application of this policy.
occasionally parents request lessons with our Music Lesson Faculty to be given
while their child is studying the same instrument with another teacher outside
of our program. WE cAN NoT REcoMMEND THIS PRAcTIcE. our
experience has been that having two teachers often results in confusion for
the student due to conflicting approaches, especially when the two teachers
do not know each other’s teaching styles and are not communicating with
each other.
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Private Music Lesson Program
Faculty Biographies
PIANO FACULTY
PHYLLIS BILLINGS, PIANo, has been teaching at Dwight-Englewood
since 2006. She received her bachelor’s degree in music from North carolina School
of the Arts. Her teaching experience includes private piano and violin lessons, as
well as general music classes for pre-school through grade six. She has also directed
string ensembles, hand bell choirs, and children’s choirs. Her performance experience
includes playing violin for the North Jersey Symphony orchestra and the Ridgewood
Gilbert & Sullivan opera company. Phyllis resides in cresskill with her husband and
three daughters.
ALLEN FARNHAM, cLASSIcAL & JAZZ PIANo, has been teaching
at Dwight-Englewood since 2001. He received his Bachelor’s degree in classical
Piano and Jazz Studies from oberlin conservatory and now freelances as a pianist,
composer, arranger, producer and teacher. He has recorded extensively as a sideman
and leader, as well as having produced over 50 recordings for the california based
record label, concord Records, for such illustrious artists as Tito Puente, Monty
Alexander, charlie Byrd, Scott Hamilton, Buddy DeFranco and Mongo Santamaria.
Mr. Farnham’s performance credits include work with vocalists including Susannah
Mccorkle, Mel Torme, Mark Murphy and Ernestine Anderson. His most recent
album Allen Farnham Meets RIAS Big Band (concord 4789) features Mr. Farnham’s
original compositions and arrangements for a 17 piece big band performed by the
renowned Berlin Radio RIAS Big Band. He also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s
resident, professional ensemble, Jazz Vistas, which is a part of the Head of School
Series.
ToMoKo oHNo FARNUM, cLASSIcAL & JAZZ PIANo, joined
D-E’s faculty in 2002. Born in Tokyo, Ms. ohno graduated from Rikkyo University
with a degree in Law and Politics before entering the Jazz Studies Program at William
Paterson University in New Jersey. While studying there, she received the Student
Award of outstanding Excellence, and was a member of the Dean’s List. Ms. ohno
has performed with Jerome Richardson, Wynton Marsalis, Benny Goodman, and
Joe Henderson, and has performed at Lincoln center, Weill Recital Hall, The Blue
Note, Sweet Basil, and the Lennox Lounge in Harlem. She has appeared on live
radio broadcasts on WGBo and WNYc, and has worked as a side musician with the
Harlem Spiritual Ensemble and the Spirit of Life Ensemble. Ms. ohno has released
three albums under the Japan-based Tokuma label; Powder Blue (1997), Affirmation
(1999), and Natural Woman (2000). Her major teachers were Harold Mabern and
Rufus Reid.
MARY HURLBUT (SEE VoIcE)
KAREN LITTLEFIELD, PIANo, began teaching at Dwight-Englewood in
1998. Previously she has been on the faculties of the Manhattan School of Music,
NYU and the Spence School. She was the acting Piano Department Head of camp
Encore/coda from 1987 to 2006. She has performed as a soloist and as a member of
The Herrick Ensemble in the Soviet Union, Weill Recital Hall and Alice Tully Hall,
among others. She studied chamber music with Lillian Fuchs and Raphael Bronstein
and conducting with claude Monteux. She was also opera accompanist for the NY
Grand opera under Vincent La Selva in the 1970’s. Ms Littlefield holds her B.M.
and M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music and is featured with her husband,
flautist John Littlefield, on the cD French & Viennese Masterpieces produced by
Juston Records. She also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s resident, professional
ensemble, 315 East, which is a part of the Head of School Series.
JAKE LLoYD, PIANo, has been teaching at Dwight-Englewood School
since 2008. A music composition graduate, Jake first came to D-E as pianist for
the winter musical. From there Jake was hired to teach Middle School chorus,
and in the last three years, has founded and developed the Show choir. Aside from
teaching responsibilities and music directing the shows at D-E, Jake also coordinates
the Private Music Lesson Program. When not working at D-E, Jake is heavily
involved in the New York city theatre scene. He has worked as music director for
off-Broadway venues, orchestrated musicals and arranged material for performing
groups. In 2010, “The Lost Boys, or An Awfully Big Adventure”, (book, music and
lyrics) opened off-Broadway where it was hailed as “a magnificent work of art” and
“its music inspiring”. other musicals Jake has written include: “Dreamchaser” (book
and lyrics by Joshua David Bishop); “Building cities” (lyrics by Suzanne Davis); “The
Salem World” (book, music and lyrics) and “Start at the Manger” (book and lyrics
8 9

y Donna Kline). currently, Jake is writing the holiday show, “The christmas Ship”
(book by Jen Faith Brown and lyrics by Joshua David Bishop), commissioned by
Lightkeeper Productions, NYc (premiering December 2012) and a musical version
“My Antonia” (book, music and lyrics). Jake specializes in contemporary, pop and
theatrical music for the piano.
SoJUNG PARK, PIANo, received her Master’s degree and Professional
Studies certificate in Piano Performance at the Manhattan School of Music. She
studied under Joseph Plon, Michael Rogers, and Zenon Fishbein. She was the 3rd
prize winner of Villa d’Este piano competition in Italy in 2001. Under the auspices
of the ‘Arte Musica Festival’ in Italy, she was invited to perform at ‘Villa d’Este’ and
participated in the master classes of carla Giudici, Dennis Kahn, Bonnie Hampton,
Norman Fisher, Robert Diaz as a soloist and an accompanist. She had a debut recital
at Weill Recital Hall at carnegie Hall as a special presentation winner of Artist
International. She also gave recitals and chamber concerts in Yamaha Hall, Riverside
church, Mannes School of Music, etc. In addition to teaching in Woodmere Music
Studio, LI. for several years, currently, she is increasing her career as an accompanist
at Mannes School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and Rutgers University.
GLoRIA Yoo, PIANo, has been teaching at the Dwight-Englewood School
since 2008. She received her B.M. in both piano performance and music education
from Temple University and M.M in music education from Teacher’s college,
columbia University. She currently is a candidate for EdD, Doctorate of Education,
from columbia University. She’s been teaching in her private studio since 1998
and also taught PreK-12 as a choral director, general music teacher in NJ public
schools since 2004. Her performance experience includes competitions, and giving
numerous solo recitals, concerts mostly in the Philadelphia area and in Rome, Italy as
a soloist with orchestras as well as a member of chamber ensembles.
HARP FACULTY
ARDIS cAVIN, HARP, has been teaching at the Dwight-Englewood School,
which is one of the few schools in the area to offer harp lessons as part of its private
lesson program, since 2006. An experienced entertainment harpist, she teaches lever
and pedal harps to students of all ages and experience. Ms. cavin will assist the student
who might be interested in “trying out” a harp and also has a number of small rental
harps available. For details please see her web page: cavinharpstudio.com. In addition
to teaching at Dwight-Englewood, Ms. cavin is currently on the faculty at Bergen
community college where she teaches voice, piano and harp. She has a Master of
Music Degree from Indiana University and a BA from the University of Iowa.
STRING FACULTY
VIoLIN/VIoLA
ANNALIESA PLAcE, VIoLIN, joined the D-E faculty in 2002. She
received her Bachelor’s Degree from The Peabody conservatory of the Johns Hopkins
University and her Master’s Degree from The Juilliard School. Her principal teachers
have included Vasile Beluska, David Updegraff, Victor Danchenko, and Robert Mann.
Ms. Place was featured in the cleveland orchestra’s first video conference with Alan
Gilbert and was hailed by the cleveland Plain Dealer as ‘the epitome of poise and
intelligence.’ She has performed solo and chamber concerts throughout the United
States, Europe, and Asia. Ms. Place also teaches at EMS Summer String Festival and
performs in various ensembles including the Jupiter Symphony chamber Players, the
Thurnauer chamber Music Society, and the conductor-less string orchestra Ecco.
She is a member of classnotes, a non-profit organization that performs concerts
in public schools. In addition to her classical music performances, Annaliesa has
performed with christina Aguilera, Kanye West, Josh Radin, Panic at the Disco,
Herbie Hancock, and Arlo Guthrie. She also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s
resident, professional ensemble, 315 East, which is a part of the Head of School Series.
YUKI NUMATA, VIoLIN, is a violinist with “virtuosic flair and dexterous
bravery,” according to the New York Times. Ms. Numata is rapidly gaining attention
as a charismatic virtuoso, having performed as a soloist with the New World
Symphony, the University at Buffalo’s Slee Sinfonietta, the Wordless Music orchestra,
the Tanglewood Music center orchestra and the Eastman Philharmonia orchestra.
An active freelancer, she performs frequently with the American contemporary
Music Ensemble (AcME), the String orchestra of New York city (SoNYc), Alarm
Will Sound and Signal. Ms. Numata balances her busy performance career with her
passion for teaching and educating. She currently maintains private teaching studios
in Manhattan and at the Dwight-Englewood school in Englewood, NJ. She has also
spent the past year on faculty as the Violin and Viola Instructor at the University at
Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. Born in Vancouver, canada, Ms. Numata holds degrees from
the Eastman School of Music and the University of Michigan.
cELLo
ToMAS ULRIcH, cELLo, began teaching cello at Dwight-Englewood
during the 2007-2008 school year. He has received music degrees from Boston
University and the Manhattan School of Music. His principal instructors were Leslie
Parnas, Fred Zlotkin, Ardyth Alton and Marion Feldman. In additon to teaching
privately for over twenty years, Mr. Ulrich has been a member of the music faculties
of such institutions as Friends Academy, Packer collegiate Institute, The Sylvan
Academy of Music as well as The Elizabeth Morrow School and Summer String
Festival. Tomas has written music for theater, film and instrumental performance
and has concertized in Europe, Japan, South America, canada and throughout the
United States. Mr. Ulrich can be heard on over 70 cds in a wide variety of musical
styles and settings.
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DIEGo GARcIA, cELLo, has been on the cello and conducting faculty of
the Eastman School of Music Pre-college Division since 2004. currently the Music
Director of the Eastman Youth chamber Soloists and of the Finger Lakes Symphony
orchestra, Mr. Garcia is also a frequent guest conductor of both youth orchestras
and professional orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, the caribean,
and South America including the Flanders Music Festival (Ghent Belgium), and
the Parnu city Symphony (Estonia). A prize-winner in the carolina oramas
competition, Mr. Garcia has been featured in numerous solo and chamber music
performances in carnegie Hall, Lincoln center, and throughout South America and
Europe. He has performed as Assistant Principal cellist in the Santo Domingo Music
Festival in 2001 and 2003, and as Principal cellist of the Todi Music Festival in
2007. In addition to his work as a cellist and conductor, Mr. Garcia is also active
as an arranger and composer. Mr. Garcia composed the original film score for “The
Heart of Tango,” which was performed by Gibbs & Main. His arrangements for the
cD “Quartsemble: Tango” received rave reviews both locally and nationally. Most
recently, Mr. Garcia composed Danzas Del Nuevo Mundo for Gibbs & Main. The
work represents a fusion of his knowledge of folk and pop music from South America
with a classical twist. Mr. Garcia holds a Bachelor’s Degree in cello Performance
from the Manhattan School of Music, and has twice received conducting fellowships
to the conductor’s Institute at Bard college in 2005 and 2006.
STRING BASS (classical)
(see, also, Electric Bass & Guitar)
cHARLES URBoNT, cLASSIcAL STRING BASS, will be in his debut year
teaching at the Dwight-Englewood School. He is a member of the American Ballet
Theater orchestra and an associate member of the Metropolitan opera orchestra.
on Broadway, he played principal bass for the Houston Grand opera production
of Porgy and Bess and for Fonteyn and Nureyev at the Uris (now Gershwin) theater.
He participated in the Metropolitan opera’s Grammy Award winning recording of
Wagner’s complete Ring with Maestro James Levine. Mr. Urbont attended Franklin
& Marshall college and received a B.A. in music from c.W. Post college with a
major in voice. His teachers include orin o’Brien and Julius Levine (double bass),
Josef Marx (chamber music) and Alexander Dashnaw (voice and choral conducting).
While still in college Mr. Urbont spent a year as a string and orchestra teacher in the
Syosset, N.Y. public school system and was a faculty member at the Kinhaven Music
School in Weston, Vermont. He also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s resident,
professional ensemble, 315 East, which is a part of the Head of School Series.
WOODWIND FACULTY
(Flute, oboe, clarinet & Saxophone)
RoBERT DeBELLIS, SAXoPHoNE, cLARINET & FLUTE, has been
directing ensembles and teaching woodwinds at The Dwight Englewood School
since the mid-80’s. He has been a freelance woodwind performer in New York city
for twenty five years. As a jazz artist, he has recorded and performed internationally
with artists such as Don Byron, Muhal Richard Abrams, Mongo Santamaria, The
New York composers orchestra, Phillip Johnston, Kevin Norton, James Emery, Uri
caine and Brad Jones. During the last several years he has devoted much of his
time to composing and playing in his own group, and has released one recording
as a leader, Parallax, on Vintone Records. Mr. DeBellis’ fluency on all saxophones,
flutes, and clarinets keeps him active in the new music scene, commercial recording,
and on Broadway. Recently, Mr. DeBellis has been involved in a varied array of highprofile
projects. He has a mastery of classical, Jazz, Pop and Broadway playing styles
having studied with many leading performers of each of these genres on each of his
instruments. Notable performances include: Symphony Space’s Stravinsky Marathon
with Don Byron and Marnie Nixon, Jay-Z’s return to the stage at Radio city,
Brooklyn Summer Salsa Series with Willie colon and the inaugural day of the Bethel
Woods Jazz Festival with James Emery. Rob has also performed in many Broadway
shows and is currently a regular member of the orchestra of The Lion King and
How The Grinch Stole christmas. His woodwinds can be heard on the new cartoon
class of 3000, featured on the cartoon Network. He is a graduate of The University
of Pennsylvania. He also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s resident, professional
ensembles, 315 East and Jazz Vistas, which is a part of the Head of School Series.
DEBBIE KEEFE JoHNS, SAXoPHoNE, cLARINET, FLUTE, attended
the New England conservatory of Music in Boston, MA and received a BM in
Jazz Performance. Debbie performs in and around the NYc area and resides in
Englewood, NJ. Her performances have included such greats as: cab calloway, Jackie
Byard, Melba Liston Smith, George Russell, Junior cook, Walter Booker, Jimmy
cobb, Stanley Turrentine, The Mingus Big Band, The Diva Big Band, Robert Palmer
and Bruce Springsteen. Debbie has performed at the Kennedy center, Washington,
Dc, Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival, Lincoln center, Damrosch Park
Jazz Festival, and Kansas city Jazz Festival to name a few. She is currently on the
teaching staff at The Dwight-Englewood School, The Elisabeth Morrow School and
Tenafly Arts School in New Jersey.
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JoHN HERRIcK LITTLEFIELD, FLUTE, has been teaching at
Dwight-Englewood since 1998 and has been conducting the orchestras at Dwight-
Englewood since 2006. He has taught flute at the Spence School in New York city
since 1986 and conducted the orchestra there from 1986 to 2007. Mr. Littlefield has
performed on the flute to critical acclaim as a chamber musician, orchestra member
and soloist throughout the United States: “...notable elegance...” The Washington
Times, “...a fluent flutist...” The cleveland Plain Dealer & “…commendable musical
perception of all the works in the program.” The New York Times. His flute teachers
include Julius Baker, Frances Blaisdell, and claude Monteux. Mr. Littlefield has
recorded French and Viennese Masterpieces for Flute & Piano including works by
Poulenc, Brahms, Fauré & chaminade with his wife, Karen Littlefield, on Juston
Records and 3 Quartets, opus 145 for flute and string trio by Beethoven’s student,
Ferdinand Ries, which is distributed internationally on the Naxos label. His articles
have been published in chamber Music Magazine and Flute Talk. Mr. Littlefield
plays a gold flute made by Sankyo. He also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s
resident, professional ensemble, 315 East, which is a part of the Head of School
Series.
PATRIcIA ZUBER, FLUTE, is an associate member of the Metropolitan
opera orchestra at Lincoln center. She has appeared with the MET orchestra at
carnegie Hall, on live high definition broadcasts, and on tour in Japan. She also
performs on Broadway, having performed in the productions of Beauty and the Beast,
candide, Swan Lake, Jekyll and Hyde, Ragtime, and La Boheme. She is piccoloist
with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, with which she has appeared as
a concerto soloist. Ms. Zuber is an avid recitalist, performing solo recitals as well as
chamber music. She performs regularly in a flute/percussion duo with her husband,
percussionist Gregory Zuber. She has taught at the chamber Music conference and
composers’ Forum of the East at Bennington college, Vermont and at the Verbier
Festival in Verbier, Switzerland. Recently, Ms. Zuber has performed with the Santa Fe
opera. She also is a member of Dwight-Englewood’s resident, professional ensemble,
315 East, which is a part of the Head of School Series.
BRASS FACULTY
JoHN BAILEY, TRUMPET, will be in his premiere year teaching at Dwight-
Englewood. A consummate performer in Jazz and classical styles, John toured the
world with Ray charles in 1996 and has played with Paul Anka, the Buddy Rich
Band and the Woody Herman orchestra as well as with the Florida Philharmonic.
He has been on the faculties of the University of Miami and was a trumpet instructor
at the Eastman Summer Jazz Program. Mr. Bailey is a graduate of the Eastman School
of Music and the University of Miami.
THoMAS oLcoTT, TRoMBoNE (ALSo EUPHoNIUM) has been on
the Dwight-Englewood Private Music Lesson Program faculty since 2007. He is a
regular member of the American Ballet Theatre orchestra and the Radio city Music
Hall orchestra as well as having been on call as an extra with the Metropolitan opera
orchestra. He has performed at one time or another with almost every orchestra of
note in the New York city Metropolitan Area as well as with numerous Broadway
shows. He has presented many Young Persons’ concerts and has given Master classes
at Suffolk community college. Mr. olcott has degrees from the Julliard School of
Music and Yale University.
PERCUSSION FACULTY
KEVIN NoRToN, PERcUSSIoN, began teaching at Dwight-Englewood in
1998. His teaching experience includes University of Maryland, William Paterson
University, The Thurnauer School of Music and the Brooklyn conservatory of
Music. He has been a featured jazz and new music performer at various jazz and
new music festivals throughout the United States and Europe. Live and recorded
performances have won critical acclaim in Downbeat (“Rising Star” on Vibraphone
2005), cadence, Jazz Times and the Village Voice. Kevin Norton can be heard on
over 80 cDs. Fifteen of those are under his own leadership and can be found on
cIMP, Music & Arts, FMR, Barking Hoop and clean Feed labels. Awards include:
composer in residence at the MacDowell colony, June 2002 and commission
Music USA (Meet the composer), April 2005. Mr. Norton received his B.S. from
Hunter college and M.M. from Manhattan School of Music. He has also performed
with the Dwight-Englewood resident, professional ensemble, Jazz Vistas, which is a
part of the Head of School Series.
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GUITAR & BASS FACULTY
(Electric and classical)
RIcHARD PEARE, GUITAR, ELEcTRIc BASS, began teaching at Dwight
Englewood in 1996. In 2010 he established The D.E. Guitar Ensemble and is the
director. In 1983 he received his B.A. from the Mannes college of Music. He is also
an adjunct faculty member at Raritan Valley community college, The college of
Staten Island and has been teaching for over thirty years at his private studio located
on the grounds of Snug Harbor cultural center. Richard made his classical Guitar
debut at cami Hall in 1985. In a review of that concert The New York Times called
him a “real find”. He has also released two cD’s on the collective Recordings label;
“Guitar Hour” and “Sunday Session”. cadence Jazz Magazine reviewed both albums
and called him a “Master musician”. Mr. Peare has performed in classical guitar
master classes with Eliot Fisk, John Duarte and oscar Guillia. He has also performed
as a Jazz guitarist with Jimmy Knepper, chuck Wayne, Bill crow, Jimmy Halperin
and others. He has appeared on cTV and performs regularly with his own group. His
major teachers were Leonid Bolotine and Peter Prisco.
DAVID RIcHARDS, ELEcTRIc BASS, AcoUSTIc BASS AND GUITAR,
has been teaching at the Dwight-Englewood School since 2008. Mr. Richards has
been teaching guitar and led jazz ensembles at the Tenafly Jcc as well as at the
Torah Academy of Bergen county. In the early 90’s he toured Sweden with the
Ray Kennedy Quartet giving workshops and lessons at many community colleges.
He has recorded with The Indigo Girls, Richie Havens, Richard Shindell & cliff
Eberhardt. He has also worked with Rosanne cash, The Drifters, Jewel, Patty Larkin,
Sarah McLachlin, Natalie Merchant and Madeline Peyroux.
VOICE
MARY HURLBUT, VoIcE & PIANo, has taught voice and piano at the
Dwight-Englewood School since 1993. Her teaching engagements have been at
The American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Greenwich House Music School,
Bronx House Music School and The Vaughn college of Aeronautics. She has had
performances with Down Town Music Productions, Gravesend Players, American
Landmark Festivals, Music Downtown, American Festival of Microtonal Music, The
New Music consort, cygnus Ensemble, The NJ Percussion Ensemble and SoHo
Baroque opera. She has been featured on Fortay, Frog Peak and Tarmac recordings
and premiered works by John cage, Elodie Lauten, Jackson Maclow, Anne Tardos,
Franz Kamin, Harold Seletsky and Dan Levitan. Performance halls include Merkin,
Symphony Space, LaMama La Galleria, The Knitting Factory, Roulette and Weill
Hall at carnegie Hall. Her voice studies were with Antonia Lavanne, Angelica
Lozada, Priscilla Woodley and chiara caffarelli and she studied piano with Elka
Kirkpatrick, Michel Ashmore and Bernice Sjogren. MM, The Mannes college of
Music, BM, William Paterson University and AA cottey college.
DANIEL MoLKENTIN, VoIcE, teaches English and German diction
in the Mannes college Extension Division and has served as the German diction
coach for many ensembles, including the Bard Summer Music Festival, Berkshire
choral Festival, clarion Music Society, Liederkranz opera Theatre, Manhattan
School of Music Symphonic chorus, oratorio Society of New York, and Westchester
choral Society. Through his work with these ensembles he had the opportunities to
collaborate with conductors Leon Bolstein, Stephen Fox, Vance George, Jane Glover,
Liz Hastings, Frank Nemhauser, Stephen Smith, and Kent Tritle, on a wide range
of works. Mr. Molkentin’s passion for teaching diction led him to join forces with
Trudy Weaver Miller to co-found and develop Singers Babel, a website dedicated to
providing singers and musicians with lyric diction resources and tools for preparing
texts in foreign languages. His translations and pronunciation guides of German
choral and solo works, such as Matthaus Passion, Die Schonpfung, Ein deutsches
Requiem, Dicterliebe, and Winterreise, are being used with increasing frequency
around the United States.
Mr. Molkentin also enjoys an active schedule of performing works ranging from the
16th to 21st centuries. This season brings performances of Schubert’s Winterreise,
Marschner’s Der Vamoyr (Gadshill) with the Liderkranz opera Theatre, and
Mozart’s Requiem with the Alexandria Symphony orchestra. Highlights of past
seasons include, Handel’s Judas Maccabaeus with Berkshire Bach Society, Mahler’s
Das Lied von der Erde (arr. Schoenberg) with the orchestra Insonica, Schubert’s
Die schone Mullerin at Steinway Hall, and Wolfgan Rihm’s song cycle, Das Rot,
with Pocket opera of New York (PoNY). In addition, Mr. Molkentin and guitarist/
composer Paul Smith present works exclusive to the voice and guitar medium in their
collaborative project, Spoon River Duo.
KAREN DRIScoLL, VoIcE, will be in her premiere year teaching at
Dwight-Englewood. She has attracted considerable interest from her appearances
throughout North America during past numerous seasons performing leading soprano
roles for Seattle opera, Florida Grand opera, Florentine opera, L’opéra de Montréal,
Virginia opera, Baltimore opera, Lyric opera of Kansas, Vancouver opera, Michigan
opera Theatre, opera/columbus, Toledo opera, opera carolina, Hawaii opera
Theater, Fresno Grand opera, New Jersey State opera, Long Beach opera and Palm
Beach opera just to name a few.
Notable reviews have come from opera News stating “…her voice radiated joie de
vivre.” Also, the Los Angeles Times declared that she, “…performed impressively…”
The Seattle Times noted, that she “proved an intense, big-voiced Tatyana with a
fetching stage presence” and finally The Washington Post praised her by saying “Karen
Driscoll’s substantial lyric soprano and thoughtful vocal characterization added depth
to the role…”
Ms. Driscoll is a graduate of The University of cincinnati college-conservatory
of Music where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and
completed her course work for a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance. She
currently is an Adjunct Professor teaching voice at Montclair State University, John J.
cali School of Music and was formerly an Adjunct Faculty member at clark University.
16 17

Dwight-Englewood School
315 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood, NJ 07631
(201) 569-9500 • www.d-e.org