string faculty - Dwight-Englewood School

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
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