Faculty
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Disciplines
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MusicNabeel Ahmed
Bio Forthcoming Music Theory Tutor Adrienne Arditti
Adrienne has been singing for eight years and has played piano for ten years. She began teaching voice lessons at Sitar Arts Center in 2006, and has adored the Center ever since! Adrienne directs and sings in the TJ Madrigals, an a cappella ensemble which specializes in early and contemporary music. Music Theater Workshop Marjorie Bery
Marjorie served for almost ten years as a preschool teacher and director at Far Brook School in New Jersey, an independent school with a philosophy of learning through the arts. She and her husband Raj began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2006. Music Theory Tutor Raj Bery
Raj has a great interest in education, which has led him to serve on the boards of two schools, including Far Brook School in New Jersey, an independent school with a philosophy of learning through the arts, and the American School in Milan, Italy. Raj and his wife Marjorie began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2006. Music Theory Tutor Erin Bowers
Erin has been playing the cello for seventeen years. She came to Sitar Arts Center in 2006 when she joined the staff as the Director of Social Enterprises and Communications. She teaches cello as a direct way to share the arts with others. She is also interested in being outdoors, yoga, reading, tennis, and cooking. Erin studied cello at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York and currently works at Sitar Arts Center as the Director of Social Enterprises. Cello, Entrepreneurship, Independent Studies (Coordinator) Jennie Bromley
Bio Forthcoming Guitar Peter Burroughs
Peter, a tenor, is critically acclaimed as a versatile singing actor whose career encompasses opera, oratorio, musical theatre and even Shakespeare! As recitalist Peter has been hailed intimate and engaging, with solo recital repertoire ranging from classic lieder to Spanish and Latin American dance music. His seven year association with Spanish Dance Society led him to perform with Spanish Dance Theatre, USA in Beyond Flamenco at London's Covent Garden. With Festa Della Voce he has performed in recitals of the music of Schubert, Schumann, Barber, and most recently the music of Spanish composers. His 1999 Washington Opera debut was as Ezekiel Cheever in The Crucible. Since then he has appeared as Don Curzio (Le Nozze di Figaro), Trojan/Cretan Man (Idomeneo, (starring Placido Domingo)), First Prisoner (Fidelio,) and Lamplighter (Manon Lescaut (Starring Veronica Villarroel)). Mr Burroughs has also appeared with the Florentine Opera Company, The Washington Savoyards, the IN Series, Signature Theatre, First Stage Milwaukee, the Shakespeare Theatre, Gallaudet Theatre, as well as Staged readings of Pope Joan by John Musto and Las Bodas de Salsipuedes by Daniel Catan with Maryland Opera Studio. Opera Sarah Campbell
Sarah learned her love of music by taking piano lessons for thirteen years as a child and has been dabbling in visual arts and creative writing for six years. She began working as the Programs Intern at Sitar Arts Center in September 2007 because of her combined love of children, teens, and the arts. Sarah is also interested in yoga, biking, traveling, and social justice issues. She hopes to become fluent in Spanish someday. Lyric & Songwriting Dan Cardile
Dan began playing trumpet at age ten and played sousaphone in the marching band at the College of Notre Dame. He continues to perform several times a year in the Notre Dame alumni marching band. Dan began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2007. Trumpet Jefferson Cole
Bio Forthcoming Bass Nicolette Fertakis
Bio Forthcoming Piano Elizabeth George
Elizabeth joined the faculty as a volunteer clarinet teacher in 1995 (before the Sitar Arts Center became separate from Good Shepherd Ministries). Besides playing clarinet, she has also sung in various church choirs. Clarinet Sriram Gopal
Sriram has been drumming for nearly twenty years. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2008 after hearing of its music program from a fellow instructor. Sriram is also interested in hiking, writing, environmental issues, and is an ardent fan of the Baltimore Orioles and Maryland Terrapins. Percussion Shalinee Gusain
Bio Forthcoming Early Childhood Music James Hartsoe
Bio Forthcoming Harp Elizabeth Hochberg
Beth has maintained a private piano studio for seven years. She joined the Sitar Arts Center volunteer faculty in 2005. Beth earned her Master of Music in piano performance and pedagogy from Kansas State University, studying under Virginia Houser and Dennis Wilson. Piano Max Hollman
Max has been playing piano for seven years. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2008 as a way to give back to the community in a way that involves his passion for playing piano. Max’s other hobbies include football and lacrosse. Piano Joseph Hudson
Joe has played piano since age eight and began playing guitar in college. He teaches private lessons and began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2005 because of his love of teaching and excitement to help others become more musical and develop skills that will bring them a lifetime of satisfaction. Piano Gabriel Jinich
Gabriel began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2007. He minored in music while studying engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. Bass Guitar Young Sook Joung
Bio Forthcoming Piano Kevin Kearney
Kevin has been playing the piano for over twelve years. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2007 because he enjoys working with kids and sharing his love for music. He is also heavily involved in area theatre programs, as pianist and musical director, at local schools and organizations including Sidwell Friends School, The Musical Theatre Center, Imagination Stage, and The Levine School of Music. In 2004 he founded the Highwood Theatre, which produces student-run productions with students grades 7–12. He has trained with Burnett Thompson, Jacqueline Yeomans, and Marilyn Moore, among others. Piano James Knuckles
James has been playing the drums for nine years. Through high school, he studied privately with Jack Mouse, Professor of Jazz Studies at North Central College. While attending Bowdoin College, James played drums in a student cover band called J-Board and the Plagiarizers. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2008, drawn there by the opportunity to share his enthusiasm for the drums with his students, encourage their excitement and expand their abilities with this instrument. When he’s not playing the drums, James enjoys running and cooking, and exploring this great city. Percussion Inez Koberg
Bio Forthcoming Music Theory Chad Konchak
Chad is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and trombonist. He has been writing music since he started in the Music Program as a trombone major at Carnegie Mellon in 2000. In the spring of 2003, at his first live performance, Chad won the Carnegie Mellon Battle of the bands playing by himself against 12 other groups. In 2005 Chad recorded, produced, and mastered his first album. The album was called 'Walking Fancy' and included 10 songs written by Chad Konchak and 3 written by Ryan Gregorius. Chad started at Carnegie Mellon as a Trombone major, but ended up with a minor in Music Technology and BS in Information Systems. Guitar & Trombone Rachel Kriss
Rachel has been playing the piano since age seven. She began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2008 because she enjoys sharing music with children and teenagers and getting to know people in her community. She also likes to travel and cook. Piano Judie Lieu
Judie has been playing viola since 1982. She began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in the Summer of 2006 because a friend was on the Board of Directors. She is also interested in running, yoga, roller coasters, and traveling. She earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts at Oberlin College and Conservatory. Viola Allison Lince-Bentley
Allison has been playing flute since 6th grade and, although she wanted to quit after the first year, she credits her success and continued love for the flute to a kind and enthusiastic private lesson teacher. She has taken her flute with her on travels all over the world and continues to play in community chamber groups and orchestras. Allison began teaching private lessons at Sitar Arts Center in 2004 and enjoys learning new things every day from her terrific students. Flute Joe Link
Joe is a performer, teacher and percussionist. He appears regularly as freelance drummer in various bands. Joe has been on staff at Sitar Arts Center since its inception and currently serves as the Music Associate. Joe attended the University of the District of Columbia, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory of Music and The Banff School of Fine Arts. Percussion, The Saints Band, Music Theory Sarah Longstreth
Sarah, a classical music fan from near-infancy, has been singing chorally since she was six and studying opera for two years. One day she went to a movie, mentioned Sweeney Todd, and was immediately discovered by Jacqueline Penrod, who led her to volunteer at Sitar Arts Center. Vocal music is her main concentration, but other activities mainly concern making it out of high school in one piece. She is currently wrapping up her junior year at Bethesda's Walt Whitman High School and studying classical music with Ms. Leslie Macknight. Voice Stephen Mack
Steve has performed on various instruments, including piano, bass, saxophone, and guitar and currently teaches piano. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2004. Steve studied at the New School University's Jazz & Contemporary Music program in New York City. Piano, Guitar, Bass Phoebe Myhill
Bio Forthcoming Clarinet Jana Nelhybel
Jana is a lifelong avid amateur violinist. She has played in chamber groups and as a community member of the Georgetown University Orchestra. Jana played in Sitar Arts Center’s pit orchestra for the musical Once Upon A Mattress. She is also a member of the American String Teachers Association. She began teaching violin at the Center in 2000. Violin Michael Nilsson
Mike has been playing saxophone for longer than he would care to admit. For the last ten years, he has performed with dance and variety bands in the Washington, D.C. area, including Bittersweet, Off the Record, and Kaleidoscope. He began teaching at Sitar Arts Center in 2007, and has learned far more from his students than he has taught them. During the day, he works as a regulatory lawyer. Curiously, most people find the saxophone much more interesting. Saxophone Megan Nortrup
Megan has been playing the saxophone for more than twenty years. She began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2007 as a way to give back to her neighborhood. She is also an avid gardener and loves the great outdoors. She earned a B.F.A. in music at the University of Illinois, studying with saxophonists Ron Bridgewater and Debra Richtmeyer. Saxophone Kareem Oweiss
Bio Forthcoming Piano Jarrett B. Perlow
Jarrett is a pianist, trombonist, and tubaist who has played with the American University Symphony Orchestra, served as musical director for his law school’s annual spring revue, and was selected through high school state competitions for the Florida All-State Band. Jarrett has participated as the pianist for Sitar Arts Center’s productions of The Wiz in 2005, as the instrumental music director for Once Upon A Mattress in 2006, and as the trombone player in You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown. He also performs locally with the band Year of the Dog. Piano, Bass Trombone Mark Puryear
Bio Forthcoming Guitar Ted Serra
Ted has been playing piano for more than a decade. He joined Sitar Arts Center to teach music theory in the winter of 2007 and currently teaches piano. Ted has performed in numerous studio recitals, both in his native Rhode Island and in Boston, where he helped institute an annual university duet concert. He has also served as a student organist at St. Thomas’ Church and for the Church of St. Clare, both in Rhode Island. Ted graduated from Boston College in 2006, where he studied Economics and Music. Piano Mary Shapiro
Mary is a singer/songwriter and a licensed guitar teacher. She stumbled upon Sitar Arts Center in 2000 and exclaimed, "Wow! What a great place! Need any help?" Ever since then she has been teaching guitar to children and adults, as well as playing in the adult band and recruiting her friends to the Center. Guitar, Lyrics & Songwriting Benjamin Shirley
Bio Forthcoming Cello Betsy Small
Betsy taught herself folk guitar as a teenager and began classical guitar/lute lessons with John Marlow in 1972. From 1978-1997 she directed and performed as lutenist with the Washington Camerata Early Music Ensemble, and in 1992 became founding director of the Story Minstrels, a group that performs original Renaissance musical folktales for school audiences. Betsy is also the author of the musical, “Crystal's Journey” and other plays. She has also written musical stories which she performs with her husband, pianist/composer Haskell Small. She writes for and guest-edits the Lute Society of America Quarterly and enthusiastically sings alto with the Collegium Cantorum chamber choir. Guitar Haskell Small
Haskell is an accomplished pianist and composer who often performs his own works, including tours in Europe, South America, Japan, China, and the United States. He has been a composer-in-residence with the Mount Vernon Orchestra and is currently chair of the Piano Department of the Washington Conservatory of Music. Piano, Go! Rob Smith
Bio Forthcoming Percussion Ensemble, Music Production Ed Spitzberg
Ed studied classical piano for 10 years and studied (well, not quite studied) classical (well, not quite classical - lounge, actually) singing for many years after. You may know him as “Eddie Lounge” from The Eddie Lounge Show. But you’re more likely to know him as the Executive Director of Sitar Arts Center. Ed is grateful to be a part of such a wonderful group of teachers serving Sitar’s students. Piano Chris Stacey
Chris began playing piano at age seven and has a background in both classical and jazz piano. She has been teaching piano to beginners for six years. Chris also has extensive singing experience and has toured Europe and Asia with singing groups. She continues to take inspiration from and learn alongside her piano students. Piano Jeremy Stembler
Bio Forthcoming Guitar Kara Stencel
Bio Forthcoming Piano Collin Thomas
Collin has a B.A. in Economics and Music from Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota. He has previously taught music and other subjects to Summer Camp students. Piano Sam Trusley
Sam has been playing guitar for six years. A new volunteer at Sitar Arts Center, he began teaching music theory and guitar in 2008. He was drawn to the Center because he strongly believes in music’s ability to inspire younger generations. In his free time, he enjoys reading Russian literature and composing original scores. He is currently studying literature and music at American University. Guitar Hillery Tsumba
Bio Forthcoming Voice Frances Walther
Bio Forthcoming Music Theory Felicia Weiss
Bio Forthcoming Piano, Community Choir Chris Wingert
Chris has taught band, orchestra, and jazz to students of all ages. He has also served as director for various church choirs and provided accompaniment and music direction for Arizona Repertory Theatre and Arizona OnStage Productions. Chris earned his Bachelor of Music in French horn performance and music education at the University of Arizona. He currently works in consultation and executive search for the performing arts and serves as music director for the University of Mary Washington Theater Department. Piano Heather Wong
Heather began studying violin at age four at the Hartford Conservatory of Music in Connecticut. She continued playing violin, her true love, through college under renowned violinist and violist, Phillip Naegele. Heather also plays in a trio that performs at weddings and benefit events in the DC area. Violin Jesse Yoder
Jesse has been playing piano, trumpet, and guitar for a number of years. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2008 because he wanted to interact with young people and share the joy of music. He is also interested in drawing, unicycling, and living simply. Guitar Xavier Zientarski
Xavier has been playing guitar for three years. He began volunteering at Sitar Arts Center in 2007 to fulfill his high school community service requirement. He is also interested in drawing. Guitar Sylvia Zwi
Bio Forthcoming Early Childhood Music, Opera, Community Choir |
