Our Instructors
Our faculty of over 20 members are highly accomplished musicians who perform professionally. Our teachers are experienced in instructing students with personalized lesson plans that build on their needs and interests.
Learn more about them below.
The Freedom to be Honest
What does learning music mean to you? Hear from some of our Academy of Music instructors.
Brass
Morgan Decker (trombone, tuba, trumpet, French horn)
Morgan Decker is an avid music educator and performer based in the Hudson Valley. (more)
Mary Hastings (trumpet)
Joshua Long
Dr. Joshua E. Long holds degrees in adult education (PhD), band/wind ensemble conducting (MM), music education (MM, BS), and euphonium performance (MM). (more)
Ted Messerschmidt (trombone, low brass)
Joseph Gusmano (online; trumpet)
Joseph Gusmano is a composer and educator from the Hudson Valley. He received his BA from Vassar College in Music and Philosophy... (more)
Guitar & Ukulele
Rusty Boris (on sabbatical; guitar, bass guitar, banjo)
Best known for his signature bass solos in a variety of styles, from jazz to bluegrass, Rusty is in demand as a performer, teacher, songwriter and session player in the Hudson Valley... (more)
Dan Stevens (guitar, ukulele, mandolin)
Dan Stevens has a masters in classical guitar performance from Purchase College and is an experienced teacher and performer... (more)
Jazz
Darius Beckford
Darius Beckford is a jazz pianist/composer with a background in classical. In 2023, they graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s in jazz performance... (more)
Rusty Boris (on sabbatical; guitar, bass guitar, banjo)
Best known for his signature bass solos in a variety of styles, from jazz to bluegrass, Rusty is in demand as a performer, teacher, songwriter and session player in the Hudson Valley... (more)
Nicholas Salomone (guitar, Community Jazz Combo)
Nicholas Salomone is a tubist, guitarist, music educator, and administrator from Poughkeepsie. Outside of his duties as the Academy of Music Assistant, he teaches the Community Jazz Combo... (more)
Dennis Yerry (online; piano, Native American flute)
Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed a myriad of musical genres.... (more)
Joe North (saxophone, clarinet, flute)
Joe North received his bachelors degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia, where he studied saxophone with Wildy Zumwalt..... (more)
Piano
Darius Beckford
Darius Beckford is a jazz pianist/composer with a background in classical. In 2023, they graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s in jazz performance... (more)
Peter Cody
Peter did his undergraduate work at SUNY New Paltz, where he earned his B.A. in Theory/Composition... (more)
Richard Devens
Richard received a BS from Brooklyn College, where he studied with Augustin Anievas and Michale Rogers. ... (more)
Choi Fairbanks
Originally from Korea, Choi received numerous awards from national classical music competition ... (more)
Sandra Grebs
Sandy started taking piano lessons at age 5 and has always had a passion for performing and teaching. ... (more)
Beverly Poyerd
Beverly Poyerd began her music training at age five and studied piano, performance and theory at the Henry Street Settlement School... (more)
Janet Salt-Frommer
Janet teaches piano privately and for the Music School at Dutchess Community College... (more)
Joseph Gusmano
Joseph Gusmano is a composer and educator from the Hudson Valley. He received his BA from Vassar College in Music and Philosophy. (more)
Dennis Yerry (online)
Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed myriad musical genres... (more)
Drums and Percussion
Gary Ljungquist
Gary Ljungquist received his bachelors from the College of Saint Rose in Music Industry and his masters from Middlesex University in Creative Media focusing in Audio Technology... (more)
Rusty Boris (on sabbatical)
Best known for his signature bass solos in a variety of styles, from jazz to bluegrass, Rusty is in demand as a performer, teacher, songwriter and session player in the Hudson Valley... (more)
Strings
Choi Fairbanks
Originally from Korea, Choi received numerous awards from national classical music competition ... (more)
Amanda Heaton (violin)
Amanda Heaton has been playing the violin since the fourth grade. She grew up in Poughkeepsie and attended school in the Arlington School District... (more)
Rich Simon (cello, double bass)
Richard Simons is conductor of the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra at SUNY Dutchess Community College... (more)
Caitlan Truelove (violin; on sabbatical)
Caitlan Truelove is a classically trained violinist with nearly two decades of experience in solo, collaborative and orchestral performance. ... (more)
Voice
Krista Libertino
Krista Libertino has spent over 20 years studying and performing music. She is a Dutchess Community College vocal performance alumna and seasoned performer... (more)
Dennis Yerry (online)
Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, and musical director whose career has encompassed a myriad of musical genres... (more)
John Howell
John Howell, tenor, has sung throughout the United States, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, and Sydney, encompassing opera, oratorio, and choral. (more)
Lindsay O'Neil
Lindsay O’Neil holds a master’s and bachelor’s degree in classical voice performance from Manhattan School of Music and Eastman School of Music, respectively. (more)
Woodwinds
Lynnette Benner (flute, oboe)
Lynnette Benner began playing flute at the ripe old age of eleven.... (more)
Morgan Decker (clarinet, flute, saxophone)
Morgan Decker is an avid music educator and performer based in the Hudson Valley. She received her Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education ... (more)
Dennis Yerry (online; Native American Flute)
Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed a myriad of musical genres ... (more)
Joe North (saxophone, clarinet, flute)
Joe North received his bachelors degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia, where he studied saxophone with Wildy Zumwalt ... (more)
Conducting
Rich Simons
Richard Simons is conductor of the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra at SUNY Dutchess Community College... (more)
Music Production
Gary Ljungquist
Gary Ljungquist received his bachelors from the College of Saint Rose in Music Industry and his masters from Middlesex University in Creative Media focusing in Audio Technology... (more)
Music Theory and Composition
Ted Messerschmidt
Originally from the Washington D.C. area, Edward “Ted” Messerschmidt is a versatile musician who has been recognized in national and international contests in composition, conducting and performance. ... (more)
Rich Simons (guitar, ukulele, mandolin)
Richard Simons is conductor of the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra at SUNY Dutchess Community College... (more)
Joseph Gusmano (online)
Joseph Gusmano is a composer and educator from the Hudson Valley. He received his BA from Vassar College in Music and Philosophy... (more)
Dennis Yerry (online)
Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed myriad musical genres... (more)