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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.

Brass

rusty boris

Morgan Decker (in person and at Fishkill: trombone, tuba, trumpet, French horn )

Morgan Decker is an avid music educator and performer based in the Hudson Valley. (more)

 

mary hastings

Mary Hastings (in person; trumpet)

She received her Bachelor of Music at Manhattan School of Music and her Master of Music at  Juilliard... (more)

 

ted messerschmidt

Ted Messerschmidt (in person; trombone, low brass)

Edward “Ted” Messerschmidt is a versatile musician recognized in composition, conducting and performance. (more)

 

joseph guzmano

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)

 

rusty boris

John Knight (on sabbatical; trumpet, trombone)

Mr. W. John Knight earned his degrees in music education from Hofstra University and Western CT. State University .. (more)

 

Fretted Instruments

rusty boris

Rusty Boris (in person; 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

Dan Stevens (in person; guitar, ukulele, mandolin)

Dan Stevens has a masters in classical guitar performance from Purchase College and is an experienced teacher and performer... (more)

 

travis wood

Travis Wood (in person; guitar, ukulele)

Travis Wood is a classical guitarist based in Poughkeepsie... (more)

 

 

Jazz

rusty boris

Rusty Boris (in person: 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)

 

n salomone

Nicholas Salomone (in person; 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)

 

rusty boris

Tom Melito (online; drumset)

Tom Melito has been a mainstay on the New York City jazz scene for many years. ... (more)

 

dennis yerry

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)

 

dennis yerry

Joe North (on sabbatical; saxophone, clarinet, flute)

Joe North received his bachelors degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia, where he studied saxophone with Wildy Zumwalt..... (more)

 

 

Keyboard

peter cody

Peter Cody (in person)

Peter did his undergraduate work at SUNY New Paltz, where he earned his B.A. in Theory/Composition... (more)

 

choi fairbanks

Choi Fairbanks (in person)

Originally from Korea, Choi received numerous awards from national classical music competition  ... (more)

 

sandra grebs

Sandra Grebs (in person)

Sandy started taking piano lessons at age 5 and has always had a passion for performing and teaching. ... (more)

 

beverly poyerd

Beverly Poyerd (in person)

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 Salt-Frommer (in person)

Janet teaches piano privately and for the Music School at Dutchess Community College... (more)

 

wonsun bae

Wonsun Bae (online)

Dr. Wonsun Clara Bae is a soloist and collaborative pianist with an extensive career performing in solo concerts and collaborating with singers, instrumentalists, orchestras, ensembles, and dance performers... (more)

 

joseph gusmano

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)

 

yerry

Dennis Yerry (online)

Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed myriad musical genres... (more)

 

alex dicicco

Alex DiCicco (on sabbatical)

Alex DiCicco is a music educator, keyboard player, and composer... (more)

 

 

 

Percussion

rusty boris

Rusty Boris (in person; 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)

 

tom melito

Tom Melito (online)

Tom Melito has been a mainstay on the New York City jazz scene for many years. ... (more)

 

 

 

Strings

choi fairbanks

Choi Fairbanks (in person)

Originally from Korea, Choi received numerous awards from national classical music competition  ... (more)

 

amanda heaton

Amanda Heaton (in person; 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)

 

michelle metty

Michelle Metty (in person; violin, viola)

Born and raised in the Hudson Valley, Michelle began learning violin at 9 years old and has been playing the viola since she was 15... (more)

 

rich simon

Rich Simon (in person; cello, double bass)

Richard Simons is conductor of the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra at SUNY Dutchess Community College... (more)

 

caitlan truelove

Caitlan Truelove (in person, also in Fishkill; violin)

Caitlan Truelove is a classically trained violinist with nearly two decades of experience in solo, collaborative and orchestral performance. ... (more)

 

heeja questad

Heeja Questad (online; violin)

Born as a music-loving native Korean, Heeja started violin in 5th grade and never stopped. ... (more)

 

 

 

Voice

krista libertino

Krista Libertino (in person)

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

Dennis Yerry (online)

Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed a myriad of musical genres... (more)

 

john howell

John Howell (on sabbatical)

John Howell, tenor, has sung throughout the United States, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, and Sydney, encompassing opera, oratorio, and choral. (more)

 

 

Woodwinds

lynnette benner

Lynnette Benner (in person; flute, oboe)

Lynnette Benner began playing flute at the ripe old age of eleven.... (more)

 

morgan decker

Morgan Decker (in person, also in Fishkill; 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

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

Joe North (on sabbatical; saxophone, clarinet, flute)

Joe North received his bachelors degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia, where he studied saxophone with Wildy Zumwalt ... (more)

 

john knight

John Knight (on sabbatical; clarinet, saxophone, flute, bassoon)

Mr. W. John Knight earned his degrees in music education from Hofstra University and Western CT. State University where he majored on bassoon and trombone ... (more)

 

 

 

Conducting

rich simons

Rich Simons (in person)

Richard Simons is conductor of the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra at SUNY Dutchess Community College... (more)

 

 

 

Music Production

gary llundqvist

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

Ted Messerschmidt (in person)

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

Rich Simons (in person; guitar, ukulele, mandolin)

Richard Simons is conductor of the Mid-Hudson Community Orchestra at SUNY Dutchess Community College... (more)

 

joseph gusmano

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)

 

yerry

Dennis Yerry (online)

Dennis Yerry is a musician, composer, arranger and musical director whose career has encompassed myriad musical genres... (more)

 

alex dicicco

Alex DiCicco (on sabbatical)

Alex DiCicco is a music educator, keyboard player, and composer... (more)

 

 

 

Special Education

travis wood

Travis Wood (in person; guitar, ukulele)

Travis Wood is a classical guitarist based in Poughkeepsie... (more)

 

 

Suzuki Method

jeanne fox

Jeanne Fox (in person; cello)

Jeanne Fox teaches all ages from 5 and up, including college-level performers and adult beginners. ... (more)

 

michelle metty

Michelle Metty (in person; violin, viola)

Born and raised in the Hudson Valley, Michelle began learning violin at 9 years old and has been playing the viola since she was 15.. ... (more)

 

travis wood

Travis Wood (in person; guitar)

Travis Wood is a classical guitarist based in Poughkeepsie... (more)