Music school faculty

BASS

ELIOT PORTER 

B.A., Boston University 

M.A., Brown Unversity

CELLO

ROB BETHEL

B.M., Ohio State University

DAN HARP 

B.M., Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music

NARA SHAHBAZYAN 

B.A. & M.M., Yerevan State Conservatory 

M.M., Miami University 

D.M.A., Boston University

Harmon Steiner

M.M., Cello Performance with Emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

B.M., Cello Performance, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

Natasha Rosario

M.M., University of Rhode Island

CLARINET

VINCE DOMINGUEZ

B.M., Arizona State University

M.M., University of Kentucky

D.M.A., Arizona State University

Hyojun Kim

D.M.A., Clarinet Performance, University of Hartford

M.M., Clarinet Performance, Manhattan School of Music

B.M., Clarinet Performance, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea

VINCENT MATTERA 

B.M., Music Education, University of Rhode Island 

M.M., University of Rhode Island

DRUMS/PERCUSSION

George Correia

B.M., Berklee College of Music

MAT, Rhode Island College

ELLIOTT EASTMAN

B.A., Westfield State University

Riccardo Pearlman

Private Study With Gary Chaffee

Electric Bass 

GEORGE LEONARD 

B.M., Berklee College of Music (Performance)

JACK MCNAMARA

B.M., University of Rhode Island,

M.A., Boston Conservatory of Music

ELIOT PORTER 

B.A., Boston University 

M.A., Brown University

Electric Guitar 

Alice Izyumoff

B.M., Berklee College of Music

GEORGE LEONARD 

B.M., Performance, Berklee College of Music

JACK MCNAMARA

B.M., University of Rhode Island,

M.A., Boston Conservatory of Music

Fiddle

Armand Aromin

Berklee College of Music

FLUTE

ANNE GASPER 

B.A., Indiana University 

M.M., Indiana University

Alisa Smith

BFA, Carnegie Mellon University

MM, Boston University

AIMEE TONER

B.A., Barnard College of Columbia University

M.M., New England Conservatory of Music

FRENCH HORN

ELIZABETH DEAN-GATES 

B.A., Mount Holyoke College 

M.Mus., University of Michigan

GUITAR

MYCHAL GENDRON 

B.M., North Carolina School of the Arts 

M.M., New England Conservatory 

Suzuki Teacher Trainer – Guitar Levels 1-9; Guitar Practicum 

Alice Izyumoff

B.M., Berklee College of Music

GEORGE LEONARD 

B.M., Berklee College of Music (Performance)

JACK MCNAMARA 

B.M. University of Rhode Island;

M.A. Boston Conservatory of Music

Aiden Rogler

B.M., Jazz Guitar Performance, University of Rhode Island



Ryan Peterson

M.M., Jazz Guitar Performance, University of North Texas

B.A., Jazz Performance, University of Rhode

HARP

MOLLY MCCAFFREY-RHIEU

B.M., Rhode Island College 

M.M., The Boston Conservatory

JESSICA SIEGEL

M.A., Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University 

Studied with Alice Chalifoux



Jazz/Rock

Wendy Klein, Jazz/Rock Department Chair

M.M., New England Conservatory

B.M., Berklee College of Music

B.A., Brown University

Emmanuel Escobar

MEd, University of the People

M.A. Berklee College of Music

CPMS, Chicago College of Performing Arts

JOE GODFREY

B.M., University of Rhode Island

M.M., University of South Carolina

Barbara Hughes

M.MEd, Hartt School of Music, U. Hartford

B.S., MEd., Hartwick College

George Leonard

B.M., Berklee College of Music

Aiden Rogler

B.M., Jazz Guitar Performance, University of Rhode Island

Ron Sanfilippo

B.M., Jazz Composition and Arranging, Berklee College of Music

Ryan Peterson

M.M., Jazz Performance, Guitar, University of North Texas

B.A., Jazz Performance, University of Rhode

Aaron Wonson

B.A., Music, Oberlin College

M.M., Piano Performance, Indiana University: Jacobs School of Music

OBOE

Jane Murray, Winds Department Chair

B.M., Oboe Performance Boston University 

M.M., Music Education University of Rhode Island

Mia Fasanello

B.M., The Juilliard School

M.M., Boston University College of Fine Arts

CRIKKETT YOUNG 

A.B., B.S, Stanford University 

M.M., DePaul University

MUSIC THERAPY

CRYSTAL KING 

Board Certified Music Therapist 

M.S.Ed., Simmons College (Assistive Special Education Technology) 

B.M.T., Shenandoah Conservatory (Bachelor of Music Therapy)

KRISTI ROOD 

Board Certified Music Therapist 

B.A. Musical Theatre, Viterbo University 

Masters in Therapy, New York University

Sam Shriner

B.M., Music Therapy, University of Rhode Island

MT-BC - Board Certified Music Therapist

PIANO

GIDEON RUBIN,  Piano Department Chair
B. M., Harvard University
M. M., Boston University School of Fine Arts
D. M. A., University of S. California Thornton School of Music

DAWN CHUNG
B.A., National Taiwan University
Diploma, Berklee College of Music
M.M., University of Rhode Island

AURORA EMDJIAN
B.M., Piano Performance, Accompaniment, Chamber Ensemble and Pedagogy, Tavreezian Music College in Armenia

M.M., Piano Performance, Accompaniment, Chamber Ensemble and Pedagogy, Yerevan State Gomidas Music Conservatory

CHERYL FARIA
B.A., Art Education, University of New Hampshire
B.A., Music, Rhode Island College
M.B.A., University of Rhode Island

ANNE GASPER
B.A., Indiana University
M.M., Indiana University

JOE GODFREY
B.M., University of Rhode Island
M.M., University of South Carolina

STAN HOLTZMAN
B.F.A., Barrington College

Kelly House

B.A., Amherst College

Teacher training, Suzuki Association of the Americas

OXANA IZYUMOFF
B.M., Vladimir State Pedagogical University, Russia
Diploma, Klintsy Musical College, Russia

JUSTIN KISCH
B.A., McGill University
M.M., University of Rhode Island

CHAIA MAY

B.A., Wellesley College

M.A. Stanford University

JUAN RIOS
B.M., in Piano Performance, Universidad Eafit, Medellin, Colombia
M.M, in Piano Performance, Universidad Eafit, Medellin, Colombia
D.M.A., in Piano Performance, West Virginia University

Daniela Roma

B.A., Department of Arts, Music and Performance, University of Calabria, Italy

RON SANFILIPPO
B.M., Jazz Composition and Arranging, Berklee College of Music

NARA SHAHBAZYAN
B.A. & M.M., Yerevan State Conservatory
M.M., Miami University
D.M.A., Boston University

NONETTA SHATAKHTSIAN
B.A., Music, Romanos Melikyan College

M.A., Armenian State Conservatory

JESSICA SIEGEL

M.A., Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University 

Studied with Alice Chalifoux

MANABU TAKASAWA
B.A., Music, Whitman College
M.M., Piano Performance, Manhattan School of Music
D.M. Piano Performance, Literature and Pedagogy, University of Maryland

LAURA VILLAFRANCA
B.M., Oberlin Conservatory
M.M., Boston Conservatory
Graduate Performance Diploma, Boston Conservatory

EVAN WANG
B.M., Eastern Washington University
M.M., Eastern Washington University

Aaron Wonson

B.A., Music, Oberlin College

M.M., Piano Performance, Indiana University: Jacobs School of Music

SAXOPHONE

VINCE DOMINGUEZ

B.M., Arizona State University

M.M., University of Kentucky

D.M.A., Arizona State University

Emmanuel Escobar

MEd, University of the People

M.A. Berklee College of Music

CPMS, Chicago College of Performing Arts

Chris Forbes

B.M., Boston University

M.M., Northwestern University

Professional Arts Certificate, University of North Carolina School of the Arts

SUZUKI CELLO

Harmon Steiner

M.M., Cello Performance with Emphasis in Suzuki Pedagogy, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

B.M., Cello Performance, The Hartt School, University of Hartford

SUZUKI GUITAR

MYCHAL GENDRON

B.M., North Carolina School of the Arts

M.M., New England Conservatory

Suzuki Teacher Trainer - Guitar Levels 1-9; Guitar Practicum

Victor Main

B.A., Mannes College of Music

M.A., University of Rhode Island

SUZUKI PIANO

KELLY HOUSE 

B.A., Amherst College 

Teacher training, Suzuki Association of the Americas 

Aki Pilkington

B.M., Piano, Shobi Gauken University

Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA) | Piano Unit 1

SUZUKI VIOLIN

Alexandra Nichols, Suzuki Department Co-Chair

B.M., Performance: Violin and Piano, Rhode Island College

B.A., Music History, Rhode Island College

M.M., Violin Performance/Suzuki Pedagogy, Hartt School of Music

LAURA GULLEY 

B.S. and B.A., Brown University

ABBY MAGOON

B.M., The Boston Conservatory

M.M., University of Delaware

TROMBONE

ADAM HANNA

Jimmy Chiu

D.M.A., Brass Performance, Boston University

M.M., Trombone Performance, Rutgers University

B.A., Music, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

TRUMPET

WILLIAM CHILTON

B.M., Music, University of Rhode Island

Teacher Certification Program, University of Rhode Island

James Stone

B.M., Rhode Island College

Graduate Performance Degree in Trumpet, Boston Conservatory

UKULELE

Armand Aromin

Berklee College of Music

GEORGE LEONARD 

B.M., Berklee College of Music (Performance)

JACK MCNAMARA

B.M., University of Rhode Island,

M.A., Boston Conservatory of Music

CRIKKETT YOUNG

A.B., B.S, Stanford University

M.M., DePaul University

VIOLA

NARAIN DARAKANANDA

B.A., Music and Psychology, Bard College

M.M., Violin Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

LOIS FINKEL 

B.A., Classics and Music, Cornell University 

M. M., Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music 

GILLIAN GALLAGHER

B.M. and M.M.; Viola Performance, The Juilliard School

ABBY MAGOON 

B.M., The Boston Conservatory 

M.M., University of Delaware

IRINA NARYSHKOVA

M.M., Boston University

Christian Paillan

B.M., Violin Pedagogy and Performance, Universidad de Talca, Chile

M.M., Violin Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville

D.M.A., Violin Performance, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

LOUIS PRIVITERA

B.M. Arizona State University 

M.M. Peabody Conservatory of Music

CONSUELO SHERBA 

B.M., City University of New York;

Graduate studies, University of Massachusetts and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

VIOLIN

Laura Gulley

Strings Department Co-Chair

B.S. and B.A., Brown University

ABBY MAGOON 

Strings Department Co-Chair

B.M., The Boston Conservatory 

M.M., University of Delaware

Christian Paillan

Strings Department Co-Chair

B.M., Violin Pedagogy and Performance, Universidad de Talca, Chile

M.M., Violin Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville

D.M.A., Violin Performance, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

GREGORY AYRIYAN 

M.M., Violin Performance, Certificate of Pedagogical Studies, Professional Instrumentalist Diploma, Baku Conservatory/Academy of Music, Azerbaijan 

NARAIN DARAKANANDA

B.A., Music and Psychology, Bard College

M.M., Violin Performance, San Francisco Conservatory of Music

DANIELA FEINGOLD

Instituto de Música de la Universidad Católica de Chile

Boston University School for the Arts

Aspen Music Festival

LOIS FINKEL 

B.A., Classics and Music, Cornell University 

M. M., Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music 

GILLIAN GALLAGHER

B.M. and M.M.; Viola Performance, The Juilliard School

Viktoriia Kreshchuk

IRINA NARYSHKOVA

M.M., Boston University

LOUIS PRIVITERA

B.M. Arizona State University 

M.M. Peabody Conservatory of Music

Ann-Frances Rokosa

D.M.A., Violin Performance, Rutgers University

M.M., Violin Performance, Mannes School of Music

B.M., Violin Performance, Mannes School of Music

ALEXEY SHABALIN 

B.A., M.A., M.A.T., Moscow Conservatory 

A.D. Boston University 

VOICE

ROBERTA JANELLE, Voice Department Chair

B.M., Hartt School of Music 

M.M., Hartt School of Music

Linda Barbieri

B.A. University of California, LA

B.M., Vocal Performance, magna cum laude, University of Arizona

M.M., Vocal Performance, University of Arizona

Graduate Performance Diploma, Vocal Performance, The Peabody Institute - Johns Hopkins University

Kelly House

B.A., Amherst College

LORI PHILLIPS

B.M., Rhode Island College

Fellowship, Tanglewood Music Center

Private Study, New York City

Connor Shirshac

B.M., Voice Performance, University of Connecticut

ELIZABETH SPLAINE 

A.B., Duke University 

M.H.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

RI PHILHARMONIC YOUTH ORCHESTRAS (RIPYO)

ALEXEY SHABALIN, Music Director and Symphony Conductor 

B.A., M.A., M.A.T., Moscow Conservatory

A.D. Boston University 

VINCENT MATTERA, Repertory Orchestra Conductor 

B.M., Music Education, University of Rhode Island 

M.M., University of Rhode Island 

IRINA NARYSHKOVA, String Orchestra Conductor 

M.M. Boston University 

CHRISTIAN PAILLAN, String Ensembles Conductor

B.M., Violin Pedagogy and Performance, Universidad de Talca, Chile

M.M., Violin Performance, University of Florida, Gainesville

D.M.A., Violin Performance, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa

RI PHILHARMONIC

YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLES (RIPYWE)

DAVID NEVES, Music Director and Symphonic Winds Conductor 

B.M., Music Education, Berklee College of Music 

MAT., Saxophone Performance Rhode Island College 

Ed.D., Educational Leadership, Johnson & Wales University

CHAMBER MUSIC

LOIS FINKEL, Department Chair & Chamber Music Coach 

B.A., Classics and Music, Cornell University 

M.M., Violin Performance, Eastman School of Music 

CONSUELO SHERBA 

B.M., City University of New York;

Graduate studies, University of Massachusetts and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee