Teachers

At Southbury Music Studio, you’ll find a collection of music instructors like no others. All are here in Southbury, CT and are dedicated to helping their students express and enjoy their own music.  You’ll find instructors for:

• Voice & Piano
• Guitar
• Strings
• Drums
• Woodwinds
• Brass

Stephanie Biello started playing piano at the age of seven. She now holds a Master of Music Degree from SUNY Purchase College in Studio Composition and a B.A. from Western Connecticut State University in Music Education. While studying at WCSU, her instrumental focus was classical piano. It was there that she studied under the studio of Dr Russel Hirshfield. Along with her private piano lessons and performances, she also privately studied music composition with Dr Kevin Isaacs. Stephanie is an experienced performer, piano instructor, composer, arranger, and a founder and co-owner of The Southbury Music Studio. She has been teaching piano, music theory and composition privately since 2004. In addition to teaching and running The Southbury Music Studio, Stephanie performs regularly with her cover band; No Big Deal.

She also writes and performs her own music in an original beach band Bahama Mama and the Painkillers. You can hear them online on all streaming platforms or go see them live in Connecticut and Florida.

Tim Smith graduated from Western Connecticut State University with a B.M. in Classical Piano Performance. Tim is an experienced accompanist and has performed with choirs, and has been a part of pit bands for musicals and operas.

He also performed two solo recitals while at WCSU. Tim also plays the organ and is substitute organist at many churches in Connecticut. He also enjoys singing and playing French horn and was a part of WCSU’s chamber choir, Symphonic band, and Orchestra.

Jazmin Giles is a classically trained solo pianist and accompanist based in Connecticut. She is currently completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education at Western Connecticut State University.

She began studying piano at The Hartt School’s Community Division and studied classical piano under pianist Malgosia Lis. While studying at the Hartt School Community Division, Jazmin performed in many recitals, small ensembles, and has won awards and competitions such as the HMTA Rising Pianists Competition. She also attend The Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts where she studied with performer Alex Nakhimovsky and performed with many of the academy’s musical ensembles.

She now takes private instruction in classical piano from Russell Hirshfield and piano pedagogy from Laurel Larsen at Western Connecticut State University. Jazmin serves as a collegiate music tutor and provides her peers with additional training in Keyboard Competency, Music Theory, and Sight-singing. She is also an active member of the school’s National Association of Music Education chapter, the Connecticut Music Educators Association, and presides over the Music Department’s Keyboard Club.

Through studying and teaching music, Jazmin hopes to pass on the many joys and skills music has provided her to future generations.

Ina Cela is a classically trained pianist who began studying piano at the age of six in Albania.

Ina graduated from Chase Colligate School (formerly St. Margaret’s McTernan), and holds a bachelor’s degree  in Music Performance and a master’s in music education from University of Bridgeport.

With over 20 years of experience in teaching and performance, Ina has worked extensively both in private and public education. Ina served as a private piano instructor, Director of Chamber Ensemble, Director of Chorus, and taught music theory and composition at Chase Colligate School. In addition, Ina taught music in the Waterbury, CT public school system for over 7 years, including positions at West Side Middle School and Driggs Elementary.

In 2002, Ina won 1st prize in the Greater Waterbury, CT piano competition, and has opened concerts for renowned European artist such as Oleg Polianski, Anatony Bazhenov, and many others.

Ina is passionate about helping each student build strong technique, confidence, and a lifelong connection to music. 

Noelle Chave graduated Magna cum Laude from Western Connecticut State University with a degree in Music Education and holds her Connecticut license for teaching music K-12. While at WCSU, she was a member of the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, Opera Ensemble and Symphonic Band (flute) and was the recipient of the Connecticut Choral Society Scholarship, which is awarded to a music major “with a record of academic achievement and who possesses extraordinary singing or musical talent.” Noelle studied voice with Dr. Margaret Astrup and music composition with Dr. Kevin Jay Isaacs and was a music theory and sight-singing tutor as well as a private voice and flute instructor for students of all ages during her time at WestConn.

Noelle returned to Connecticut in 2014 after spending a number of years in Wisconsin, where she sang with the Madison Symphony Chorus, the Madison Chamber Choir, and the Milwaukee Chamber Choir. She also worked as a choral music editor for Hal Leonard where, in addition to editing sheet music and teacher resource books, she collaborated with colleagues, McGraw-Hill and esteemed writers, educators, and directors to create a choral music textbook. She has performed in venues ranging from local churches in Connecticut and Wisconsin to the Overture Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and Avery Fisher Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City and with several different ensembles throughout the state. Noelle works as a freelance musician in a variety of settings, and has taught at the Danbury Music Learning Center and Marvelwood School, and currently teaches at the Kent School in addition to the Southbury Music Studio. She is also the choir director for Sacred Heart Church in Southbury.

Katie Kelly is a classically trained Soprano, Actor, and Voice and Piano Teacher based in the New York/Connecticut area. She possesses both a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Western Connecticut State University. Katie is known for her comedic performances as well as the beauty and power of both her classical soprano sound and her Broadway mixed belt. Katie’s teaching style focuses on enhancing the strengths of the musician through collaboration by adding tools and techniques to their arsenal in order to improve their skills, like fun “meow exercise“. This includes song analysis, ear training, and incorporating acting techniques into performances. Katie has been teaching voice and beginning piano at Southbury Music Studio since January of 2023.

Annabelle is currently a student at Western Connecticut State University pursuing a degree in music education with a focus in classical voice. There, she studies under Richard Weidlich, and is in the University Singers ensemble directed under Dr. Jeremy Wiggins. She is also in the university’s Pop and Rock ensemble, which is under the instruction of Dr. Matthew Doiron and Dr. Greg Haynes. She has also taken on the role of the Vice-President for the Westconn American Choral Directors Association chapter in the current year of her studies. As a part of this role she attends conferences throughout the state to network and learn from different music educators throughout the area. Annabelle has spent the last summer doing “music exploration” with preschool aged children, helping their love for music and song blossom.

Previous to that, Annabelle graduated from Edwin O. Smith High School where she was a part of the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and Symphonic Band. In her senior year, she worked directly with her conductor Amanda Hanzlik during an independent study where she served as a TA and assistant conductor, and by the end of the year conducted a piece in the spring concert. Annabelle also had the honor of taking the Carnegie Hall stage with the Chamber Singers ensemble in her senior year, after the ensemble worked closely with composer and arranger Roger Emerson.  At Southbury Music, Annabelle hopes to encourage a positive experience where students can learn, grow and succeed in their musical passions.

Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in Music with a concentration in Guitar Performance from Western Connecticut State University. He has been a performing musician since the age of 13, and has professionally studied jazz, rock, and classical music. Alex has taught private music lessons full-time throughout Western CT since 2002, and he is a founder and co-owner of The Southbury Music Studio. In addition to teaching, he has also been actively performing with multiple ensembles covering many diverse musical styles during that time. Alex is an active member of the band No Big Deal.

Brian Suto is a guitarist and educator from Newtown, CT. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Jazz Performance) from Western Connecticut State University, and a Masters of Science in Music Education from the University of Bridgeport, and is a certified public school teacher in the state of Connecticut.

Brian regularly performs as a jazz guitarist throughout CT and NY as a leader and sideman, and frequently works with rock and indie/alternative projects like Empirical Matador and Gold Eris. He is currently an elementary Orchestra teacher in the Wilton Public Schools, and has been teaching in the public schools for 5 years, and giving private lessons for over 7 years.

Violinist Stephan Tieszen has a Bachelors from the Mannes College of Music, a Masters from the Juilliard School and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the Yale School of Music. He studied violin with Mischa Mischakoff, Guila Bustabo, Sally Thomas, Sidney Harth, and Gabriel Banat.

Dr. Tieszen teaches violin and chamber music at Mannes College of Music and the Tabor Community Arts Center in Branford CT, and orchestral violin classes at the Meadowmount School of Music in Elizabethtown, NY. He has taught at Yale University, the University of Connecticut, Connecticut College, and Fairfield University. He has been Concertmaster of the Norwalk, Meriden, Bridgeport and New Britain Symphonys, and he is currently the Concertmaster of the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra in New London, and the Principal Second Violin of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Tieszen appears frequently with the Wall Street Chamber Players, was a founding member of the Concord Chamber Music Ensemble, and is an active performer and lecturer in educational outreach programs.

For this performance, Dr. Tieszen has written his own cadenzas in the style of Mozart, and he will be playing on a violin made in the mid-1700’s that was in use in Mozart’s time, using a reproduction of a contemporary Dodd bow. He has based his interpretation on Mozart’s manuscripts as published by Gabriel Banat.

Teresa currently holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Western Connecticut State University and is currently pursuing her Masters in curriculum and instruction from Western Governors University. She has been teaching middle school strings for the past 6 years and has taught in several districts including Cheshire, Hartford, and is currently in Newtown. Teresa’s teaching philosophy is that not everyone can learn the same way but everyone can learn. She believes in working to the individual needs of each student to create the best outcome for them as well as creating a safe and fun environment to learn in.

Hannah Alexander is a classically trained cellist based in the Southern Connecticut area. She is currently studying for a BM in Classical Performance at Western Connecticut State University,
under cellist Marcia Wiley.

At the age of 9, she started playing cello under the instruction of John Trader, and later, Stephen Tieszen, and continued her studies with Rebecca Patterson up until college. In addition to the cello, she studies classical tenor and bass trombone under Fernando Jimenez at WCSU. There, she is an accomplished member of the Orchestra, numerous string chamber groups, Wind ensemble and Symphonic band, even getting the chance to play in the pit of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

At Southbury Music, she is looking forward to enhancing students’ love of cello as well as instilling a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.

Hannah Alexander is a classically trained cellist based in the Southern Connecticut area. She is currently studying for a BM in Classical Performance at Western Connecticut State University,
under cellist Marcia Wiley.

At the age of 9, she started playing cello under the instruction of John Trader, and later, Stephen Tieszen, and continued her studies with Rebecca Patterson up until college. In addition to the cello, she studies classical tenor and bass trombone under Fernando Jimenez at WCSU. There, she is an accomplished member of the Orchestra, numerous string chamber groups, Wind ensemble and Symphonic band, even getting the chance to play in the pit of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

At Southbury Music, she is looking forward to enhancing students’ love of cello as well as instilling a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.

Picking up the violin at six, Claire embarked on her journey through music and has been happily performing ever since.

As the years passed, she eventually joined the pop string group, Vivace and later toured the West Coast, and went on to perform in the prestigious and famed Carnegie Hall. Additionally, Claire was both a soloist and a member of the Pathos Quintet as well as the Duende Quartet in the Young Artist Showcase. In this past year, she earned 3rd place in the New York International Laureate Competition.

During her time in the classical music world, she studied with great teachers such as the Director of the Westport and Suzuki School Andrew Smith as well as a member of the New York Philharmonic, Anna Rabinova. She has since been studying with Professor Stephan Tieszan.

Driven by curiosity, Claire has also explored other genres of music outside of classical. She studied bluegrass with the local fiddle legend Stacy Phillips and performed in traditional contra dances and at the Vermont Basin Bluegrass Festival and has since become a recording artist. She has played everything from folk to hip-hop, and even hard rock.

Claire is the happiest when she is making music with friends especially when it is into the late hours of the evening.

Hannah Alexander is a classically trained cellist based in the Southern Connecticut area. She is currently studying for a BM in Classical Performance at Western Connecticut State University,
under cellist Marcia Wiley.

At the age of 9, she started playing cello under the instruction of John Trader, and later, Stephen Tieszen, and continued her studies with Rebecca Patterson up until college. In addition to the cello, she studies classical tenor and bass trombone under Fernando Jimenez at WCSU. There, she is an accomplished member of the Orchestra, numerous string chamber groups, Wind ensemble and Symphonic band, even getting the chance to play in the pit of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

At Southbury Music, she is looking forward to enhancing students’ love of cello as well as instilling a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.

Hannah Alexander is a classically trained cellist based in the Southern Connecticut area. She is currently studying for a BM in Classical Performance at Western Connecticut State University,
under cellist Marcia Wiley.

At the age of 9, she started playing cello under the instruction of John Trader, and later, Stephen Tieszen, and continued her studies with Rebecca Patterson up until college. In addition to the cello, she studies classical tenor and bass trombone under Fernando Jimenez at WCSU. There, she is an accomplished member of the Orchestra, numerous string chamber groups, Wind ensemble and Symphonic band, even getting the chance to play in the pit of Legally Blonde, the Musical.

At Southbury Music, she is looking forward to enhancing students’ love of cello as well as instilling a passion for music that lasts a lifetime.

Jake Habegger is a multi-instrumentalist, starting on piano at the age of 8 and then drums at the age of 13. He holds a Master of Music Education degree from University of Bridgeport and a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Connecticut State University in Jazz Performance. Jake is an experienced music educator, teaching private piano and drum lessons since 2007 and teaching in the public school system as a band and orchestra teacher since 2017. Jake currently teaches string orchestra at Stratford High School and Bunnell High School and is an active member of the Connecticut Music Teachers Association (CMEA). His teaching style is student centered with an emphasis on music making and reading notation. Jake can be heard performing on drums with the CT based cover band, No Big Deal.

Erik D. Perez is a native New Yorker with 33 years of Experience as both a player (live and studio) and instructor. Erik started playing drums at the age of 11 for his church choir. He studied with Robert Brown and Peter Metranga. Through the years, Erik explored various styles of music such as Gospel, Funk, R&B, Jazz, Pop, Rock, and World (Latin etc.).

He continues to play in the Tri-state area with various groups and singer song-writers. Erik enjoys helping students discover a passion for music through drumming.

Gary has been teaching drum lessons for over forty years. He has helped countless students of all ages and levels achieve their goals. Gary’s approach to teaching has been described as fun and motivating. Please take a moment to read the following testimonials.

Heather DaSilva
Gary is an excellent teacher. He really motivated my son and they had a lot of fun. He was also very flexible with our schedule and always did his best to find a time that worked well for us. Highly recommend him.
Wed Jun 30 2021

Paul Austin
I sought Gary as a teacher for a second time after a long hiatus, and many other instructors who did not measure up. Gary is a skilled teacher with 30+ years of experience teaching and many more as an actual drummer. He excels at explaining difficult concepts, encourages me to do better, and challenges me to push harder when I say, “I can’t do this…” He can teach a variety of different styles and techniques and adapts quickly to different learning styles. I recommend him without reservation.
Wed Jun 30 2021

Steve Davies
Gary is very knowledgeable and a terrific drum teacher. He presents the lessons in a flexible and easy to follow manner. He has a great sense of humor and is fun to work with!
Wed Jun 30 2021

Brigid Carney
Gary has been working with my daughter since she was 5 and all of her school band teachers recognize that Gary has been the single determining factor in her awesomeness. I wish all teachers “got” teaching the way that Gary does.
Wed Jun 30 2021

Stephanie Rich
We only have great things to say about Gary! He’s been our daughter’s drum teacher for about 2 years. He makes the lessons fun and efficient. With Gary’s teaching and guidance, our daughter has been accepted into the Western Regionals Jazz Band. We highly recommend Gary!
Sat Jul 10 2021

Conor began piano lessons at the age of six and began playing drums at the age of fourteen. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at Western Connecticut State University with a focus in Jazz Drum Set. There, he studies drums with Jeff “Siege” Siegel, jazz piano with Peter Tomlinson, and performs both small and large ensemble music under the direction of Jamie Begian and Dr. Jimmy Greene. At WestConn, Conor also serves as Treasurer on the board of the WCSU Jazz Club, helping to provide playing opportunities to students and to promote a stronger musical community at the university.

Conor enjoys helping students grow by engaging with their interests and building confidence through music. He has experience teaching all ages and abilities ranging from 4 years to adults. Aside from teaching, he keeps a consistent performance schedule with various groups including the Chris Arnone Quartet, Malin Carta Quartet, and CT-based band Lavender Social Club.

Frank is an upcoming junior at WestConn as a Music Ed major. He has been a member in the schools University Singers and Chamber Choir as well as the schools Symphonic Band. Outside of school, Frank sings and plays handbells for Faith Congregational Church of Ridgefield and Music on the Hill. Frank also plays trombone in 2 local touring bands. He enjoys teaching and spreading the love for music.

Mary has a Master of Music in flute performance from Manhattan School of Music where she studied with Linda Chesis. Mary has been teaching flute in Western CT for many years and enjoys working with students of all ages and levels providing a supportive and inspiring learning environment with humor, patience, and skill. She strives to foster a love for music while developing technical proficiency and artistic expression with all students. Some of Mary’s students have participated in school honors band, marching band, Greater CT Youth Orchestra, Western Region Middle School and High School Band, All-State Orchestra, have made finals for GCTYO concerto competition, attended Music Conservatory, and received college scholarship to participate in band as a non music major. Mary’s experience enables her to provide personalized lessons tailored to each student’s unique needs and goals.

Alex is a second-year student currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at Western Connecticut State University with a focus in Jazz Saxophone. He studies saxophone with Dr. Jimmy Greene, jazz piano with Zaccai Curtis, and performs in combos and big bands lead by Jimmy Greene, Jamie Begian, and Haneef Nelson.

Alex also attended Lagond Music School for two years, studying with Steven Salcedo and Charlie Lagond on saxophone. He also did the pre-college program studying piano harmony, ear training, theory, and performing and being a TA in multiple ensembles. Along with studying with guest professors who held jazz masterclasses and lessons.

Alex also graduated from Pleasantville High School working under band director John Vercesi, performing and helping teach in Concert Band, Jazz Big Band, and the Advanced Jazz Ensemble. His final semester was spent as a teaching assistant at the high school and middle school leading saxophone, clarinet, and jazz big band lessons and rehearsals.