Applied Instructors
Christopher Badami (Music Technology)
Christopher Badami is a Grammy-nominated producer and engineer with over 20 years experience and 4 RIAA Certified Gold records. He is the owner and Chief Producer / Engineer at Portrait Recording Studios, in Pompton, NJ, and has taught production and music technology at Lafayette College (PA) and County Colleges of Morris (NJ).
Lewis Baratz (Chamber Orchestra, Harpsichord)
Lewis Baratz is a harpsichordist, recorder player, and music historian. He has performed with Abendmusik, The Academy of Sacred Drama, Bethlehem Baroque, Biber Baroque, Brandywine Baroque, The Queens Consort, Voices Chorale, Vox Ama Deus, the Voyces Ensemble, and as artistic director of the period instrument ensemble La Fiocco. He was a Fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and a Fulbright Scholar, and earned his Ph.D. in musicology/historical performance practice from Case Western Reserve University. Lewis was a visiting professor Seton Hall University and adjunct associate professor of music history and theory at Mercer Community College. At Lafayette College, Lewis is director of the chamber orchestra, and teaches harpsichord and recorder.
Andy Bauer (Trombone and Low Brass)
Mr. Andrew Bauer is an Instrumental Music teacher at Easton Area Middle School, where he teaches 7th & 8th grade marching band, concert band, string orchestra, chamber strings and jazz band in addition to instrumental music lessons. Prior to returning to Easton for the 2022-2023 school year, Mr. Bauer was the band director at Springhouse Middle School in the Parkland School District and was the Artistic Director of Instrumental Music at the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts in Bethlehem, PA. Prior to his career in education, Mr. Bauer was the principal euphonium player in the US Continental Army Band (now the TRADOC Band) at Ft. Monroe, VA, a position he held for 3 years while serving in the US Army. He was the principal euphonium of the Eastman Wind Ensemble and performed under both Donald Hunsberger and Frederick Fennell during his time in Rochester, NY. He has performed with notable musicians such as the Boston Brass, Bobby McFerrin, Steven Mead, Mark Kellogg, Jim Thompson, John Marcellus, Billy Taylor Trio, Jeff Tyzik, Nicole Cabell, Nabuya Sugawa, and Makoto Ozone. He remains active as a freelance musician in the Lehigh Valley and regularly performs on both euphonium and trombone in a variety of ensembles ranging from classical duos and brass quartets to contemporary jazz.
Noelle Casella-Dominguez (Cello)
Susan Charlton (Flute)
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Susan Charlton received the Bachelor of Music degree in flute performance and the Master of Fine Arts degree in chamber music study and performance from the University of Wisconsin. She has appeared as a soloist and as an orchestral and chamber musician with various performing ensembles throughout the Midwest, greater New York area, the Delaware Valley, and the Lehigh Valley. Her flute studies have included lessons and masterclasses with Julius Baker, Thomas Nyfenger, Paula Robison, Carol Wincenc, Robert Cole, Ernestine Whitman and Mary Robert Wilson, and she has coached with many instrumental and vocal artists throughout the United States. Ms. Charlton has been a member of the Lafayette College Department of Music faculty since 1992, teaching flute and coaching wind and string chamber ensembles. She performs with musicians in a variety of ensembles and colleges throughout the Lehigh Valley.
Todd Collins (Mandolin and Banjo)
Todd Collins has been teaching private lessons on mandolin and clawhammer banjo for over thirty years developing a comprehensive approach. Depending on the student, lessons can include fretboard study, solo construction, improvisational concepts, harmony, sight reading, solo analysis and developing repertoire. He performs in a variety of styles ranging from traditional and progressive bluegrass (Tom Hanway’s Blue Horizon) to swing (Blueswing Trio), contemporary jazz, acoustic blues (The Booglerizers), rock (The Humphries), and classical. His original bluegrass CD “Blue Soul” received national and international airplay. He has published several books with Mel Bay, including “Classic Bluegrass Solos (of Bill Monroe)” and “Fretboard Studies for the Improvising Mandolinist”. Todd was the mandolin instructor for the “Bluegrass Masters Workshops” at the popular Big Apple Bluegrass Festival in New York City. Currently, he is associate professor at County College of Morris in Randolph, New Jersey, where he coordinated the music recording program and developed the popular music history class American Roots Music. He earned a Master of Music in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Music from Montclair State University.
Beverly Roberts Curnow (Accordion)
Beverly Curnow, a student of Carmen Carrozza, holds the B.S. and M.S. degrees in Music Education from New York University. She first gained international recognition by winning the AAA national competition at the Confederation of International accordionists Competition in Valletta, Malta (the first female contestant to do so). Remaining an active performer throughout her teaching career, she continues to make guest appearances for the American Accordionists’ Association and numerous other venues.
Tom DiCarlo (String/Electric Bass; Director of Jazz Combos)
Bassist Tom DiCarlo obtained a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Master of Music degree from Rutgers University. He has performed with world-renowned musicians Claudio Roditi, Norman Simmons, Dave Schnitter, Ralph Bowen, Roseanna Vitro, Jim Ridl, Don Braden, Mark Sherman, Tim Horner, David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Larry McKenna, Jerry Weldon, Tia Fuller, Gap Mangione, Pat LaBarbara, Joe LaBarbara, Sean Jones, Frank Lacy, Orrin Evans, Richard Wyands, Bob DeVos, Joe Magnarelli, and Steve Johns. Tom has appeared on Cablevision television with groups such as the Ralph Peterson Quintet, Gordon Lane Trio, and his own quintet. He has performed at a variety of music festivals including the Morges Music Festival in Morges, Switzerland, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Billy Strayhorn Jazz Festival, and the induction of the Duke Ellington Day in New York City. Tom was recently selected by Jazz at Lincoln Center for the 2010 ‘Rhythm Road’ tour of Russia, China, South Korea, and the Philippines for the U.S. State Department.
Tom DiGiovanni (Collaborative Pianist)
As collaborator with vocal and instrumental students and their instructors, Tom is skilled at moving from Bach to Brahms to Bernstein to bebop while maintaining stylistic characteristics of each genre and time period. These are the challenges that he most enjoys! Tom earned a masters degree in orchestral conducting, studying with Maurice Peress at Queens College (New York) and received an undergraduate degree in Music and Computer Science from Lafayette College. Tom is the Artistic Director of Orchestra360, Director of Choirs at Phillipsburg High School (NJ) and Music Director and Organist at Old Greenwich Presbyterian Church in Stewartsville, New Jersey.
Alexis Fisher (Piano)
A native of Yonkers, New York, Alexis Firstenberg Fisher has taught piano at Lafayette College since 1986. She received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from Manhattan School of Music and also attended Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana. She was a member of the piano faculty at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire and also taught piano at Santa Clara University and San Jose City College. Fisher studied with pianists Adolph Baller, Leander Dell’Anno, Constance Keene, and Abbey Simon. She has appeared as a piano soloist in performances in California, Wisconsin, and throughout the Lehigh Valley. Ms. Fisher has extensive chamber music experience, most especially including recitals of flute and cello repertoire.
Frank Flandorffer (Guitar)
Frank Flandorffer (Guitar) received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition and Arranging from the Greenwich conservatory (a division of New York University), and has studied with Watts Clarke, Dennis Sandole, Howard Roberts, and the eminent maestro Alberto Valdes Blain. Currently, he performs with the Pennsylvania Guitar Quintet and with the Pennsylvania String Ensemble. Additionally, Frank has toured with Sonny and Cher, Bobbie Vinton, Tom Jones, Bob Hope, and Tony Orlando. He has made several recordings, commercials, and videos as a studio musician. He teaches guitar and directs guitar ensembles at Lafayette College, Easton, PA, and DeSales University, Center Valley, PA.
E-mail Frank Flandorffer | Personal Website
Alejandra Garrido (Voice)
Alejandra Garrido (Alex) is a lyric Mezzo-Soprano who has performed in various operas & oratorios throughout NJ & PA. She has also performed in several musicals. Favorite roles are Mother Abbess (The Sound of Music) & Madame de la Grande Bouche in (Beauty and the Beast). Alejandra received her Bachelors in Music, vocal performance, from Rutgers University (Mason Gross School of the Arts) & her Masters in Opera Performance from New Jersey City University. She has a private voice studio in Hunterdon County, NJ & also teaches voice lessons at Lafayette & Muhlenberg Colleges. Her passion for all things, musical theater and contemporary music has brought her to the directorial side of things. For the past several years, she has enjoyed music directing shows for the Pennsylvania in Playhouse, Show Kids, Invitational Theater, and Centenary Stage Company. Ms. Garrido is the Treasurer for the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Heath Hitchcock (Ukulele, Classical Guitar)
Heath teaches ukulele at Lafayette College and guitar at his studio in Bethlehem. He holds a Master of Music in Classical Guitar from The Peabody Conservatory, of The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD and a BSED in Music from West Chester University, Pennsylvania. At Peabody, Heath studied under Julian Gray. While working toward his degrees, Heath studied briefly with lutenist Ronn McFarlane, guitarist Benjamin Verdery, and took lessons from Jason Vieaux and the late Aaron Brock. Heath performed widely in the Baltimore area as part of the flute and guitar duets, Calliope and Windwood. . Heath has a solo album “Five Centuries of the Guitar”. Heath also holds a student concert once a year and performance classes semi-monthly, with student talents ranging from classical to electric guitar, singer songwriters, and ukulele. Heathhitchcockguitar is on instagram and youtube.
E-mail Heath Hitchcock | Personal Website
Dr. Nhi Huynh (Piano)
Dr. Huynh is a pianist and educator recognized for her expressive performances and deep commitment to contemporary music. She has brought to life works by more than 50 living composers and appeared with the Contemporary Chamber Players at Stony Brook University, performing Xenakis’ Palimpsest, Berio’s Linea, and numerous premieres. A highlight of her career was performing Sheila Silver’s Piano Concerto with the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra, where Silver praised her as a “powerhouse” and the performance as “phenomenal.”
Currently on the piano faculty at Lafayette College, Dr. Huynh has also taught at Bard Conservatory of Music, Stony Brook University, and the University of Denver. She previously served as Director of Music at the Royal International Bilingual School in Vietnam, leading programs for 3,000 students that blended classical traditions with contemporary and culturally relevant repertoire. In 2020, she received the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation Award.
Passionate about community engagement, she founded the Ear to H(ear)t Hospital Outreach Project during the pandemic and launched the Salon Concert Series at Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
A native of Vietnam, Dr. Huynh debuted at thirteen with the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and later earned degrees from Eastern Nazarene College, the University of Denver, and SUNY Stony Brook, where she studied with Gilbert Kalish.
Patrick Kerssen (Jazz Piano)
Patrick Kerssen is a pianist and bandleader based in Bethlehem PA. Since graduating from Moravian University in 2018 he has become extremely busy as a freelancer and educator, averaging over 200 performances each year throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Patrick has performed at major venues and jazz clubs such as City Winery Philadelphia, Miller Symphony Hall, Mauch Chunk Opera House, Blu Jazz+, Con Alma, the Deer Head Inn, Sellersville Theater, Shanghai Jazz, the COTA Jazz Festival, and more. In addition to his live performance, Patrick has appeared on several recordings spanning many genres, including jazz, rock, pop, reggae, and metal. As a composer, his big band compositions have been performed by the Moravian College BIG Band, the 4 O’ Clock Big Band at the Karel Velebny Summer Jazz Workshop in Frydlant, Czech Republic, and by the Steel Stacks High School All Star Big Band at Musikfest.
Linda Kistler (Violin, Viola)
Linda Louise Kistler, violin, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College Conservatory, and received a Master of Music from the Juilliard School, where her teacher was Ivan Galamian. She has been a soloist and concert master with the Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra, the Pennsylvania Sinfonia Orchestra and the Bethlehem Bach Festival Orchestra, and is a frequent guest artist with the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble of Schuykill County, Pennsylvania. In addition to her work at Lafayette, her teaching engagements have included the Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts, Kutztown University, Lehigh University and Cedar Crest College.
Nobuo Kitagawa (Oboe)
Nobuo Kitagawa, a graduate of Tokyo University of Arts, received Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from Yale University. He was the winner of the Woolsey Hall Competition, NHK Young Artists’ Audition, and Katz Young Musicians’ Competition which sponsored his debut recital in New York City. He is a member of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem Festival Orchestra. He appeared as a concerto soloist with the Denver Symphony, Yale Philharmonia, Orchestra New England, and Pennsylvania Sinfonia. He has recorded for Koch International, Delos, and New World Records. On Broadway, he has been heard in Phantom of the Opera, Beauty And The Beast, and Miss Saigon. For two years, he served as the principal oboist for the national tour of Music Of Andrew Lloyd Weber. Morning Call described his performance as “sweet, velvety sound simply melted into every corner of the hall.” He taught at Connecticut College and Queens College (New York). He serves as the woodwind section coach for Lehigh University Philharmonic Orchestra and Kinhaven Adult Chamber Music Workshop. He has given master classes and lectures at Wesleyan University, Harlem School of Performing Arts, Kutztown University and Kinhaven Music School. His YouTube channel, NK Music Lab, has over 800 instrumental exercises that attracts world-wide audience. He has been creating modern performance editions of works by Georg Philipp Telemann and they were premiered by Bach Choir of Bethlehem Festival Orchestra.
E-mail Nobuo Kitagawa | Personal Website
Tom Kozic (Guitar)
Tom Kozic is an experienced teacher and lecturer on contemporary guitar styles and jazz improvisation. He toured for four years as lead-guitarist with Eddie Rabbit. Other performing credits include: Eddie Fisher, Frankie Lane, Jerry Vale, Vic Damone, Phil Woods, and many others.
Patricia O’Connell (Collaborative Pianist)
Pat O’Connell is the current accompanist for the Lafayette College choirs. She is also the organist/choir director at First United Church of Christ in Hellertown, PA. . She has resided in the Lehigh Valley since 1984. Pat taught piano at Community Music School and at Lehigh University. She has been an accompanist for musical theater, voice, and instrumentalists in the area for over 40 years. She was the chapel organist at DeSales University for 9 years and continues to work there as an accompanist for the theater department. Pat also plays keyboard in local orchestra pits for musicals. Pat’s education includes a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from West Chester University and a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan.
Hector Rodriguez (Latin American Ensemble)
Hector Rodriguez was born and raised in Long Island, NY. As a child, Hector was always enthused by the sounds of bass, drums, piano and percussion. He began to play bass and piano at an early age in his church and high school band. As the years went by, he decided to take music more seriously. In 2008, he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Music from Berklee College of Music.
Hector currently lives in the Lehigh Valley and is an active musician. He has taught masterclasses at Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts and Moravian University. He has his Latin/Latin-Jazz faith based band, Clave Legacy. He also serves as the Music Director at his local church, The Center Lehigh Valley. Hector has played with numerous bands in the area, as well as many artists. Some of those artists include Luis Figueroa, Tito Puente Jr., Frankie Ruiz Jr, Puchi Colon, Julissa, Jose Papo Rivera, Ezekiel Colon and David Y Abraham. Hector is also a National Accounts Service Representative for D’Addario & Company. Hector is now honored to be a part-time instructor with Lafayette College, directing the Latin American Ensemble!
Rachel Roy (Voice)
Rachel Roy is a versatile performer, educator, and music minister whose career encompasses musical theatre, classical repertoire, a cappella, and sacred music. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Syracuse University and a Master of Arts in Missions from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A passionate ensemble singer, she has directed choirs and performed with Sandi Patty, Steve Green, and Point of Grace. She has served as the Administrative Director of the Adirondack Festival of American Music and is currently serving as Secretary for the Lehigh Valley Chapter of NATS.
Her international music ministry has taken her throughout the United States and to Chad, Jordan, Lebanon, Portugal, South Korea, Thailand, and Zimbabwe. Rachel currently serves as Director of Music Ministries at Mount Bethel Church in Pennsylvania. She maintains a private voice studio, mentoring students and encouraging them to develop confidence, artistry, and a lifelong love of music.
John Schwartz (Clarinet)
John Schwartz received his bachelor’s degree from West Chester State and a master’s degree from Temple University. His principal clarinet teacher was Anthony Liberio, a protege’ of Gino Cioffi, former principal clarinetist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. John’s tenure in the Bethlehem School District included teaching at Freedom High School. During that time, he also taught clarinet and woodwind techniques at Moravian College. Currently, he teaches at the Community Music School in Allentown. Mr. Schwartz Is principal clarinetist with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the Allentown Band, Pottstown Symphony, Reading Symphony, and the Pennsylvania Sinfonia. Additionally, he performed in the following chamber ensembles: Leval Woodwind Quintet, Chaleureux Trio, and the Allentown Symphony Woodwind Quintet. Most recently, he performed the Mozart Quintet with the Copeland String Quartet.
Eric van Hoven (Voice, Vocal Coach)
A Mississippi native, Eric van Hoven debuted at three of NYC’s prestigious music venues within twelve consecutive months. His New York City Opera debut was Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, followed by his concert debut at Avery Fisher Hall with American Symphony Orchestra singing the roles of Hermes in Bruch’s Odysseus, 3rd Soldier in Hindemith’s Murderer Hope of Women, and 2nd Player in Weill’s The Protagonist, and then his Broadway debut in Candide directed by Hal Prince. Mr. van Hoven has performed principal roles with Opera De Las Americas, Portland Opera, Opera Omaha, Chautauqua Opera, South Carolina Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Knoxville Opera, Sacramento Opera, and Augusta Opera. Recent engagements include performances with the Atlanta Symphony, Sioux City Symphony, Mobile Opera Orchestra, and Lake George Opera. Eric is a vocal instructor at Lafayette College.
Jeff “Tain” Watts (Jazz Ensemble, Drums)
Jeff “Tain” Watts, drummer/composer is a Guggenheim Fellow in Music Composition and recipient of multiple Grammy Awards across genres including jazz; multiple wins with Wynton Marsalis and Branford Marsalis and opera; two recent Grammy’s in 2023 and 2024 – Best Opera Recording with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for two groundbreaking opera’s by Terence Blanchard. Jeff has worked in the film and television industry as both a musician on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and as an actor, Rhythm Jones in Spike Lee’s “Mo Better Blues”. An innovator in modern polyrhythmic applications and metric modulation, Watts has worked internationally as an educator and clinician.
Laura Kahle Watts (Trumpet, Horn)
Laura Watts is a composer, arranger and trumpet player working with improvised music and jazz harmony. Laura has arranged for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Branford Marsalis Nonet and the Captain Black Big Band. As a performer she has worked with Bill Lee and the Natural Spiritual Orchestra, DIVA big band, Watts Family Reunion and her own band Santa Bikini. Laura is a NYFA Fellow and recipient of New Music USA project grants and Chamber Music America’s Performance Plus program.
Matthew Wells (Percussion Ensemble, Concert Percussion)
Dan Wilkins (Jazz Saxophone)
Dan Wilkins, saxophonist and composer, based in the Lehigh Valley Pennsylvania, studied jazz saxophone at Manhattan School of Music, BMus 2013. Wilkins’ original project, Horizons Quartet, featuring Gene Perla, Byron Landham and James Collins. Their self-titled album released in 2021, featuring eight of Wilkins’ compositions. The quartet has performed regionally, at Miller Symphony Hall, Chris’ Jazz Cafe with special guest Benny Benack III, the Deer Head Inn, COTA Jazz Fest, and Musikfest. Wilkins also performs regularly with his father, jazz pianist Skip Wilkins, interpreting music from the Great American Songbook, having recorded two albums on Deer Head Records, with a third in production. The father-son duo has toured internationally in Czech Republic, Greece, and Germany. Additionally, Wilkins performs regularly with vocalist Nancy Reed, and with the Water Gap Jazz Orchestra. Wilkins’ latest sextet project, recorded in August 2023, and currently in production awaits release next year. Wilkins has been an active educator, privately to all age groups from kids to college students and professionals for over ten years emphasizing saxophone fundamentals, jazz
improvisation, theory and ear training.