May 2010: We are excited to announce two wonderful new faculty appointments: Neha Gohil (Kindermusik) and Jordan P. Smith (Saxophone). Neha Gohil, who has joined our faculty of Kindermusik Educators, holds a Master's Degree in Special Education from Kean University. Prior to her graduate work, she completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Therapeutic Recreation at Temple University, where she graduated with honors. Neha is a respected early-childhood specialist who is already known to many parents in this community through her outstanding work with children at the Flemington Jewish Community Center. A nurturing, patient, and knowledgeable educator with a love for music and children, she will be a strong addition to our Kindermusik faculty, and we are thrilled to welcome her to HAA!
Joining our woodwind faculty, distinguished young artist Jordan P. Smith holds a Master of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from Manhattan School of Music (May 2010) and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from The College of New Jersey. As of this coming fall, he will be a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Classical Saxophone Performance at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, where he is a student of Dr. Paul Cohen. Jordan has extensive experience as a classical saxophonist, having appeared with The New World Symphony, the Manhattan School of Music Orchestra, the Brooklyn College Orchestra, and the French Woods Orchestra. Recent performance venues have included the Metropolitan Museum of Art, St. Peters Citigroup Center in NYC, Knight Concert Hall at the Adrienne Arsht Center, the Professional Children's School, Yale University, and the 2009 North American Saxophone Alliance Region 8 conference at West Virginia University. With his many achievements, Jordan will be a great asset to our faculty, teaching saxophone lessons.
March 2010: We warmly welcome Lynda Saponara to the piano faculty of Hunterdon Academy of the Arts! Dr. Saponara, who received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers University, joins eight other piano instructors to meet the rising demands for piano and keyboard instruction at Hunterdon Academy of the Arts. Having previously held several university appointments, including at Rutgers, The College of New Jersey, New Jersey City University, and Wagner College, Dr. Saponara brings considerable knowledge and professional expertise to this community.
February 2010: We are delighted to have appointed three new music faculty members: Marisa Arzillo (voice and musical theatre), Alan Rigoletto (guitar), and Richard Woo (piano). Marisa is pursuing a distinguished career as a singer and operatic stage director. She has started teaching voice for us, and will take our Musical Theatre program to the next level. Though well versed in all guitar styles, Alan Rigoletto is coming to HAA with some significant expertise on the jazz guitar, as well as a semester of guitar studies at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst ("Academy of Music and Performing Arts") in Frankfurt, Germany. Richard Woo is currently pursuing a Master's degree at Westminster Choir College, majoring in Piano Pedagogy/Performance and Music Education. In addition to his professional studies, he is also on the piano faculty of Westminster Conservatory of Music.