Faculty
DANCE
Kelly Harris
Kelly has recently arrived here from Germany she holds a degree from the New World School of the Arts, and has been a dancer, teacher, and choreographer for 20 years. She danced professionally in New York and toured the U.S. and Europe with professional dance companies and Broadway musicals. Kelly is an internationally recognized dance educator, and her students have gone on to perform with Phildanco, the New York City Ballet, and appeared in films such as Center Stage. Her theories on dance pedagogy “Improvisation for the Children’s Classical Ballet Class” have also been published in Dancer Magazine.
Brook Parsons
Brook is a graduate of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a BA degree in Dance/ Arts Administration with a teaching certification in grades K-8. Her technical training includes classical ballet, and modern in Graham and Horton, her dance styles include tap/hoofing, jazz funk and hip-hop. Brook currently performs with Dance Wave in Atlantic City, Urban Animation, the Garden State Dance Company and various casino entertainment to include, Showboat, Resorts and the Borgota. Her chorographic credits include the American College Dance Festival.
Michele Rose Peterson
Michele is a graduate of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a BA degree in Dance. A professional dancer for eleven years in Las Vegas Michele brings her knowledge of classical jazz technique, pre-school and tap. Her choreographic credits include numerous musicals, pageants and tap ensembles.
Dustin Talvacchia
Dustin is known for his unique style of dancing. He experiments with different styles and techniques, mixes them together to come up his own fusion. His dance company Urban Animation is his creative outlet for his ideas. He is highly trained in funk styles such as popping, locking, boogaloo and breaking as well as hip-hop. He performs with Dance Wave based in Atlantic City, Urban Animation, the Garden State Dance Company and Casino entertainment at Resorts and Showboat. His greatest enjoyment is enlightening students to what dancing really means and to educate minds on the hip-hop culture.
Daisey Buckmuse Daisey began her education in dance as a member of the children’s’ dance company Les Enfants de la Dance. In her late teens she became a soloist as well as a choreographer for the company. In the early eighties she attended Temple University as a Dance Major. Later she furthered her education at the Richard Stockton College of NJ as a Dance / Arts Administration Major. Daisey has been teaching dance for over twenty-five years
ACTING
Ashley Kirschmann: Acting/Theatre Arts
A New Jersey native born in Atlantic City, Ashley is currently enrolled in The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and will complete her studies this year earning her a BA in Literature and Theater. She works in the theater department, and has appeared in numerous shows including several musicals such as The Odd Couple, Neil Simon, The Art Collector, Carlo Goldoni, Bye Bye Birdie, Anything Goes, The Sound of Music, A Night of One Acts, Footloose, Oklahoma, Crazy for You, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying to name a few. Ashley performed with the Emanon Players, Once Upon a Time players, and the Stockton Theater Club. In addition she has worked as an assistant director, stage manager and behind the scenes.
PRIVATE MUSIC/VOCAL
Karissa Davis / Vocals
Mrs. Davis is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with a major in classical vocal performance and also attended the American Music and Dramatic Academy in New York City for musical theatre. Her performing career has taken her around the world including a performance with Pavarotti at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Natalia Matijasic / Classical Piano Natalia Matijasic is a conservatory trained graduate from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. A classical pianist who has trained since the age of 4 years, she is a product of the performing Arts High School in New York City. Natalia has performed a vast repertoire of chamber music and solo piano concentrating on Contemporary and Impressionistic Music. Twentieth century composers range from Samuel Barber, Bela Bartok, Aaron Copland, John Cage, George Crumb, Rodger Sessions, Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern, Charles Wourinen, and Edgar Varese. Natalia has performed the French Impressionistic piano works of Claude Debussy, Gabriel Faure, Francis Poulenc and Maurice Ravel as well as the evocative Latin dance music from Brazil.
Steven Mento / Classical Piano
Steven Mento received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Delaware, studying applied piano with Leon Bates. After piano study with Annie Petit of The Curtis Institute, he enrolled in a Masters program at Temple University and worked with Harvey Wedeen in piano pedagogy and Maurice Wright in composition. Steven Mento completed doctoral studies in piano performance at the University of South Carolina where he studied piano with Dr. Charles Fugo, studying composition with Dr. Richard Goodwin.
Dr. Mento has performed in various locations in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, South Carolina, Florida, and in Vienna, Austria, and has performed at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. His violin concerto was performed and recorded at the Orvieto Festival in Italy in July of 2007. Duo Mento performed the world premiere of ‘Dies Irae’ for two pianos on October 23, 2008 at Merkin Hall in New York City.
Steven Mento has composed and performed ‘Elegy’, for piano and orchestra, commissioned by the Bay-Atlantic Symphony and awarded a recording contract with Naxos/ERM Media. His compositions have been performed by the Amael Trio and by pianist Wei Leng.
He is a concert reviewer for the Classical New Jersey Society Journal, and teaches music and piano at Burlington College and the McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. In 2002 ‘Duo Mento’ was formed with his sister Loretta (chosen by Sony Films to play Mozart in ‘Seven Pounds’) to perform four-hand piano literature; four hand and solo CDs are available on Eroica Classical at www.eroica.com
Fred Rushmore Percussion
A graduate of West Chester University, Fred’s 20 years in the music industry and music education is diverse. Honored as 2005 Educator of the Year, Fred’s comprehensive knowledge of music theory and pedagogy is shared with his students in the Elementary Band at the Hess Complex in Mays Landing. Along with his life in music education, Fred plays professionally evenings and weekends for a variety of contractors in and out of the casino industry.
Kevin Jordan / Guitar
Kevin Jordon has played guitar for 15 years. Mostly a self taught musician, he has had numerous years of privates lessons in guitar and cello. Kevin’s lessons are geared towards teaching the basics: reading music, playing and maintaining the instrument, understanding theory, as well as learning a variety of guitar genres such as Jazz or cCassical guitar. Additionaly students will enjoy reading tabliature, and playing by ear to their favorite songs.
Ed McCabe / Guitar
Ed McCabe is a professional band musician and has performed with Borzoi, New York Rock Ensemble, Walt’s Garage, Trilogy and Ed Manion of the South Side Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. He is a New York City session player with Lifelong Records and plays a wide range of styles to include: rock, jazz, contemporary, acoustic styles to name a few. Ed is a knowledgeable guitarist with 30 years of succesful private lesson instruction and is experienced in repair and setup of string instruments and associated electronic equipment.
Jacob Smith / Saxaphone, Clarinet, Oboe
During my 20 years of service in various Army Bands playing saxophone, oboe, and clarinet, I have performed in Oklahoma, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Japan, Guam, Germany, France, Belgium, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Macedonia, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, and Tunisia.
I also arranged music for 40 piece concert band, Big band, and Woodwind Quintet.
I studied oboe with Dr. David Picthorn of Cameron University. Attended master’s class with oboist Joseph Robertson. During High School studied saxophone with Berklee graduate Raymond Johnston Jr. Recently, I studied saxophone with Mike Pedicin, a local saxophone whose reputation is well known throughout the tri-state area.
Since my retirement from the army band field in 2000, I have made a living performing dinner music at local fine dining restaurants, as well as performing at weddings, Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, and private parties. I’m available to teach on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursday. Make up days for lessons will Saturdays
VISUAL ARTS
Alex Alessi
Is a third generation teaching artist and silk painter and has lived in New Jersey for twenty five years. Watercolor, oils, silk painting and theatre arts are a few of his pursuits that compete for his time. Travel is also on his list of things “to do.” On your next vacation to Alaska, Morocco Belize, Trinidad or Tobago and you see and artist painting away, stop by….it just might be Alessi!
Stephen Stuart Gibson
Stephen Gibson was born in Philadelphia and raised in South Jersey. Recognition for his artistic talents began at a young age as he was enrolled in adult drawing and composition classes by the age of eight at the Ocean City Arts Center. He is a 1999 graduate of Flagler College St, Augustine Fl, having earned a BA in Fine Art. Mr. Gibson offers a wide variety of instruction in painting and drawing and believes that development and understanding of these fundamental disciplines is at the core of any artistic endeavor, whether the aim is that of a professional or avid art enthusiast. Stephen maintains a competitive exhibition record and completes projects for private and commercial and corporate entities alike. His work related travels has taken him through Europe, the Caribbean, Canada and various parts of the United States.
Terry T. Gossin
A graduate of the University of the Arts on Philadelphia, PA Terry received her degree in Sculpture and Art Education. Ms. Gossin received her Masters degree from Parsons school of Design with an Illustration major. Her art is exhibited in throughout the tri-state area and she enjoys the benefit of having a studio in her home. Ms. Gossin is an educator in the Upper Pittsgrove School District.
Ericka Midiri
Graduated with degrees in fine Arts and Graphic Design, Ms Midiri has since been honored in several juried exhibits to include; Avalon Fine Arts, Brigantine Festival, Art Expositions of Batsto Village, Atlantic City Arts Centre and Long Beach Island Foundation. Her gallery exhibitions include: Ocean City Art Centre, Hopkins House Gallery, Markheim Art Center Perkins Art Center and the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Her signature style “Fauvistic Realism” is also influenced by 18th century Realist artists such as John Sargent and Celia Beaux.
Brittany Parish
Ms. Parish is a graduate of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey with a BA in Studio Arts, specializing in painting. She is experienced in oils and acrylic, however also works in charcoal, pastels, watercolor, and sculpture. Her gallery experience at the Stockton Art Gallery lead her to be chosen to develop different ways to teach children of all ages gum oil artwork. Her extended background includes Botanical illustrations
Studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and holds a BA from Rowan University. Her art is exhibited at galleries throughout the tri-state area.
YOGA
Heidi Farber
Welcome to Kripalu. It is a total yoga experience, bringing awareness to the body, breath, mind and spirit. Classes begin with a centering and warm-ups, followed by vinysas flow of postures and ending with controlled breathing and relaxation. By exploring yogic philosophy, students begin to integrate their practice and therefore carry yoga into everyday life. Kripalu creates a nurturing space in which harmony and balance foster spiritual growth. Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania Teacher of Handicapped Certification and K-12 special education teacher.
PILATES
Kristina Carr
Pilates is one of today’s hottest workouts. Pronounces “puh-lah-teez” Pilates is a system of over 500 controlled exercises that engage the mind and condition the total body. It is a balance of strength and flexibility training that improves posture, reduces stress and creates long, lean muscles without bulking up. Kristina is the owner of the Kailea Pilates studio which specializes in mat Pilates lessons. She certified as both a personal trainer and a Pilates Instructor by the American Aerobic Association International/International Sports Medicine Association.(AAAI/ISMA) as well as Pilates Certification from the NJ Yoga Zone. Ms. Carr is a native of Atlantic City, received her BS in Mathematics from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and MA in Business Administration from the University of Maryland.