Our faculty and staff are carefully selected professional educators, solo artists, composers and conductors. Guest soloists and clinicians are on campus for Master Classes, workshops, and concerts on dates to be announced.
DIRECTOR OF CHORAL PROGRAMS – WEEKS 1-2
Kyle English has been part of the Eastern U.S. Music Camp family since 2003, when he first attended as a camper. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. An accomplished music educator, conductor, and vocalist, Kyle previously served as Director of Band, Choir, and Music Ministry at St. Louis Catholic School in Alexandria, VA, and as Musical Theater Director at The Catholic University of America. He has performed extensively across the Northeastern United States and internationally, with featured appearances at The Kennedy Center, NJPAC, The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Rudolfinum’s Dvořák Hall in Prague, and the Hungarian State Opera House in Budapest. He has had the rare honor of performing for two pontiffs—Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 and Pope Francis in 2015—during their respective visits to the United States. Kyle currently resides in upstate New York, where he serves as Director of Music Ministries at The Church of the Immaculate Conception in Glenville, NY, while also providing music for St. Joseph’s in Scotia and Our Lady of Grace in Ballston Lake. In addition to his musical work, Kyle served for eight years as Vice President of BG Lenders Service, a national repossession company, where he developed significant experience in leadership, logistics, and business operations. He is also a skilled fine woodworker and a professional videographer, producing livestreamed services and media content for organizations throughout the Capital Region. Kyle continues to balance his passions for performance, craftsmanship, and visual storytelling with a deep commitment to youth music education—anchoring his work at EUSMC and beyond.
STRING INSTRUCTOR – WEEKS 1-3
Karen holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She is certified as a Suzuki Violin teacher, as well as in Kodály Pedagogy (Level III) and Orff Schulwerk (Level III), with a specialization in elementary music education. She has over 16 years of experience teaching music in classroom settings.
Her musical training began in childhood with violin studies and has since expanded through continued engagement in performance and music education. She has participated in several international music festivals as a violinist and violist, contributing to her comprehensive background in both performance and pedagogy.
Woodwind Instructor
Julissa Martínez resides in Richmond, Virginia, where she received her BM in Music Education from the VCU School of Music. A passionate educator and musician, she is the current band director at G.W. Carver Middle, where she is especially passionate about the instrument start-off process. Under her direction, this year’s ensembles received a rating of Excellent – Superior at the 2024 Virginia District III Band Assessment. During the summer season, she serves as an administrative director for the Eastern U.S. Music Camp hosted at Colgate University. She has been with the camp since 2017. In her free time, Julissa loves to hike,collect rocks (she even has a pet rock: Sebastian!), paint, go down hours-long rabbit holes on youtube, sing karaoke, take scenic drives, and more.
WINDS & THEORY INSTRUCTOR – WEEKS 1-3
Margaret Kettell holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. Margaret currently teaches UPK-4 General Music at Norwood-Norfolk Central School. She teaches privately and performs often with Northern Symphonic Winds.
Head of Piano Department Weeks 1-3
An avid chamber musician and teacher, Leonardo Passarelli is widely recognized for his artistry, thoughtful playing, and skillful communication. A first-prize winner of both the Souza Lima National Piano Competition and the Linda Bustani International Piano Competition, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from UNESP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Leonardo’s artistic development has also been shaped through masterclasses with distinguished pianists and pedagogues such as Alexander Kobrin (Eastman School of Music), Arnaldo Cohen (Indiana University), Michael Gurt (Louisiana State University), Flávio Varani (Oakland University), Ricardo Castro (Haute École de Musique de Genève), Anna Fedorova, among others. With concerts scheduled ahead and an active online and in-person piano studio, Leonardo balances intensive practice, efficient rehearsals, and passionate teaching with sports and reading. In 2026, he marks his fourth consecutive year serving as Piano Faculty at EUSMC.
DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAL & STRING PROGRAMS – WEEKS 1-2
Mr. Jernigan received his bachelor’s degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, N.Y., and his Master’s Degree from Lehman College, N.Y. Mr. Jernigan taught in the Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. UFSD where he served as the conductor of the local and national award-winning High School Orchestra, Band and Jazz Ensemble, the Eighth and Seventh Grade Orchestra and Band. He also directed the district chamber music program and the newly formed steel drum ensemble in the high school and middle school. From 1986 to 1999 he was the music director and conductor of the Camerata Chamber Orchestra of Long Island and has twice toured Europe with this ensemble. He has guest conducted numerous county, district, regional and all-state festivals on all levels throughout the Northeast and Florida. As a professional double bassist, Mr. Jernigan is in demand as a freelance musician and has held the principal chairs of the Westchester Symphony, Queens Orchestral Society and is currently principal of the Allegro Chamber Orchestra of New York, which has made several European tours. He is also currently a bassist with the Fishkill Baptist Church of N.Y. Praise and Worship Team. Mr. Jernigan is an active member of the Westchester County and New York State Music Educators Association.
DIRECTOR OF BAND & WIND PROGRAMS – WEEK 1
Ensemble and the Symphonic Band. He formerly held the positions of Director of Bands at Hartwick College, Associate Director of the Hartwick College Summer Music Festival, and Brass Chair for the New York State School Music Association. For over 30 years, he was Director of Bands at North Shore High School in Long Island, NY, where he led the Wind Symphony, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Marching Band. Under David’s direction, the North Shore Wind Symphony consistently earned superior ratings at the annual NYSSMA Major Organization Festival, and from 2005 until 2020, they performed in Argentina, Austria, Canada, Cuba, the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Uruguay. In 2018, David was honored as Band Director of the Year by the New York State Band Directors Association, and in 2020 he received the Teacher of the Year award from North Shore High School.
DIRECTOR OF ORCHESTRAL & STRING PROGRAMS – WEEK 3
Kathleen Feldman is the conductor of the GWYOA Youth Symphony and has been a music teacher in the Chappaqua Schools for 18 years. She is the orchestra director at Horace Greeley High School and the district chairperson for K-12 music. She holds degrees in violin performance from Purchase College (SUNY). music education from Manhattanville College (MAT), and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Boston University. As a violinist, she performs regularly with local orchestras, and has served as guest conductor for The Chappaqua Orchestra’, Orchestra 914, and the Cortlandt Chamber Orchestra, A Past- President of the Westchester County School Music Association, she is currently an advisor to the Board of Directors. As a lifelong
student and educator of music, Kathleen strives to find the joy in music making and to pass this along to her students. She is thrilled to return to EUSMC for another summer of music!
DIRECTOR OF BAND & WIND PROGRAMS – WEEK 2
Eric Volaski is a dedicated music educator with 5+ years of teaching experience (General Music, Chorus & Band) across all grade levels. He holds a Bachelors & Masters Degree in Music Education from SUNY Potsdam, Crane School of Music and has been a member of various community ensembles including the Northshore Community Band, Long Island Wind Ensemble & Noise in the Basement (Poughkeepsie, NY). Eric is passionate about creating inclusive, engaging music programs that foster student growth, confidence, and creativity. His teaching philosophy centers on building strong musical foundations while encouraging exploration across genres and cultures. He has successfully directed concert bands, jazz ensembles, and small chamber groups, and is committed to supporting students of all abilities in their musical journey
DIRECTOR OF JAZZ PROGRAMS – WEEK 1
Matthew Erman is a graduate from the Eastman School of Music (M.M. Jazz and Contemporary Media) and SUNY Fredonia (B.M Music Education and B.A Jazz Studies). Matthew was a member of the Fredonia New Jazz Ensemble which received Downbeat magazine’s Student Music Award for Outstanding Performance by a College Large Jazz Ensemble in 2019. He also won the Fredonia Jazz Society Student Jazz Competition in 2019. Matthew has performed with groups such as the World-Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and shared the stage with Tommy Smith during the 2023 Rochester International Jazz Festival with the Eastman Jazz Ensemble. Matthew has performed alongside artists such as, The O’Jays, Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti, Nicole Zuraitis and has had the chance to open for Anat Cohen. Matthew is currently a high school band director at Canandaigua Academy and serves as an adjunct instructor at the Arthur Satz Department of Music at the University of Rochester.
DIRECTOR OF GUITAR & ROCK PROGRAMS – WEEK 3
Zach Jay Hamilton is a music teacher based in the Southern Tier of New York State, originally from the Adirondack Mountains in the North Country. He has a passion for science fiction, jazz, creating art, skateboarding, enjoying pizza, and getting lost in a good book. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a concentration in classical guitar, though jazz piano remains his favorite to listen to. He later completed a master’s degree in Literacy at Elmira College. When he’s not teaching general music, band, and chorus, Zach performs in four different bands throughout the Finger Lakes region.
DIRECTOR OF JAZZ PROGRAMS – WEEK 2
is a pianist, composer, and educator based in New York City. Drawing inspiration from his firm roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, Arnie’s voice spans ensembles and genres, finding his footing in both large-scale new music compositions and intimate improvised music settings. He stays active as a leader and a sideman all around NYC, performing at notable venues including Dizzy’s Club, Bar Bayeux, Jazz Club at the Aman, Arthur’s Tavern, and many more. His debut trio album Darts was released by Adhyâropa Records in June 2023, featuring Marshal Herridge, Tony Moreno, and a fresh lineup of energetic original compositions. His playing can be heard on numerous recordings alongside acclaimed artists including Michael Rodriguez, Ron McClure, Alan Ferber, and Drew Gress. As a composer/arranger, Arnie has written for a wide array of musical acts and award-winning short films and documentaries. Most notably, his arrangement of Matthew Fullen’s composition “Elegant” was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for the 2024 Taiwan Golden Melody Awards. Arnie’s upcoming septet album Driftwood Children is set to release in 2025, featuring saxophonist Billy Drewes and trombonist Alan Ferber. Also set to debut live in 2025 is the Arnie Sainz-Michael Dudley Jazz Orchestra, awardee of the 2024 New Music USA Creator Fund. Arnie is an adjunct faculty member at New York University’s Steinhardt School, and is a member of the BMI Jazz Composer’s Workshop.
DIRECTOR OF CHORAL PROGRAMS – WEEK 3
Jonathan Burnett has been the choir director of the Norwood Norfolk Central School District for 15 years. He also currently serves as the director of choirs at St. Lawrence University. He is a graduate of the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education. Mr. Burnett has worked with church choirs in Puerto Rico and in Northern New York, and has been a guest conductor with the St. Lawrence County All County Chorus. He enjoys performing, and recently played lead roles in community productions of Once Upon a Mattress and The Addams Family. He has also been a guest soloist with the Potsdam Community chorus at the Crane School of Music. Mr. Burnett lives with his wife, Nichelle, and two children, Truman and Lydianna, in Winthrop, New York. He runs a small hobby farm with donkeys and horses, and serves as a volunteer firefighter and EMT.
GUITAR FACULTY
Billy Petito is a guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer based out of Peekskill, NY. A skilled performer both in the studio and on stage, Petito can be heard in a wide variety of professional ensembles. Petito has held a number of prestigious teaching posts including the role of Director of Jazz Bands at Rochester’s School of the Arts, the Instructor of Jazz Guitar at the Eastman School of Music, Music Production Faculty at the Eastman Community Music School, and Composer in Residence at the Southeast Asia Music Festival. He also designs and offers a variety of group online music education courses including “Inside Pop Music” and “Global Guitar Jam” to corporate clients including Google. In addition to his active performance and teaching schedule, he composes and arranges music for school ensembles, professional groups, and for television, radio, and video games. Some of his original music can be heard behind commercials for Microsoft, Toyota, and Lincoln Continental.
DIRECTOR OF BAND & WIND PROGRAMS – WEEK 3
Scott Byers is a band director and conductor based in the greater NYC area. He is the Band Director at New Rochelle High School, leading the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and chamber music program. His ensembles consistently earn “Gold” and “Gold with Distinction” at NYSSMA festivals. Byers is also Associate Conductor of the Manhattan Wind Ensemble, conducting rehearsals and performances at major NYC venues. He holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Montclair State University, where he studied with Dr. Thomas McCauley and served as assistant conductor of the MSU Wind Symphony. Scott is thrilled to be serving on the conducting faculty at Eastern US Music Camp at Colgate University, directing ensembles, teaching conducting, and coaching chamber groups this year. Byers earned dual undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Ithaca College, where he studied with Dr. Steven Mauk.
DIRECTOR OF GUITAR & ROCK PROGRAMS – WEEK 1
Dan Greenleaf is a Jazz Guitarist from central Vermont. While at Ithaca School for Music and Dance Dan played in the premiere jazz ensemble as well as different bands that worked in venues from bars and clubs to The Lincoln Center. Dan’s recent accomplishments include an award for “Outstanding Guitar Solo” at the 2023 Jack Rudin Jazz Championship at Lincoln Center and a fully selfcomposed senior recital featuring works of modern jazz minimalism. When not playing music Dan is an avid listener and live music attendee and makes trips to The Village Vanguard every chance he gets. He hopes to continue to play and teach music as a force for good for years to come.
DIRECTOR OF PERCUSSION PROGRAMS – WEEKS 1-3
Chris Nappi has performed and/or recorded with Steve Reich and Musicians, the SEM Ensemble, Newband, the North Carolina Symphony and Ben E. King. He has recorded for the asphodel, BIS, Dog w/a Bone, Ear-Rational, EMI, Mode, New Tone, New World Records, Renè Block Editions, Tzadìk, and Wergo labels. He serves on the Percussion faculty of The Manhattan School of Music Precollege and the Ostrava Center for New Music, Czech Republic where, since 2001, he has been guest soloist playing European as well as world premieres of percussion solo and chamber music by such composers as John Cage, Morton Feldman, Alvin Lucier and Christian Wolff.
CAMP FOUNDER
An internationally known composer, author, educator, clinician, and arranger, Tom received ASCAP’s eight Popular Awards and his 39th Standard Award in recognition of internationally performed compositions and recordings and is credited with over 400
published works. He was the founder of the New York State School Music Association All-State Jazz Ensemble and has served on the faculties of Skidmore College, The College of St. Rose, Union College, SUNY College at Albany, and Schenectady County Community College. Tom founded and directed the Eastern U.S. Music Camp at Colgate University each summer and served as a guest conductor and adjudicator for the New York State School Music Association and numerous festivals throughout the country. He was a staff member with the Stan Kenton clinics and director of the National Stage Band Camps held at various universities throughout the country. He served as President of the New York State Chapter of the National Percussive Arts Society and was a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association for Jazz Education. He performed as a percussion artist for the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Schenectady Symphony Orchestra, the Utica, and Catskill Symphony Orchestras. Tom was the director of “Strike Force,” a professional percussion ensemble performing throughout the northeast.