Our Teachers
David Barnhart - Cello
David has been teaching cello in the Hudson Valley since 1993. He received his Bachelor’s in Music (Performance) in 1986 from Franklin Pierce University and his Master’s of Music (Performance) from Kent State University in 1993.
During his High School years, David attended the Mannes College of Music’s Preparatory Division where he met and studied with his most influential teacher, cellist William Harry. Harry taught him with a caring and steady hand the ways of learning the cello with a system that was to the point and economical. That “quality over quantity” is the one essential tool for learning the instrument successfully which David still practices with his students to this day.
Subsequently, David went on to study with Franklin Pierce University adjunct faculty cellist Carol Gebhardt from 1982-1986. During his college years, David was involved in a rigorous program of performance where he participated in Franklin Pierce’s annual Christmas programs of Handel’s “Messiah” and got his orchestra pit experience playing in Franklin Pierce’s musical productions of “Pippin” and “Fiddler On The Roof” among others. He gained further orchestral playing experience in the Monadnock region with Monadnock Orchestra and Chorus and the neighboring college of Keene State where he was a member of the Keene State Orchestra. He also participated in their chamber music program as well run by the Apple Hill Chamber Music Player’s pianist Eric Stumacher (a very prestigious group that concertized the world over). David was also a participant in Apple Hill’s Summer Chamber Music Camp.
Kent State University offered a further continuation of David’s college studies and participation in master classes offered by his teacher Moshe Amitay and two years of participation in the Kent State Sinfonia.
After completion of his Masters 1993, David set up and gathered private students for his studio in the Hudson Valley. Concurrently, he was asked to join the faculty of Bramson’s Music/ Mount Kisco School of Music where from 1993 to 1996 and then after a short hiatus came back to work as a faculty member from 2003-2011. David diligently prepared all of his students for success in their local NYSSMA auditions and as a result they came away with exceptional marks.
After Bramson’s closing in 2011, David worked at Putnam Music Center in Mahopac, New York from 2012-2024 where he continued to mold cello students there with the same caring and determined hand that his mentor instilled so many years ago.
Nick Lancaster - Guitar/Bass/Ukulele
Pete Walrath - Guitar/Bass
Dana Scofidio - Guitar/Bass/Ukulele/Drums/Banjo/Mandolin/Music Theory
Dana Scofidio has been a professional guitar and bass guitar teacher since 1976. His recorded work includes CDs, videos, and studio recordings for a Nickelodeon television series. As a performer and composer, he is a founding member of the jazz organ trio In the Dream—which includes noted keyboard player Jerry Mack and former Andy Williams drummer Rosa Avila. Their debut CD, In the Dream, was released in 2010. Dana’s electric guitar work with the Doc Wallace Trio—whose unique blend of Texas-style fiddling and swing has been performed at Lincoln Center, Columbia University, and the La MaMa theater in New York—is featured on the group’s 2001 CD, Live at the Living Room. During the 2008–2009 school year, the group served as teaching artists with the Lincoln Center Institute, and during 2009–2010, they participated in Carnegie Hall Musical Connections—both of which are programs that bring music in an interactive and educational format to schools and other institutions throughout New York City. As a performer, Dana has also appeared in concert with the renowned musicians Bo Diddley and Jeffrey Osborne. He currently performs with In the Dream, the Doc Wallace Trio, children’s composer John Farrell, and appears occasionally with award-winning composer Daniel Eliot Levy as well as with recording artist Rick Massley. His guitar work is featured on the 2009 CD Erubescent Nights, by the contemporary composer Danny Gray. Dana attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and resides in South Salem, New York.
Maria Castellucci – Piano/Flute
Maria Castellucci earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Music from the University of Hartford and studied at the Hartt School of Music. She has been a professional pianist, performing as a soloist and accompanist for solo instrumentalists and singers as well as participating in musical ensembles in NY and CT for over 35 years. She is classically trained in music theory and repertoire and performs a variety of classical and contemporary music. She has played for innumerable musicals, recitals, concerts, religious services and private events. She is the pianist and accompanist for Jesse Lee Memorial United Methodist Church in Ridgefield, CT and prior to that was the accompanist for Bedford Community Church in Bedford, NY. She has accompanied such groups as the SymphoNY Chorus in NYC under the direction of Henric Idestrom, and has played for many musicals such as South Pacific, Grease, Hello, Dolly!, My Fair Lady, The King and I, Oliver, Oklahoma!, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown, and most recently for The Baker’s Wife for their full orchestra premiere performance at the newly expanded Ridgefield Theater Barn.
Maria is also an accomplished flutist, studying for many years under John Oberbrunner, who was a charter member and principal flutist for the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra and Mary Ellen Jacobs at the Hartt School of Music. She has won numerous awards for flute having been selected as the only bi-county senior instrumental soloist for Jefferson and Lewis Counties in New York State her senior year as well as achieving 100 percent on her NYSSMA competition in the highest all-state grade 6 category for the two years she competed. She has a genuine love for all genres of music and she is delighted to share her knowledge and encourage students to grow and reach their individual musical goals.
Evgenia Zilberberg - Violin/Viola/Vocal/Piano
Evgenia started her music journey as a violin student in Yekaterinburg, Russia at the age of 5 years old. When she was 14, her family decided to permanently move to the USA where she auditioned for Manhattan School of music and was accepted with a full scholarship. Evgenia also became a member of ISO orchestra directed by Johnathan Strasser. She holds many achievements, awards and scholarships including Elaine Bart award, Best chamber music performance, Meadowmount best solo performance and others. Evgenia was a student of world known violinists such as Issac Malkin and Erick Friedman.
When Evgenia became a student at Yale school of music where she was accepted with a full scholarship, she decided to take voice lessons to broaden her musical experience. Her teachers included Leah Mogilevskaya of Bolshoi Theater, Shirley Love and Virginia Grasso. That lead her to become a professional classical singer as well.
Evgenia performed in many venues as a violinist and a singer such as Carnegie hall, Lincoln center, Meadowmount Summer festival and many more. For many years Evgenia held permanent jobs as a vocalist at Park Ave Synagogue and Brick Presbyterian church on the upper East side in NYC directed by Neil Robinson and Keith Toth. Currently, Evgenia plays around Hampton area for weddings, churches and other events with a number of professional musicians.
Hans Broecking - Drums/Percussion
Hans Broecking earned a BFA in music from the University of Connecticut and has been a professional drummer active on the CT music scene teaching and playing for 30 years. As well as playing drumset in numerous bands ranging from classic rock, reggae, R&B, soul, funk, jazz and Latin Afro beat. Hans also has worked on many musicals and operas playing in the pit for shows such as Jesus Christ superstar, the mikado, Godspell, the Magic flute, West side story, anything goes, Jason and the amazing technicolor dream coat, and most recently ‘Curtains. He has taught marching/rudimentary percussion at Newtown, Bethel, Brien McMahon, and Darien High Schools. His goal is to make sure that his students first and foremost have fun making music while teaching basic reading skills, proper technique, and good practice habits.
Matt Moadel - Drums/Percussion
Matt Moadel has been a professional musician and music teacher for more than 20 years. He has immersed himself deeply in many styles, ranging from traditional drum set styles and rudimental snare drumming, to Middle-Eastern and African drumming. He earned a bachelor's degree in Percussion from Western Connecticut State University and has studied with teachers of many genres. He has performed in many musical settings, from Jazz and Reggae to Flamenco and Funk to marching bands and pit orchestras. Matt has been helping his students reach their goals, whether they are working on the basics of music and drumming or preparing for important auditions. His curriculum is not limited to one path but follows a natural progression, directed not only by the need for the essential elements of music and drumming, but also by the needs and learning style of the student.
James Kerr - Classical Guitar/Banjo/Mandolin/Dobro/Lute
As a dedicated performer, educator, and private instructor James Kerr possesses the ability to be equally at home in the worlds of bluegrass Dobro, classical guitar, acoustic blues, and jazz. James directs the Bluegrass Ensemble and teaches guitar at Columbia University and is also a guitar professor at Naugatuck Valley Community College, and John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY). His solo concerts feature a unique mixture of original Dobro instrumentals and songs, as well as early acoustic blues and bluegrass.
As a sideman or ensemble member James has performed at such New York area venues as Irving Plaza, The Knitting Factory, Gracie Mansion, Trinity Church, The Wetlands, Symphony Space, as well as the Juilliard School and Yale University. James has performed as a soloist with the Mobile Symphony Orchestra Pops and festival performances have included the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, The Craftsbury Chamber Festival, The Long Island Guitar Festival, The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, and the Battery Park Summer Concert Series in Manhattan.
James attended the University of Michigan where he studied jazz, and received a master's in music education from Columbia University. He completed a doctorate in classical guitar performance in 2016 at Stony Brook University (SUNY).
