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The Instructors
| DIRECTOR
OF THE MUSIC WORKHOP- |
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Jim
Jones: (piano) Jim, The Music
Workshop founder, is a 1988 honors graduate
from Boston’s prestigious Berklee
College of Music. Jim has been an active
pianist/keyboardist/vocalist and songwriter
for the past 20 years performing throughout
the East Coast. He has also provided
vocals and keyboards on numerous local
and national radio and TV commercials.
Jim has produced his own original material,
as well as, many talented local bands
and soloists both at his studio here
in Baltimore and in Nashville. The summer
music outreach program Jim developed
for the Parks and People Foundation
helping Baltimore City Public School
first and second grade children achieve
appropriate grade level reading skills
is now in it’s eighth year. Jim
is the proud dad of three children. |
| THE
INSTRUCTORS - We are very proud
of the diverse and talented instructors
who teach at The Music Workshop. Here
are some of our instructors. |
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Joe
Decara: (guitar) Joe brings over
thirty years of teaching experience
to his students. He has performed with
several national acts, and continues
to write, arrange and record. His emphasis
is on jazz and contemporary styles.
Joe currently teaches at The Music Workshop
and at Loyola College in Baltimore,
MD. His latest cd entitled Kaleidoscope
will be released in December 2005. |
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Lafayette
Gilchrist: (piano) A 1992 graduate
of the University of Maryland, Baltimore
County, Lafayette has received national
and international acclaim touring throughout
Europe. He has performed with jazz legend
David Murray’s octet. In 2004
he released his debut cd The Music According
to Lafayette Gilchrist to enthusiastic
reviews, and in September 2005 his sophomore
release, Towards the Shining Path received
accolades throughout the music industry.
Lafayette performs with his band, New
Volcanoes. Lafayette was the featured
musician in the Arts section of Baltimore’s
Sunpaper on June 12, 2005. |
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Helen
Waesche: (piano) A wonderful
teacher, Helen graduated from Peabody
Preparatory Institute at the age of
fifteen! She has since earned her Bachelor’s
degree in Music Education from Western
Maryland College, and her Master’s
degree from Towson University, with
advanced graduate studies at the Peabody
Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, MD.
Helen recently retired from the Baltimore
County school system as a choral and
general music teacher, and has taught
at The Music Workshop for several years.
Everyone loves Helen! |
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Carl
Grubbs: (saxophone) Carl received
early extensive training from his relative,
the legendary jazz master, John Coltrane.
Currently Carl is Artist in Residence
at St. Paul School, Brooklandville,
MD. He is a composer, performer, teacher
and recording artist. Carl has received
two grants from the National Endowment
for the Arts to support concerts and
workshops in the Baltimore/D.C. area.
He has toured nationally and throughout
Brazil. His recordings include Carl
Grubbs & Friends: Live at The New
Haven Lounge (1993), Carl Grubbs &
Friends: Live at the BMA (1994), Reflections
(2002) and Stepping Around the Giant
with special guest, Odean Pope (2003).
Look for his latest release in November
2005. |
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Fred
Moss: (guitar/voice) A graduate
of Harding University in Arkansas (voice),
and North Texas State University (composition
and jazz studies). He is currently a
session musician at E.B.E. Pro Studios
in New York City. Fred is a versatile,
accomplished guitarist, equally comfortable
performing in a society band, a jazz
combo or a rock band. He can be seen
locally playing with the bands Elite,
Orlando Phillips Band and The Fred Moss
Solo Project. |
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Dave
Makowiecki: (trumpet) A Towson
University graduate, Dave has been performing
on the East Coast for ten years. He
is equally comfortable with jazz, classical
or rock styles. Currently Dave is the
Assistant Director of the award winning
Archbishop Curley High School jazz ensemble.
He has played locally with Crack
the Sky and The Junkyard Saints,
and nationally with Gladys Knight,
K.C. and the Sunshine Band and
Lee Ann Womack. Dave is now
playing with Carey Ziegler’s
Expensive Hobby, which in 2004
was voted Baltimore’s Best Rock
Band by Music Monthly readers. Look
for Dave in the movie The Wedding
Crashers; he is a trumpeter in
the wedding orchestra! |
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Alma
Bethea: (piano/voice) Alma is
an enthusiastic teacher with over twenty
years of experience. Currently Alma
is a music teacher and Department Chairperson
at Nicholas Orem Middle School with
Prince Georges County
School system. Her experience includes
the following positions: summer writing
instructor and Music Director for Friends
School, Educational Consultant for Towson
University, and Voice Instructor for
the Eubie Blake Cultural Arts Center.
Alma has a Master of Science degree
from The John’s Hopkins University,
a Master of Science (Music Education)
from Morgan State University and a Bachelor
of Arts from St. Augustine’s College.
She has successfully prepared
many students for vocal competitions
and choral auditions! |
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Emily
Noel: (piano/voice) Emily has
a Master of Music degree from Peabody
Conservatory, and is currently pursuing
a Graduate Performance Diploma at Peabody
Conservatory, where she is studying
under baritone William Sharp. She made
her debut at age sixteen at Peep-Bo
in the Mikado with the Maryland Lyric
Opera. She has performed a diverse repertoire
of operatic roles with the Annapolis
Opera, Peabody Opera, Ignoti Dei Opera
and Opera Vivente, and has been a featured
soloist with the Peabody Renaissance
Ensemble. She recently recorded a companion
cd for the textbook entitled Music of
the Renaissance to be published by Prentice
Hall. Children love Emily!
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Mike
Mathias: (guitar/piano) A naturally
gifted musician, Mike has over fifteen
years of teaching and performing experience
to offer his students. He is equally
proficient with playing the guitar or
piano. A diverse range of performing
styles has made Mike a highly respected
and sought after session player and
band member. He is currently recording
a new cd, due out this December. Students
love his patience and supportive nature. |
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Tracy
Smith: (guitar) is garnering
increasing praise for her expressive
performances, rich tonal palette and
musical control. Cuban guitarist and
conductor Leo Brouwer praised her "polyphonic
hands" and "tremendous sound"
while American virtuoso Benjamin Verdery
commended her "ability to express
the emotion of a work to its core."
A prize-winner in international competitions,
most recently the NGW Classical Guitar
Competition in New Milford, CT, her
playing has brought her to the concert
platform in Germany, England, France,
Spain, the USA and her native Canada.
Also an active chamber musician, she
appeared as a soloist in Verdery's Ellis
Island performed at the 92nd Street
Y, and was invited to perform at Peabody
this year with the CAGE Avant-Garde
Ensemble in a work by John Cale. She
is currently completing her Doctor of
Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Conservatory
under the guidance of Julian Gray. |
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