In 2017, Joe joined the marching band staff at Montgomery High School in Skillman, New Jersey. Joe is also a Teaching Artist at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, offering instruction in Composition, Music Technology, Classical Repertoire, and Jazz Improvisation.

Joe plays trumpet in Philadelphia funk-fusion band Wack Cheddar and entertainment band J.E.M. and the Vibe. He performs regularly in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C., and at music festivals such as MusikFest in Bethlehem, PA.

Harpist, MaryAnn McCann, studied with Edna Phillips and Karin Fuller at the University of the Arts and with Alice Chalifoux at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Salzedo Harp Colony in Maine. Upon graduation, she taught in the Cleveland Institute Preparatory Division while performing with the Cleveland Opera Company and the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival in New York.

MaryAnn was soloist with the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Debussy’s Danses: Sacre en Profane and with the Shreveport Summer Music Festival in Louisiana where she received outstanding recognition for her performances of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp and Ravel’s popular Introduction and Allegro.

Home in Philadelphia, Mary Ann appeared regularly with contemporary groups, Relache and Network for New Music, where she premiered new works for harp solo and chamber ensemble. MaryAnn recorded Starscape, a virtuosic solo work by Philadelphia composer, Jan Krzywicki, and premiered his Planctus for oboe and harp, written in memory of her late harp teacher, Karin Fuller.

During MaryAnn’s 25 years of being an active freelance harpist, she enjoyed performing extensively with such groups as the Philly Pops, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Haddonfield’s Symphony in C, and with traveling Broadway shows such as South Pacific, Chorus Line, and Peter Pan. She accompanied entertainers such as Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennet, Robert Goulet, the Moody Blues, John Michael Talbot, and Amy Grant.

MaryAnn’s harp and flute duo, Columbine, performed on university stages and in private homes. While maintaining her private harp studio, Mary Ann was on the faculty of the Settlement Music School for 10 years and taught in Philadelphia’s public and private schools. She served for five years as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Harp Society.

Harpist, MaryAnn McCann, studied with Edna Phillips and Karin Fuller at the University of the Arts and with Alice Chalifoux at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Salzedo Harp Colony in Maine. Upon graduation, she taught in the Cleveland Institute Preparatory Division while performing with the Cleveland Opera Company and the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival in New York.

MaryAnn was soloist with the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Debussy’s Danses: Sacre en Profane and with the Shreveport Summer Music Festival in Louisiana where she received outstanding recognition for her performances of Mozart’s Concerto for Flute and Harp and Ravel’s popular Introduction and Allegro.

Home in Philadelphia, Mary Ann appeared regularly with contemporary groups, Relache and Network for New Music, where she premiered new works for harp solo and chamber ensemble. MaryAnn recorded Starscape, a virtuosic solo work by Philadelphia composer, Jan Krzywicki, and premiered his Planctus for oboe and harp, written in memory of her late harp teacher, Karin Fuller.

During MaryAnn’s 25 years of being an active freelance harpist, she enjoyed performing extensively with such groups as the Philly Pops, the Pennsylvania Ballet, Haddonfield’s Symphony in C, and with traveling Broadway shows such as South Pacific, Chorus Line, and Peter Pan. She accompanied entertainers such as Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennet, Robert Goulet, the Moody Blues, John Michael Talbot, and Amy Grant.

MaryAnn’s harp and flute duo, Columbine, performed on university stages and in private homes. While maintaining her private harp studio, Mary Ann was on the faculty of the Settlement Music School for 10 years and taught in Philadelphia’s public and private schools. She served for five years as president of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Harp Society.

Odessa has a degree in Music Composition with a Violin Concentration from Temple University’s Ester Boyer College of Music and Dance. Ms. Balan is a certified Suzuki teacher with certifications through Book 5. Ms. Balan is a unique voice in the contemporary music scene. Her musical genres include, but are not limited to, classical, jazz, folk, and adult contemporary rock. Over the past 20 years she has composed music for Group Motion Modern Dance Company, collaborating with Andrea Clearfield and Manfred Fischbeck; she collaborated on classical-jazz fusion projects with jazz pianist and recording artist Dave Burrell; she had many performances in the Philly Fringe Festivals, and performed at the Kimmel Center, the Jazz Clef Club, Chris’ Jazz Café, the Annenberg Theater at University of Pennsylvania, and the Arts Bank in Philadelphia, and at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Her orchestral work Winter Dance was played by the Romanian Symphony Orchestra on their tour of Romania and Italy. Her compositions have been used in independent films and television shows, and have been played on NPR’s Creatively Speaking on 90.1 FM, and UPenn Radio 88.5 FM. She is now a proud mother of two boys, and keeps busy performing, recording, and teaching violin, viola and music theory at CMS.

Eric has been an active teacher, performer, and chamber musician in the Philadelphia region since 2001. In addition to his work at Community Music School since 2002, he has been a faculty member of the Westminster Choir College Conservatory, the Nelly Berman School of Music, and The Music School of Delaware. He currently teaches music theory and chamber music at The Music School of Delaware, and has been a Master Faculty member of the Community School since 2009. From 2002-2005, he was ‘cellist of CMS’s ensemble-in-residence, the Mühlenberg Piano Quartet, and is currently ‘cellist of the Illustra Trio. Other performing commitments include Symphony in C, Classical Revolution Philadelphia, and the Murmuration Improvisation Ensemble. He holds a B.M. in Cello Performance from the University of Iowa, and an M.M. and Performance-Pedagogy Professional Certificate from Temple University.  Eric is also a certified Suzuki instructor.  Eric is a Master Level Faculty member at CMS.

Casey Cassel was born and raised in Montgomery County where her development as a musician became intertwined with the vibrant arts and culture of the Greater Philadelphia area. She studied violin with Dr. Elizabeth Guerriero and  gained orchestral experience as a member of the Philadelphia Sinfonia under the baton of Gary White and performing at the Kimmel Center, Temple Performing Arts Center, and various community institutions. She went on to cultivate her love for pedagogy by earning her Bachelor of Music Education at the Crane School of Music, located at the State University of New York. At Crane, Casey studied with Dr. Sarah Hersh, whose focus on body mapping sparked Casey’s passion for education focused on physical barriers associated with playing string instruments. Continuing to develop her orchestral skills, Casey performed under the baton of Dr. Ching-Chun Lai, Dr. Joel Schut, and Maestro Antony Walker with the Crane Symphony Orchestra. After winning the Potsdam Presidential Scholars research grant, Casey attended Violin Suzuki teacher training with Christie Felsing at Ithaca College. Inspired by the work and research of Jennifer Johnson and Susan Kempter, it is Casey’s personal mission to set up students with a well rounded understanding of how to maneuver their instruments. In doing so, they will be liberated to find a deeper exploration of musical content that goes beyond simply playing notes. Casey’s philosophy, at its core, is to foster the growth of life long thinkers, problem solvers, and music-makers in a holistic and nurturing way.

Multi-Instrumentalist and Composer, Ryan Leaver received his B.A. in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music in 2003 and his M.A. in Modern American Music from the Longy School of Music of Bard College in 2006.  He has received instruction in the Feldenkrais Method, the Alexander Technique, Eurythmics, and the Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization from leaders in each respective field.  Some of his teachers include Dennis Sandole, Charlie Banacos, George Garzone, John Lockwood, Bob Gullotti, Bob Moses, Ran Blake, John Thomas, and Ben Monder.

Multi-Instrumentalist and Composer, Ryan Leaver received his B.A. in Jazz Composition from Berklee College of Music in 2003 and his M.A. in Modern American Music from the Longy School of Music of Bard College in 2006.  He has received instruction in the Feldenkrais Method, the Alexander Technique, Eurythmics, and the Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization from leaders in each respective field.  Some of his teachers include Dennis Sandole, Charlie Banacos, George Garzone, John Lockwood, Bob Gullotti, Bob Moses, Ran Blake, John Thomas, and Ben Monder.

His students have participated in many local school bands and jazz bands; as well as Inter-County, County, District and State concert and jazz bands.  Some of his students have become members of the Penn State Blue Band, Temple University Bands and other college music groups. He enjoys working with students of all ages.  Currently their ages range from nine to seventy-two.  He also enjoys teaching all styles of music.

His students have participated in many local school bands and jazz bands; as well as Inter-County, County, District and State concert and jazz bands.  Some of his students have become members of the Penn State Blue Band, Temple University Bands and other college music groups. He enjoys working with students of all ages.  Currently their ages range from nine to seventy-two.  He also enjoys teaching all styles of music.