Community Music Lesson Program Instructors

Stephan earned a bachelor's degree in music at Berklee College of Music, bachelor's degree in computer science at Fitchburg State University, and master's degree in computer science at Boston University. He has played bass with the Artie Barsamian Big Band and Swingtet, Winiker Swing Orchestra, Symphony Pro Musica, Central Mass Jazz Orchestra, Leominster Colonial Band, Ashby Band, and the Ramblin Floyds. Currently, Stephan is a member of the Hal McIntyre Orchestra, the Itchy Feet Jazz Nonet, and the Fitchburg State Community Orchestra. He plays bass in pit orchestras for musical theater productions and is Music Director for the Ashby First Parish Church.

Jane Fiske, Professor of Humanities (Music) at Fitchburg State and former Humanities Department Chair and Interim Dean of the Division of Arts and Sciences. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music education from Boston University and Master’s and Bachelor degrees in piano performance from New England Conservatory of Music. She studied with Maria Clodes Jaguaribe, Gabriel Chodos, and Maria Bono, and performed as recitalist throughout New England and as principal soloist with Indian Hill Symphony Orchestra, Salem Philharmonic Orchestra, Marlboro Symphony Orchestra, and Thayer Symphony Orchestra as winner of the Concerto Competition. Her CDs feature music by Scarlatti, Clara and Robert Schumann, Brahms, Villa-Lobos, Messiaen, Chopin and Debussy. She received the Vincent J. Mara Award for Excellence in Teaching at Fitchburg State.

Born in the Philippines, Roy Allan Imperio earned music degrees from the University of the Philippines and Andrews University and has taken masterclasses with Menahem Pressler at Indiana University. A dedicated piano teacher for more than three decades, he also performs locally and internationally as a soloist, accompanist and chamber musician. He has served as collaborative pianist at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and continues to perform with the Nashaway Trio. Three of his CDs are released worldwide--- Music of Frederic Chopin: A Life of Passion, Seleksiyon by Augusto Espino, and Holiday Music of New England with the Bulfinch Players.

Matthew Kim earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) with a double major in Music Education and Classics. He earned a master's degree in saxophone performance at the Longy School of Music. He played saxophone in National Wind Ensemble at Carnegie Hall under the direction of H. Robert Reynolds, Worcester County Light Opera Company, Holy Cross Graduation Band, and Fantasy Big Band in Hopedale. He played flute at After Hours Arts Program in Lynn MA. A Massachusetts Department of Education certified music educator, he has taught master classes, beginning jazz improv, and individual lessons, and he has been a counselor and teacher for middle and high school students at UNH's Summer Youth Music School.

Amy holds degrees in saxophone performance from Marshall University, the Longy School of Music and Boston University where she studied with Ed Bingham and Ken Radnofsky. Amy is a multi instrumentalist, teaching saxophone, clarinet, and bagpipes in New England since 2003. Amy is the current Director of Bands at Fitchburg State University and a member of the Pharos Saxophone Quartet, Triage Woodwind Ensemble and Pipe Major of Clan MacPherson Pipes and Drums. Amy is a Rovner Products Ambassador.

Jack Mellish holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he studied saxophone under Jonathan Hulting Cohen. Jack performed in the University’s Saxophone Quartets, Wind Ensemble, Chapel Jazz Band, and the Minuteman Marching Band. He performed at the Navy Band’s International Saxophone Symposium and the Tournament of Roses Parade. Currently, Jack enjoys teaching middle school band and performing saxophone and clarinet in pit orchestras and other ensembles.

Maria earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in music therapy from California State University Northridge and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. She plays principal flute/piccolo in North Worcester County Symphony Orchestra, New England Film Orchestra, Firebird Pops Orchestra, and Boston Civic Symphony Orchestra. Maria performs for weddings, chamber music events, and in pit orchestras for musicals. She conducts and plays contrabass in flute choirs. A flute instructor for 25 years, Maria is a board-certified music therapist in private practice.

Pianist Alanna Rantala recently moved back to MA from the SF Bay Area . She holds degrees from UC Davis and New England Conservatory. She has performed in several US cities, London, and Australia, and recorded for Mode Records ("Winter Music" by John Cage). She is a professor and collaborative pianist at Fitchburg State University, and on the faculty at Worcester’s Joy of Music Program. She is also the music director at a church in Grafton. Alanna enjoys composing, and her music can be heard on all digital platforms. She also loves yoga and traveling and spending time with her two sons. 

Cynthia earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from University of Massachusetts Amherst Commonwealth Honors College, where she received the Chancellor’s Talent Award and Eugenie M. May Piano Award for outstanding musicianship. She studied piano with Gilles Vonsattel. She performed solo and chamber music in Bowdoin International Music Festival and June in Buffalo Institute for 21st-Century Music. She regularly performs with pianist Jane Fiske and the Fitchburg State Community Orchestra.

Hildur Schilling received a full scholarship (Artistic Achievement Award) to study violin and viola performance at Meadow School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, where she also majored in psychology. She earned a doctorate in cognitive psychology from UMass Amherst and is Professor of Psychological Science at Fitchburg State, where she conducts the Fitchburg State Community Orchestra. Hildur played violin/viola in Waco Symphony, East Texas Symphony, Wichita Falls Symphony, Thayer Symphony, Manchester Music Festival, and Killington Music Festival. Currently, she enjoys playing violin and viola in chamber music ensembles and in pit orchestras for musical theater productions.

Geoffrey graduated from Syracuse University with both a Bachelors and Masters of Music Education with Trumpet Performance Honors, studying under trumpet professor Gabriel DiMartino. During his tenure at Syracuse, Geoffrey also studied in France under trumpet professor Patrice Porté at the Strasbourg Conservatory. After graduating, Geoffrey has continued to perform frequently when he’s not busy teaching band and choir at Lunenburg Public Schools. Currently, Geoff is involved in freelancing around New England performing with pit orchestras for musicals as well as appearing as a guest soloist for various events. Geoffrey is also a member of the Central Massachusetts Brass Ensemble and Gateway Symphony Orchestra, and serves as the Adjunct Professor of Trumpet at Fitchburg State University. When not playing trumpet or teaching music, Geoff enjoys relaxing with his wife and family, riding bicycle, snowshoeing, fishing, and woodworking.

Eddy Troxler holds a bachelor's degree in professional music from Berklee College of Music and a master's degree in education from UMASS Boston. He performs classical, jazz, blues, country and rock guitar as a soloist and as a band musician. A composer and arranger, he has written a beginning guitar method. He has taught music at Mt. Wachusett Community College, Saint Williams Elementary School in Dorchester, Holy Rosary School in Gardner, and Mason Elementary School in New Hampshire.

Joe holds degrees in music education from the University of New Hampshire and Boston University, where he studied tuba with Nicolas Orovich and J. Samuel Pilafian, respectively. He has been teaching music for over thirty years in Waterville, ME, Chelsea, MA, Boston University, Andover, MA, and currently in Belmont, MA.  Since 2001. He has been an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association, serving regularly on either district or statewide concert committees since 2003. He plays tuba locally in the Gateway City Orchestra, the Central Mass Brass, and Winchendon Winds.