Richard Lawn, Dean
College of Performing Arts
Constance (Williams) Walton
Music, Piano 1939
Constance is currently teaching children and adults in her private studio, composing for choral groups (chamber music and piano), performing for the Schubert Club of Fairfield (She is a part of their workshop and ensemble programs). Other accomplishments: Choral music on 2 recent CD's; "Spectra"-a concert of music for voices by Connecticut Composers, Inc.; "Artaban, The Stargazer" - the story of the Fourth Wise Man, performed by Musica Plenti award-winning vocal ensemble. Both CD's are available from T. D. Ellis, publisher
Rose A. De Stefano
PCPA, 1956
A Reading Specialist for the Philadelphia Board of Education, Rose also substitutes for the Philadelphia Public Schools and is a volunteer at Pennsylvania Hospital.
(Dr.) Norman E. Hoffman
Music, Composition 1962
Clinical Director of Counseling and Psychotherapy Center in Ormond Beach, Florida. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist and a mental health counselor and a certified assessor for the Florida Department of Children and Families.
(see website- drnorm.com)
Barbara C. Crouse
Music, Piano 1964
Director of Music at Hunter Community United Methodist Church, Barbara is also rehearsal pianist for the Lebanon (Ohio) Symphony Chorus and harpist/kerboardist with the Lebanon Symphony Orchestra. Recently retired from 45 years in the Church music field, she continues with her private piano teaching.
Gunta (Keris) Plostnieks
Music, Performance 1964
A musicologist/teacher/performer at the Settlement Music School, Gunta has released a CD "Latvian Sacred Song." The CD contains 18 sacred songs sung in their original Latvian language with English Translation in the accompanying booklet. The CD is for sale at Tower Records in Philadelphia and is featured in their listening station in the classical music section. Conducted the concert opera, Philadelphia production of "Don Pasquale" with international soloists and orchestra.
Norma (Weintraub) Meyer
Music, Piano 1968
Founding member of Philadelphia-based Piano4, touring for several years. Local performances in Upper Darby in April, 2005
(Dr.) Michael Louis Pedicin
Music,Composition 1968
A musical director/producer/teacher/performer/composer, Michael has toured with Grammy Award winning Funk Bros. Played on Grammy winning movie Standing in the Shadows of Motown. Also on tour with jazz guitarist Pat Martino as his tenor saxophonist-worldwide tour 2003 and 2004 in US, England, France, Italy, etc. Private saxophone teacher in NYC. Presented a paper entitled "Music and the Brain: The Neurological and Physiological Changes During the Creative Process" at 2004 IAJE symposium in NYC (Jan 24, 2004).
Anthony M. Barbone
Music, Bassoon 1970
Retired from the North Penn School District after 30 years as an elementary and middle school band director and currently working as an adjunct professor in music at Coastal Carolina University.
Fredric A. Tator
Music Performance 1970
Re-recording mixer with Todd-Ao Studios; credits include an Emmy Award for PBS's "Great Performances" and Emmy nominations for "Fame" and "The Sopranos." Currently mixing "The Shield," an FX television series. Member of Motion Picture Editors Guild, Cinema Audio Society, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
David A. Ewing
Music, Performance 1972
Freelance General manager and solo trumpet with the Melbourne Municipal Band, David also performs with the Melbourne Community Orchestra, Central Florida Winds, Space Coast Wind, Swingtime Dance Band, Sunshine Brass Quintet and Central Florida Lyric Opera.
Roseann (Bickley) Iuvone
Music, Piano 1972
A music teacher (general/vocal) for Byram Township Board of Education, Roseann
Has been a music educator for the past 29 years. She and her husband have four children and look forward to retirement, weddings, travel and grandchildren.
Jerry Steven Abram
Music, Theory 1973
Retired following 25 years in the cruise ship industry as cruise director, hotel manager, director of hotel operations and quality control. Still plays the drums for fun.
John Lee
Music Performance 1974
Currently Executive Director and bassist of the Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band and the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars. He is also leading the John Lee Quartet and Quintet and working with Slide Hampton, Roy Hargrove, and Claudio Roditi. John is recording engineer and owner of Alleycat Studio, South Orange, NJ.
Patrick M. Mercuri
Music, Guitar 1975
Elementary string instructor/guitar teacher/performer at Hamilton Township Schools, Mercer County and the University of the Arts. Continuing to perform with the Philadelphia Orchestra on guitar, mandolin and banjo. Recent performances conducted by Quincy Jones and Carlos Kalmar. Recently joined with faculty member Tom Giacabetti and fellow alum Colette Lefevre in performances with Dave Brubeck of his "Fiesta de la Pasada." Festival and concert appearances with the Midri Brothers jazz group in Florida, Connecticut and California.
Paul Tobias
BM, Music Performance/Violin, 1975
Paul has been a resident of Nashville since completing his degree at the Philadelphia Musical Academy in 1975. Since then he has worked in all areas of the music performance industry including symphonic, touring, recording, television and the Opryland theme park! For nearly 30 years, he has been both performer and contractor for both large and small groups and provided orchestras for guest artists such as Frank Sinatra and Three Dog Night. He is celebrating 30 years as a violinist for the Nashville Symphony Orchestra and has served as their personnel manager from 1995-99.
Valerie Frances Levy
Music, Violin 1976
Free-lance violin performances with many orchestras in NYC and Northern New Jersey. Trio plays weekly at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan.
John Seremula
Music, Percussion 1976
An art/music teacher at Ft. Bend Independent School District and an Orchestra Director at Warren Middle School , Warren Township School District, Warren, NJ 07059
Dr. John French
Music, Conducting 1977
Honored recently when more than 100 alumni singers participated in choral reunions to mark his 25th anniversary of teaching at Ursinus College. In addition to heading the Music Department at Ursinus, Dr. French is also the associate conductor of the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia and the organist-choirmaster for the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. Dr. French also holds degrees from the Westminster Choir College and the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. A recipient of both the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching and the Laughlin Award for Professional Achievement, he has held offices in the American Choral Directors Association, Pennsylvania Collegiate Choral Association and American Guild of Organists. Currently he is vice-president of the Philadelphia Musical Fund Society and a founding member and secretary of the board of the Community Music School.
Bruce Barrie
Music Performance/Trumpet, 1976
Bruce can be heard playing trumpet with the Chestnut Brass Company on the Music of Irving Berlin release as well with the Philadelphia Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra's Howard Hanson: American Romantic, both for Naxos. He has completed the "Distance Learning Program" web broadcast for the Kennedy Center and a web broadcast of the concert "Millennium Stage" as well as trumpet masterclasses at both Loyola University and CU/Boulder.
Bonnie Jayne Sworob-Cender
Music Performance, Violin 1977
Self employed owner of D&B Decorating, an interior decorating firm doing interior design for businesses and residential properties. She has been written up in Better Homes and Gardens with many of her projects featured. Currently pursuing a degree in architecture.
Cheryl Reifsteck Glaudel
Music,Violin 1978
Cheryl teaches 180 students violin, viola, cello and bass and frelances with Bay Atlantic, Reading and Trenton Symphonies. She also plays jazz violin for gospel choir.
Pasquale J. Scavetti
Music, Percussion 1978
President of Scavetti Music Education Services, Inc; Lists teaching, counseling and investing as major occupation. Holds the following degrees: A. A, B.M.E, B.M., M.A., Ph.D. in counseling/psychology; with his dissertation on Music Therapy.
Diane M. DiGiacomo
Music, Piano 1980
A Research Group Analyst for the University of Pennsylvania, Diane is currently a prospect researcher, identifying potential new donors for the university. She also serves as a member of the UArts Alumni Council.
Barry Kolsky
Music, Composition 1980
Music supervisor for animated feature film "Bratz" (Fox Family Worldwide) as well as various film and music editing projects.
Paul R. Goldberg
Music, Percussion 1981
A professional musician, Paul's bio can be accessed at gretsch.com (drum artist)
(Sister) Joann M. Kirchner
Music, Piano 1981
Coordinator of Secondary Piano at Temple University where she also teaches class piano and applied piano and Musical Director at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church in Manayunk, as well as Artistic Director for the Lancaster Conservatory of Music.
Michel Gohler
Music Performance '82, Music Education '82
Played woodwinds in the off-Broadway production of The Music Teacher by Wallace Shawn.
Lisa A. Kozenko
Music, Oboe 1982
NY freelance musician; temporary instructor of oboe, Central Michigan University; principal oboe, NYC Opera National Company, Lehigh Valley Chamber Orchestra;
member of Manhattan Wind Faculty Quintet; NY Youth Symphony; Stony Brook Summer Music Festival.
Daniel A. Levinson
Music, Composition 1982
Currently the President and CEO of the Art Institute of California-San Diego, married to Anne Cherniais, PCPA Alumnus 1981, Flute. We have 2 children, Rachel (12) and Ben (10). Responsible for providing overall leadership for the Art Institute of California-San Diego (200-present), Dan leverages more than 14 years of multiple management and education experiences within The Art Institutes' system of schools in addition to a notable career as a professional musician to achieve strategic goals. His tenure with the Art Institute also includes roles as Dean of Education at The Art Institute of Phoenix (1995-2000) and both academic director and audio instructor positions with the Art Institute of Philadelphia's School of Communications (1990-1995). Prior to the Art Institutes, Mr. Levinson enjoyed a diverse professional music career including owning and operating a New Jersey based recording studio and as a staff keybordist and pianist in the main showrooms at the Tropicana and Atlantis casinos in Atlantic City. Mr. Levinson holds a M. ED in educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor of Music in Music Composition from Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts.
Reid A. Westergaard
Music, Opera 1982
Artistic Director and Singer with the Opera Society of New Jersey, has recently appeared in Liederbend as well as Le Nozze di Figaro (Basilio/Don Curzio) in Rochester, NY, and Merkin Concet Hall, NY; Benjamin Britten's The Little Sweep (Clem/Alfred); Homburg avant-garde theater, Frankfurt, Germany, and a host of concert recitals at Carnegie Hall. Recent work with New York Film Academy and Musica da Camera. Studies with Judith Coen and Robert Shewan.
James David Arnott
Music, Viola 1986
An assistant professor/music conductor at Bethany College, currently serves as orchestra director and violin/viola studio instructor at both the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University. In addition, holds a chair in the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, and play in the Tresca String Quartet
Thomas E. Halpin
Music, Organ/Music Education 1989
Full-time main organist and Director of Liturgical Music for a 6,500 family Catholic parish.
Monica (Vitacolonna) Haywood
Music, Performance 1991
A certified music teacher at Twin Spring Farm Day School in Ambler, PA, Monica teaches 4 sets of Kindergarten classes and the Elementary School 1st through 6th. She teaches the general music program with an Orff Instrumentarium. Since graduation, has been teaching music education part-time. She and her husband have four children.
Erik Andrew Sayles
Music, Guitar 1993
Currently working as a musician.
Alex Mitnick
Music, Guitar 1999
Alex began teaching music to young children while still here at UArts and currently directs the music program for infants to 8th graders at the Princeton Montessori School in Princeton, NJ. He's also on the faculty at the Princeton Center for Teacher Education where he directs workshops for non-musicians who wish to incorporate music into their classrooms. Alex also owns Jaison Productions, a recording studio and music production company. Check him out on the web at www.kaleidoscopesongs.com/alex.html
Stephen L. Croce
Music Performance, 2000
An IT specialist at Willis Pooling, Stephen also teaches private lessons at Olde City Music School, Philadelphia as well as for Creative Music Studios in Ewing, NJ. A member of the Small Stream Jazz Quartet, the house quartet at Society Hill Hotel and Bar, he also keeps active playing for private parties.
David Downham
Music, Composition 2000
Co-owner, musician, teacher and recording engineer for Gradwell House Recording Studio, David teaches guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass and piano privately and at the Music Garden in Cherry Hill, NJ. He performs regionally with Fe, a steel drum fronted Jazz ensemble.
Brian Nefferdorf
Music, Guitar 2000
Lead guitarist and bandleader for The Big Easy in New Orleans for the United States Navy, Brian has performed for President Bush, the Secretary of the Navy, fleet admirals and has traveled as far as Australia and Hawaii upon request.
Laura (Mulitz) Bryna
Music, Voice 2001
Laura, dubbed "an up and coming country music star," has signed to Clint Black's Equity Records label. Since her graduation, she's been living in Nashville and is now finishing work on her still-untitled August CD debut release, which will be preceded by a nationwide radio promotion tour. One of the songs that Laura wrote for the recording is titled "Make A Wish," which evolved from her work with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Feel free to visit her on her website at http://www.laurabryna.com/
Alexander P. Dakoglou
Music, Performance 2002
Alex and a few of his friends co-wrote some music and performed on the soundtrack for the recently released Disney movie Stick It. Alex is also the lead sound technician at the House of Blues in Los Angeles.
David Andrew Fatek
Music, Performance 2002
A musician with the US Air Force, stationed at Scott AFB in Illinois, David also works as a freelance musician. Since graduating from Uarts, he's taught and played professionally in a number of different environments, including recording.
Fiona Crawford
Music, Voice 2003
Fiona is living in Edinburgh, Scotland and working for the Scottish Arts Council as an Education Officer. She also teaches musicianship for the National Youth Choir of Scotland and sings in the Scottish Chamber Orchestra Chorus.
Earl Phillips
Music, Trombone 2004; MAT 2005
Earl was honored this year in being selected to direct the Philadelphia Regional Grammy High School All-Star Big Band, one of only two such regional bands in the country. He also taught at Lakeside Middle School and Memorial High School.
