Eugene's Music & Learning Studio

Chris Nicolo

Percussion & Piano Greenwich, CT

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Chris Nicolo is a professional freelance drummer, percussionist, and private music instructor. He began playing drums at the age of 9 and piano at age 13. At age 16, he began performing professionally and has amassed a wealth of experience in many different musical styles, including rock, jazz, Latin, classical, and more.
 

Chris graduated from New Jersey City University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music with a Concentration in Jazz and Classical Performance. While in school, he was fortunate enough to perform with the great Randy Brecker as part of a program presenting the music of Miles Davis. He studied the drums with Dave Ratajczak, Akira Tana, Tim Horner. He also studied classical percussion with Jim Neglia. Additionally, Chris has studied privately with Keith Carlock and Cliff Almond. 

He has since performed locally, nationally, and globally in many different settings.
 

Chris has been teaching for almost twenty years. He enjoys teaching the art of making music and helping his students find their unique voice and confidence, regardless of playing experience.

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 Jay Lee 

Piano Stamford, CT 

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Jay Lee is a Korean born, American, and Canadian jazz pianist and classical composer.
He earned his BFA in Jazz Studies at Concordia University and started his career as a jazz pianist in Montreal, Quebec. He jumped into the mecca of the jazz world, in New York, to pursue his MM in Jazz Performance at the SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music. Soon after he completed his MM, he decided to go for his second MM in Composition, which led him to explore various musical studies; Baroque to post-tonal Contemporary music, studio/commercial music to electro-acoustic genres. He even performed harpsichord in the Baroque Opera project, "L'incoronazione di Poppea” with the Purchase College Opera Department. He is finishing up his second MM and beginning his career in New York as a pianist, composer, and educator. 

Jay has taught piano and music to all ages in many locations. He has a multi-cultural background and experience, including work in America, Canada, Korea, and Japan. Jay loves to share his musical experience and knowledge with his students. He hopes they will grow a passion for music, just as he has.

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"My daughter loves to take classes with Jay because he is very patient and makes the class fun!” - Studio Mom

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"Jay is an amazing teacher. So far I went from having no skill in piano and reading to music, to getting better at identifying the notes on the piano keys and reading pretty well. He is not hesitant to show me the intricacies of playing dynamics on the keys, or nitpick my technique. For anyone who is serious about learning piano (like me), I would recommend Jay to them in a heartbeat." - Marco Polanco

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"Jay's the man!" - Christian

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 Teresa Loafman 

Piano & Voice Norwalk, CT

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Wyoming native, Teresa Loafman is an opera singer who is passionate about helping her students reach their full potential, while enjoying every step of the way! While opera is Ms. Loafman's main focus, she has been playing piano since age four, and is confident in teaching a variety of musical styles. Her students have performed in many venues, such as Carnegie Hall, as well as Lincoln Center in New York City. 

Ms. Loafman made her operatic debut singing the Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors at Purchase College under the baton of Hugh Murphy and direction of Jacque Trussel. Throughout her time at Purchase College she sang the roles of the Mother and the Witch in Humperdink’s Hänsel und Gretel, Dorothée in Massenet’s Cendrillion, and Rosalinda in Strauss’s Die Fledermaus.

While attending graduate school at the University of Maryland in the Maryland Opera Studio, Ms. Loafman added the roles of Fiordiligi from Mozart's Così fan tutte and Laetitia from Menotti's Old Maid and the Thief. 

On the concert stage, Ms. Loafman was granted the opportunities to sing the soprano solo in the Brahms Requiem, as well as a Bach solo with the Purchase College Camarata under the direction of Bradley Brookshire. She also appeared at the Purchase College Arts Gala in New York City, singing the Villa Lobos Bachianas Brasilieras No.5.

Ms. Loafman completed her Bachelor’s degree at the SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music with a major in Voice Performance, studying with Bonnie Hamilton. She received her Masters of Music in Opera Performance under a Graduate Assistantship from the Maryland Opera Studio at University of Maryland, studying with Carmen Balthrop.

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"Teresa is wonderful and connects so well with the boys! They look forward to seeing her every week. Lessons are affordable and we love that Teresa can come to our house!" - Studio Dad

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