Private lessons and ensembleS
Please see the information below on private lessons and ensembles. Beginners are welcome!
Note: An audition may be conducted as an interview with a private lesson instructor
or ensemble coach. Please contact Vicki Tremper in the Music Office at 518-580-5320, or the instructor directly, with questions and/or concerns.
- African Dance and Drum Ensemble (MP-279)
No auditions are necessary.
Contact Koblavi Dogah for more information. - Brass Ensembles (MP-297-005)
Contact Patrice Malatestinic during the first week of classes for information, at 518-727-2953. - Chinese or Mongolian Music Ensemble (MP 198-002)
No auditions are necessary.
Contact Dr. Charlotte D’Evelyn for more information. - Cuban Ensemble (MP 297-009)
Contact Jorge Gomez for more information. - Woodwind Chamber Ensemble (MP-297-004)
Auditions in the first week of the semester.
Please contact Dr. Yvonne Hansbrough to sign up for an audition slot. - Guitar Ensemble (MP-285)
Contact Joel Brown during the first week of classes to schedule an audition: 518-580-5324 or Zankel 211. - Indian Music Ensemble (MP-297-007)
No auditions necessary.
Contact Veena Chandra for more information. - Small Jazz (Combos) (MP-275)
Sign up for an audition slot at Zankel 118. Contact Professor Russell Haight for information. - String Chamber Ensembles (MP-297-002)
Contact Michael Emery during the first week of classes to schedule an audition for placement.
- String Ensemble (MP-297-001)
Contact Michael Emery during the first week of classes to schedule an audition. - Vocal Chamber Ensemble
Auditions during the first week of classes. Contact Professor Floydd Ricketts for more information. - Vocal Soul Collective
Auditions during the first week of classes. Contact Professor Floydd Ricketts for more information.
- Chorus (MP-288)
No auditions required.
First rehearsal is the first Wednesday of the semester at 6:00 pm - Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall, Zankel Music Center. Contact: Floydd Ricketts. - Concert Band (MP-295)
All are welcome. Informational meeting on the first Thursday of the semester at 7 pm in Beckerman Ensemble Room, Zankel 006. For more information, email or text Milton Lee at 518-496-8501. - Jazz Ensemble (Big Band)(MP-293)
Auditions and first rehearsal are the first Monday of the semester at 6:30 pm in Beckerman Ensemble Room, Zankel 006. Contact Professor Russell Haight for information.
- Skidmore Orchestra (MP-289)
Auditions and first rehearsal are the first Tuesday of the semester at 7 pm in Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall in Zankel. First-year students should come prepared with part of a solo work and a couple of contrasting orchestral excerpts of their choice. For more information, email Vicki Tremper.
Private instruction is available for all the instruments listed in the course catalog. Some require auditions, as listed below. Auditions or interviews are generally held during the first week of classes. Auditions for private lessons are about placement with the appropriate instructor.
Please note:
Private lessons will cost $780 for a semester of 45-minute lessons or $1,040 for a
semester of 60-minute lessons. If you can’t afford private lessons, please apply for
a lesson scholarship.
Before you can register for private lessons, you must first fill out a private lesson request form with the CRN for the private lesson course. Once the instructor approves, you must register yourself in the course.
See a full list of performance faculty below.
- Guitar Lessons
Please contact Professor Joel Brown for further information. - Piano Lessons
Please contact Dr. Young Kim for further information.
- Voice Lessons
Fill out this audition application online. Please contact Dr. Sylvia Stoner for further information.
Performance Faculty
Instructor/Contact: Baker, Luke
Phone: 413-841-6458
Office: Zankel 210
Classical Upright Bass
Instructor/Contact: Brown, Joel
Phone: 518-580-5324
Office: Zankel 211
Guitar, Class Study of Guitar, Guitar Ensemble
Instructor/Contact: Chandra, Veena
Phone: 518-786-1309 or 518-580-8384
Office: Zankel 325
Sitar, Indian Music Ensemble
Instructor/Contact:Cherry, Richard
Email: rcherry@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 120
Class Study of Piano
Instructor/Contact:Cordell, Dan
Email: dcordell@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 320
Trombone
Instructor/Contact: Dogah, Koblavi
Email: vdogah@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 210
West African Drum and Dance Ensemble (no audition necessary)
Instructor/Contact: Ellis, Randall
Phone: 518-869-1051
Office: Zankel 113
Oboe
Instructor/Contact: Emery, Michael
Phone: 518-580-5327
Office: Zankel 115
Violin, String Ensemble, Chamber Ensembles
On leave for the 2024-2025 school year
Instructor/Contact: Emery, Stephani
Email: semery@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 113
Viola
Instructor/Contact: Gomez, Jorge
Email: jorgegomez@joker47.net
Cuban ensemble (No audition necessary)
Instructor/Contact: Gray, Casey
Email: cgray@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 119
Voice
Instructor/Contact: Grigsby, Brett
Phone: 518-580-5326
Office: Zankel 323
Guitar, Class Study of Guitar
Instructor/Contact: Hadfield, Patricia
Phone: 518-580-8368
Office: Zankel 120
Class Study of Piano
Instructor/Contact: Haight, Russell
Email: rhaight@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 118
Saxophone, Skidmore Jazz Ensemble (Big Band), Small Jazz Ensembles
Instructor/Contact: Halek, Robert
Email: rhalek@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 030
Percussion
Instructor/Contact: Hansbrough, Yvonne
Email: yhansbrough@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 119
Flute, Woodwind Chamber Ensemble
Instructor/Contact: Hawkins, Wayne
Email: waynehawkins@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 207
Class Study of Jazz Piano
Instructor/Contact: Huntley, Elizabeth
Phone: 518-893-7495
Office: Zankel 307
Harp
Instructor/Contact: Hutcheson, Adam
Email: ahutcheson@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 324
Saxophone, Jazz Improvisation
Instructor/Contact: Kim, Young
Phone: 518-580-5323
Office: Zankel 322
Piano, Chamber Music
Instructor/Contact: Kirk, John
Phone: 518-581-0255
Office: Zankel 325
Fiddle, Mandolin
Instructor/Contact: Latini, Eric
Phone: 518-265-7271
Office: Zankel 006
Trumpet
Instructor/Contact: Lee, Milt
Email: mlee3@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 006
Concert Band
Instructor/Contact: Mack, Evan
Phone: 518-580-8390
Office: Zankel 321
Piano, Composition
Instructor/Contact: Malatestinic, Patrice
Phone: 518-580-8339 or 518-587-7717
Office: Zankel 323
French Horn, Brass Ensembles
Instructor/Contact:Miller, Trish
Phone: 518-581-0255
Office: Zankel 325
Banjo
Instructor/Contact:Muscatello, George
Phone: 518-580-5333
Office: Zankel 206
Jazz Guitar, Small Jazz Combos
Instructor/Contact: Petrik, Irina
Email: irinapetrik@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 321
Voice
Instructor/Contact: Platte, Jameson
Email: jplatte@joker47.net
Phone: Zankel 320
Cello
Instructor/Contact:Silvagnoli, Michael
Phone: 518-727-2795
Office: Zankel 113
Tuba
Instructor/Contact: Stoner-Hawkins, Sylvia
Phone: 518-580-5334
Office: Zankel 207
Voice, Class Study of Voice
Instructor/Contact:Syracuse, Rich
Email: rsyracus@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 210
Bass Guitar, Upright Bass, electric bass
Instructor/Contact: Wery, Brett
Email: brettwery@joker47.net
Office: Zankel 324
Clarinet