RHAPSODY MUSIC AND ART CENTER

Center Director/certified Music Together teacher Janet Billings holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Music Education from Hofstra University. Janet is an accomplished classical pianist and experienced music teacher of children and adults. She has sung in amateur and professional choruses, including competitive a cappella quartets. She is committed to enhancing her teaching skills and has achieved the highest level of certification offered by the Center for Music and Young Children (CMYC)of Princeton, NJ. "Music education supports all learning." says Janet. "Many young children who are exposed to quality music experiences naturally learn to use their creative skills to solve educational challenges in other areas." Click What is Music Together? to read Janet's article describing this gold standard early childhood music program.

Certified Music Together teacher Chrissy Petersen holds a BA in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. She received her Music Together training at the national headquarters in Princeton, NJ. Chrissy is a private music instructor of children and adults in both piano and voice.

Cheryl Noel has been teaching voice and piano lessons for 18 years. Mrs. Noel graduated from Hartt School of Music with a degree in Music Management and voice performance. After a 5 month internship with The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Mrs. Noel studied vocal performance at Boston conservatory and vocal coaching at Boston University. She then went on to study opera performance at New England Conservatory for her graduate work. Cheryl has performed with the Opera Company of Boston and has sung solo work all over the United States and Canada. She maintains a full time teaching schedule. Mrs. Noel also holds an MBA from Boston University.

Diana Cioffari graduated from Ithaca College, School of Music with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music (Vocal Emphasis) in Combination with an Outside Field in Theatre. She has been studying voice and piano for most of her life. In addition to teaching at Rhapsody Music and Art Center, she remains a performer, composer, and is Musical Director for the Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School in Westborough for the 2007 production of Once Upon a Mattress.

Michael Moushon has performed at The House of Blues, Soldier Field and on the C.B.S. network (also composed songs for their underscoring). Michael is receiving radio airplay as well as performing nationally and internationally in Japan, Mexico, Italy, France, England, Spain & Canada. Most recently Michael has signed contracts with MTV, Groove Addicts, Urge & Goops Boy Music and opened for The Gym Class Heroes. Michael's music is now available at iTunes, Walmart, Best Buy, Napster, Musicmatch & MSN Music. On August 29th Aware records in Chicago, IL released 50,000 copies of Michaels song "Paint The Roses Red", mastered by Greg Calbi (Eric Clapton, Norah Jones, John Mayer & Bob Dylan). In August Michael was the featured artist profiled in Enfuse Magazine in Denver, Colorado. Go to www.michaelmoushon.comto see his music videos and to listen to his songs.

Sue Pagnini has a B.S. Degree in Psychology and Math from UMASS Amherst and holds Massachusetts Teacher Certification in High School Math. No stranger to music, Sue is part of one of Milford’s premier music families. Her dad and uncle played in the big bands in the 1930s and her cousin founded Pagnini’s Music Nook. In addition to playing and teaching piano, Sue is a Realtor, an advocate for the American Cancer Society, 2006 chair person for the Milford Relay For Life, and past member of the Hopedale School Committee and Cultural Council.

Jen Shotkin is a registered Music Together teacher. A graduate of Tufts University, she spent 8 years as the Director of the Framingham Extended Day Program, an afterschool program for elementary schoolers. She began her career as a daycare professional, teaching kids from infancy through pre-K. Jen's first love is musical theater, and she spends any free time she can find singing on stage. Performing with a variety of community theater groups in Eastern Mass, including the Concord Players, Arlington Friends of the Drama, and Vokes Players of Wayland, Jen's favorite roles include Marta in Company, Mallory in City of Angels, and Flaemmchen in Grand Hotel.

Violin instructor, Sherry Gaskill, earned a BA degree in Music Education from Hartt School of Music. Graduate level courses were studied at Western Connecticut State University and University of Bridgeport. She has 20 years of experience teaching privately and in public schools. As a professional violinist, Sherry has performed in the Ridgefield Symphony, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Norwalk Symphony and Meriden Symphony, all in Connecticut. Included in her musical theater experience, Sherry was honored with the roll of Concertmistress for Fiddler on the Roof at the New Britain Opera Theater.

Office Manager, Marie Mastaj is our lesson scheduler, class registrar and general jack of all trades! She works hard to make sure that all of your transactions with our office are smooth, accurate, pleasant experiences!

Our Office Assistant/Bookkeeper will help you efficiently and courteously. Kelley is in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays.