47 Prospect Street, Midland Park, NJ 07432 (201) 445-8780 info@fromthetopmusicstudio.com

Teacher Credentials and Biographies

Lisa S. Plasse (Director/Woodwinds/Brass/Voice) is the owner and director of From the Top Music Studio. In addition to running the studio, she is a woodwind, brass and vocal teacher. Ms. Plasse received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from William Paterson University , with a concentration in flute and voice. She also holds a Masters degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Montclair State University . She has taught for over 15 years privately as well as in the public school grades K-12, including special education. Ms. Plasse has performed professionally with the Wayne Chamber Orchestra, Onstage Inc., several local community and church organizations and currently performs with the Ridgewood Concert Band. Ms. Plasse served as both Vice President and President of the Board of Trustees of the Ridgewood Concert Band, and during her presidency the band was awarded The Sudler Silver Scroll Award. Ms. Plasse is an active member of MENC and MTNA. She has created the FTT Performance Series and most recently produced and directed Humperdick's opera Hansel and Gretel.

Annette Stowe (Voice), is a member of AGMA, Actors' Equity, and the Professional Women Singers Association. She has concertized throughout New Jersey , performing in solo recitals and in collaboration with classical guitarist Michael DiGirolamo. Recent operatic performances include Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) and the Maid in the original opera Too Many Sopranos. Other roles include Nicoletta in Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges, Angelina in Trial By Jury and the Angel City Four soprano in City of Angels . Orchestra solo work includes performances of Handel's Messiah, Brahm's A German Requiem, and Schubert's Mass in G Major.

Jacob Groff (Piano/Composition/Theory) received his bachelor of music degree from The University of Oregon as well as his masters degree from Westminster Choir College . He has recently completed recording his first set of original compositions. His music is available for purchase through Santa Barbara Publications.

Yelena Kosaya (Piano) received her Bachelor of Music from Moscow College of Music. She has taught music for over 20 years. In addition to teaching she works as a Music Therapist and piano accompanist.

Katherine Mallimo (Piano) is a graduate of Montclair State University holding a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance. Her studies include one year with Bruce Brubaker and four years with David Witten. While a student at Montclair , Mrs. Mallimo was involved in many performances as a soloist, chamber musician and accompanist to instrumentalists and vocalists. Aside from giving two solo recitals, Katherine has accompanied full recitals for vocalists and instrumentalists. Mrs. Mallimo was and is also still active as a studio accompanist for voice lessons at Montclair . In addition to having accompanied an after school children's musical theatre group for three years, Katherine has been an accompanist for the La Bella Voce Opera Ensemble for the last six years. Finally, Katherine is also a piano teacher with a studio of her own consisting of approximately thirty students.

Valentina Myshan (Piano) received her Bachelor degree from Kharkou College of Music and a Master of Arts from the Kharkou Institute of the Arts. She has been teaching for over 25 years. She also works as an accompanist for solo instruments as well as professional and amateur ballet classes.

Jim O'Donnell (Guitar/Bass Guitar) has been performing and teaching for over 25 years. He has performed with various bands worldwide and is an accomplished band leader as well.

Joseph A. Sidoti (guitar) has taught music in studios for twenty-six years and in public schools for fifteen years. He holds certificates from the State of New Jersey as a Teacher of Music and as an Elementary School Teacher. Mr. Sidoti is a magna cum laude university graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Music plus nineteen graduate credits in Education. Among his honors are The Outstanding Music Scholar Award ( First Place in the College of Music ) from William Paterson University and The Key of Knowledge Award from The International Honor and Professional Association in Education. He has served as band director, choir director, and music teacher in the public schools system. Mr. Sidoti began playing music over forty-six years ago and has performed in various genres including classical, popular, rock, folk and church music. He is honoured to be associated with From The Top Music Studio and is enthusiastic about the opportunity to continue teaching its students.

Vincent Veloso (Woodwind/Brass/Piano) has recently been featured on Univision, Urban Latino, at SOB's, Joe's Pub and the Main event at the Montreal Jazz Festival 2002. His tenor sax and trumpet playing can be heard on the popular show Trading Spaces. An NYU Music graduate, he has studied with Ted Nash, Ralph Lalama, Vincent Herring and George Garzone. Since 1995 he has been working with many of the established and the up and coming rock en espanol crowd, as well as many highly respected jazz musicians, swing and funk acts. Among these are King Chango, Ozomatli, Los Pericos, Los Amigos Invisibles. Vince is also featured on an impressive number of CDs, commercial recordings and films. He is also an accomplished educator, both as a private teacher and as an instructor at the Academy of music of Ramapo College where he teaches winds and music theory. Currently he is working with ORBITA (orbitrocks.com), Pacha (Pacha.us), Mlumbo (Mlumbo.com/Multimood records, Sweden ), Kembale, and his own group AVATAR (www.avatarband.com).

Sophia Yadlovker (Piano) received a degree from Baku College of Music and a degree in Early Childhood Education from Bergen Community College . She performs professionally and has been teaching privately for over 25 years.

Erica Kang (piano) received her Bachelor of Music (BM) from the University of North Texas majoring in Music History and Literature, as well as minoring in Music Theory. She has experience as an accompanist as well as teaching young children. She is a keyboardist/vocalist at Bethany Well Church . In addition to the piano, she has performed in early music ensembles playing the Renaissance lute.

Simon Karasoff (cello) studied at the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music with Lynn Harrell and Marion Feldman, and afterward privately with Andre Emelianoff. He has played as principal cellist with The Richmond County Orchestra, The Doctors Orchestra and the Centre Symphony. Among conductors he has played under are Gerard Schwartz, David Zinman, Kenneth Schermmerhorn, Sergiu Commissionna, Thomas Michalak, Hugh Wolf and Christopher Lyndon-Gee. Among chamber music performance venues he has performed at are The Mannes School of Music, The Manhatten School of Music, Symphony Space, The Waterloo Festival, and The Chautauqua Festival, The Donnell Library, and The Harlem School of the Arts. He has also participated in Musical Theatre, both regionally and locally. He has been an active teacher on Long Island , New Jersey and Queens of cello, violin, piano, and music theory.

Michael DiGirolamo (Guitar/Bass) received his degree in Music Therapy, specializing in classical guitar at Montclair State University . He has been teaching and performing for over 20 years. Michael has composed and recorded music for use with Yoga and holistic health centers, served as a music therapist in hospice, pediatric oncology and special needs settings, and continues to stay active performing with and teaching the guitar. Recordings include relaxation music featuring various instruments, classical guitar repertoire and individualized CDs created with music therapy clients.

Sarah Dodds (woodwind/brass/percussion/piano) received her bachelor of music degree in music education and flute performance from Syracuse University . In addition to her degree she is trained as a woodwind specialist. She has five years experience teaching kindergarten through eighth grade in instrumental and general music. Her credits include performances with the Ramsey Wind Symphony, the Bergenfield Band, American Music Abroad, and several local organizations. She has toured throughout Europe and performed in many locations in the New York/New Jersey area including performances at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

Rebecca Bruins (strings/piano) received her bachelor of music degree in music education from The College of New Jersey specializing in violin. During her college years, she served as the concertmaster of The College of New Jersey Orchestra. She has taught violin privately for the last few years and is currently teaching elementary strings in the Basking Ridge school district. She is a proud member of both the American String Teachers Association and MENC. She has performed in many chamber ensembles, the Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra, and various other summer programs.

Roxy Coss (Woodwinds/Piano) is currently a Presidential Scholar at William Paterson University, studying for her Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies. Roxy has performed internationally, appearing on The Today Show live at Rockefeller center, at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, the Vienne, North Sea, and Montreux Jazz Festivals in Europe, Le Bois in Paris, France; the IAJE Convention in Toronto; the Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival, Sweet Rhythm, Jimmy's Restaurant, the 5C Caf\'e9, and the C-Note in New York City. She has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, Bill Watrous, Dave Valentin, The Seattle Women\rquote s Jazz Orchestra, and she opened for the Dave Leibman Big Band and Rufus Reid\rquote s Quintet plus Four. Roxy has taught privately for over 8 years, and directs and teaches at a multiple level Improvisation Workshop each summer at her former Middle School in Seattle, WA.

Marni R. Protovin (Voice) received her Bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Central Florida, holds a Masters Degree in Education and is NJ certified to teach vocal music. She is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, A professional music fraternity for women, and the professional organization MENC. She has had varied performance experience including touring with Music Theater Bavaria in Die Zauberflute as the 2 nd lady, and In Orlando as the Bat in L'Enfant et les Sortileges. She has also performed many professional solo recitals in New Jersey and Orlando. Choral performances include Beethoven's 9 th Symphony in Canterbury and London, Handel's Elijah in Orlando, and various works at Carnegie Hall. Marni has had the pleasure to work with wonderful teachers and directors including Elizabeth Wrancher, Jeanette laVoix, and Dr. David Brunner.