Welcome To Williamsburg Music Studio

Kaz first learned to play guitar at age thirteen from his father, an accomplished amateur classical guitarist.  Growing up in South Orange, NJ and later Yokosuka, Japan, he studied clarinet, piano, electric bass and snare drums, before continuing his studies in guitar at Duquense University where, as a scholarship student, he studied with world recognized jazz guitarist, Joe Negri. Later transferring to Mason Gross School of the Arts, the conservatory of Rutgers University-New Brunswick, he studied with Vic Juris, Stanley Cowell, Ralph Bown, and Conrad Herwig. Upon graduating, Kaz has been teaching guitar to students of a variety of ages and skill levels. He is devoted to helping students accomplish their goals in the most direct and achievable way possible. As a composer, he recorded his first album In February of 2014, which is deeply steeped in the jazz tradition and features compositions that combine lyrical melodies and colorful harmonies with swinging, propulsive rhythms.

Julian Chin is a pianist, conductor, and educator. Originally from Chicago, IL, he taught at ChiArts (Chicago’s first public arts high school) and the Merit School of Music, teaching both piano and musical theatre. Alongside his work in education, he was a keyboardist at large in Chicago, working in classical music, jazz, rock, hip hop, soul, and every genre in between. He also served as music director of Temple Jeremiah in Northfield, IL, a reform synagogue. In New York, he serves as an accompanist for several institutions, including the National Children’s Chorus and Hebrew Union College, and also conducts the Manhattan chapter of the HaZaMir choir. You can also see him every Monday night as the pianist for the cabaret night at Super Secret Arts in Gowanus. Julian is excited to be a part of the team at Williamsburg Music Studio!

 Melanie is a musician with over 20 years of professional experience and has a passion for both education and performance.  She holds a B.A. in Music Education from Western Illinois University and an M.M. in Opera/Music Theater Performance from Southern Illinois University.  Her performing credits range from off-Broadway theater to choral work.  After teaching in multiple schools in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York, she is so happy to be a voice instructor, piano teacher and director at WMS!

Abby is an arts educator, performer, and theatrical director originally from the Boston area. Holding duel BAs in Music and Theatre from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, her training is based in opera and musical theatre. Having focused on specialized vocal techniques, her teaching methods are founded in the Bel canto method and Linklater Theory. Abby also works as a Music and Movement Instructor for preschool and early elementary students. She believes deeply in the influence of music on a persons life, and aims to aid students with both technical tools and life skills. Guiding her students is one of her greatest joys!

Michael Eaton is a Brooklyn-based performer, composer, and educator, teaches saxophone, flute, and clarinet.  Michael earned a degree in jazz studies from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University-Bloomington, and he has studied with top jazz educators like David Baker, David Liebman, and James Moody, and classical saxophone with Eugene Rousseau. A patient, analytical, and insightful teacher, he focuses on imparting solid fundamentals while working with each student to achieve their personal musical goals and direction. You can hear Michael perform his original music in venues across NYC, and as a sideman he has shared the stage with internationally known artists Ingrid Jensen, Jim Snidero, Fred Hersch, and The Temptations.

Ben is an award winning drummer and composer: Winner of the 2020 Freddie Gruber Drum Set Scholarship from Percussive Art Society and winner of the George Bann Award for Best Jazz Performer. He has studied at the Rimon Jass Institute and at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance. He also holds a Master’s of Music from Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He has over a decade of experience teaching all ages and levels. He believes a hearthy balance between having fun and diving deep into the music is essential.

Pianist and composer Nitzan Gavrieli grew up in Ramat Gan, Israel. In 2007, he relocated to New York and shortly after he received several scholarships to attend the prestigious New School for Jazz and Contemporary music. Since then, Nitzan has performed and recorded with some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz, including Mark Murphy, Dennis Chambers, Bob Moses, Melissa Aldana, Mike Stern, Peter Bernstein, Cameron Brown, and Steve Cardenas. He played in festivals across the U.S and Europe, including Sudtirol Jazz Festival, Rochester Jazz Festival, Tel Aviv Jazz Festival, Scranton Jazz Festival, Jazz & Colors Festival, and at such venues as Marians Jazz Room in Berne, Jazz Federation in Hamburg, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Blue Note Jazz Club, Town Hall and Smalls Jazz Club in New York. The Nitzan Gavrieli Trio released its debut album Departure in 2016, featuring Nitzan’s original compositions. 

Aalisha is an award-winning composer, classical and jazz pianist, songwriter, producer, and performer. She hold a Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Perforamnce from Washington University, along with a Master’s of Music in Screen Scoring from NYU. Aalisha started playing piano at age 6 after deciding that music was her lifelong passion. As a film composer, she has scored dozens of short films, animations, and other screen media projects and won “Best Music Score” int eh MultiDimension Independent Film Festival in May 2023. She is also a singer-songwriter and has led multiple rock bands. She is frequently performing with her current band DUCK! around NYC. Aalisha has also taught piano for may years to students of all ages and levels. She is dedicated to passing on her passion and knowledge of music.

A Los Angeles native, his initial forays into guitar were self-taught, learning classic rock and blues styles. He studied with musicians from the Thornton School of Music while teaching at the famous Dietz Brothers Music. He dove into the world of classic and modern jazz, studied at the Berklee School of Music in Boston and is a graduate of the Masters Program at Queens College. Erich has been teaching guitar for well over a decade. His approach is rather fluid, based on the needs of each particular student. Maintaining the fun and wonderment of playing guitar is paramount, but you will leave each lesson with a sense of accomplishment. Solid technique is emphasized, but with a relaxed and non-dogmatic approach.

Carmen Knoll began her musical journey at the age of five, quickly earning recognition by winning international competitions and performing worldwide. She graduated cum laude from The Juilliard School, even achieving a Master’s through the highly selective Accelerated B.M./M.M. Program. When Carmen gave a performance at the 68th International Chopin Piano Festival in Poland, a critic compared her talent to Yehudi Menhuin. Apart from performing and teaching, she is a composer and flash fiction writer.

Isabel is a musical theatre performer and singer-songwriter, orginally from South Dakota. Isabel is from a family of songwriters and has been surrounded by music all her life. She has established herself as a recording artist releasing an EP of orignial music and two singles. Her passion for singing and storytelling led her to the Institute of the Arts Barcelona where she earned her BFA in Musical Theatere with a  concentration in Vocal Studies. Since graduating Isabel has been teaching a wide range of ages in singing and piano. Her teaching approach is a combination of knowledge, compassion, and creativity. Encouraging her students with play to express themselves with their music while providing knowledge of the craft.  Isabell is currently in the process of recording an album while performing, teaching, and exploring New York.

Madison is a vocalist, pianist and composer. She is a graduate of Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music in jazz composition and contemporary classical composition. Madison is dedicated to helping her students grow as musicians and aims to foster in her students creativity, strong musicianship and an individual sound.

Lyle Mitchell, a native of Los Angeles, California, has been praised for always pushing the boundaries in live theatre. Theater Pizzazz’s review of the cabaret show, Celebrate the Moment, stated that Lyle “takes stunning risks and turns them into brilliant performances.” In the last ten years, Lyle has had the marvelous opportunity in performing various lead roles in the LA area, and most recently, Vienna. Along with Lyle’s work as a performer; he is a passionate teacher. Lyle received his Masters in Music from UCLA, and in 2012 began teaching young adults and kids to play the piano and sing. When students play with ease and find the character of each piece, that is what brings Lyle most joy. Seeing students excel in what they’re passionate about is the greatest treasure a teacher of music can experience.

Hannah Selin is a composer, violist and vocalist with over ten years of experience teaching students of all ages. Her teaching areas include violin, viola, composition, and music theory. Hannah’s first goal for students is always to tap into the joy of playing an instrument, while also learning how to read, interpret, and create music. She encourages students to think (and play) outside the box, incorporating songwriting, composition and improvisation into lessons depending on each student’s interests and needs. Hannah has over three years of experience teaching undergraduate courses in music theory, ear training, electronic music, composition, and orchestration at Brooklyn College (CUNY) and Temple University.

Scott Sewell is a singer, composer, and educator based in Brooklyn, NY. Having endeavored in music since he was eight years old, Scott is no stranger to the adventures and experiences that music can offer us all. Beginning with piano and guitar as a child, Scott laid a wholesome foundation to pursue degrees in percussion and voice at the University of Arkansas. Scott has toured both nationally and internationally with the University of Arkansas music ensembles, taught multiple private studios of his own, and garnered experience in public and charter school classrooms. Having moved to New York City to pursue the arts and teach, Scott is excited to be a part of the Williamsburg Music Studio.

Alyssa Smith is a pianist, composer, and educator based in Brooklyn, New York. Originally from Madison, Wisconsin, Alyssa received her Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin under the instruction of Christopher Taylor, and her Master’s degree in Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation from the University of Michigan under the instruction of Andy Milne and Ellen Rowe. Alyssa began playing the piano at a very young age, and started teaching piano and music theory in middle school. Having graduated with degrees in both classical and jazz piano, Alyssa seeks to bridge the gap between the two genres and explore musical spaces in between in her teaching. Alyssa believes that every student has a unique set of strengths and interests and is deeply invested in providing materials and an educational atmosphere that challenges and excites students. 

Rachel Marie Snyder is a lifelong music lover. She is a fourth generation pianist and grew up in a house full of singing. Rachel has been teaching voice, piano, and musical theatre for over 5 years at studios in New York and across the country. She shares her passion for musicality and self-expression in the classroom and on the stage. Rachel has performed internationally as a vocalist with Aida Cruise Lines and regionally in roles such as Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Nancy in Oliver!. She continues her lifelong music training in Brooklyn and loves to pass on her knowledge to the next generation of young artists.

Yago Vazquez studied piano at the Music Conservatory of Vigo, SPJ Pontevedra and Estudio, Escola de Musica. He moved to NYC in 2008 to study at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he graduated with honors in 2010. He has toured extensively playing jazz festivals in Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, England, United States, South Korea, Guatemala, Mexico, Salvador, Costa Rica, and Chile, and has performed at some of the most prestigious jazz clubs in New York City (Blue Note, Jazz Gallery, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Jazz Standard, Cornelia Street Cafe, etc…). Yago Vazquez has been featured on over 30 albums and has performed with musicians like Reggie Workman, Billy Harper, Jesse Davis, Jamie Baum, Gilad Hekselman and Brad Shepik. Yago has released one album as a leader, “Chorale” (Free Code Jazz Records 2011) featuring Logan Richardson, Aidan Carroll and Tommy Crane. He is a member of “Stream”, a trio project with bassist Scott Lee and drummer Jeff Hirshfield.