“Amelia has grown so much as a piano student in the almost three years she has been with CHMA”  – Theresa D.

The staff at Chestnut Hill Music Academy have either university music degrees or professional performance experience.  Each teacher is carefully chosen and screened for their ability to teach, inspire and connect with children and adult students. They have all  undergone both a PA Criminal Background Check and a Child Abuse Clearance. Since each student is totally unique, at CHMA teachers are empowered to use their intuition and experience to create a unique learning environment to suit each child’s interests, temperament and learning style.  Our goal is to choose just the right match for each student from our diverse staff.  Each teacher is encouraged and supervised to be flexible and creative in their approach. In collaboration with parents we design a unique personal teaching plan to keep each child growing, inspired and engaged.

Mickey Leone – Director and Guitar Teacher – CHMA Director Mickey Leone has been working with children and music for over 3 decades. He founded and co- directed Soundstage School of Music for 9 years before moving on to CHMA.  A professional musician since the age of 14 when he began playing drums in rock bands. Over the years he has studied guitar, piano, voice and fiddle with various private teachers. His musical influences run from blues to country to jazz standards to southern rock.  A native of the area, Mickey first started teaching music privately in the mid 1980’s.  In 1995 he founded The Chestnut Hill Guitar School where he taught hundreds of students over the years.  In addition, he was the Montgomery County director of Makin’ Music the interactive parent-tot program from 1998 to 2010.  Mickey also holds a Master’s Degree from Chestnut Hill College in Counseling Psychology with special training in play and music therapy for children.   Mickey personally chooses and supervises all teachers.

Mark Kuczynski – Drums, Guitar         

Mark has been playing drums in rock bands at popular music venues up and down the East Coast the past several years.  He grew up nearby in Delaware County being professionally trained in complex rock, jazz and Latin patterns as well as the rudiments of drumming.  Mark’s drumming influences are some of the most renowned and skilled drummers in rock and roll history including John Bonham, Neil Peart and Matt Cameron.  He has a passion for music education, and applies all his lessons to real world examples from popular music as a means for keeping the lessons fun and educational for his students.  Mark is a graduate of Saint Joseph’s University where he also played hockey, and is a fan of all Philadelphia sports teams. He looks forward to meeting anyone with a desire to learn music and encourages everyone to explore their musical interests to the fullest.

Elle Gyandoh – Voice, Flute, Piano

Elle has been deeply involved with music since the age of 8, when she began her study of the flute. Within the next few years she found her voice and started acting in her school theater, especially in the Musicals.  In middle school she began writing songs and performing at local clubs and coffeehouses. By high school she had worked her way to First Chair Flute all the while continuing her singing and songwriting. At Temple University she played in the Marching and Concert Bands. Today she leads her own band, as singer and flutist, performing Soul, Jazz, Funk, Pop, & R&B.  She also is vocalist for a successful wedding/corporate band performing at many large venues throughout the area. Elle has a passion for working with children and she brings that to her teaching, With an M.A. in School Counseling, she is on staff at an Elementary School, where she facilitates a music club. Elle is also a volunteer with WXPN’s Musicians On-Call Program, singing at the bedsides of sick patients, many of them children. As a teacher Elle works to help each student get the most from the experience whatever their goals might be.  According to Elle  “confidence is the key ingredient in successful performance. When working with a teacher first you need to build trust, Once trust is established, anything is possible”

Henry Farcus  – Piano, Electric Keyboard

Henry is a long time friend and musical collaborator of Mickey Leone, the school director. He has performed with Mickey since they were both teenagers playing in various bands and music ensembles. Henry began studying piano at age 7 with private classical lessons so he has a deep background and excellent skills. His interests transitioned to rock, blues, folk & pop music and he started playing with bands at age 13 ultimately going through the evolution of dance club bands, original music groups, touring cover bands, full-on R&B bands, solo piano performance, duos and trios. Throughout his experiences he took a special interest in electronic keyboards  becoming familiar with their sound textures and programming capability.

Henry earned his BA and majored in Communications at Temple University  ultimately working on staff for the college, supervising the Film Sound & Editing facilities. He’s spent many years as the director and chief instructor for American Music Institute of Pa. The workshops he presented taught students to play songs by ear, using a shorthand method and a few simple ideas and techniques. A skilled improvisor, arranger and ensemble player he is able to show his students how to use their playing in a variety of situations.   Henry believes that when in a group, listening to what others are playing is a crucial skill for all musicians. He is pleased to share his love of music with the youngest students as well as adults at all levels.

Elizabeth Basoff – Violin, Piano

Elizabeth began Violin and Piano lessons in Los Angeles at the age of 6. She was accepted at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia when she was twelve years old and took masterclasses with world-renowned soloist Ruggiero Ricci in Palm Springs. She continued her studies with the highly acclaimed teacher, Boris Kuschnir in Vienna (Austria) and after in East Asia.

She had the opportunity to study the Suzuki method as a young violinist while focusing on a traditional style consisting of passage-work, intonation, vibrato, sliding, presence and solidity. Elizabeth performed multiple tours in Germany for several consecutive years. She premiered with the Paganini Concerto No. 4 in Germany (live recording released by JPK Musik) and Bruch Concerto in China under the baton of Volker Hartung with the Cologne New Philharmonic Orchestra.

She recorded the majority of the violin score for the documentary, “Paul Mellon: In His Own Words”, which premiered at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.

In 2018 (Germany), she played a newly-written concerto by English composer, Alexander Webb-Mitchell.

Elizabeth also performed as a soloist with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in an open auditorium holding about 25,000 people. Other notable events include her featuring as a solo artist with the Israel Chamber Orchestra, Feng Yuan String Chamber Orchestra, and Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra; performing the Antonio Vivaldi “Four Seasons”, even performing twice at the Kremlin Museum in Moscow.

She became very aware of the importance of Mind-Body connection and took holistic approaches. Elizabeth started learning Yoga from the age of 14 and currently provides Yoga classes. She also volunteers as an artist for the FSP: Fifty Shades of Purple Against Bullying, a non-profit organization that stands for resilience and community support

Rebecca Johnson –  Voice, Piano

Isak Gaines – Piano, Guitar, Saxophone, Clarinet, flute 

Bill Saurman – Trumpet, Trumbone, Piano

William has been a brass specialist and pianist in the Philadelphia area for the past 7 years and has been teaching for the past 5 years. Growing up in Cheltenham, PA, he started playing the trombone at the age of 9. Before long, he became obsessed with jazz,
inspired by the likes of Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, and JJ Johnson to name a few. It was his
influences that inspired William to strive for musical virtuosity and professionalism, and, by age 16, he set out to become a professional musician to share his music with the world. While he was studying in Temple University’s renowned Jazz Studies program, William began teaching students of all different ages, instruments, and backgrounds out of his home. He believes that everyone with a thirst for knowledge and a passion for music can learn to play music, and his
instruction has always been tailored to the needs of his students. Since he started teaching from his home, he has gone on to teach at the Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz as well as guest speak and teach for various high school ensembles in the greater Philadelphia area. William is looking forward to joining the Chestnut Hill Music Academy community and is ready to inspire the next generation of young musicians.

Jacob Beilenson – Bass Guitar, Piano, Guitar, Voice, Songwriting

Jacob is a lifelong musician who is eager to share his love for music with his students. Jacob started teaching piano at age 17, working with kids in his own neighborhood. Over the years, he has worked with kids of all ages in his work as a music instructor, tutor, and teacher. His goal is always to make learning fun and to connect with every student. A songwriter himself, he encourages his students to embrace their creativity through music. Last year he led a music production after school program at Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia, where students learned basic music theory and how to write and record their own music.

Jacob received classical training on piano at the Main Line Conservatory of Music, but his interests in music extend across genres. Besides the piano, Jacob sings and plays guitar, bass guitar, and vibraphone. He writes and records his own music at his home studio. You can often see him performing in New York and Philadelphia, as he is involved in a few musical projects.

Mary Loftus – Violin, Piano

Mary Loftus is an active performer and teacher in Philadelphia. She holds a bachelor’s in music from Vanderbilt University, where she obtained a Suzuki teaching certification, served as concertmaster of the Vanderbilt symphony orchestra, and won a graduation award for excellence in string performance. While in Nashville she began performing with the Nashville Symphony, Ballet, and Opera, and recorded soundtracks for movies and video games at Ocean Way Studios. 

Currently Mary is a violinist with the Delaware Symphony and Ocean City Pops, and performs frequently with many other ensembles in and around Philadelphia. 

As a teacher, she aims is to help students build a strong technical foundation so they can more effectively express themselves through music. She wants to share the joy of music and create a fun atmosphere for learning and growth.

Mike Cooper-Guitar

Coming from a very musical family, Mike had the chance to experience music at weekly family gatherings where his father and uncles all played guitar and had sing-alongs. The family was always so happy and had so much fun singing,  Mike discovered the joy of making and sharing music. Mike got his first guitar at age 12 and joined the family band. Guitar and music became his passion.

Mike first performed at a junior high chorus recital after playing for guitar six months. He learned from every guitar player he met. Mike played in bands throughout school and later began teaching guitar. His students ranged in age from seven to forty-seven. During that time, Mike played wherever he could, and began recording at his home studio which he continues today.

Mike plays both acoustic and electric guitars, and has been working with digital audio recording and guitar effects for years. While it sounds great with all the effects and performing, Mike enjoys playing every day at home with an acoustic like the one he started on. Simple, and always available to enjoy.

After a lifetime of enjoying music through playing guitar, Mike understands how important music can be for someone. He loves the chance to share that with his students.

 Wanting Chen -Piano

Hi, I’m Wanting Chen, a passionate and professional piano teacher with over 10 years of experience in playing and teaching piano. I specialize in both classical and jazz styles, and I can teach bilingual language as well. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from Wuhan Conservatory of Music in China, and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Piano from Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in the UK. I have also received a certificate from the renowned jazz pianist Stefan Karlsson after attending his master class. I have experience in working as a piano performer, teacher in Shanghai and the UK. Currently, I settled down in PA  and working in Chestnut Hill Music Academy. I am skilled in teaching piano to students of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced learners. I tailor my teaching methods to suit each student’s needs and goals, and incorporates music theory and composition into my lessons. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, whether you want to play for fun or for exams or auditions, whether you prefer classical or jazz music, I can help you achieve your goals and enjoy playing the piano.

Carleen Baron – Voice, Piano, Flute, Clarinet

Carleen is a graduate of Temple University, where she received her M.M. in Vocal Performance. During her time at Temple, Carleen performed the roles of “Gretel” in Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, “Zina” in Nico Muhly’s Dark Sisters, and “Susanna” in W.A. Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro. Recently Carleen has competed in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont competition, received first prize in the Medici International Music Competition for voice, and made it to the semi-final round in the James Toland Vocal Arts competition. Carleen received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2021, where she debuted her “Donna Anna” in W.A. Mozart’s Don Giovanni during the inaugural season of the Pablo Center. There, she also sang “Lucy” in Kurt Weill’s Threepenny Opera and performed as “Cunegonde” from Leonard Bernstein’s Candide in a concert performance with the Chippewa Valley Symphony Orchestra. Carleen studies under Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis and has most recently worked with tenor, Bryan Hymel at CoOPERAtive summer intensive in Princeton, New Jersey. With a passion for teaching in addition to the passion she brings to her performing, Carleen is also committed to providing students with healthy and motivated vocal technique and performance skills

             Marina Kotsios – Piano                                       

• Graduated Gnesin Russian Academy of Music
• Graduated Moscow State Institute of Music named after A.G. Schnittke

Teaching – Music Teacher in Kindergarten in Moscow

• Music teacher at a middle school in Moscow
• Private piano lessons instructor in Moscow

Work – Music Field

• Russian Musical Society. Cultural Agent. in Moscow
• Piano Teacher at a Private Music School in Athens Neo Ionia District (Greece)

1991 in Los Angeles,

Piano teacher at a private music school

• Private piano lessons instructor in different parts of California.
• Composer for film and television in Hollywood

Kent Schauble – Voice, Violin

Kent earned his Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from Indiana University, and was certified in Music Education K-12 PA from Eastern University. He taught in the Philadelphia school district, Norristown area school district, and privately with Soundstage School of Music for many years. He comes from a very musical family and studied violin from a very early age through his teen years, when he began his vocal studies. Kent is passionate about all aspects of music and has pursued many during his career. He has explored composing, Rock and Pop singing, choral music, jazz and opera. As an opera singer his roles include Elder Hayes in Susannah, Count Almamviva in Barber of Seville, Faust in Faust, Alfredo in La Traviata, Ferrando in Cosi fan Tutte, and the First Man in The Magic Flute. In 2018 Kent also performed with the Atlantic Coast Opera in a premiere of Tapestry, the life of Matrin Luther and played his disciple, Philip Melanchthon, and Cassio in Otello. He is a professional tenor and soloist for many musical organizations in the area including: Vox Amadeus, Ambler Choral Society, Congregation Beth Or, and Christ Church Ithan, Villanova. Kent also made an album of original songs in 2008, “Happy Birthday, Kyle” by The Local Tourists, which can be found on Spotify. Kent is a fun and enthusiastic teacher. He is able to teach both voice and violin with an emphasis on technique while also inspiring a simple love for music.

Peter Currie – Drums

Peter is a graduate of Temple University where he earned his BS in Education. He began playing drums in the early 70s and has since graced stages at many festivals (eg: West Oak Lane Jazz Festival- 4x), and venues ranging from the Philly club scene (eg: World Cafe Theater, Electric Factory, NxNW)  to overseas (eg: Nice, France and Monaco). He even played at the Philadelphia Academy of Music. Peter is still a familiar face in the local music circuit, playing extensively in a wide variety of musical units and bands. (notable playing with CHMA Director Mickey Leone for six years) He is currently a member of “RUFF”, an original/cover band that performs locally . He was a founding member of the Philadelphia Blues Messengers who were together for ten years and recorded three albums together. Peter plays guitar, bass, piano/keys with drums as his first instrument. He has recorded on his own and with an assortment of collaborators as a side man and as a composer of his own songs.

Peter loves to work with young musicians. With his students, he emphasizes the crucial role of the drums in any musical unit. His philosophy is simple and strong. “The role of the drummer is similar to that of a conductor in an orchestra. Drums set the rhythm, tempo, and dynamics, essentially hold all the other musicians together. In addition, learning to keep time on the drums is a wonderful foundation for any future musical pursuits”

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