Our Staff

Emily Jasmine has been composing music since the age of nine and has studied composition with Dr. Frank Doyle, Dr. Evis Sammoutis, and Dr. Jorge Grossmann. She has also studied film scoring with Tim Huling, Ben Newhouse and Sean McMahon. Emily Jasmine received her Bachelor’s in Music Composition from Ithaca College in 2021 and her […]

Thomas Diognardi is multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter from Bethpage, NY. He’s spent the better part of his life performing with various bands, and graduated from the Music Conservatory at SUNY Purchase with his Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Production. Being both a self-taught musician and well versed in music theory allows Thomas to approach lessons and […]

Voice and piano instructor, Jennie Damiano, has been singing and performing since childhood and graduated from LIU Post in 2016 with a Bachelors in Music. As a member of the Post Chorus, Chamber Singers, Long Island Sound Vocal Jazz, and Madrigal Singers, she was given many opportunities to perform on and off campus at venues […]

Kelly is a singer and musician from Islip, New York who has taught at Grace Music since February of 2021. After completing her undergraduate studies at LIU Post, Kelly began teaching voice, piano, and violin lessons while working on musical theater projects and auditioning in New York City. She recently earned a master’s degree in […]

Mate Marcina is the Music Director and a piano teacher at Grace Music School, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2015. He is an accomplished classical and jazz pianist, an award nominated composer and arranger, and a dedicated educator, who has studied and honed his skills in Europe and the US. […]

Chris Cuvier has been a professional pianist and composer since 1993, and a piano teacher since 1998. He graduated with a B.A. in music and English from Dowling College, and has studied with the world-renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch. Chris is currently the full-time musical director for Messiah Lutheran Church in East Setauket, where he […]

Izem Gurer was born in Istanbul, Turkey. She started to study piano with concert pianist Birsen Ulucan at the age of eight. She has been prize winner of numerous national and international piano competitions between the years 2012-2020 and she was a semi-finalist in the Epinal International Piano Competition in France in 2017. In 2013 […]

Logan Slansky is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, performer, and educator in the Long Island/New York City area. After receiving his Honors Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Delaware in May of 2024, where he graduated summa cum laude, he is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Jazz Performance (Piano) from […]

A popular and award-winning piano teacher, Grace Casey (Heaphy) has been teaching piano since 2006 with students ranging from ages 3 to adult. Grace has previously taught and maintained a successful piano studio in NYC and Long Island. She currently teaches piano lessons virtually at Grace Music School and in Charleston, SC. She is also […]

Shiori Chazono, bassist, pianist, composer, arranger, and piano tuner, is currently teaching at Grace Music School and Kellenberg Memorial High School. Originally from Japan, she studied at the Tokyo College of Music, where she received a Bachelor of Music degree in composition. She received her B.M. from LIU Post in Music Performance and was a […]

New to Grace Music School, music teacher Patricia has enjoyed a varied musical career incorporating teaching and performing, having begun both before entering college. A scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music and studying violin and piano with professors at that school, Patricia went on to earn Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Music […]

Cameron Keym is a dedicated music educator, bringing over 25 years of enriching musical experiences to students of diverse ages and skill levels across the U.S., Europe, and Mexico. With a deep-rooted passion for music education, Cameron emphasizes the importance of identifying each student’s current musical inspiration. His teaching approach revolves around building a solid […]

Caitlin Francis has been teaching voice, piano, and violin lessons at Grace Music School since 2017. She graduated from LIU Post in 2015 with a degree in music education with a focus in vocal studies. While there she was very involved in the jazz groups such as the Long Island Sound Vocal Jazz directed by […]

Naomi Pierro is a singer and actress who grew up on Long Island. She has performed in many different recitals, concerts, musical theater shows, operas, and churches around NY. She has also won various singing competitions, including one at Carnegie Hall. Naomi has been a vocal and piano instructor, as well as a Music Fun […]

Nicki is a vocal and piano teacher at GMS, priding herself in finding the unique balance between foundation and fun in each student’s lesson. Besides being an enthusiastic and dedicated educator for the past 15+ years of her life, Nicki also works in children’s theatre, both onstage and off. On the weekends you can find […]

Sam began to play the piano when he was only three. When Sam was seven, he started his formal training as a vocalist. He enjoys singing and playing a variety of genres including classical, jazz, and country, while simultaneously crafting original songs. Along the way, Sam has performed at notable venues including Citi Field, Madison […]

Frenie Acoba is an actress, singer, and dancer, where she has been involved in theater and entertainment for over a decade. Frenie has performed professionally in the National Tour of “South Pacific” and in the Original Broadway Cast of “Matilda the Musical”. She has also performed in numerous off-Broadway productions such as in “Mother Jones” […]

As an educator, Brit Schlude (he/they), loves to build relationships that encourage progress and celebrate growth. Growing up he studied piano and cello, and worked towards his goal of being an orchestra teacher. Brit graduated from LIU Post in 2012 with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, studying cello with Maureen Hynes. He was […]

Eliza Stoehrer is a passionate musician and teacher from Long Island, New York. Primarily a percussionist and vocalist, Eliza has also studied guitar and piano from a young age. Eliza recently received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Therapy from Molloy University, where she will also receive her Master’s Degree in 2026. Eliza is a previous […]

Erik’s unique and colorful tenor voice has been described as “youthful, amusing, and crowd-pleasing.” Hailing from Brentwood, New York, he aims to inspire a world of goodwill through live performance and education in the arts. Equally at home with a variety of genres including opera/classical, musical theatre, pop/rock, and more, Erik has experience teaching students […]

Napoleon, one of ten children hails from Staten Island, NY where his mother filled their home with an eclectic array of music, “My mother did not discriminate when it came to music, If it was good music, it was played.” He discovered his voice in church and honed his musical talents there and at school […]

Michael Alvarez is a freelance musician and a private teacher at Grace Music School in Woodbury, New York. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays saxophone, piano, guitar, and a variety of other woodwind and string instruments and is also an accomplished vocalist. Alvarez graduated magna cum laude from Long Island University with a Bachelor of […]

TJ Moran teaches orchestral strings, piano, and ukulele at Grace Music School, where he has been a member of the faculty since 2018. He served as principal cellist at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York, where he was a founding member of the Potsdam Trout Quintet and studied cello performance under Dr. […]

Steven Madonia is a music educator who completed his undergraduate studies at SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music and his graduate studies at SUNY University at Buffalo. He has conducted and organized several concerts, held seating auditions for competitive youth groups, and worked with grade levels K-12 in both general music and orchestral conducting. Steven […]