Every member of our faculty has trained at The Center for Music & Young Children®, Princeton, the lab school for MUSIC TOGETHER LLC. Each is registered to teach the Music Together® curriculum and enrich the music-making environment of young families in class; a teacher's individual and unique qualities are encompassed in the educational philosophies of the MUSIC TOGETHER program.
JUDY WILSON, Center Director. Judy's music career has taken her voice
around the country and close to home singing many years with the highly
successful group "The Party Dolls." Her passion for the arts
lead to a career of studio work, jingles, and children's concerts. Her
charity work with "The Holiday Express" brings music and song to
shelters and hospitals. She's been on the faculty since 1998 entertaining
with her guitar and now running Music Together in our area. She also does
the popular birthday parties, either in your home or at The Play Away Studio.
PATTI GARDNER. Music Together culminates Patti's performing arts and early childhood background. BA in Music Education from Wilkes University, PA. Successful piano and vocal teacher in Union County. Patti's extensive resume includes Off-Broadway and regional NJ Theater work, singing with "Ralph Mitchell Orchestras" and leading MT classes since 1998. Past elementary school teacher, Bayberry Public School, Watchung. Present Director of Youth Ministry and Youth Choir, St. Helen's Church, Westfield. She has been teaching for us since 1999, often for siblings of children she taught in previous years.
SUSAN GRAHAM. Susan has a Bachelor degree in Music from Peabody Conservatory and a Master's degree in Music from Mason Gross at Rutgers University. She performs with several freelance groups on both modern flute and baroque period instruments. As a classically trained flutist, she is a well-known private teacher in the Scotch Plains/Fanwood area, with over ten years experience. She has taught Music Together for us since 2001 and has two young children of her own. Susan loves the informal philosophy of the MT program by valuing the self-expression of each child as they grow musically. Susan has a high S.Q. (Silly Quotient), which can often be seen in class!
BETH KASPER. Beth holds an accounting degree from The George Washington University. While attending school, she took a variety of vocal classes and was selected to participate in their 200 person choir. After graduating, Beth toured the east coast with children's theater for six months, and has since performed in many regional community theater productions, including "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Anything Goes" at Plays-In-The-Park in Edison and "A Chorus Line" at the Franklin Villagers in Somerset. Beth has been teaching Music Together since 2004 as a year-round teacher and also as a well-received substitute teacher. She was a class Mom in previous years with her three children.
ALISON POWER. Alison has taught pre-k music programs in the Westfield and Scotch Plains area since 1994. She is currently a music teacher at Wesley Hall Nursery School in Westfield, where she leads guitar accompanied sing-a-longs and musical performances by children ages 2½ to 5 years. Alison has taught music in the Scotch Plains School District for pre-k handicapped students and is now working on a drama program for Holy Trinity Church, Westfield. She is the mother of three children. Alison's BA is in Sociology from SUNY, Albany, and her professional background is in counseling and advocacy services as well as financial securities. Alison has been teaching Music Together since the year 2000.
RENEE LITWIN. In addition to a lifelong love of theatre and music, Renee has a BS degree in marketing from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia. She has performed with numerous community theater groups in the area including Westfield Community Players, Cranford Dramatic Club and Maplewood Strollers. During the summer she works with preschoolers at Camp Yachad in Scotch Plains teaching creative dramatics and storytelling. Renee first came to Music Together as a participant with her own two children.
MICHELLE WYRWA. Michelle has performed in musical theater productions and choral groups locally and in Europe. A fine arts major, emphasis in musical theater, Marymount Manhattan College. Regional credits include numerous community theater performances, including Maria in West Side Story, Kim in Bye Bye Birdie and Roxie Hart in Chicago; choral performances at local churches, the Community Theater of Morristown and Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, NYC. Has performed with both musical theater and choral groups on European tours. Formally trained in voice and piano from an early age and self-taught in guitar in her teens, Michelle has been truly impressed with Music Together's teaching philosophy and the incredible impact it has on children, including her own daughter.
ALENA TRAPP. Alena has been a part of the Music Together family for 7 years. She is a trained vocalist with an extensive background in musical theater. She revieved a Perry award for her performance as Miss Hannigan in "Annie." She has been a cantor at her church for 8 years she is our Madison location's treasure!
