Meet Our Teachers

Meet our Teachers!

 We're always adding new faces to our teaching staff. Interested in teaching lessons at David French Music? Call us at (508) 366-5994 or send your resume/cover letter to [email protected]

 
   
Adam Mejaour - Trumpet

Adam Mejaour
Area of Instruction: Trumpet

Adam holds a double Bachelor’s in Music Education and Trumpet Performance from UMASS Amherst. He has been teaching since 2013 and began by independently starting a studio while finishing his studies. When teaching, his varied educational and performing background gives him an eclectic “bag of teaching tools.” He feels comfortable teaching at any age and/or ability level in both the classical and jazz idiom. He credits much of this to his teachers: Bill Fanning (classical, jazz, lead trumpet), Eric Berlin (classical trumpet), and Jeff Holmes (lead and jazz trumpet). He also can be found playing as a member of the Abletones Big Band and High Society Orchestra under the direction of Dan Gabel throughout Massachusetts and New England. Adam teaches at David French Music Monday-Friday. 

Bonnie Cochran - Flute

Bonnie Cochran
Areas of Instruction: Flute, Piccolo

Bonnie is a dedicated teacher with more than 15 years of experience teaching students from age 7 to adult. Many of her students participate in Districts, All-State, Community Ensembles, and Summer Music Programs. She has an MM in flute performance from Boston Conservatory & BA in Music and Religious Studies from Agnes Scott College. Other performance locations include Washington D.C., Nashville, Atlanta, and New England, while she is familiar with recording projects through Berklee College of Music, PBS American Experience, Sarah Manning Stuart, and Willow Flute Ensemble. Her principal teachers include Linda Toote, Elinor Preble, and Paul Brittan. An avid chamber musician, Bonnie regularly performs concerts with The Amaryllis Chamber Ensemble, the Cochran-Wrenn Duo and Chamber Music Metrowest. Bonnie teaches lessons on Monday and Thursday at David French Music.

Find out more about Bonnie on her website, www.BonnieCochran.net or see her at upcoming events with Chamber Music Metrowest.

Dimitar Krastev - Violin

Dimitar Krastev
Area of Instruction: Violin, Viola

Dimitar Krastev has been teaching and playing the violin for 25 years and received his master’s degree in violin, chamber music, and teaching from the National Music Academy in Bulgaria. He played First Violin in the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra and has also participated in many different recording projects and tours in various European countries. Before moving to Massachusetts, he taught and played Violin at the Autonomous University of Nuevo León in Monterrey and University of Saltillo Coahuila Mexico. He was a member of the well-renowned Civil College Quartet throughout his time at the university. When not teaching at David French Music, Mr. Krastev teaches violin and viola lessons at Marlborough High School and plays in the Claflin Hill Symphony Orchestra and the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. Dimitar teaches on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at David French Music. 

Ed Clough - Trombone

Ed Clough
Areas of Instruction: Trombone, Euphonium, Baritone Horn, Tuba, Low Brass

Ed attended Boston University for Music Performance and has been teaching for 30 years. Ed has studied trombone with Ronald Barron, William Harris, and members of Empire Brass. He is one of the founding members of Boston Brass and is currently on staff at Boston College. Ed likes to use “music theory, history and even singing to give his students a complete grasp of music performance”. Ed specializes in ensemble coaching and encourages all his students to participate in district preparation regardless of ability level. Ed teaches at David French Music on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Evie Brogan
Area of Instruction: Violin, Voice

Evie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music with a concentration in Vocal Studies from Gordon College, studying classical vocal technique under Susan Brooks. She has been playing violin since she was three years old, studying with Kathy Charlestream, David Tasgal, and Janet Packer. Having almost ten years of teaching experience, Evie specializes in vocal instruction for beginning to advanced singers and violin instruction from beginner to intermediate-advanced levels as well as beginner cello and viola. Evie is a co-founder of North County Music in Gardner, MA, where she co-directs the Junior and Senior Youth String Orchestras, Youth Choir and teaches Music Theory, Music History, and Appreciation classes. Evie has a passion for music education and encourages everyone to find their voice through music. Evie teaches at David French Music on Monday and Friday. 

Jessica Popik - Clarinet

Jess Popik
Area of Instruction: Clarinet

Jess holds a Bachelor’s in Music Performance from UMass Lowell. She is experienced with preparing students for Districts and All-State and has been teaching private lessons for 12 years, ages 8 to adult. Jess is currently on staff for Westminster Elementary and the Oakmont-Overlook Marching Spartans. Currently, Jessica is performing with the Claflin Hill Summer Wind Ensemble and the Indian Hill Clarinet Choir. She has studied with David Martins and Paul Surapine. Jess teaches at David French Music on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

(Photography by: © Charles Saulters II http://charlessaultersmedia.com)

 

Mario Ramirez
Area of Instruction: Cello, Violin, Viola, Piano

Mario Ramirez studied at the New England Conservatory under Laurence Lesser and Colin Carr, and then went on to receive awards from the Arnold Schoenberg Institute and the Colburn Foundation. He has also participated in the Idyllwild Art Summer Program, Edinburgh International Music Festival, Tanglewood Music Festival and Piatigorsky Seminar. As a cello soloist, Ramirez has played concertos with the La Jolla Symphony, Savannah Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Guanajuato Symphony (Mexico), Queretaro Philharmonic (Mexico) and has given many chamber, solo, and orchestral concerts throughout the U.S.A., Europe and Israel. A dedicated teacher and pedagogue, Ramirez cultivated a private teaching studio of over seventy students in the metrowest area, the majority of whom were accepted into district and state orchestras and excelled in solo competitions. Now he joins us having spent six years in San Diego with his youth orchestra organization, The New Youth Orchestra. Mario supervised string students from beginner to college level, in their five orchestra and band ensembles. Several of his students went on to pursue music at The Eastman School of Music, Boston Conservatory, Berklee College of Music and Meadowmount School of Music. Mario teaches at David French Music on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Rich Graiko - Trumpet

Rich Graiko
Area of Instruction: Trumpet

Rich Graiko studied jazz performance at Berklee College of Music and has been teaching and playing for the last 20 years. He was most recently the music department head of the Smith School in Manhattan where he taught trumpet, drums, bass, audio production, ensembles, and music theory. In addition to occupying the original Trumpet seat in the Reggae/Soul group Westbound Train, he is a co-founder/producer of traditional ska group The Void Union and the founder of Brooklyn-based Reggae/Jamaican Jazz band The Brooklyn Attractors and has many other freelance credits. Rich has toured extensively, studied and worked with several renowned musicians and producers and draws upon this diverse professional experiences to deliver balanced and inspirational music lessons. Rich Graiko teaches at David French Music on Wednesday evenings. 

 

Zachery Bushey - Saxophone & Flute

Keith Kramer
Area of Instruction: Guitar

Keith Allan Kramer, guitarist and composer, currently resides in Boston, Massachusetts. He has taught at Central Connecticut State University, Towson University, University of Miami, University of Maryland College Park and Harford Community College and is currently teaching for the Worcester Public School system. Keith has 30 years of private guitar teaching and freelance performance experience. Keith received his doctorate from the University of Miami and master’s degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park and the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

Keith is a composer of over 40 works for orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments and electronic media. Keith Kramer's music is at times subtle and restrained, and other times ferocious and demanding. Always searching for new modes of expression, each piece that Keith composes represents another facet of a continuous journey of discovery. The London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Miran Vaupotić, recently recorded Keith’s work for cello and orchestra, Luce del Sole, featuring cellist Ovidiu MarinescuKeith’s music has also been performed and recorded by the Slovak National Symphony Orchestra, the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, David Taylor, Leonard Garrison and many others. Recent performances of his work include two highly successful all-Kramer programs at New York’s Merkin Hall, documented on the DVD Beyond Sonic Boundaries Live!. Additional all-Kramer releases include the critically acclaimed albums Causal Dualism and Emerge. Keith’s work Sogni was recently premièred and toured by acclaimed British pianist Martin Jones and a European première of his work Rinnovo, for piano and percussion, featured internationally renowned pianist Anna D'Errico. Keith’s work Suspension of Disbelief for piano trio enjoyed its New York City première at Carnegie Hall in 2019. www.keithkramerguitar.com | www.keithkramer.

 

Zachery Bushey - Saxophone & Flute

Armand Langlois

Area of Instruction: Guitar

Armand Langlois has been a dedicated musician and instructor for 35 years. He has been teaching for Music & Arts in both Westborough and East Hartford for 15 years. Armand regularly performs at the Public House, the Morgan House, Rovezzi's, and The Duck in the Sturbridge area. He teaches reading, theory, fretboard dynamic, and solo performance techniques. He works with students of all ages and levels, from beginner to advanced. For many years he performed in jazz bands, rock bands, and country bands. He also hosts 2 recitals a year for his students to have performance opportunities. Armand teaches at David French Music on Tuesday and Thursday. 

Zachery Bushey - Saxophone & Flute

Paul Meland

Area of Instruction: Clarinet & Saxophone

Paul was born in North Carolina and grew up in Minnesota. In middle school, he began playing the saxophone and quickly became interested in jazz and related musics. He moved to Boston in 2014 to attend Berklee College of Music. At Berklee, he found himself immersed in jazz, world, and experimental music and had many opporunities to play and compose in these styles. Paul now attends the New England Conservatory of music, where he studies musicology. Paul teaches at David French Music on Monday and Tuesday. 

 

 

Keith Anderson

Area of Instruction: Flute & Piccolo

Keith Anderson loves all things flute and piccolo. Has taught private lessons for over 10 years and has degrees in flute performance from Boston University and The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Currently, he plays flute and piccolo with the Concord Orchestra and Opera 51. Keith loves finding or creating the perfect exercises for each student to improve embouchure and technique. Etudes, solos and duets also make up a large portion of weekly lessons. Because music is better with friends, he encourages students to play duets and chamber pieces with other students whenever possible to open up more musical possibilities. Keith strives to make a one on one connection with students to help them get the most out of lessons and foster a lifelong love of music. Keith teaches at David French Music on Wednesday. 

   

Mark Holovnia

Area of Instruction: Advanced Percussion

Mark attended Westfield State University and has studied privately with the late Alan Dawson (Boston) and Jeff Hamilton ( in Los Angeles). Mark has performed with Frank Capp's Juggernaut, Med Flory's Supersax, Carl Saunders Be-Bop Big Band, Nnenna Freelon, The Harry James and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, and many other artists in the Los Angeles and Boston areas. His touring credits include Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, The Glenn Miller Band, The Four Freshmen, The Modernaires, Julius Larosa, BuddyDe Franco, and Kay Starr (to name a few). In addition, mark continues to tour nationally with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, and their CD "Stardust and Beyond" has won critical praise. Traveling with singer Steve Lippia and his "Simply Sinatra" show, guest performances have included symphony appearances in Hartford, Kansas City, Las Cruces N.M., Corpus Christi, Cape Cod, Portland ME, and Symphony NH.

   

Christopher Kapitz

Area of Instruction: Percussion

Chris Kapitz is a Berklee College of Music graduate, and has been teaching and playing drums professionally for more than 20 years.  He has played live music in the Berklee Percussion ensemble under the direction of Boston Pops esplanade orchestra principal percussionist Dean Anderson, jazz and pop performances with Lynn Jolicoeur and The Pulse, and the Travis Kapitz Goodspeed trio, and for years has been the pit band drummer for the Westborough Community Chorus and Southborough Singers.  He has recorded and played with rock bands Ely's Gin and Magnara, as well as playing for numerous wedding parties and musical stage productions in Central Mass and Boston.  His host of teachers include Gary Chaffee (author of the Patterns book series and teacher of Vinnie Colaiuta of Sting, Steve Smith of Journey, and Joey Kramer of Aerosmith), Richard Flanagan (percussionist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra), Rod Morgenstein (Winger, Dixie Dregs), and master Latin drummer Bobby Sanabria.  His students have gone on to great accomplishments such as playing in school and district bands, collegiate marching bands, the Brandeis University jazz band, and playing live onstage with Shania Twain at the Boston Garden.  Experienced in orchestral percussion and various styles on drum set, Kapitz teaches students with many diverse interests, and those of all ages.  Chris is currently teaching at David French Music on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

   

Bill Fanning

Area of Instruction: Trumpet

Trumpeter, composer and teacher Bill Fanning performs concerts and conducts clinics both in the U.S. and internationally as a member of the Jeff Coffin Mu’tetHis educational background includes a master’s degree from the New England Conservatory, where he studied improvisation with Jon McNeil, Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, and Bob Brookmeyer, and also private study with the legendary Bobby Shew, while Bill was stationed with the US Navy Band, San Diego.

As a freelance musician both in Nashville and in the Northeast, Bill has toured with the Artie Shaw Band, the Benny Goodman Tribute BandMax Carl and the Big Dance Horns featuring Glenn Frey, and has performed with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and many artists such as Bernard Purdie, Lou ChristieLittle Anthony and the Imperials, The O’Jays, and The Temptations.

 

 

Noah Mejaour

Area of Instruction: Saxophone

Noah holds a BA in Music Composition from Rhode Island College where he also studied Music Education and Saxophone Performance. Through his time there, he studied Classical Saxophone with Dr. Jennifer Bill and Jazz Saxophone with Greg Abate while being a part of many varieties of groups and ensembles to grow in both styles. He has been teaching for 6 years, and has a passion for sharing the joy of music through private instruction.

 

 

Grace Shryock

Area of Instruction: Oboe & English Horn

A performer in high demand, Grace Shryock is a member of the Springfield Symphony and the Albany Symphony, and performs regularly with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. Additionally, Ms. Shryock was the Acting English Horn of the New York Philharmonic for four years, and was the English Horn soloist in their performance of Aaron Copland's "Quiet City." She also served as the Acting Principal English Horn and Assistant Principal Oboe with the Richmond Symphony. She has made appearances with the Boston, St. Louis, Baltimore, New Jersey, and Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestras, the Boston Pops, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and The Knights, as well as many other orchestras on the East Coast. 
She can be heard on recordings by the New York Philharmonic, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and Albany Symphony Orchestra — for which she served as principal oboe in the Grammy-nominated recording of Christopher Rouse’s Kabir Padavali — as well as in the scores to numerous feature films and television shows.
Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ms. Shryock studied at the Manhattan School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory. Ms. Shryock has served as an Associate Oboe Teacher at the Manhattan School of Music, and an Oboe Instructor at Mannes School of Music and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has conducted both playing, audition, and reedmaking master classes at the Mannes School of Music, New York University, Cornell University, and Brooklyn College. She is also the founder of the Storytime Quintet, which specializes in bringing classical music to children. 
When Grace is not playing her instruments or making reeds, she is busy spending time with her husband and 4 year old daughter, who is constantly reminding her of how many amazing and often overlooked details there are in the world!

Loading...