Guitar

Lionel Mootoo (Guitar)

After seeing the Jackson 5 perform on American Band Stand back in the 70’s (for those of you who remember) Lionel knew he wanted to be in the music world. When Lionel was about 10 years old, his dad gave him an old mandolin that he had picked up overseas in WW II and for the next 3 years Lionel learned to play it by ear. At that time his mandolin repertoire consisted of the Brady Bunch theme, a few Stevie Wonder tunes and every cartoon theme imaginable, his favorite being the Flintstones theme. For his 13th Birthday Lionel asked his mother for a guitar. Being an over protective nurse from the West Indies she was completely against Lionel playing music, but she bought him one any way (probably to shut him up). For the Next five years Lionel spent every day after school and every weekend either practicing or jamming with friends. By the time Lionel was eighteen he was performing at clubs throughout the New York/New Jersey area and had established a reputation as a skilled lead guitar player able to easily cover Hendrix, Van Halen, Clapton and many others. At that time Lionel became interested in classical guitar and studied classical technique for the next two years while also completing his BA at William Paterson University and earning honors in Humanities. After studying classical guitar, Lionel became heavily influenced by jazz and studied jazz guitar for the next few years with Jimmy Brown, Jeff Peretz and the legendary Vic Cenicola. Today Lionel continues to teach as well as write and perform music. In addition Lionel has earned his MBA which has helped him with maneuvering the business side of the music industry. His students have included professional musicians on Broadway, public school music teachers, retirees who want to rock and kids of all ages who have been bitten by the music bug just as he was when he was their age.

Jeff Vella (Guitar)

Bio Here

Strings

Alice Naegele (Strings, Beginning Piano)

Alice Cimino Naegele received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in 1993 in Music Composition from The Ohio State University.

She began piano lessons at age 6 and violin at age 12, and has taught private lessons on both instruments since 1996. Alice also began teaching group violin lessons in the Chicago Public Schools through Music House, inc., in 1999.

Since relocating back to her home of Palm Beach County in 2007, she has continued teaching private and group lessons at Berkhire Elementary, The King’s Academy, the Shepherd Institute of Music, and George’s Musicians’ Superstore, in addition to home lessons. Dr. Naegele is an Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach State College and at the MacArthur School of Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University, teaching Music Appreciation and the Fundamentals of Music.

Woodwinds/Brass

Paul Magersuppe (Woodwinds, Brass)

Paul is a Danbury, Connecticut native who came to Palm Beach County in 1972. Upon graduation from Atlantic High School, he attended Palm Beach Junior College and then went on to earn a Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University. Since returning to South Florida in 1982, Mr. Magersuppe has enjoyed a musically diverse career, performing professionally on the saxophones, clarinet and flute. Some of the performers he has worked with include Robert Goulet, Al Martino, Carol Channing, Eddie Fisher, Perry Como, George Burns, Rich Little, Aretha Franklin, Dick Johnson, Dudley Moore, Eartha Kitt, Duffy Jackson, The Temptations, the Four Tops, the Platters, The Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Marshall Grant Orchestra, the Palm Beach County Chamber Ensemble, the Israeli Chamber Orchestra, and the Palm Beach County Woodwind Quintet. A member of the former International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), the Music Educator’s National Conference (MENC), and the Florida Bandmasters Association (FBA), Paul has been a band director at Palm Springs Middle School (formerly known as Jefferson Davis Middle School) for the past 22 years. His bands have earned straight superior ratings at district festivals for the past 17 years. His jazz ensembles and symphonic bands have been very busy performing all over the county, including the South Florida Fair and Sunfest. In addition, he has served as instructor of saxophone at Palm Beach Community College and has performed with the PBCC Tuesday Night Jazz Ensemble. He is now the woodwind instructor at several high schools in Palm Beach County and assists at Palm Beach State College. In addition, he has a roster of private students ranging in level from beginning to advanced.

Piano

Carlos Mota (Piano, Drums, World Percussion)

Carlos started his professional music career at the age of 13 at the local venues in his native Dominican Republic. His first break was with the Anibal Brabo and Tipica Dominicana which opened the doors to travel and New York City’s Merengue and Salsa scene of the late 80’s. Since then work for some of the top Latin acts Wilfrido Vargas, the Moreno Brothers and Milie Quesada. Later transition to Latin Jazz and performed with Mario Rivera, Ray Vega, The Banda Brothers, Steve Turre, John Santos, Bobby Sanabria, Leah Babatunde to name a few. Since moving to Florida study music at Palm Beach State College, and Jazz Performance at Florida Atlantic University under the mentoring of Dr. Tim Walters.

Alice Cimino Naegele (Strings, Beginning Piano)

Alice Cimino Naegele received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in 1993 in Music Composition from The Ohio State University.

She began piano lessons at age 6 and violin at age 12, and has taught private lessons on both instruments since 1996. Alice also began teaching group violin lessons in the Chicago Public Schools through Music House, inc., in 1999.

Since relocating back to her home of Palm Beach County in 2007, she has continued teaching private and group lessons at Berkhire Elementary, The King’s Academy, the Shepherd Institute of Music, and George’s Musicians’ Superstore, in addition to home lessons. Dr. Naegele is an Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach State College and at the MacArthur School of Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University, teaching Music Appreciation and the Fundamentals of Music.

Drums/Percussion

Frank Derrick (Drums, Percussion)

Drummer, Frank Derrick, has led a multifaceted national and international music career. He is a virtuoso performer, composer, and educator. In addition to his many theatrical credits, he has performed with numerous legends including Eubie Blake, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Benny Carter, Hank Jones, Ann Hampton Calloway, Keely Smith, and The Louis Armstrong Legacy Band to name a few. He toured worldwide with Cab Calloway for 10 years and was the drummer for “The David Letterman Show” on NBC. Currently he is the drummer, assistant conductor and personnel manager for the Palm Beach Pops and drummer and conductor for the Bob Hoose Orchestra. He is the respected author of FOCUS ON TECHNIQUE FOR DRUMMERS, Drumset Editor for Percussive Notes, and makes guest appearances following the recent release of his new jazz-chart busting CD, THE BEAT GOES ON on the Jazzed Media label.

Carlos Mota (Piano, Drums, World Percussion)

Carlos started his professional music career at the age of 13 at the local venues in his native Dominican Republic. His first break was with the Anibal Brabo and Tipica Dominicana which opened the doors to travel and New York City’s Merengue and Salsa scene of the late 80’s. Since then work for some of the top Latin acts Wilfrido Vargas, the Moreno Brothers and Milie Quesada. Later transition to Latin Jazz and performed with Mario Rivera, Ray Vega, The Banda Brothers, Steve Turre, John Santos, Bobby Sanabria, Leah Babatunde to name a few. Since moving to Florida study music at Palm Beach State College, and Jazz Performance at Florida Atlantic University under the mentoring of Dr. Tim Walters.

Myron Steward (Drums)

At about the age of 9, Myron Stewart saw the Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show and knew that he wanted to be a drummer for the rest of his life. For the next 4 years, he drove his mom crazy stealing her pots and pans, arranging them in a semi-circle around him and denting them while playing along with anything that came on the radio. Finally at 13, his mom broke down and bought Myron his first drum set from a family friend. It was blue and sparkly and although it only cost a few dollars it was the best thing that ever happened to him.

Through junior high and high school Myron continued to progress, acing his auditions for school band and achieving 1st chair in drum ensemble, while also sparking interest from the local music scene. By the time Myron was 16, he was playing professionally in the local clubs and busy establishing a reputation as a solid drummer with the ability to play anything from Beatles to Deep Purple and everything in between.

Following high school, Myron toured extensively across the US and Canada. He played in several groups who opened for many household names, including Jerry Reed, The Bellamy Brothers, Eddie Money, The Dixie Dregs and Bob Seger.

Myron is a lifelong dedicated performer who enjoys the rewards years of experience have brought him. He derives a great deal of personal gratification from teaching drums and percussion to people of all ages. Also, Myron has helped many of his students prepare for and achieve entrance into the prestigious Bak School for the Performing Arts as well as giving many adults the opportunity to explore their musical curiosity and achieve their lifelong dream of playing the drums. Myron’s approach to teaching is an individualized approach that focuses upon counting, keeping time and mastering the basics. He also believes in constantly challenging yourself with different types of beats, rhythms and musical styles.

Today Myron focuses 100% of his time on teaching, performing and creating music. His passion for drumming and music in general is both overwhelming and contagious. He serves as both a supporter and inspiration to all that cross his path musically and devotes his time and energy to helping others pursue their musical dreams, goals and aspirations.

Vocals

Roberta Rehner

Roberta Rehner has been studying voice, dance, piano, and theater since she was a very young girl. She holds a B.A. in Communication from Thiel College. Roberta has worked as a radio personality. Since 2002, she is a cantor at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She is also a cantor and vocalist at Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida since 2008. Roberta also teaches private voice lessons (Bel-Canto) to children and adults since 2007 at Jupiter Academy of Music (JAM) and out of her home.

She prides herself on being quite diversified in her singing styles. Roberta Rehner not only sings classical art songs and arias, but performs sacred, musical theater, jazz, rock, and madrigal styles. She has even performed with a three-part A Cappella group “The Caroling Company” of Broward County. Roberta gives many cabaret and classical concerts around Palm Beach County as well. Roberta Rehner was a guest vocalist for the Palm Beach Gardens Concert Band at the, Eissey Theater at Palm Beach State College in Palm Beach Gardens. She was honored to perform for the 82nd Airborne Corp. Division.

Currently, Roberta is a student at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she is obtaining her second Bachelor degree in Music, as a vocal performance major. Roberta has future aspirations to obtain her Master’s Degree in voice. She also studies under Marilyn Mims, a soprano and former Metropolitan Opera singer. Additionally, Roberta has studied with Richard Adler, Broadway composer and lyricist of “The Pajama Game” and “Damn Yankees.”

“Swing 8n’t All,” Roberta Rehner is also the featured vocalist for hottest swing band in Palm Beach County. Since 2009, the band has played at many local venues, like the Lake Worth Playhouse in Lake Worth, Florida, and Downtown at the Gardens in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.