Port St. Lucie Private Lesson Staff
Forest Brant
Ukulee / Guitar
A musician for more than 40 years, Forrest has been performing, writing and teaching guitar with a love for music that spans all genres from classical to country to pop to rock. His on-going education includes a recent workshop with Tommy Emmanuel, recognized as one of the best guitarists in the world.
Marissa Flemming
Flute / Piccolo
Dr. Marissa Mauro Flemming is a dedicated flute instructor based here in Port St. Lucie Florida. She received her Bachelor of Music in music performance and Bachelor of Arts in music theory and composition degrees from Ohio Northern University, her Master of Music degree from The Ohio State University as well as her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Iowa. She studied under the tutelage of Dr. Erin Helgeson Torres, Katherine Borst Jones, and Nicole Esposito. Dr. Flemming formerly served as professor of music theory, ear training, and flute at the University of Dubuque (Dubuque, IA). She is currently the Principal flute player of the South Florida Symphony Orchestra.
Tanner Halle
Sax / Clarinet
Tanner’s musical journey began right here in Port St. Lucie. Following his graduation from Indian River State College, he pursued his passion at the University of Central Florida, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. With over 15 years of experience playing the Tenor, Baritone and Alto Saxophone, Tanner now serves as the director of bands at West Gate K-8.
Tyler J Holt
Trumpet Instructor
Tyler J. Holt is a trumpeter, composer, engraver, and publisher, who is currently based in Port St. Lucie, FL. Mr. Holt received his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Methodist University, under the tutelage of Dr. Larry Wells, and his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from East Carolina University, where he studied trumpet with Mr. Gabriel DiMartino and composition with Dr. Travis Alford. Mr. Holt is also the author and composer of Fifteen Virtuosic Etudes for Solo Trumpet, Op. 10: An Idiomatic Guide to Satisfactory Performance and Book of Solitudes, Op. 28 for piano. When Mr. Holt is not composing, he is playing trumpet for church services, weddings, and special events. . He has performed with the Raiders Drum and Bugle Corps, Methodist University Marching Monarchs, Fayetteville Symphonic Band, Fayetteville Chamber Orchestra, East Carolina University Marching Pirates, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, and Greenville Choral Society.
Alicen Julia
Piano
Born and raised in Malaysia, I began piano lessons athe age of six, and worked through ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) examinations, obtaining the highest level of grade eight by the age of twelve. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree, I began teaching in 1999 in Kansas City and have enjoyed teaching and inspiring students of all ages and abilities ever since. I love the music of Bach, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Beethoven, and Chopin. Having been trained in classical Indian dance in Malaysia as well as Ballet and Classical Modern of the Conservatory of the University of Missouri in Kansas City, I have also taught dance at the Legacy School of the Arts in Kansas City. I am always proud of all my students. I am an animal lover, and have a beautiful but rather whacky red spaniel named Roobee who loves to swim!
Steve Knob
High Brass / Percussion
Steve is the Educational Sales Representative for Musicman.
Steve has over 30 years of experience teaching all levels of bands from elementary school to college in Florida, Kentucky and Arkansas. He has also been an instructor for the Suncoast Sound, Florida Wave, and Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. Steve holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Florida, and a Master of Music Education from the University of Arkansas. He has also judged for Drum Corps International (DCI) and the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA, now USBands). Steve’s personal performance experiences include, The Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps, The University of Florida marching, symphonic, and jazz bands and other multicultural ensembles; and a number of instrumental groups at Walt Disney World, Florida, The Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches, The Gainesville Pops Concert Band, and the Central Florida Brass Band.
Jim Lebon
Woodwind Instructor
Jim LeBon is originally from Pennsylvania and attended twelve years of Catholic school before starting at FSU in 1977. While earning his bachelor’s degree in music education, he studied clarinet with Harry Schmidt and Ted Lane, and arranging with Charlie Carter. He received his bachelor’s degree from FSU in 1977 and his master’s degree in Music Education in 1993.
Mr. LeBon was a high school band director in northern Florida and southern Georgia for fourteen years before moving to Port St. Lucie twenty-six years ago. He taught at Dan McCarty Middle School for eleven years and fifteen years at Southport Middle School. Mr. LeBon has had a great deal of success with his students and is proud of the numerous superior and excellent ratings that they have achieved in concert band and solo and ensemble festivals.
Mr. LeBon has entered retirement after forty years of teaching. He intends to write music for band, teach privately and continue to mentor band directors who are working to become better teachers and managers of their careers and lives.
Mr. LeBon is an adjudicator at FBA concert and marching festivals as well as at solo and ensemble events. Mr. LeBon is a member of the American School Band Director Association.
Mr. LeBon plays bari sax with the Ambassadors of Swing, a Port St. Lucie based ensemble dedicated to the music of the Swing Era. He also plays clarinet and bass clarinet with the Treasure Coast Wind Ensemble.
Mr. LeBon conducts the Stuart Community Concert Band which is an adult ensemble dedicated to the performance of great band literature. He also works as a band clinician and mentor in the band community.
Juliet Lewicki
Violin
Juliet Lewicki, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Acute Nursing Science with a minor in K-12 Music Education from Florida Atlantic University. She has now retired from her Nursing career and is a violinist in the Treasure Coast Symphony and a chorus singer with the Treasure Coast Opera Society. Since 1975, she has shared her musical expertise, teaching both piano and violin to students of all ages.
Melanie Steinke
Piano & Voice Instructor
Melanie Steinke completed her formal music training in vocal and piano performance at the Conservatory of Music at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She began her music career as a featured Mezzo with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra for major works of John Rutter-Gloria, Requiem, Magnificat; Faure Requiem; Mozart Requiem; Handel’s Messiah; Vivaldi’s Gloria; Bach Magnificat and many other classical works. Musical Theater roles include Lili in “Carnival”, Maria in “Sound of Music” and role in the opera “Carmen”.Her accompanying credits include children’s operas,” The Little Sweep” and” Noye’s Fludde”, many major musicals, major choral works including all Rutter works, Handel’s” Messiah”, Bach and Vivaldi works, recitals, concerts, church services and solo piano concerts. Directing credits include “Charlie Brown” and “Oklahoma!”. On the Treasure Coast she is a guest soloist at many venues as a classical, Broadway and pop vocalist and pianist. She served as a professional musical theater voice instructor at IRSC and was the Choral Director for the Upper School at The Pine School. She has been a professional instructor of voice and piano for many years and is currently the Director of Music at St Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Jensen Beach.