West Palm Beach Private Instructor Staff
Michael Balogh
Trombone Instructor
A frequent trombone and euphonium clinician for school band programs throughout Palm Beach and Broward county schools, Michael Balogh is a highly sought after instructor. He studied at Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, receiving a double major in both studio music and jazz performance as well as a minor in music education. Michael has played in the Bobby Rodriguez Orchestra as well as spent time employed as a cruise ship musician. He contributed to the novel Don’t Stop the Music: Finding the Joy in Caregiving by Nancy Weckwerth, which details the story of composer and trumpeter John D. Swan’s recovery from a massive stroke. Currently, Michael is the director of Horizons Jazz Orchestra, a South Florida based ensemble. He is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Frank Bermudez Jr.
Trumpet Instructor
Frank Bermudez Jr. is a South Florida native and a proud product of Palm Beach County School District. Mr. Bermudez graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Florida State University in 2011 and his Masters at FSU in Music Ed 2015. Mr. Bermudez currently works at Palm Springs Middle School teaching band, steel pan and chorus. Under his tutelage his students have earned multiple superiors at district solo and ensemble and Music Performance Assessment earning the Linda Mann award. Mr. Bermudez frequently clinicians and gigs around the county is the Mentor Teacher for the Palm Beach County Band directors.
Alayna Carver
Piano & Voice Instructor
Alayna has been studying classical voice and piano since a very young age. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She has sung various roles in international opera programs, including the International Lyric Academy of Rome. Currently, she teaches chorus and handbells at Wellington Landings Middle School since 2013. She is also an active vocalist in her local church with groups as well as a soloist. She is the choir director at Wellington Elementary and Middle Schools. Alayna is also a proud new mother of beautiful twin girls!
Beatriz Coelho
String Instructor
Beatriz graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with her Bachelor’s in Music Education. She has been playing her primary instrument, violin, for 12 years now. While growing up, she performed with the local youth orchestra and had the opportunity to play with the Piano Guys. During her time at Palm Beach Atlantic, Beatriz performed in their orchestra as well as at local churches. She is currently the strings teacher at Wellington Elementary School.
Bill Coleman
Guitar Instructor
Bill’s specialty is teaching beginning guitarist with an emphasis on good fundamentals related to reading, chord vocabulary expansion, and improvisation. Bill has a very flexible attitude regarding the goals of the student. Some students desire to play just for personal enjoyment and others have a goal of playing professionally. Bill has over 45 years of experience as a professional musician. Bill’s hometown is Louisville, Kentucky. At the age of 5, his family moved to Columbus, Ohio. This is where his musical orientation and education began. He also spent a number of years performing on the road with a variety of show bands. Bill has been teaching and performing in the West Palm Beach area for the past 17 years and for the past 2 years he has also been performing with JAZZSLAM, which is a musical group that performs for Broward County Elementary Schools sharing the history of Jazz and blues in America with students. Bill is also an instructor with Young Musicians Academy that provide after school music instruction in some of the Palm Beach County Elementary Schools.
Frank Derrick
Percussion Instructor
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 author of FOCUS ON TECHNIQUE FOR DRUMMERS, Drum set 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.
Carmen Del Valle Ruiz
Violin, Viola, and Cello Instructor
Carmen Del Valle Ruiz was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico and her family moved to the United States when she was 2 years old. She started playing violin at the age of 11 and piano at the age of 15. Carmen attended Augusta State University on an academic scholarship and multiple music scholarships where she majored in music education. She was very involved throughout the campus and received many honors as a music major. In April 2008, she won the concerto competition and was a featured soloist for the university’s orchestra. Carmen graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in December 2008 and the following Fall, started her Masters degree at Florida State University. During her Masters degree, she was an active performer and teacher. She graduated in April 2011 and became an orchestra director at a high school in Atlanta, GA. Carmen is married to Juan Acevedo and moved to Loxahatchee, FL with their two daughters. Currently, she is the orchestra director North Andrews Gardens School of the Arts.
Sean Devivo
Woodowind Instructor
Sean Devivo earned a Bachelor’s degree in Performance from Berklee College of Music. He has performed with artists such as Terri Lyne Carrington, Terence Blanchard, Mulgrew Miller, John Pizzarelli, and Jon Secada. Devivo currently performs all over South Florida and also spends time composing, arranging, and producing.
Lisa Gelfand
Oboe Instructor
Lisa Yonge Gelfand joins us at Music Man as our oboe teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Music degree from the University of Miami. Lisa has been a professor at Broward College, and has also taught at Miami Dade College as well as at New World School of the Arts. A South Florida native and active musician, she has performed on oboe and English Horn with many local ensembles, including the Miami Symphony, Symphony of the Americas, Boca Sinfonia, and The Kings Academy.
Nick Gulyamov
Woodwind Instructor
Nick Gulyamov, a jazz saxophonist, was born in Queens, New York, and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida. Currently in his final semester at Florida State University, completing a Bachelor of Music in jazz performance, Gulyamov has travelled all over the country performing with various school groups, as well as leading bands of his own over the years.
First picking up a clarinet at the age of 10, and saxophone at age 11, Gulyamov was hooked on music and hasn’t looked back since. Gulyamov attended Dreyfoos School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, and graduated in 2016. In his time at Dreyfoos, Gulyamov got to perform in the Dreyfoos Wind Ensemble and the Dreyfoos Jazz Ensemble I, and was also able to travel with these ensembles to cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, and Savannah to perform at various festivals and competitions.
Since graduating from Dreyfoos, Gulyamov spent two years studying Commercial Music at Florida Atlantic University, where he studied with Dannel Espinoza. He then spent the rest of his undergrad at Florida State University, this time in the Jazz Studies program, where he studied with premier jazz faculty such as David Detweiler, Rodney Jordan, Leon Anderson, Scotty Barnhart, Kevin Jones, and Bill Peterson. During his time at FSU, Gulyamov performed in the FSU Jazz Ensemble I, led by Leon Anderson, and the FSU Jazz Combo I, led by Rodney Jordan and Scotty Barnhart. Gulyamov also got to perform as a soloist with the FSU Symphonic Orchestra, performing music by George Gerschwin.
Veronica Johnson
Vocal – Piano Instructor
Veronica joins us as a recently retired chorus director, having worked for the School District of Palm Beach County for over 24 years. In addition to being a chorus director, she has also taught and directed handbell ensembles. She holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music from Howard University in Washington, D.C where she studied vocal performance and minored in piano. While working on her undergraduate degree, she also studied a minor in classical guitar at Palm Beach Junior College
Andrew Lopez
Trumpet Instructor
Andrew Lopez attended the University of Central Florida and works as the band director at Conniston Middle School. He also assists the marching band at Spanish River High School and is an active participant in the Orchid City Brass Band.
Marissa Lopez
Trombone Instructor
Marissa Lopez, a low brass specialist and Orlando native holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She has experience working with students all over the state and has taught both as a middle and high school band director in Orange, Lee, and Palm Beach County. She currently serves as a K-12 Arts Resource Teacher for the School District of Palm Beach County. Within this capacity, Mrs. Lopez assists visual and performing arts teachers by facilitating professional development, curriculum support, and community partnership opportunities. In addition to teaching privately, Mrs. Lopez is sought after as a low brass instructor for marching, concert and jazz ensembles and currently performs with the Symphonic Band of the Palm Beaches and Orchid City Brass Band.
Chris Martindale
Low Brass Instructor
Mr. Martindale is a brass player who attended PBSC, FSU and graduated from FAU with a BFA in Music Education. Prior to working for Music Man Chris Martindale was a middle school band director in Palm Beach County for 22 years. Mr. Martindale has been an FBA adjudicator in the fields of concert band, sight reading, solo and ensemble brass and woodwind. Mr. Martindale also is an active musician playing tuba many with local concert bands and chamber ensembles.
Carlos Mota
Percussion / Piano Instructor
Carlos Mota was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He was first musically influenced by his older brother, who helped spark his initial interest in percussion. At age 13, he started playing local gigs and a few years later at the age of 18, he moved to New York City to pursue a performance career alongside the salsa and Latin dance bands of the late 1980’s. He has performed with the likes of Slide Hampton, Bidal Roy, Ed Schuller, Jimmy Heath, Dr. Ed Calle, Nestor Torres, Banda Brothers, and Steve Turre among many others. Carlos then went on to pursue his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies at Florida Atlantic University before receiving his Mater’s Degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2020. He now teaches at both Florida Atlantic University and Dreyfoos School of the Arts in addition to being a freelance musician and sought after jazz clinician.
Alice Naegele
String and Piano Instructor
Alice Naegele received her Bachelor’s Degree from Stetson University, her Master’s from Southern Methodist University, and her Doctorate in Music Composition from Ohio State University. While working on her Bachelor’s, she participated in the Study Abroad program in Freiburg, Germany. She began her piano lessons at age 6, and violin at age 12. After graduation, she began teaching private and group lessons at The Language and Music School in Oak Park, IL. She is currently working as an adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College and in the MacArthur School of Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University, as well as the orchestra director at the Benjamin School. She is also the pianist at Lighthouse Baptist Church.
Mary Oser
Bassoon Instructor
Mary Oser is currently the band director at Wellington High School. The 2020-2021 School Year will be Mary’s 30th Year teaching at Wellington High School. She has been teaching music for 33 years! She holds a B.M. degree from Florida State in music education where she studied bassoon and teaching. Under her direction the WHS band has earned numerous awards and accolades. Her private students consistently earn top ratings on auditions and Solo/Ensemble festivals.
Chris Patsis
French Horn and Bass Instructor
Chris Patsis is a talented multi-instrumentalist who has dedicated himself to music, performance, and education. Hailing from South Florida, Chris is a skilled professional touring bassist with a unique chordal and harmonic approach to the instrument. He graduated from the Florida State University College of Music with a Bachelors in Music Education in 2011. His primary instrument focus there was the french horn.
Chris works as a full time bassist in a multitude of different types of gigs. His main creative projects are The Heavy Pets, a jam band renowned for their funk, jazz and reggae-infused brand of rock and roll, The Ciel Experience, a unique jazz group that blends the styles of R&B, swing, hip-hop, and traditional Haitian music and Totem Cave, a jazz quintet that combines Afro-Peruvian rhythms, fusion, and funk. With these groups Chris has toured the U.S, South America, and Europe.
On top of a busy playing schedule, Chris is also active in his community. He is the bass professor at Palm Beach State College and works as a private instructor and clinician on both french horn and bass.
Nick Patsis
Trumpet Instructor
Nick Patsis (Trumpet) has been an active music educator in the Palm Beach County schools for over thirty years. He received a Master of Arts in Teaching from Florida Atlantic University, a Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University, and an Associates of Arts in Music from Palm Beach Community College. Mr. Patsis began his teaching career at Jupiter High School, where he served as Interim Band Director for a semester. In 1978, he accepted the position of Director of Bands at Congress Community Middle School, where he taught until 1987. In the fall of 1987, Mr. Patsis became the Director of Bands at Christa McAuliffe Middle School.
Mr. Patsis is the Co-Director of the Palm Beach County Band Camps, which he co-founded in 2001. While a full-time music educator, he maintains an active career as a freelance trumpet player. He has performed with Palm Beach Opera, Palm Beach Symphony, Orchid City Brass Band, Florida Wind Symphony, Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater, Jupiter Theater, Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus, Holliday on Ice, The Boca Pops, and numerous other professional and community organizations
Gina Rand
Woodwind Instructor
Gina Rand was born and raised in Wellington, Florida. She first became introduced to music in fifth grade when she began playing piano before joining her school band and picking up clarinet the following year. She attended the University of South Florida and graduated with her bachelor’s in Music Education in 2022. During her time at USF, she worked as a marching band technician with Palm Harbor University High School while also being a clinician at numerous schools and all county events throughout the greater Tampa Bay area. During the 2022-2023 school year, she worked here at Music Man as our lesson coordinator while also being a sought after clinician for local band programs. Currently, Ms. Rand is the Vice President of Membership for Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity’s Fort Lauderdale Alumnae chapter as well as a marching band woodwind and visual technician at Palm Beach Central High School. In the fall of 2023, she will start her first year as the middle school band director at The Conservatory School at North Palm Beach.
Tammy Roggen
Flute Instructor
Tammy Roggen is the former band director at Watson B. Duncan Middle School in Palm Beach Gardens and the former adjunct flute professor at Palm Beach State College. She received a Bachelor of Music Education degree at Florida State University and a Master of Music in Flute Performance at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She performs with the Treasure Coast Flute Choir, the South Florida Flute Orchestra, the Florida Flute Orchestra and the International Flute Orchestra. Every summer, she teaches flute master classes at the Palm Beach County Summer Band Camp. She is a board member of the Florida Flute Association as well as a member of the National Flute Association.
Sarah Shearon Smith
Euphonium Instructor
Mrs. Sarah Shearon-Smith has been the band director at Okeeheelee Middle School for the last 21 years. Before Okeeheelee, she taught at Christa McAuliffe Middle, The School of the Arts, Holy Name of Jesus, and was a clinician at Howell Watkins Middle and William T. Dwyer High School. Sarah received a Bachelor’s in Music Education and Music Performance on Euphonium from Western Michigan University. She earned her Masters of Arts in Music from Florida Atlantic University. Sarah is also a former adjunct professor at Palm Beach State College where she taught Euphonium and Tuba. She performs with the Orchid City Brass Band and has performed with several other bands throughout Palm Beach County. Mrs. Shearon-Smith is a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, International Tuba and Euphonium Association, and National Band Directors Association.
Ian Wilkinson
String Instructor
Ian Wilkinson is a classically trained violinist who studied music at Palm Beach Community College and was a community member of the Palm Beach Atlantic Symphony. He has been performing therapeutic music in assisted living facilities, in dementia respite care facilities for the developmentally disabled audiences, and in county senior centers for more than 10 years. He performs with former member of the Grammy Award-Winning vocal ensemble Chanticleer Terry Barber in concert and for Terry’s nonprofit organization Artists For A Cause. Ian is also a repair tech for Music Man.Ben earned a Bachelor of Music in saxophone performance with a concentration in jazz studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching from East Carolina University. He has performed with artists such as the North Carolina Symphony and The Drifters featuring Rick Sheppard.
Mary Ann Williams
Piano Instructor
Mary Ann Williams graduated from Whitworth College with degrees in piano, organ, and elementary education. She currently works in the autistic program at Forest Hill Elementary and has been the Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church for over 30 years. Mary Ann is versed in classical, jazz, pop, and religious music.