Speech Arts

Viraj Joshi is a session guitarist and music instructor from Pune, India. He has completed grade 8 of the Rock and Pop examination, with distinction, conducted by the Trinity College of Music.
Further, he has also studied guitar independently and under various teachers like jazz guitarist Vinay Kaushal, Nitin Kulkarni etc. for 9 years. He has participated in many music competitions and won first place as guitarist in the prestigious ‘Firodiya karandak’ and ‘Vedant’. He has taught students ranging from complete beginners to people trying to find a voice on their instrument. He has played many venues with shows including but not limited to styles such as
rock, pop, metal, jazz, Indian classical, Bollywood and also modern fusion.

Oliver Thompson started playing classical violin at age 8, initially studying the Suzuki Violin method. Oliver progressed to bluegrass, blues and rock styles. Oliver earned a B.A. in Music Jazz Studies from San Jose State University. Oliver’s college experience included theory, composition, improvisation and world music studies. Oliver continued studying East Indian music in the San Francisco Bay area, further developing his interests in various world music styles. He has appeared on several recordings by Bob Culbertson (Chapman Stick), Mondo Raga Samba (World Fusion), Amuma Says No (Basque), and Steve Fulton (Folk/Rock). In 2016, Oliver established a new klezmer band (Jewish and Yiddish folk and jazz) known as the Moody Jews of Boise. In addition to performing and recording with The Moody Jews of Boise, Oliver currently plays in Serenata Orchestra and the Kalimotxo Cowboys.

I expect my students are taking lessons voluntarily and not being forced to learn the violin. There should be personal motivation by the student to make progress on the violin. I realize everyone has competing priorities for time; school, sports, family, religious practices etc. Violin sometimes falls to the bottom of that list. My commitment is to NEVER make anyone feel guilty about not putting in the time on the violin. If the student has had zero time to play that week, it’s ok and we will pick up in the lesson right where we left off the week before. Most beginning students can make significant and noticeable progress by playing 20-30 minutes a day.

Argentinian-American soprano, Jessica Wald, has been performing on stage since the age of seven, having won a number of international competitions and performances in pop and classical genres. She has been a voice teacher, teaching kids and adults how to use a proper vocal technique in any genre, for over a decade. She also teaches acting (film and musical theater) and is a health coach, assisting people with their health problems and also helping many singers and speakers fix and prevent vocal health issues. She has been a cantorial soloist for over ten years, singing and leading services in temples all over South Florida. She has performed many opera roles with great companies and programs, such as: Susanna in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Morgana in Handel’s Alcina, Olympia in Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann, June Jinkins in Dan Shore’s An Embarrassing Position, and covered the Queen of the Night in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Music Academy International in Italy, Manhattan Opera Studio, Miami Music Festival, and Rutgers University, where she is currently finishing her Master of Music degree in Opera Theater. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2019 performing Juliette’s waltz from Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. In December 2016, she graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Florida Atlantic University.

Hello: I am Mr. Bruce and I can’t wait to be your teacher. I have taught Theater for my entire career, over 35 years. My Master’s Degree is in Theater Education and I am also a published author of two children’s books. I have been blessed to share my love for the performing arts with so many students and watch them grow and become professionals in their fields. I’m passionate about the things that I do. I believe that learning is fun when you’re guided by a friendly, helpful and diligent teacher. I hope that I can be a part of your journey as we explore the ins and outs of
performance, together. Come and find out what I have planned for you. I guarantee it will be a truly memorable adventure!

Melanie Baljeet Kaur Sidhu was born in 1998 in Offenburg (DE) and grew up in Tübingen (DE). She gained her first stage experience with band performances and as a member of the youth drama club of the state theater (Landestheater) Tübingen. There she played in several productions between 2014 and 2018. In the season 2015/2016 she was part of the production Kopf voll Herz Leer! with which she was invited to festivals in Poland and Baden-Württemberg (DE). In 2017 she founded the independent theater group TiKTaK with friends in Tübingen, which developed and successfully performed its own pieces. After graduating from high school in 2018, she began studying drama at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz (AT). Since the season 2019/20 she is a permanent studio member of the state theater (Landestheater) Linz.

Ashley do Rego, an Indian born violinist started playing the violin at the age of 6. He completed his Licentiate in Music from the Trinity college of London and has a double Bachelors (Artistic and Pedagogic) from the Anton Bruckner University in Austria. He currently works extensively as a freelance musician in Orchestras in Switzerland, Austria, Spain, Germany to name a few. He has been teaching since 2004 and completed his teacher’s training program in Würzburg, Germany. Besides serving as a concertmaster in Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Austria and in India, he is also a member of the Tango trio “Ta’l” in Austria where he currently lives, specializing in tango music. He has worked in different projects with artists from different art forms such as dance and acting. He enjoys traveling and is open to explore collaborations with different artists and art forms.

Anusha Goda is a passionate, full-time musician who is a budding artist with versatile capability. She has been undergoing intense training in Carnatic, Hindustani, and Western classical styles of music. She has given many performances in these three styles in the U.S. as well as in India. She holds a diploma in Carnatic music from the
University of Silicon Andhra. She is currently a student of Advanced School of Carnatic Music at Madras Music Academy, pursuing an advanced diploma in Carnatic Music. She has accompanied her teachers in several academic lec-dem
concerts. Most recently, she has performed Western music at The Royal Opera House of Mumbai for a Tribute Concert to Celia Lobo. She has also learned Bharatanatyam, a South Indian classical dance form for 10 years.

Abhilasha Gautam has been learning music from the age of 3 years. She has learnt Carnatic, and Hindustani Classical music, and completed her Diploma in Carnatic Music from Mumbai University, India. Ms. Gautam was the first runner-up in the SA-RE-GA-MA-PA Marathi and Hindi in 2010, and was the winner in the SUPER SINGER Tamil, Singapore in 2013. Abhilasha has had the amazing opportunity to work with AR Rahman in Coke Studio, India.

For the past 25 years, Ken Cohen has personally tutored over 1000 students of all ages in music, voice, and prayer. In music lessons with Ken, your child will begin to trust themselves more, develop the confidence to explore new ideas and tackle new challenges. As both their mentor and friend, Ken will build a strong relationship, understand what motivates your child and find the ways to help them learn best.

Ken Cohen grew up in-and-around New York City, receiving degrees in History (B.A.) and Ethnomusicology (M.A.) from SUNY Binghamton, studied Opera at the Rubin Academy of Music in Tel Aviv, and pursued his doctorate in Ethnomusicology at New York University. He combines his inspiring voice with his knowledge and wisdom of music, to bring about peace and joy, while cultivating empowering mentor-student relationships. Ken held the position of Founding Director of Cantorial Studies at the Academy for Jewish Religion in NYC for 18 years, and was awarded the Jewish Music Leadership Honor helping shape and inspire musical leaders of the Jewish people. Moving out west, Ken now teaches music, voice and composes original songs for worship and prayer.

Alvina Ransaw is a music teacher, vocal coach, choral director, and music therapist. She is a soprano
recitalist and recording artist. Dr. Ransaw has a Bachelor Degree in Music Education, a Master Degree in
Vocal Performance, a Doctorate in Naturopathy, and a Certification in Music Therapy. She pioneers the
field of music and sound research with published articles, studies, and lectures on the use of music as a
catalyst for mental and physical healing. She began her formal vocal training at ten years old and was
soloist in elementary school thru college. As a member of the Cosmopolitan Opera Company now the
Philadelphia Opera Company, she appeared as the High Priestess in Verdi’s opera Aida at seventeen.
And appeared in many other operas with the company. In college she received awards and scholarships
for performance and academics. Presently she performs classical, musical and modern jazz as vocal
soloist; a voice and piano teacher and coach, producing and directing programs and musicals. She
teaches all ages from 3 years old to the elderly. Preparing students for auditions, competitions,
performances, and some just for the joy of learning. In music therapy she specializes in neurological
disorders. Autism, ADD, and speech disorders. Dr. Ransaw prepares individualized programs for each
student or group because she understands that each student or client learns differently and has
individual needs. Also, music should be learned with fun, joy, accomplishment and exposure. This will
help each student and client reach their personal music goal.