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Terri Lane is a classically trained blues/rock recording artist, songwriter, and producer with over 200 records to her credit, and a powerful four-octave vocal range. An educator since 2000, she teaches courses in music and interdisciplinary studies at the University of New Haven and earned both her M.A. in Music/Music Education and M.Ed. at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is committed to social justice, to the development of student-centered and experimental learning curriculum and to creative environments that are motivational and serve diverse student communities. She is known for fusing music instruction with psychology to bring out the voices of students afflicted with social and/or performance anxiety. Her research interestes are centered in reducing college dropout, especially amongst the marginalized populations, and in adolescent and young adult mental health.

Anna has been teaching music in Connecticut for over a decade and has been singing her entire life. Her education includes both a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Connecticut and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Bridgeport. Anna also holds a CT Music Teacher Certification and is a former publicschool teacher.

As a perfomer, Anna is a mezzo soprano and enjoys singing in community choruses both as a chorister and a soloist. She is often heard singing in various cultural and religious institutions and has performed all over New England, as well as a abroad in Ireland, Italy, and Haiti.

As a teacher, Anna (often called Miss DJ) values the importance of healthy singing habits and emotional connection to music and teaches these attributes through all types of music from classical to pop, broadway to jazz, or R&B to rap. It is Anna's goal to help train strong, confident singing voices that can translate into strong, confident speaking voices to help each student succeed both musically and as citizens in this world at large.

Anna has a particular penchant for connecting with students in one-on-one lesson format as it is how she began her teaching career and is excited to be back with the FSM family where she started teaching in 2013!

In her work teaching, mentoring, and performing, Julia approaches music-making with a signature passion and wit. Her holistic approach to singing is grounded in OperaWorks training with Ann Baltz, and voice study with Claudia Friedlander and Ruth Ann Swenson. In private lessons, she meets each student where they are physically, emotionally, and musically that day. Most of all, Julia guides students in developing healthy habits for preparing repertoire, practicing, and performing that empower them in their musical lives going forward. 

As a singer, Julia has won praise for her "clear, bell-like tone" (OperaWire), and has extensive experience performing operatic, musical theatre, concert, and choral works, from plainchant to premieres of new works. She regularly serves as a soloist and section leader in churches and synagogues, and she served as a vocal mentor for the National Children's Chorus, NYC. Julia holds a Master of Music degree in Voice Performance from The University of Texas, Austin, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Drama from Tufts University, where she graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Julia is a proud native of Maine, and she's thrilled to be back in New England after a few (very hot) years in Texas.

Soprano Ava W. is a concert soloist and private voice and piano teacher. Ava is a graduate of the Purchase College Conservatory of Music, where she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance. During her time as a graduate assistant at the University of Maryland, Ava performed leading roles in various opera productions, including La Boheme and Roméo et Juliette. Ava has also appeared with many chorales and orchestras, including the Metro Chamber Orchestra, Mystic River Chorale and Manchester Symphony Orchestra & Chorale. 

The study of music should always be a joy, and Ava prioritizes making music lessons a time for her students to look forward to. She understands every student is their own unique musician with goals and dreams, and therefore tailors each lesson so that they feel supported and encouraged in pursuing them. She integrates the mastery of healthy techniques—in both singing and piano—through fun methods and a wide variety of repertoire. Ava strives for every student to leave each lesson feeling like an empowered and confident musician with the ability to achieve whatever they desire! 

Eli was born in 1989 and was adopted from Seoul, Korea. He spent most of his life growing up in New York and Missouri. The first instrument he picked up was the harmonica which opened up a world of communicating emotion and feeling through music. Eventually that lead him to guitar, ukulele, voice, and piano as well. Eli became very intrigued by many genres of music and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education from Columbia College in Chicago in 2013.

Eli has spent the last decade teaching and playing music all over the world, in the United States, Italy, Japan, and London, to name a few. Eli believes that music education is imperative to anyone who wishes to partake and that music is one of the best ways to enchance a persons education and understanding of the world around them. 

"Ellynne is well worth discovering." (Scott Yanow). With her warm authenticity, subtle delivery, and crystalline mezzo voice, she has been delighting and enchanting listeners all over the world as a jazz vocalist and recording artist. Ellynne studied jazz vocal performance with a variety of prominent figures and "legends" including: Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton, Barry Harris, Mark Murphy, Nancy King, and actress Betty Buckley. She studied vocal technique for 6 years with renowned opera singer, John Macurdy. 

Ellynne is certified in Somatic Voice Work and The LoVetri Method (TM). She serves on the music faculty of Southern CT State University and Sacred Heart University. A songwriter and composer, Ellynne is a member of ASCAP. Other artists have performed and recorded songs that she has co-written.

As a teacher, Ellynne believes that everyone has the potential to make music. She helps students build a solid musical foundation by emphasizing technique and core skills, such as sight-reading and ear-training. She also believes students should have fun making music. While developing musicianship takes discipline and focus, Ellynne believes music should be personally expressive, creative, and above all -- enjoyable. Seeing practice as a pathway to learning and discovery, instead of a chore, is part of her philosophy that she strives to impart to all of her students.