Admin.
Director, Pianist & Founder -
performed his
under-graduate studies at the Boston
Conservatory of Music. Mr. Soffan has performed throughout
the United States as well as abroad. He has been invited to
numerous music educational institutions to give lectures on the works of
Frederic Chopin and his influences. Mr. Soffan has
also contributed to a
review in the "Chopin 2010 project" along with other artists
featured were pianist's Lan Lan, Martha Argerich,
Murray Perahia and Evgny Kissin.
Considering himself a "romantic period pianist" Mr. Soffan has
also researched and lectured extensively on the works of Domenico Scarlatti, Muzio Clementi's
influence on the writing of Beethoven, as well as an
exploration and recording of Alexander Scriabin's opus 11
Preludes. In 1998 Mr. Soffan was also chosen by Steinway and M. Steinert & Sons to perform
in a
series of recitals on the piano's belonging to the legendary
pianists Vladimir Horowitz, Ignaz Paderewski and Van
Cliburn while these instruments were on their Northeast tour. Mr. Soffan
is currently going into his 13th, season as Artistic Director
of the critically acclaimed Professional Artist Series held
in historic Alden and Spaulding recital halls at Worcester
Polytechnic Institute at WPI College in conjunction with the Boston Conservatory of Music in
performance collaboration with Douglas Weeks (Applied Music
Director) and Michael Lewin, Boston Conservatory (chair of
piano). Mr. Soffan has also performed in
such historic halls as Mechanics Hall, Tuckerman Hall, Seully Hall (Boston Conservatory), Alden and Spaulding Recital Halls
and the "Historic" Higgins Mansion as well as receiving
recognition and awards from the American Red Cross and
recognition from the President of the United States for his
arrangement and participation in a concert consisting of 17
renowned musicians from all over the world, uniting them in
a 7 hour "marathon" performance to help support
the September 11th, tragedy and the American Red
Cross. Mr. Soffan has also been interviewed
and featured in Worcester
Business Journal, Chopin 2010, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Waltham
Tribune, Worcester
Magazine, Today's Parent, Boston Conservatory Monthly
Newspaper "Stages", WICN 90.5 Radio, WGBH 98.5 Radio
(Boston) with Cathy Fuller & Richard Neisley, WCRB 102.5 (Boston), WTAG, WGMC Channel 3 News
Worcester (with Jennifer Roy) and Channel 5 News (Boston).
Mr. Soffan's primary teachers & master classes have included;
Janice Weber, Jonathan Bass, Mykola Suk, Michael Lewin,
Gabriel Chodos, Dr. Howard Schott (Juilliard School, student
of legendary Scarlatti interpreter Ralph Kirkpatrick)Cathy
Fuller, Peter Orth, Soomi Lee (student of Nadia Boulanger)
Jung-Ja Kim and coaching with Eugene Lumelsky. Recordings
for Sonarc Records Include: Beethoven Sonata's Opus 27, Nos.
1 & 2, Scarlatti 13 Sonata's, Scriabin Op. 11 Preludes and
Two Etudes of Contrast. In recognition for the Royal
Academy school's, He was also named one of Worcester
Business Journal and Worcester Magazine's 40 most successful
under the age of 40, ("40 under 40") the very first year
this award was given in 1998. In its 11 year history he has
been the youngest person to receive this award at age 27.
Thiwangkorn Lilit "Mr. T"_________________________________________
Director of Music, Piano
-
Thailand born child prodigy Thiwangkorn Lilit received his
B.M. and M.M. from New England Conservatory of Music in
Piano Performance and Composition. A specialist in
contemporary music Mr. Lilit has studied composition with
Michael Gandolfi and Piano with Margaret Ott. He has
received numerous awards including a New England
Conservatory of Music Honors Scholarship and Bangkok
Performance Award in the Bangkok Chopin Competition. Mr. Lilit has also instructed at the Boston Arts Academy, Payap
University, Thailand, and the Yamaha Music School in
Thailand. His performance career has taken him to all parts
of the world and he has received high acclaim for his
talents as a pianist and composer. Mr. Lilit has also been
awarded “Teacher of the Year” award three years consecutive
from the Royal Academy for Performing Arts.
Sarah Vincelette
______________________________________________________
Voice
-Soprano, Sarah Vincelett has excelled
in a wide variety of musical repertoire including classical
styles, musical theater, jazz, and contemporary vocal music.
Ms. Vincelett is a former participant in Los Angeles
OperaWorks, the Spoleto Vocal Music Symposia, Ithaca College
Opera Workshop, and the San Diego Opera Intensive, where
she’s performed partial roles ranging from Gluck’s Euridice
to Bellini’s Giulietta. Ms. Vincelett recently obtained her
Bachelors of Music degree from the Ithaca College School of
Music. She is currently perusing her Masters of Music degree
in Voice Performance and Opera Studies at the New England
Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Carole Haber.
A California native, she has participated in numerous
regional theater productions, receiving the San Diego
Playbill’s award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
for her portrayal of Ruby in Dames at Sea. She can also be
seen in the role of Shelby on the TV show Veronica Mars.
Julia
Sokolowska ____________________________________________________
Voice and
Piano - Born in Warsaw,
Poland Currently resides in Boston , MA As a dramatic
vocalist, pianist and saxophonist, Julia Sokolowska, has
developed a unique blend of blues R&B and jazz mixed with
bossa nova and samba influences greatly attributed to her
collaborative jazz partnership with the talented and
electrifying Belo Horizonte ’s native, Flavio Dias. As a
result of her colorful life experiences, Julia ’s vocal
depiction have transformed her musical interpretations of
lightness/darkness and happiness/sadness into an
unequivocal sound supported by an array of power and
percussion arrangements from her artistic collaborator,
Mr. Dias. Julia ‘s rapidly progressing jazz career took
her from her native country of Poland to the United
States. By the age of 10 she was performing with
nationally recognized for their work in children
television shows band ’Tecza’. It was also at this
insitution, where she met her mentor and friend
Christopher Sadowski (President of Polish Jazz Society),
who took a close interest in her talent and introduced
Julia to the jazz scene in Warsaw where Julia began to
receive recognition as an emerging and talented local
artist. By the age of 16 she was a finalist of one of
Polish TV shows called ‘Twoja Droga do Gwiazd’ and by the
same time she was discovered and employed by Janusz
Jozefowicz – owner and musical director of one of the
biggest Broadway theaters in Warsaw. Her music theory
knowledge rooted at the Academy of Jazz in Warsaw and
developed under the wings of the artistic director,
Agnieszka Hekiert. Despite her very young age, Julia
displayed a riveting stage presence due to her countless
performances at an early age as Poland ’s jazz scene
quickly took hold of her talent and unmatched vocals.
Julia ’s resume includes numerous performances at the
Siedlce Jazz Festivals where she was noticed by the
University of North Texas in Denton. Upon her arrival to
the US, Julia began her degree in jazz and blues vocals
and saxophone/piano arrangements at the recognized
University of North Texas for two years. During her
studies, Julia became a regular guest performer in Dallas,
Houston and Chicago jazz clubs. While in Texas , Julia
appeared at Chicago ’s Midwest Clinic with the Jazz
Singers Group which lead her to the East Coast where she
performed at a Harlem jazz clubs in New York City and in
Trenton , NJ , where she released and promoted her first
album – The Meeting. Shortly thereafter, Julia was offered
and accepted a scholarship to the prestigious Berklee
College of Music in Boston , MA where she is currently
performing in the Jazz Vocal Series. Julia has made
numerous guest appearances with artists such as: Jack
DeJohnette, Kuba Stankiewicz, Zbigniew Wegehaupt and Chris
topher Sadowski. Written by Zbigniew Iglewski.
_Michael Pecora _____________________________________________________
Guitar
- Michael has been studying music for the vast
majority of his life, having been strictly trained by the
best of instructors who have educations and affiliations
in/with New England Conservatory of
Music,
Boston University School for the Arts, Hart College of
Music and Clark University.
Michael began his studies at the age
of 10, delving into various different genres including
Jazz, Rock, Classical and Flamenco style guitar playing.
Michael has been teaching private, one-on-one lessons
since 2007, and coaching guitar on a more inter-personal
level with fellow peers and teachers since he was 14
years-old. Michael has experience
performing live, most commonly in a duo or trio
accompanied by a bass player and/or a pianist. In
lessons, Michael implements music theory and guitar
technique, while additionally incorporating some history
of the students’ musical preference/interest of genre.
It is imperative to Michael that his students’
musical journey be a rewarding, positive experience
balanced in harmony with practice and positive
reinforcement to further his/her creative potential
_Jenny Pratt __________________________________________________________
Trumpet,
French Horn, Beg. Piano -
Born and raised in Massachusetts, Jenny Pratt has
spent the majority of her life pursuing a love of
music. As an adolescent, she became a
competitive trumpet player- gigging at age 14 and
consistently ranking among the best in New England
for her age group. She also found success in
Drum Corps International, placing in the top ten
in worldwide individual competition on soprano
g-bugle. In addition to playing lead
soprano, she became a top-line mellophonist and
later acted as drum major of a division III
corps. Jenny's well-rounded musical education
continued through orchestral, solo, and chamber
ensemble performance opportunities at New England
Conservatory and Tanglewood, where she studied
with members of the Boston Symphony orchestra and
the Atlantic Brass Quintet. As a trumpet
performance/music industry major at Syracuse
University, Jenny held principal chair in the SU
Orchestra. While in New York, she broadened her
studies to include other genres and instruments,
such as jazz and piano. At
UMass-Amherst she studied with late trumpet master
Walter Chestnut, while simultaneously endeavoring
upon vocal jazz and melodic
percussion. Post-college, Jenny continues to
enjoy life as an all-around musician,
performing locally as a trumpeter, vocalist and
keyboardist, in styles ranging from classical and
jazz to metal and classic rock. She is
available for lessons in trumpet, french horn
(single), baritone t.c., g-bugle and piano, as
well as coaching for music theory and small
ensembles.
Jeffrey Mitchell
_____________________________________________
Drums & Percussion -Has been playing the drum set since the age of
five. He attended Miami University to study
orchestral percussion. While attending Miami
University, Jeffrey studied World Music (the music
of Africa, India and other cultures), Balinese
Gamelan, Steel Pan, Taiko and African drumming. He
performed with the Miami University
Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble,
Gamelan Sura Jati Ensemble and the Steel
Band. He
played double-second pans on the album “One More
Soca” with the
Miami University Steel Band that was recorded
on Ramajay Records.
Jeffrey also had the opportunity to go on
the U.S. “Unity of Light” tour with A. R. Rahman
(Grammy-award winning composer for “Slumdog
Millionaire”). The
New York performance
was
filmed and recorded by Sony Music.
Jeffrey completed a comprehensive and
intensive study in New York City at the Drummer’s
Collective with Ian Froman, Peter Retzlaff, Vince
Cherico, Leroy Clouden, Kim Plainfield and Pat
Petrillo.
He also
had private lessons with “Saturday Night Live”
drummer Shawn Pelton. Jeffrey transferred to
Berklee College of Music and received his Bachelor
of Music degree in Professional Music in 2010. He
was awarded the Berklee Achievement-based
Scholarship each year during his studies at
Berklee. Jeffrey
focused on the drum set as his principal
percussion instrument at Berklee. He studied
harmony, ear training, composition and arranging.
Jeffrey studied with Terri Lyne Carrington, Yoron
Israel and John Ramsey. He also worked in the
Voice Department at Berklee as an accompanist.
Jeffrey performs with Berklee faculty member,
George W. Russell Jr.’s
Clap Your
Hands Ensemble, performing music for the Young
Audiences of Massachusetts. This is a statewide
arts organization that provides exposure to a
variety of music and art forms to young people
throughout Boston and the surrounding areas. Most
recently, Jeffrey was a featured artist selected
to play at Steve Gadd’s drum clinic at Tanglewood,
which was a featured event for James Taylor’s
Week at
Tanglewood. Jeffrey is a drummer,
percussionist and songwriter. He continues to
perform with his trio around Boston.
Yaling Lin "Irene"
___________________________________________
Piano, Flute,
Early Childhood Education - Graduated from
Adelphi University in New York with a Dual
Bachelor’s Degree in Piano and Flute in 2008.
Focusing on early childhood piano, Ms. Lin was
also a member of Adelphi University Symphony
Orchestra as a flutist and has performed in Garden
City, Long Island, and through out New York City
and Massachusetts.
She is a native of Taiwan and has taught in
both the United States
and
Taiwan. Ms. Lin teaches exclusively through the
Royal academy for music where se uphold's a very
large teaching studio as well as has been
nominated as one of 3 teachers to receive "teacher
of the year award 2010".
Shannon Ward
______________________________________________
Voice,
Mezzo-Soprano - Graduated from Keene State
College in Keene,
NH, where she received a Bachelor
of Music in K-12 Music Education with a Choral/Vocal
specialization. Since her 2009 graduation, she has worked
in public schools as a long term music substitute,
directed an after school choir, and has directed a
community/church youth choir. She has taught classes in
American music history, musical theater appreciation,
beginning and intermediate music theory, as well as
concert band, a variety of choirs, and one-on-one
music/voice lessons. Ms. Ward has performed a variety of
solo and ensemble repertoire ranging from the Classical
era to 20th century contemporary, including the
lead role and excerpts from Georges Bizet’s
Carmen,
Roberts Schumann’s
Frauenliebe und-leben,
Giuseppe Verdi’s
Requiem and
Randall Thompson’s
Peaceable Kingdom.
She also participated in Keene State College’s opera
workshop, chamber choir, and the concert choir, in which
she held the position of assistant conductor for the
spring of 2009. Ms. Ward currently resides in
Gardner,
MA.
Mong
Yun Shih "Sabrina"
__________________________________
(Sabrina) Mong-Yun Shih (Piano)
Was educated at Franklin
Pierce University, N.H. where she received her B.M. in
Piano Performance. Ms. Shih's primary teachers have
included: Jung-Ja Kim, Janice Weber, Faina Bryanskaya and
Robert Johnson. Ms. Shih has performed throughout the New
England Area and abroad in her native country of Taiwan and has also held
teaching positions in Dracut, MA, Boston, MA, as well as
in Taiwan,
instructing students of all ages and all skill levels. Ms.
Shih has been recognized by the Associated Board of Royal
Schools of Music, National Guild of Piano Teachers and the
Music Teachers National Association. Ms. Shih teaches
exclusively through the Royal Academy for Music.
Ashley Episcopo
_____________________________________________
Voice
- Received her Master of Music
degree from the Longy School of Music. She performs music
ranging from the mid 1600's to contemporary, newly composed
works and in styles ranging from classical to jazz to
contemporary music. Ms. Episcopo has performed in opera,
oratorio and recital in the Boston area and in her hometown
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A diverse musician, her
studies have also included composition, flute and oboe
performance. Solo engagements have included the Mozart
Requiem with Chorus Pro Musica and the Vivaldi Gloria with
the Three Rivers Choral Society. She made her operatic
debut as Morfeo in Sebastian Duron's zarzuela "Salir el Amor
del Mundo." She has also participated in master classes
with respected performers such as Ellen Hargis, Jeffrey
Gall, and Sondra Kelley.
Charles Licata
_______________________________________________
Charles
Licata (Brass & Woodwinds)
Completed his
Bachelor's degree from the University of Buffalo and his
Master's Degree from the New England Conservatory. A
native of Buffalo, Mr. Licata has performed regularly in New
York in such Jazz hotspots as the No-Name Bar, the Trafelmadore and the Edward Hotel. Mr. Licata has also
studied theory and composition extensively and has composed
both in the classical and jazz styles. Mr. Licata also
performs internationally and directs several jazz projects
in Honduras which can also be heard on NPR radio.
Jingke Cao "Coco"
__________________________________________
Jingke
Cao (Piano) Began playing the piano at
the young age of 4 in China. After showing a high
potential she began to study piano seriously leading her to
attend the
East China Normal University (ECNU) in
Shanghai, China where she received a diploma in piano
performance. Ms. Cao recently relocated to the United States
where she continues an active career as performer and a very
active career as a private piano teacher exclusively through
the Royal Academy.
Li Ching Huang
_____________________________________________
Piano
and Voice -
W
as educated in both China
and Clark university in Worcester, MA. Ms. Huang has enjoyed
a career as a young up and coming pianist. Her
training consists of a Bachelors Degree in Arts in Music and
in Business from Clark University and she has performed at
Clark University as a soloist and collaborative musician.
She continues to enjoy a very active career as a performer
and instructor in voice and piano.
Joe Carcia
___________________________________________________
Guitar
Was educated at the University of Massachusetts Lowell
where he received his Bachelors Degree in Music in guitar
performance. Mr. Garcia enjoys a career as a very active
performer and has acted as accompanist for St. Joan of Arc
Youth Choir as well as lead guitarist for "Soul Movement",
a soul R& B Band nominated twice in the "Worcester Turtle
Boy" awards as well as performed in numerous venues such
as Tammany Hall, Lucky Dog Music Hall, Tufts university,
Clark University, WPI, Harper's Ferry, Boston Court House,
Middle East, and T.T. & the Bears. Mr Garcia's
primary teachers include Walter Platt, Jon wheatly and
Jessica Blair.
Andrew Newman
___________________________________________
Andrew Newman - Guitar
-
An Alumni of Berklee College of Music, Andrew
Newman has toured extensively across both the United
States and Europe playing with Pearl Jam, Smashing
Pumpkins, Tool, Gwar, White Zombie, and Nirvana. His
teaching experience covers a broad range of ages and
styles, from beginners to advanced students. In
addition to years of private teaching, he has taught at
White's Music Education Center and Doug's Musical
Instrument. Andy applies creative and inventive
approaches to supply students with both the knowledge and
skills for self-expression, and the mechanics of music.
Geoffrey Watson Oehling
___________________________________
Geoffrey Watson Oehling -
Guitar, Ukelele, Strings & Piano - A
veteran Royal Academy instructor, Mr. Oehling started
teaching for the Royal academy in 1999. Mr. Oehling
was educated at the Hartt Conservatory of Music.
Gjergji Kote_________________________________________________
Violin
& Viola -
Received his education at the Tefta Tashko Arts High
school and Conservatory in Korce, Albania. Completing
12 years of study (PHD equivalent) at the conservatory in
violin performance. Mr. Kote was also invited to play with
the Korce Orchestra and chamber ensemble. Mr. Kote was
later invite dto the United Staes to perform with the Grosse
Pointe Symphony Orchestra in Michigan where his mastery has
earned him first violin chair in the orchestra. He has
also performed with many members of the orchestra in chamber
recitals throughout Michigan and in the U.S. Mr. Kote has
also enjoyed an extensive career as a teacher, instructing
children and adults of all ages and skill levels.
Special Education/Music Therapy
SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Susan M. Davis, MT-BC (Music Therapist) Ms. Davis
received her B.A. in Sociology and Music from the University
of Massachusetts and her B.S. in Music Therapy from SUNY New
Paltz and her internship at Taconic DDSO, Wossaic, NY. Ms.
Davis has worked at the American Institute of
Neuro-Intergrative Development; Giant Steps as a part of a
multi-disciplinary team with students having Autism spectrum
disorders. She has also taught at New Horizons Resources and
has seen numerous patients through private practice. Ms.
Davis has composed for numerous publishing companies
including Sonshine Publishing, Berkshire Theater for Theatre
and the Arts, Mass. College of Liberal Arts and many more.
Ms. Davis is certified by the American Music Therapy
Association, Certification Board of Music Therapy (CBMT),
First Aid and CPR as well as, Strategies for Crisis
Intervention and Prevention (SCIP).
Administrative Assistant
Jacqueline Kane- Shrewsbury
Administration Staff & Public Relations
Omar Soffan – President, CEO, Advanced Piano Program 508-755-7373
Jacqueline Kane- Assistant to the Directors, Administration
Thiwangkorn Lilit – Director of Music
508-755-7373
Chris Fourkas – Accounting 508-752-0712
Diane Vandal - Book Keeping
Jackie Kniskern - Book
Keeping
Member
*National Guild of Community Schools for the Arts (New York)
*Music Teachers National Association ID#9058645
*Massachusetts Music Teachers Association
*Accredited
Member of the Better Business Bureau
*Americans for the Arts Action Fund
*Worcester Area Chamber of Commerce
*Better Business
Bureau (Accredited Member)
*ASCAP
Affiliations /Performance Relations/Career Services
*Royal Academy (London)
*Royal Conservatory (Brussels)
*The Juilliard School (Career Services, Performances)
* Peabody Institute (Johns Hopkins University, Career
Services)
*Berklee College of Music (Career Services)
*New England Conservatory of Music (Career Services,
Performances)
*Boston Conservatory of Music (Affiliate, Performances)
*Metropolitan Opera House
*Mechanics Hall, Worcester
*Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Schools & Institutions that Utilize the Royal Academy For
Services
*Worcester Polytechnic Institute
*Worcester State College
*Clark University
*The Hillside School (Marlborough) (Shah Salmi & Kate
Tanguay)
*Umass/Memorial Hospital
*Christ Tabernacle Church
*Mechanics Hall
*Tuckerman Hall
Awards/Recognition
* Best of
Shrewsbury 2008 & 2009
Music Instruction
Category
* Best of Worcester 2008 & 2009
Music Instruction Category
* American Red Cross.
Concert to Benefit September 11th, 2009
* President of
The United States (G.W.Bush),
Recognition for Concert to Benefit Red
Cross
* Worcester Business Journal, 40 under 40 Most
Successful
* Worcester Telegram & Gazette
*
Worcester Magazine
* Today's Parent
* WGBH Boston
* WICN Worcester
* WCRB Boston
* WTAG Worcester
*
Channel 5 News Boston
* Channel 3 WGMC News Worcester
* Stages, The Boston Conservatory
* Waltham Tribune
* Accreditation Better Business Bureau A+ Rating
