Jill Kersteen Michaels is a music educator with over 8 years of experience teaching music in a variety of classroom, small group and private lesson settings. Jill gained a passion for teaching the fundamentals of music literacy during her beginnings at Hunters Woods Magnet School for the Arts and Sciences in Fairfax County, VA, where she taught K-6 general music and movement classes.  A graduate from West Chester University’s School of Music, Jill has been playing the saxophone for close to 20 years in both instrumental and vocal settings. She has experience performing various genres including jazz, rock, ethnic percussion, symphonic, and standard concert band repertoire. Jill is currently a K-3rd grade General Music Specialist and Tech/AV Coordinator in the Pleasant Valley School District. Jill utilizes her post-graduate training in the Kodaly Methodology while providing eclectic music lessons that include singing, creative movement and dance, composing, improvising, technology, and performing on recorders, xylophones, steel drums, and ethnic percussion.

Greg has a wide range of musical experience. He has a bachelors degree of Science in Music Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance from Arizona State University. In between going to school, Greg enlisted as a clarinetist in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Cherry Point, NC and participated in countless ceremonies and concerts. Greg also has experience with writing, arranging, and performing in a variety of small and large ensembles. Greg currently lives in the Back Mountain with his wife, son, and pet dog and is an employee of Robert M. Sides.

Mark R. Reinhart • Guitar & Keyboard

Mark R. Reinhart  has been actively involved in music and the arts for over fifty-five years.  Mark’s performance career, spanning over four decades has covered as many musical styles as it has geography. For the past thirty years, Reinhart has been playing both guitar and keyboards with the 1960’s band Jay Black and the Americans - This Magic Moment, Cara Mia. Reinhart is a published author whose book, Tune Up… You’re on in Ten Minutes (2004), discusses the various aspects of art education from both the teacher and student perspectives, and the benefits and importance of artistic cultivation.  Mark has also been a practitioner of the Chinese health and martial arts for over forty years. He is the owner and operator of Three Pure Rivers Studio For the Arts located in Drums, PA.

Diane Amari currently serves on the high school music faculty in the Scranton School District where she teaches Music Theory, Beginning and Intermediate Strings, and Concert and Marching Band. Additionally, she has taught flute privately for many years. She is a graduate of Wilkes University with a degree in Music Education, and holds a Masters degree in Music Performance from SUNY Conservatory at Purchase College. She is on the substitute list for the Northern Tier Symphony and has performed with the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic, Doc Severenson and the 3 Irish Tenors. She has been a guest conductor for Wilkes University Civic Band, the Smithtown Community Band, Lackawanna County Honors Band, and the flute ensemble at Luzerne County Honors Band, and has also conducted pit orchestras for various high school musicals. Ensembles that she currently performs with include the Upper Valley Winds, the PAI/Civic Symphony Orchestra, and the Wyoming Valley Band.

Katelyn Berry • Strings

Katelyn Berry graduated from Marywood University with a Bachelor’s in Music Education. Katelyn has performed in the PMEA District 9 Orchestra, Region IV/V Orchestra, Marywood University Orchestra, Sinfonia Youth Orchestra, and the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Community Orchestra. She also performed with the National Festival Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in 2007. Her favorite performance was playing with Clay Aiken from American Idol in December of 2006. Katelyn currently teaches for the Marywood String Project (Scranton), teaches privately from her home, and is an employee of Robert M. Sides. In addition to teaching, she performs violin locally for weddings, church services, and other special events.

Maryssa graduated from Marywood University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, majoring in Piano. While at Marywood, she participated in the University’s Campus Choir and Wind Ensemble. She has served as an accompanist for St. Monica’s Parish in West Wyoming, on both piano and flute. Maryssa has also worked with children through PNC Bank’s “Grow Up Great”, as well as serving as accompanist. She is an active member of NAfME (National Association for Music Education). Maryssa is currently a private piano instructor for Robert M. Sides and the music teacher for Holy Rosary and Wyoming Area Catholic Schools.

Elizabeth (Beth) Martindale • Piano

Elizabeth (Beth) Martindale received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Music in Piano Performance, both from Houghton College. While studying at Houghton, she also worked as a vocal coach and an accompanist for the opera productions as well as for the College Choir, the music department’s main touring ensemble. In addition to private teaching, Beth is a piano consultant at Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers. Beth also serves as a pianist in local ensembles and churches, and has been requested to play at weddings, graduations, banquets, conferences, and other special events throughout Pennsylvania, New York State, and surrounding areas.

Tyler Dempsey • Percussion

During his senior year at Abington Heights High School Tyler was one of two drummers from across the state of Pennsylvania to be chosen to attend the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association All-State Jazz Festival. Along with All-State Jazz, he was also chosen to participate in district and regional level Band and Orchestra festivals throughout high school. He attended New Jersey City University where he studied jazz performance under world-renowned percussionists Tim Horner and Mark Sherman. Tyler has performed with many great local and regional musicians including jazz legend Bob Dorough, Marko Marcinko, and Ron Oswanski.  Along with fellow Robert M. Sides’ teacher Joe Michaels, Tyler was recently featured on WVIA’s Homegrown Concert Series.

Joseph Stefanko • Brass

Joseph Stefanko graduated with honors from Marywood University where he obtained a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. Joe has performed throughout the Tri-State area in various venues such as the F.M. Kirby Center, Toyota Pavilion, and Little Theater of Wilkes-Barre utilizing various musical styles from orchestral to jazz. Along with teaching at Robert M. Sides Family Music Centers, he maintains an active role in the music community.