John Piazza Jr.
Mr. Piazza is Department Head and Music Specialist at Rockland Senior High. He leads the RHS Concert Band, Marching Band, Chorus and Jazz Lab Band. Prior to coming to Rockland, Mr. Piazza was director of music for Remsen Central Schools teaching 4th thru 12th grade instrumental music in Remsen N.Y. An active performer and clinician, Mr. Piazza runs a number of jazz and commercial repertoire ensembles and is a promoter of world class jazz events performing regularly with Joe Magnarelli, Ralph Lalama, Jane Monheit, Gary Smulyan. Mr. Piazza spent a number of years working as a musical director for Carnival Cruise Lines where he managed all aspects of live musical entertainment. He was selected to lead the Music Entertainment teams on three inaugural ships for Carnival Corporation delivering them from Masa yards in Helsinki Finland and Fincantieri yards in Monfalcone Italy. As conductor and performer, he has supported musical and variety acts including Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, John Davidson, Charo, David Brenner, Fred Travelena, Eddie "The Big Ragu" Mekka, Duke Daniels of the Platters, the Scintas to name a few. Mr Piazza earned a BM in Music Education from the Crane School of Music and his masters degree in Jazz studies from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has studied jazz with Yusef Lateef, Jeff Holmes, Billy Taylor, Bret Zvacek and was mentored by JR Monterose and Sal Amico. He has studied trumpet with James W. Mosher, Jack Palmer, Dr. John Ellis, Walter Chesnut, Bob Slack and William Adam. Although influenced by many teachers, Mr. Piazza's teaching style is of the Bill Adam School. Mr. Piazza is excited to be working with the students of Rockland. He is happy to call the South Shore his new home. Email: [email protected] |
Lindsay Crook
Ms. Lindsay Crook is the Music Specialist at the John W. Rogers Middle School where she teaches fifth and sixth grade General Music as well as Band and Chorus for grades five through eight. In addition to her duties in the middle school, she assists with the RHS Marching Band and will also lead Woodwind Choirs/Ensembles at the high school. She is very excited to be working with the students of Rockland! Lindsay graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a BM in Music Education with a primary focus on the saxophone where she studied with David Seiler and Nathan Jorgensen. As a former student in the Foxborough Public Schools, she also had the opportunity to study saxophone with Ken Reid during her time there. Email: [email protected] |
Jeffrey Popadic
Mr. Popadic, enjoys a busy career as a performer and music educator. As a member of the acclaimed Epic Brass Quintet he has performed extensively across the United States. He can be heard performing trumpet with diverse groups such as the Plymouth Philharmonic, Rhode Island Philharmonic, New Bedford Symphony, Orchestra of Indian Hill, Boston Lyric Opera, National Lyric Opera, Alea III, Innovata Brass and in theatre venues. Jeffrey has performed with the Monadnock Music Festival and the Great Waters Music Festival. As a soloist he has appeared with the Civic Symphony of Boston. As an educator Mr. Popadic teaches general music and chorus at the R. Stewart Esten Elementary School, chorus and band instruments at the John W. Rogers Middle School and chorus and Brass Ensemble at Rockland High School. Other teaching appointments have included the Mansfield Public Schools; Boston University; University of Massachusetts, Boston; the Indian Hill School of Music; Groton School; Epic Brass Summer Institute; masterclasses at Sharon High School; adjunct faculty with the Foxborough and Blackstone-Millville school districts as well as a private studio. As a member of the Epic Brass Quintet, Jeffrey has performed hundreds of educational concerts and has appeared as a clinician in masterclasses at high schools and colleges throughout the country. Jeffrey holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in trumpet performance from Boston University, where he studied with former Boston Symphony Orchestra principal trumpet Roger Voisin and members of the Empire Brass Quintet. [email protected] |
Allison Passanisi
Ms. Passanisi teaches elementary music at the Memorial Park and Jefferson Elementary Schools in Rockland. She is a skilled percussionist and holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Berklee College of Music. She is an active educator in the marching arts and currently teaches the front ensemble of the Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps. Outside of performing and teaching, Ms. Passanisi enjoys cooking and practicing yoga. Email: [email protected] |