Mary Ann Holmes, Dance & Wellness

Since the age of 3, dance has always been part of Mary Ann’s life. A graduate of Westfield State University, she continued her studies in dance while obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She later received a Master’s degree in Special Education and has taught within the Hampshire Regional, Northampton, and Easthampton Public Schools. Mary Ann is presently on faculty at Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley. She continuously travels to workshops and conventions throughout the year to combine her professional teaching experience with her love of dance, music and fitness. She holds certificates in Aerobics, Pilates, Kripalu Yoga, and Zumba. She is a member and certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Mary Ann is also a Licensed Director & Instructor for Music Together for Families®. She has been a Reiki Master practitioner for over 8 years. Most recently Mary Ann has been choreographing some of the Valley’s hit musicals including: Jesus Christ Superstar, Wizard of Oz, Bye Bye Birdie, Hairspray, and coming January 2012 – Annie!

Melissa Creagh, Dance

Melissa received her Associate of Arts (2005) and Bachelor of Arts degree (2007) in Dance from Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. While in college, Melissa studied the techniques of Ballet, Modern, Tap, and Jazz extensively; as well as dance composition, creative movement for children, pedagogy, rhythmic analysis, anatomy & physiology, kinesiology, film survey in dance, and dance history. Melissa also had the opportunity to take part in many student and faculty choreographed shows, including being a featured tap dancer in the renowned Dean College Dance Company. Prior to college, Melissa spent 2 years as a dance instructor and 7 years as an assistant instructor in Connecticut; where she obtained much experience working with children age 3+ in all mediums of dance. Melissa is currently in her fifth year with Holmes Studio.

Lynne Czajka, Dance, Acrobats, Music (Piano)

Lynne was enrolled in her first dance class at age 3 and found herself well-rounded in dance, gymnastics, and music by the ripe old age of 5. She trained and competed in gymnastics for nearly 10 years with the Excel Gym in New York, where she grew up. At the same time, she continued to dance; studying ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and modern. She taught classes at the Rhinebeck Dance Center for 3 years, including group and private lessons in ballet, tap, and lyrical, where she was able to combine her dance and gymnastics training to expand the creativity of her students. Lynne also participated in community and high school musical theater, performing on-stage, in the orchestra pit, and behind the scenes. Critics at SUNY Dutchess hailed her choreography as the “best choreography in New York State” in 2007. Lynne has played the piano since age 5, picked up the flute in forth grade, and through the years has studied voice, oboe, and saxophone privately. She is currently working on a Bachelor’s of Music in Flute Performance and a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education with a double concentration in flute and voice at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her love and dedication to music and movement is grounded in years of experience and it’s what she hopes to share with her students for the rest of her life.

Melissa Donahue, Dance

Melissa Donahue started dancing at the age of 4 and fell in love with the art form. She participated in her childhood studio's dance company and competition time for several years. After graduating from high school, Melissa D attended Mount Holyoke College. She graduated with a double major in Politics and Philosophy while continuing her study of dance. Melissa D continues to actively study ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, pointe and hip-hop by attending classes and conventions. Prior to joining the Holmes teaching staff Melissa taught in the pioneer valley for 5 years and assistant taught of over 8 years. She has also attended 4 years of Dance Masters of American at SUNY Buffalo. Melissa D currently is attending Western New England University School of Law.

Jocelyn Kinlock, Wellness

Jocelyn has been an active fitness instructor for close to two decades. She holds certifications from AAAI/ISMA and ZUMBA Fitness. Her love for teaching and feeling great reflects on to her class participants so that you truly have fun and all the while you are getting a great workout. Jocelyn’s experience and versatility can adjust easily for any participant so that no matter what age or fitness level anyone can join in and get fit.  

Jodie Bigelow, Music (Piano, Oboe)

Jodie spent most of her childhood composing and playing piano, and when asked what other instrument she wanted to play, she said, “Something that very few others play.” Throughout high school she worked intensely with Susan Henkel of Keene State College, participated in All-State and All New England music festivals, and spent several summers participating in Summer Youth Music School at the University of New Hampshire. . Before college, Jodie spent some time in Australia. She eventually earned her BA in music from Smith College in Northampton, MA, where she studied oboe with Karen Hosmer. Since graduation, Jodie has taught private piano lessons, in addition to working in the healthcare profession. For the past 4 years, she has been principal oboist for the Holyoke Civic Symphony, and continues to solo throughout New Hampshire and New England. Jodie currently resides in Easthampton, MA. She enjoys being active outdoors and cooking. She also enjoys cats, gardening, exploring, and crafts.  

Karl Rausch, Music (Electric & Acoustic Guitar, Bass Guitar)

Karl Rausch grew up in Hamden, CT.  At the age of 10 he began studying the guitar with a private teacher and continued music studies all through High School. After he graduated from High School, Karl was accepted to Berklee College of Music. He finished Berklee with a Bachelor of Music Degree. Since then he’s worked with Alto Saxophonist and composer Marion Brown and had the pleasure of recording with him in New York. Karl has also traveled in Germany playing music and upon returning home continued to perform and teach music throughout Western Mass. He has recorded several CDs, both as a solo performer and in group recordings. He currently works with The Clay Jazz Band. www.clayjazz.com

Susan Angeletti, Music (Voice)
Susan is a sympathetic and inspiring vocal teacher whose love of music transpires to her students with much enthusiasm. She teaches voice lessons with youngsters from ages 10 (aprox), right up to teenagers and adults. While Susan taught voice at the Amherst Red Barn Music Studio, one of her best vocal students: Hope Keenan from Amherst Regional Highschool won the Valley Idol competition in 2009, taking 1st place, after studying with Susan for 3 years. Susan also taught a very talented young singer songwriter: Sonya Kitchell from Ashfield, MA, who now 6 years later has a major label record deal and is touring the world. You can hear Sonya singing at the tender age of 13 with Susan on her new Live CD, the classic song: " Hound Dog", on which Sonya sounds like a very mature and seasoned jazz & blues singer and not a young teenager just starting out! Susan's broad musical influences and extensive training allow her to teach many styles of music (from pop to rock, to blues to soul, to country and folk). She studied voice with renowned popular singing coach Jeannie Deva, who has helped thousands of singers develop their vocal instrument with much success. Jeannie helped to found the Vocal department at the Berkelee school of Music in Boston, and she now has a studio in LA, NY and here in MA. Susan also studied with Mark Baxter, who taught Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, Jonny Lang etc.

J. Witbeck, Music (Brass & Woodwinds, Piano, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Jazz Improvization, Composition, Arranging)

J is a Multi-Instrumentalist & Composer from Western Massachusetts. He specializes as a Freelance Musician in playing Bass, Funk Tuba, and a number of instruments at many venues and studios, with regular Gigs throughout New England/East Coast with a diverse range of musical groups in the styles of: Jazz, Classical, Rock, Funk, Dixieland, Musicals, Irish Traditional, Folk, Latin, and many others. Some of his international endeavors put him at the Jokim International Theatre in Serbia and he is looking forward to a brief tour in Ireland with Rosie Caine and the Two Young Bucks. He has recorded professionally with Kaufman Astoria Studio in NYC; The Carriage House in CT; Rainbow and Stephan Billups Studios in MA. As a co-creator of the East Longmeadow Community Band, J is the Musical Director and Conductor for this great program for kids and adults in the summer months. J is also a professor at the "College for Kids" program at Westfield State College. He teaches a class entitled "Rockology: The Essentials of Rocking Out." This is an original program he created to "get kids comfortable with expressing themselves through music. It's all about having a good time while learning technical skills, song writing, and building self esteem to become well rounded and confident musicians. It is a philosophy of masking education as a seriously fun endeavor." In the spring of 2009 he organized and performed in his very own "Musical Exhibition" of all original works. This led to the pursuit of publication through his very own Rustic Funk publication group which is currently in the process of joining ASCAP. J graduated from Westfield State College with a BA in Music Composition/Theory with an award of Academic Excellence in Composition and a second concentration in Music Education. He has studied bass with Richard Downs, Heshima Moja, and Jeffery Dostal. Tim Atherton, at Westfield State College, has been his musical mentor for Tuba. Composition and Music Theory teachers include Dan Kennedy and Jim Argiro. In the past he has studied at the Community Music School in Springfield, and also has been to The National Guitar Workshop on scholarships for 3 seasons. He has played/still plays with a wide variety of bands and performers across New England. The Primate Fiasco (a "Psychedelic Dixie Band") and Tidwell's Treasure (a "Zappa-esque Funk/Rock band") are his main gigs. J teaches all Brass & Woodwind Instruments, Piano & Keyboards, Guitar & Bass Guitar, Jazz Improvisation for all Instruments, and Composition & Arranging.