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Chris Simmons
Piano, Guitar, Voice, Ukulele
Chris holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Rowan University. His primary instrument was Voice; he performed with the Men’s Choir for two years, the Concert Choir for four years, and took eight semesters of voice lessons, which culminated in a senior recital. In addition to his academic performance history, he has also performed in several local bands, as lead singer and bassist, as well as written and performed original works as a solo musician.
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His teaching experience goes back to 2014. He worked as a general music teacher at a charter school in Trenton, NJ, but left to pursue his passion for private music teaching in 2017. Throughout his career, he has served the South Jersey area, including Marlton, Cherry Hill, Medford, and Collingswood.
Fran Secrest
Violin, Viola, Flute
Francesca has been teaching instrumental music in Southern NJ since 2000. She received both her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Delaware, and is currently working towards her D.M.A. from Boston University.
While attending the University of Delaware, she performed with UD Marching Band, University Orchestra, and Symphonic band. Francesca has performed at churches, weddings, the Mansion in Voorhees, NJ and is currently playing in a community orchestra. In addition to teaching viola, violin and flute, Francesca is excited to teach Kids' MusicRound classes.
Alex Bon
Trumpet, Guitar, Piano
Alex Bon holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Rowan University. He has been teaching and tutoring brass and piano students privately since 2011 and considers musical analysis and expression to be among his greatest strengths.
Growing up surrounded by music has allowed Alex to experience all of the joy that performing and experiencing music can evoke within people and his passion in music education is to guide his students toward experiencing that same joy. When he is not teaching privately, you can find Alex in the Cherry Hill public schools teaching general, instrumental, and choral music to musicians in grades K-5.
Jami Smith
Voice, Guitar, Music Therapy
Jami Smith, MT-BC -is a Board Certified Music Therapist with a Bachelor’s in Music Therapy from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA. In 2005, She completed her Music Therapy internship at Bethany Children’s Home in 2006. Jami completed a Master’s in Health Administration from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA in 2013.
She has been practicing music therapy since 2006 in various settings. She has worked with populations ranging in age from 3 to older adult with various disabilities and diagnoses including Autism spectrum disorders, emotional disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, dementia and mental illness. Jami is an active member of the American Music Therapy Association. She keeps involved in her profession and continues her education to continue to provide quality care.
Matthew Di Filippo
Guitar, Bass, Piano
Matthew holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Rowan University. He demonstrates a comprehensive knowledge of guitar and piano technique and performance. Matt has taught private students of all ages in Marlton and continues to expand his practice in the Philadelphia area. While attending Rowan, he tutored students for Music Theory-Written/Aural for two years and was a member of Rowan's Concert Band, Men's Choir, and Guitar Ensemble for four years.
Matt has performed in professional events and in small venues including the Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, the Trocadero Theatre and the Crocodile Rock Cafe, PA. As a previous camp counselor, he has created theme days of music for Evesham Township’s Triple-A Summer Camp that exposes children to singing/movement/ listening activities and presentations on band instruments. Overall, Matt is looking forward to sharing his working knowledge at our studio.
Cassandra Sicolo
Flute, Piano
Cass holds a bachelor’s degree in music education, with a flute primary, from Montclair State University. Cass has been teaching privately since 2014 and is currently dedicated to nurturing young musicians as a local public school elementary band and orchestra teacher. Cass has performed in many ensembles - her favorite being a collaborative concert with Sir James Galway at Carnegie Hall.
At Melody Makers, Cass is dedicated to guiding students through their musical journey, offering lessons in beginner piano and all levels of flute. Passionate about both performance and education, she strives to instill a love for music while helping students reach their full potential. In her free time, she likes to read, watch football, and spend time with her two cats.
Gabrielle Howarth
Voice Teacher, Vocal Coach
Gabrielle Howarth has been performing and entertaining since the age of 5. Born and raised in New Jersey, the singer/songwriter/actress has been widely known for her powerful soulful voice, wide range and the ability to re-create songs as her own — setting her apart from many others.
Gabrielle’s musical talent has taken her all over the country, from California to New York, from the Mid-west to Nashville and back. Currently, she freelances in many different musical projects while performing weekly with one of the premier party/wedding bands in the Tri-State area. Gabrielle graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a BA Theatre Arts/Musical Theater and has been teaching vocal lessons for 3 years.
Ethan Eno
Saxophone, Oboe
Ethan is a South Jersey-based saxophonist and woodwind doubler. In May 2025, he will complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Jazz Studies from Rowan University, where he studied jazz and classical saxophone with Denis DiBlasio, Noa Even, Jordan Smith, Skip Spratt, and Valentin Kovalev, and studied oboe with Marie Trudeau. During his time at Rowan, Ethan performed with numerous ensembles, including the university’s three premier large ensembles: the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Symphony Orchestra. He was also active in chamber music, performing with groups such as the Oboe Trio, Saxophone Ensemble, and Saxophone Quartet — the latter of which was invited to perform at national conferences, including the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference and the International Saxophone Symposium hosted by the United States Navy Band. Additionally, he frequently performed in a jazz quartet for university events such as the President’s Forum, faculty holiday parties, and commencement-related dinners.
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Outside of academia, Ethan is active in the regional theater and high school music scenes, performing in pit orchestras on soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones, as well as clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo, oboe, and English horn. In 2024, he founded his own saxophone quartet, which has since performed at conferences, recorded new works, and premiered multiple compositions by contemporary composers.
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Ethan is also deeply committed to music education. He is on staff at Shawnee High School, assisting with visuals and leading many music rehearsals for their marching band. He has also served as a music theory tutor at Rowan University. In July 2025, he will join Rowan University’s Summer Band Camp faculty as a counselor. In September 2025, he will begin his Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance at Rutgers University.
Iuliia Borisova
Piano
Iuliia offers a high standard of musical education with a creative, student-centered approach. Her goal is to create a space where everyone can discover and develop their love for music and piano.
Healthy technique is the foundation of successful and safe playing. She teaches proper hand positioning, body posture, and pedaling to enhance musicality and prevent injuries.
Regardless of the level, whether it’s your first lesson or you’re an experienced pianist, she helps students quickly achieve their goals while making the learning process enjoyable. Her focus is on interpretation, music theory, and history so that students not only play but also deeply understand the music. Her aim is to inspire, unlock potential, and make learning a joyful journey.
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"I believe that music has the power to transform lives, and I strive to help every student discover its extraordinary world."
Jake Fuscia
Drums, Percussion
Jake has been teaching music since 2010 as a marching band instructor at various high schools in South Jersey and Philadelphia. He is currently the Band Director at Pennsauken High School, where he leads the school’s band program, fostering a passion for music and performance among students.
Jake studied under the guidance of Dean Witten at Rowan University, where he honed his craft and developed an appreciation for music education.
In addition to his work with students, Jake remains committed to professional development, continuously seeking new opportunities to expand his knowledge of music education and performance. He performs in many different bands and ensembles, playing drums, orchestral percussion, and keyboard. For his latest project, he put together a chamber ensemble to perform an original arrangement of the music from the beloved film, My Neighbor Totoro.
