Instructors
Please click on the Instructor’s Name for more information!
Alan Dougherty
Alan has been playing piano professionally for almost twenty years. He works extensively with area school systems’ musical productions, concerts, and competitions, and acts as Music Director for community theaters around the state. He also teaches piano lessons in the Meriden, Wallingford, and Somers areas, and is the pianist every Sunday at…Learn More
Amanda Kohl
Amanda Kohl is a soprano who joined the Backbeat Faculty in the spring of 2010, while finishing her post graduate Artist Diploma at the Hartt School of Music in Opera Performance. Prior to returning to Connecticut she received a Master’s of Music degree from Indiana University after receiving her Bachelor’s of Music from the Hartt School. Although her main focus…Learn More
Ashley D’Onofrio
Ashley first fell in love with dance when she started dancing at the age of three. She has studied with many great teachers and choreographers in the Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York area with over 20 years dance experience. She has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe, Modern, Contemporary, Irish Step, Character, and Hip hop. After attending the…Learn More
Brian Hartley
Guitarist Brian Hartley studied at The Hartford Conservatory and the Hartt School of Music, graduating at the top of his class with honors from The Hartford Conservatory. Brian has been a guitar and bass instructor at Choate Rosemary Hall since 1999. Brian also teaches at…Learn More
Dan Kanter
Dan K. is BackBeat City’s youngest teacher. He has been playing guitar for 10+ years, and has played over 350 shows with both his old band, and as a solo artist. Dan is primarily a self taught musician, but attended Western CT State University for a year to study Composition and Classical Performance. He currently spends almost all of his free time…Learn More
Donny Fortin
Donny has been playing drums for 24 years. He graduated with a Bachelor’s of Music Performance from Berklee, College of Music; and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy, Concentration in Music from Central CT State University. He has taken part in unique drum workshops, including a two week intensive drumset/percussion program in Havana…Learn More
Frank Varela
Frank attended Berklee School of Music and has been a private music instructor throughout the life of his career. He has also taught as a lecturer at the University of Connecticut and Manchester Community College in addition to his after school guitar program for the South Windsor…Learn More
Jolet Creary
Jolet Creary is the Artistic Director of EQuilibrium Dance Theatre. Jolet is a graduate of Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she recieved her BFA in modern dance education. Known for her versatility in many forms of dance, Jolet has danced, trained, and performed with…Learn More
Justin Canzano
Multi-woodwind artist Justin Canzano has performed throughout the United States. At home in both classical and jazz styles, he has played with wind ensembles, orchestras, chamber groups, big bands, jazz combos, funk/fusion bands, and variety bands. As a talented woodwind doubler, Justin has played for…Learn More
Kevin Scott
After receiving his degree in Music Theory/Composition, Kevin jumped into private voice and piano lessons with both feet and hasn’t looked back. Kevin is known for his wide variety of styles, teaching everything from Musical Theater, Pop, Classical, Opera, Sacred and all the genres in between. His roots are steeped in Connecticut and he has been part of…Learn More
Kyle Reynolds
Kyle is thrilled to be a part of the BackBeat City team! Kyle holds two bachelor degrees from Central Connecticut State University in Organizational Communication and Theater Performance. Kyle has performed in several theaters in Connecticut including Thomaston Opera House, The Warner Theater, Seven Angels and even The Palace Theater of Waterbury…Learn More
Laura Berger
Laura Berger holds a Bachelor of Music Education from SUNY Potsdam, and a Master Degree in Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy at the Hartt School of Music, to be completed in May of 2013. Her performance experience includes professional employment with both the Orchestra of Northern New York and the Delaware Valley Opera of Narrowsburg, NY…Learn More
Lisa Conlon
Lisa, soprano, is currently completing her Doctor of Musical Arts studies at the University of Connecticut under the tutelage of Dr. Constance Rock. A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music (M.M.) and the Eastman School of Music (B.M.), Ms. Conlon has collaborated in various musical idioms throughout the course of her career, specifically in classical…Learn More
Muata Langley
Muata, at 24 years old from New Haven Connecticut, began dancing at the age of 5. He was inspired by MC Hammer, his older brothers who were a 90’s singing group, and RUN DMC but the late great King of Pop himself Michael Jackson was his greatest influence. He began imitating Michael’s dynamic and intricate moves and from there he developed a love for…Learn More
Nick D’Angelo
Nick D’Angelo has been in the technical theatre industry for 10 years. Starting in Miami, FL Nick was production designer and technical director for Miami stage Company and their sister company Miami Children’s Theatre. After moving to Connecticut, Nick did technical theater free lance work for Hartford Stage Company and Theatreworks Hartford before becoming technical director and master carpenter for…Learn More
Rebekah Butler
Violinist Rebekah Butler has performed as a member of the Tucson and Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestras and has appeared as a soloist with the Arizona and Weber State Symphonies. She has participated in festivals in the USA, Mexico, Canada and Austria and toured China with the Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra. Rebekah’s principal instructors have included…Learn More
Sean Rubin
Double bassist Sean Rubin’s activities range from a very wide variety of styles. Sean recently received his Bachelor in Music Performance from the Hartt School, studying with Robert Black. While studying at the Hartt School…Learn more
Sherry Adams
Sherry is the dance director at BackBeat City. She began her dance career at the age of 4 in Connecticut. In her early years she studied tap and ballet and was a member of the Newington Children’s Theater as a lead actor. At the age of 12, she devoted all of her time to ballet and embarked on a career that has lasted for over 50 years. She was a student at the American Ballet Theatre…Learn More
