WHO’S WHO: MUSICIANS & ARTISTS

Lesley Barovick

Owner/Director

Lesley discovered Music for Aardvarks in Brooklyn with her son Jesse in 1996. Inspired by the program’s spirit and originality, Lesley launched Music for Aardvarks in Westchester County in 2004 after her family relocated to the burbs. The very next year, her classes were named "Best New Kids’ Music Class" by Westchester Magazine. Lesley has a BMA in voice performance from the University of Michigan School of Music and a MFA in arts management from CUNY/Brooklyn College. From 1988 to 2004, Lesley served as Director of Development for several New York City arts organizations including Jazz at Lincoln Center (under Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis), Playwrights Horizons and Celebrate Brooklyn. Lesley and her husband Andrew are the proud parents of two musical kids.  Groove was recently named "Best Place to Spend Time with the Kids" by Westchester Magazine.

Janet Casson

Janet is a drama person! She plays many roles including storyteller and yogini, and she is best known for her role as Music for Aardvarks class leader in the colorful cast of characters at Groove! She brings a theatrical flare and playful energy to all of her classes, and she’s thrilled to share her loves of drama, yoga, and music with young people and their grown-ups.  Janet has a BA in performance studies from the University of Northern Iowa, her home state, and a graduate certificate in youth theatre from the City University of New York. She completed her 200-hour and her prenatal yoga teacher certifications at Om Yoga Center in NYC.  She is also a certified children’s yoga instructor through Karma Kids Yoga.  

Lisa Ammon

After leading classes at Groove for 4 years, Lisa recently launched Long Island Aardvarks.  She received her MFA in acting from Case Western Reserve University and was pursing a career as an actress and singer in New York when her own little Aardvark, Juliette, came along.  Lisa has directed several shows for The Youth Theatre Program at Temple Israel Center in White Plains, and has taught musical theater and acting for the Play Group Theatre.  

Luke M Montgomery

Luke is a lifelong musician. His band, Strangefolk, is a nationally recognized rock and roll outfit that has traveled coast to coast across the country countless times playing music live, and recorded many cds and dvds as well. He is also a dad of two funky Groove-aged kids. 

Jesse Barovick

Jesse B’s mom and dad started taking him to David Weinstone’s Music for Aardvarks classes when he was a year old. Jesse plays acoustic and electric guitar, upright and electric bass and drums. Jesse is a member of the Metal Band of Tomato’s House of Rock (THOR)  and performs regularly with his band Sell the Children (STC).    

Luke H Havranek

Luke has been playing guitar since the age of 13. He is a veteran of the kindie rock scene in Manhattan and Westchester. Luke is also a skilled songwriter with a children’s album in the works. Luke holds a BA in Public Relations from New Paltz University and has produced, managed, composed for and promoted his bands Invisible Enemy and Halfway Crooks since 1998. Luke also plays ukelele, mandolin, bass and keyboard. Watch out for the occasional magic trick or balloon animal! 

Julie Antoniou

As our Studio Manager, Julie makes all things possible.

Mindy Smith

Mindy is a freelance music theatre educator, teaching voice lessons through her private voice studio- artsmith studios- and serving as musical director for academic music theatre productions throughout the NYC area. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education Degree and Master of Secondary Education Degree from Ohio University, as well as a Master of Arts in Vocal Performance/Music Theatre from NYU. Mindy is the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Momentum Repertory Company. Mindy’s all-time favorite roles include wife to Ryan and mommy to Lily.

Johnny Butler

A native of Seattle, Washington, Johnny has been a member of the NYC music community since graduating from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 2006. Johnny has received numerous awards and his groups have been featured in publications such as the Boston Globe, Jazziz Magazine, FreeNYC, the Washington City Paper, The Oberlin Review and Earshot Jazz Magazine. Johnny also loves to teach music, and has been a faculty member at the French Woods Festival for the Performing Arts, the Seattle Public Schools Summer Jazz Program, and was a teacher/composer in Residence at the UC Davis Summer Arts Program.  

Annie Lynch

After graduating from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Annie moved to Brooklyn with her band, Annie and the Beekeepers. She is multi-talented musician who sings and plays acoustic and electric guitar, banjo, kick and assorted percussion. Her band recently opened for Josh RItter at Town Hall in New York City and will be performing in the UK at The End of the Road Festival in Fall 2010. And yes, she is also Annie the nanny. 
 

Sara Della Posta

Sara has worked extensively as a professional french hornist, accompanyist and vocal coach.  Sara holds a Bachelor of Music from the Hartt School of Music and Masters degrees from the Manhattan School of Music & SUNY Purchase. Sara has taught privately since 1995. She has been on the music faculty of the Brearley School and Fieldston (Ethical Culture) and, since 1998, Sara has served as Organist, Choir and Youth Choir Director at the Armonk United Methodist Church. Sara has an active brass quintet, The Ridgefield Players Brass Ensemble, and sings lead for Uncommon Ground, a bluegrass band.

Fumi Tomita

Fumi, a native New Yorker, studied bass at McGill University and the Manhattan School of Music.  He was the bassist on the national tour of the Nat King Cole tribute, Unforgettable. Festival appearances include the Montreal International Jazz Festival, Mt. Hood Festival of Jazz, the Henry Mancini Institute, and the Banff International Workshop in Jazz.  Currently, Fumi maintains a busy schedule of teaching and performing.  His first CD, Impromptu, is scheduled for a fall 2010 release and features Lou Rainone on piano and Robert Weiss on drums. 

Don Keene

Don is a long-standing member of the art faculty of Mamaroneck High School.  He has taught painting, illustration and photography to adults and kids locally at Iona Prep in New Rochelle and the Pelham Art Center. Don maintains a private studio in Connecticut where he continues to paint and teach.  

Nicole Doherty

Leaving the corporate world to follow her passion for yoga, Nicole completed her 200 hour teaching certification at Yoga Works in NYC. She is certified in teaching pre- and post-natal yoga through the New York Open Center, and trained to teach yoga to children at Karma Kids NYC.