|
Meet the people who make Groove groove.
 Lesley Barovick Owner/Director
Class Leader, Music for Aardvarks
Lesley discovered Music for Aardvarks with her son Jesse in 1996. Inspired by the program’s spirit and originality, Lesley launched Music for Aardvarks in Westchester after her family relocated from Brooklyn to the burbs in 2003. 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. |
 Lisa Ammon Class Leader
Vocalist
After leading classes at Groove for 4 years, Lisa 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. |
 Max Johl Class Leader
Guitar, Percussion
Max completed his Bachelors degree in Music Education from Manhattanville College and holds a New York State teaching certification in K-12 Music Education. Although his primary instrument is voice, Max also plays drums, guitar, ukelele, and bass. Max has been a student teacher (General Music) in the Eastchester and Mount Vernon public schools and a head counselor at Elmwood Day Camp in Ardsley. |
 Evan Watson Class Leader
(he’s back beginning 2/12)
Hailing from Crawfordsville, Indiana, Evan is a professional singer/songwriter/guitarist. His debut album, "A Town Called Blue" was released on Club Road Records last year. His band, Evan Watson and the Headless Horsemen was featured at Bonnaroo music festival in 2009. Evan has also taught and created curriculum for several music classes for young children (birth through age 7). Evan opened for Heart and Def Leppard during the summer of 2011. |
 GIna Gonzalez Class Leader
Vocalist
Gina can be seen performing regularly with her voice or trumpet in the NYC jazz, brazilian, or rock circuits. She is a graduate of UCLA’s Ethnomusicology Department, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies and also a graduate from AMDA, New York with a concentration in Theatre. Throughout her development as a performer, Gina has nurtured a love for working with children, teaching and developing age-appropriate music and movement curricula at a number of schools and early childhood programs. She also teaches theory to some bigger kids at The New School University. |
 Colleen Clark Percussion
Colleen began playing drums at the age of nine. She received her Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College in Music Education/Percussion Performance in 2009. Colleen is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Jazz Performance from SUNY Purchase, where she studies with John Riley (Vanguard Jazz Orchestra). She studies privately with Kim Thompson (Beyonce’, Mike Stern). Colleen works for various artists and with her own band, playing drum-set, percussion and singing. |
 Johnny Butler Saxophone
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. |
 Tom Corrado Class Leader
Percussion/Guitar
Tom is a 2011 graduate of Fordham University. He plays trumpet, guitar, and drums. |
 Liz Mackanesi violin/fiddle, mandolin
Liz Mackanesi began studying classical violin at age 5 and played in orchestras throughout her school years. After college, she started exploring other musical styles and got hooked on playing in folk/rock/bluegrass bands as well as experimental and jazz projects. Nowadays Liz fiddles around with friends as often as possible and also enjoys teaching. Recently she has picked up the mandolin as well and is trying not to make her violin jealous. Some musical influences include Alison Krauss, Regina Carter, Mark O’Connor, Martin Hayes and Vassar Clements just to name a few. |
 Walter Stinson Walt plays the double bass. |
 Dutchess-Venita Adomakoh Creator/Class Leader, Those Art Kids
Dutchess-Venita Adomakoh is an artist, arts educator and the creator of Those Art Kids. She received her BA in Fine Arts from Manhattanville College. She also served as head art teacher at Citibabes in Scarsdale, New York. Check out Those Art Kids on facebook! |
 Julie Antoniou As our Studio Manager, Julie makes all things possible. |
 Those Art Kids |
 Music for Aardvarks |
 JO Jayson Instructor, Painting with JO
Jo Jayson is an artist, muralist, decorative painter and art teacher. Born and educated in UK, Jo has been living in Westchester for the past 12 years. Her murals and painting can be viewed in private homes and businesses in and around Westchester and Fairfield Counties as well as in the UK and Australia. Jo has led many art classes for children and adults in Rye Neck, Mamaroneck and at Groove in Larchmont. Her latest work can be viewed at jojayson.com. |
 Jo Jayson |
top
|
