Lesley Barovick Owner/Director CLASS LEADER Lesley discovered the joy of making music with kids in Brooklyn in 1996 when her first child was born. Groove Family Music has twice received Westchester Magazine's Best of Westchester Award for Best Kids' Class, as well as numerous accolades from parenting publications and real live parents, too! Lesley has a BMA in Voice from the University of Michigan and a MFA in Arts Management from Brooklyn College. She has proudly performed with the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, New York Choral Society and the Juilliard Choral Union,. Before creating Groove, Lesley enjoyed a 10 year career as a professional fundraiser and events producer. She served as Director of Development for Jazz at Lincoln Center (Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis), Playwrights Horizons and BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn. 
Johnny Butler Saxophone Originally from Seattle, Johnny graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and has played Bonnaroo, Mountain Jam, Bear Creek, Gathering of the Vibes, Telluride Jazz, and Voodoo Fest in New Orleans and more, He helped write and record the tenor and baritone saxophone parts on Beyonce‘s album 4, played with tUnE-yArDs at Summer Stage in New York, Donald Fagen (of Steely Dan) and Warren Haynes at a Midnight Ramble at Levon Helm’s Studio, Govt Mule at the Beacon Theater in New York, Joe Lally (of Fugazi), Strangefolk at StrangeCreek, La La Brooks of Phil Spector’s Crystals, worked with Grammy-award winner and former American Idol Judge Randy Jackson at Jim Henson Studios in Los Angeles, and has opened up for Stevie Wonder, The Avett Brothers, Dr. John, Fitz and the Tantrums, Counting Crows, moe., Soulive, Sharon Jones and Dap Kings, Trombone Shorty, + the Funky Meters. johnnybutler.com |
Brittany Guzinski CLASS LEADER Brittany’s love of music began at an early age- with a hairbrush as a microphone and stuffed animals as her audience, she was wowing imaginary crowds at the age of 3. A native of Georgia, Brittany performed in various musical theatre productions throughout her youth in Georgia and northern California. After graduating from The University of Georgia with a BA in International Affairs, Brittany decided to take on the Big Apple. Working as a nanny for several years, and then as a special events consultant and director, Brittany has always loved working with children and continues to sing daily to her 5 year old twins. When not at Groove or with her family, Brittany is the Chairperson of the Komansky Children’s Hospital Family Advisory Council at New York Presbyterian- Weill Cornell. 
Jake Albi Guitar/DRUMS Jake is a longtime musician who has been playing in bands since he was 9 years old. He has also written and recorded multiple albums in which he plays every instrument. He is currently performing with 3 different bands that perform 3 different types of music (alternative punk, hardcore and a Beatles tribute act). Jake is a student at Mercy College and has studied sound engineering at the School of Audio Engineering in New York City. |
Jesse Barovick guitar/bass Jesse plays lead guitar for the NYC-based band Dolly Spartans with whom he has performed at Mercury Lounge, Highline Ballroom, Rockwood Music Hall, Shea Stadium/Bklyn, Webster Hall and venues across the country. Jesse interned at record label Captured Tracks and at Shea Stadium, both in Brooklyn. Fun fact: Jesse's dad took him to David Weinstone’s Music for Aardvarks classes in NYC from 1996-2000. 
Nick Greto GUITAR/BASS Nick was born and raised in Westchester NY, and is a recent graduate of Mercy College with a bachelors of science in the music industry and technology program. He has been playing in bands since 2011, and has self produced and released three full length albums. He also engineers and produces for other local bands, and also works as a freelance front of house engineer for local bars and clubs. 
Phil Joy drums Philip was raised in Westchester by a family of musicians and in addition to the drums, he also plays guitar, bass and piano. Since 2014, Phil has attended The Collective School of Music and is currently in 4 bands that play alternative-folk, psych-punk, blues-funk, and neo-soul/jazz. His mentors include: Terry Silverlight, Etienne Bowler, Adriano Santos, Frank Katz, and Peter Retzlaff. Philip firmly believes that the whole world is a drum and finds it very fun to play. |
