OUR STAFF
See the artists who share our passion and the skills they have to share.
Private Classes are reserved individually.
Links to Private Classes will prompt an email so that we can schedule the best times.
Group Classes are pre-scheduled, so availability varies based with our learning seasons.
Molly’s love of music came at an early age, singing in choirs from age 4, participating in all the school musicals, and making music with her family for as long as she can remember. She attended Stuart Hall School in Staunton, VA as a music student in the Visual and Performing Arts program from 1999-2003, and attended James Madison University where she continued to study music....
Michael Pressel
Operations Manager
Michael started his musical journey in 5th grade when he started playing trumpet in York County Pennsylvania. His love for the horn would lead him through a successful high school, collegiate, and professional playing career. Michael studied Jazz Studies and Music Industry at James Madison University. Currently, Michael plays trumpet full time with The Judy Chops, sits in and records with many bands in the area, and enjoys developing his skills on guitar, keyboard, and voice. Outside of music, Michael enjoys cooking, chess, studying computer science, card and board games, D&D, watching football, and listening to baseball.
Classes with Michael
Jess Bergh
Student Accounts
& Multimedia Designer
Jess is working as our website and graphic designer, maintaining our social media pages, and taking over our invoicing, emailing, mailing list and newsletter duties.
A Shenandoah Valley native, she has been refining her skills as a drummer and graphic designer since 2002. She is a founding member of The Judy Chops in which she is fondly called “Bang” and is captain of the rhythm police. In addition, Jess is a “cool mom”, a home-school teacher, and a great partner and friend.
William Howard
Bill Howard is a Shenandoah Valley native, and founding member, co-songwriter, & ‘band dad’ of The Judy Chops. Born into a musical family, Bill began singing in elementary school, and developed a love of performance at an early age. Bill’s grandmother gave him his first guitar lesson at age 12 showing him 3 chords, and then told him, ‘That’s the only thing anyone ever showed me; you’ll have to figure out the rest on your own.’ This advice proved to be invaluable, and helped him develop his ear.
Classes with Bill
Ben Leonard
Ben was born and raised here in Staunton and bought his first electric bass and amplifier when he was 15 years old. His adoration of Rush records and learning them note-for-note provided a contrast to his theater work, playing for several years in orchestra pits for the First Year Players at the University of Virginia as well as productions by the Heritage Repertory Theatre in Charlottesville. His musical wanderings eventually led him to Boston, where he received his B.A. in Film Scoring from the Berklee College of Music. In addition to his electric bass studies he immersed himself in music technology, jazz composition, and arranging. He has played with Latin jazz and funk ensembles, jazz combos, and too many rock bands to count. He has also contributed production work to releases by Philadelphia hip hop artists Zilla Rocca and Curly Castro.
Classes with Ben
Ryan Ratliff
A native of the Alleghany Highlands, Ryan developed an affinity for music at an early age. After learning saxophone he began learning guitar by ear and later with a teacher. Ryan was active in school music programs and played with bands, at church, and community events. At 16 Ryan began teaching guitar at Music Unlimited in Covington, Virginia. While earning his associates degree he led the house band at the Golden Arrow Plaza in Wrightsville, Virginia with the help and expert advice of proprietor and mentor Dr. Calvin McClinton.
Classes with Ryan
Beth Aldrich
Beth is a Coloratura Soprano, a native of Middletown, MD. Singing has been a central part of Beth's life since childhood. She began her private music education in 2006 before studying classical voice at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC with critically acclaimed soprano Christina Pier and Kentucky Wesleyan College, in Owensboro, KY with world-renowned conductor Paul E. Oakley. She finished her Bachelors of Music from James Madison University in 2014 and has performed in venues all over the world including Carnegie Hall, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Salzburg Cathedral to name a few.
Classes with Beth
Una Ulla
Una Ulla is a certified Vocal Health First Aider. You can reach out to get a consultation if you are experiencing voice difficulties and would like to get advice on how to care for your voice.
Una was born in a little village in Latvia and has been surrounded by music since early childhood. Una majored in violin and vocals in Latvia and participated in every musical performance and contest that she could as a youngster. Her background is classical, but Una has expanded her knowledge and experience in jazz and Latvian folk music.
Classes with Una
Bruce Fox
Bruce Fox is a retired middle school/high school band and orchestra director having worked in public schools in Montana, Colorado, Minnesota, and Virginia. He has also taught in private schools in Switzerland and Germany. He has music education degrees from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and Montana State University.
Classes with Bruce
Joseph Zullo
Joseph Zullo is a blossoming musician from the heart of the valley and has been pursuing the adventure of musicianship since his teenage years. His interest was first fostered in chorus from elementary through high school, but truly began with a fascination with rock n roll and a mesmerizing moment with his brother.
"I remember watching and listening intently as my brother played Stairway to Heaven on an old classical guitar and just simply fell in love with strings."
Classes with Joseph
Bill Wellington
Bill Wellington is an excellent player and teacher of the guitar, fiddle, banjo, and mandolin. He
has performed as a soloist and in numerous bands on all of these instruments throughout his
45-year musical career. He is currently a member of two bands: Beverley Street String Band and
The Bouncers.
Doug Sheridan
Doug Sheridan’s musical roots are in the Ozarks and Missouri fiddling and got his first lessons from family friend and Rounder Records artist Art Galbraith. Early on, Doug expanded his taste in music to include tunes from the British Isles. He toured Ireland in the 80’s and took lessons from Kevin Burke and Liz Carrol at Elkins College.