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....
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Michael Pressel
Director of Enrollment
Classes with Michael
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.
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Jess Bergh
Director of Marketing & Design
Jess is working as our website and graphic designer, maintaining our social media pages, mailing list, and newsletter.
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 "Reverend Bill" Howard
Director of Community Outreach
Classes with Bill
​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.
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.
Classes with Ben
Ryan Ratliff
Classes with Ryan
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.
Beth Aldrich
Classes with Beth
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.
Joseph Zullo
Classes with Joseph
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."
Bill Wellington
Classes with Bill
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.
Devin Ritts
Classes with Devin
I’ve been drumming for roughly 15 years! My love for drums started back when I was a small kid banging on pots and pans, then pen and pencils at school, until finally getting gifted my first drum set in middle school and have been playing ever since!
Doug Sheridan
Classes with Doug
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.
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Bruce Fox
Classes with Bruce
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.
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Brian Fuller
More info coming soon!