Music
Music is a universal language. All students, regardless of musical background or skills, are encouraged to participate in choral or instrumental groups. Nobles firmly believes that a degree of musical literacy is an essential part of the educational experience.
Outside of our diverse curriculum, the music department offers several musical groups including the Greensleeves, all-female a cappella group; Nobleonians, all-male a cappella group; Noteorious, co-ed a cappella group; Imani, co-ed gospel group; and Half Notes, middle school a cappella. In addition, five music concerts are offered each year including the choral concert; wind, string, orchestra concert; chamber music concert; jazz, blues, drums, guitar concert; and the Imani concert.
For more information or to attend a concert, please contact Director of Music Michael Turner at mike_turner@nobles.edu.
Faculty
Michael Turner
Music Program Director, Director of Chamber Singers and Greensleeves, Music Theory and Composition Instructor At nobles since 1988Weber Family Chair for the Performing Arts; Bachelor of Music 1980, Boston University; M.M. in Composition and Conducting 2001, Longy School of Music; Music Fellow 1992, Northwestern University; advanced studies at New England Conservatory.
Michael Turner has been an active conductor, composer, music director and performer in the Boston area for over 35 years. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education.
Weber Family Chair for the Performing Arts; Bachelor of Music 1980, Boston University; M.M. in Composition and Conducting 2001, Longy School of Music; Music Fellow 1992, Northwestern University; advanced studies at New England Conservatory.
Michael Turner has been an active conductor, composer, music director and performer in the Boston area for over 35 years. He is an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education.
Paul Lieberman
Director of Wind and Jazz Ensembles, Artist-in- Residence At nobles since 2014B.A. in Music 1978, Yale University; MM in Jazz Composition and Arranging, UMass Amherst, 2008, where he was also a professor.
Curator and co-Executive Director, Voyages on the Black Atlantic; tours the world as Music Director for Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band and as a leader and educator; has performed or recorded with George Benson, Pat Metheny, Paquito D’Rivera, the Springfield Symphony, and many others.
B.A. in Music 1978, Yale University; MM in Jazz Composition and Arranging, UMass Amherst, 2008, where he was also a professor.
Curator and co-Executive Director, Voyages on the Black Atlantic; tours the world as Music Director for Jaimoe’s Jasssz Band and as a leader and educator; has performed or recorded with George Benson, Pat Metheny, Paquito D’Rivera, the Springfield Symphony, and many others.
Nhung Truong
Director of Middle School Chorus, Upper School Chorus, Nobleonians, Imani, Half-Notes; Coordinator of Applied Music At nobles since 2016B.A. in Music Education ’12 Providence College; M.M. in Choral Conducting ’14 UMass-Amherst
Active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association and American Choral Director’s Association; article published in the Massachusetts Music Educator’s Journal; serves as senior counselor at Laurel Music Camp in Connecticut and conductor of the Chorus in summer 2018; sings Alto with the Seraphim Singers, a semi-professional choir based in Boston.
B.A. in Music Education ’12 Providence College; M.M. in Choral Conducting ’14 UMass-Amherst
Active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association and American Choral Director’s Association; article published in the Massachusetts Music Educator’s Journal; serves as senior counselor at Laurel Music Camp in Connecticut and conductor of the Chorus in summer 2018; sings Alto with the Seraphim Singers, a semi-professional choir based in Boston.
Antonio Berdugo
Director of Instrumental Music, Middle School Orchestra, Upper School String Ensemble and Nobles Symphony Orchestra At nobles since 2016B.A. in Music Education ’98 Colombia Adventist University; Violin Performance Certificate ’07 La Sierra University; M.M. in Composition ’12 Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Conducting studies with Frank Battisti & Charles Peltz at the New England Conservatory and Julian Pellicano at Longy School of Music. Currently an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association and the American Strings Teacher Association; serves as artistic consultant for Cajamag Youth Orchestra Program in Santa Marta, Colombia where he recently served as a guest conductor from 2015-2016; as a violinist, performs regularly with the Arlington Philharmonic under the direction of Orlando Cela; and an active participant in the El Sistema-Boston community, a system of youth ensembles inspired by the music education movement in Venezuela, which uses music education as a vehicle for social change. Previous appointments include, Director of Youth Orchestras at Milton Public Schools, Director of the Zimmer Orchestra at Josiah Quincy Orchestra Program, Director of Instrumental Program at San Gabriel Academy, CA.
B.A. in Music Education ’98 Colombia Adventist University; Violin Performance Certificate ’07 La Sierra University; M.M. in Composition ’12 Longy School of Music of Bard College.
Conducting studies with Frank Battisti & Charles Peltz at the New England Conservatory and Julian Pellicano at Longy School of Music. Currently an active member of the Massachusetts Music Educators’ Association and the American Strings Teacher Association; serves as artistic consultant for Cajamag Youth Orchestra Program in Santa Marta, Colombia where he recently served as a guest conductor from 2015-2016; as a violinist, performs regularly with the Arlington Philharmonic under the direction of Orlando Cela; and an active participant in the El Sistema-Boston community, a system of youth ensembles inspired by the music education movement in Venezuela, which uses music education as a vehicle for social change. Previous appointments include, Director of Youth Orchestras at Milton Public Schools, Director of the Zimmer Orchestra at Josiah Quincy Orchestra Program, Director of Instrumental Program at San Gabriel Academy, CA.
Adjunct Music Faculty
Bruce Bears
Title
Piano Instructor
At Nobles Since
1999
Bio
B.A., Music Composition, Hobart College
Performs approximately 150 times a year in the U.S., Canada, and the EU. Produced/performed on numerous CDs, including the 2010 Grammy-nominated “Stomp the Blues Tonight”; works frequently as a studio musician and tours with Duke Robillard.
Nicole Cariglia
Title
Cello Instructor
At Nobles Since
2019
Bio
B.Mus in Cello Performance ’99 New England Conservatory of Music; M.Mus in Cello Performance ’01 NEC; D.M.A in Cello Performance ‘09 Boston University
Cello studies with Yeesun Kim at NEC and Rhonda Rider at BU. Artistic Director of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras’ Intensive Community Program. ICP Cello faculty. Active performer in Boston, appearing regularly with the Grammy-nominated Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Odyssey Opera, The Cantata Singers and Back Bay Chorale.
Jeffrey 'Doc' Chanonhouse
Title
Director of Blues Band
At Nobles Since
1996
Bio
Trumpet Diploma in Professional Music (magna cum laude); Berklee College of Music; Classical studies at Boston University with Armando Ghitalla.
Has played principal trumpet in the North Shore Philharmonic Orchestra, Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra and was an extra trumpet for the Boston Symphony String Orchestra. He was voted “Best Horn Player in Boston” by the Boston Blues Society in 1996 and is currently a member of the Linemen, a band sponsored by the Bose Corporation.
Andra Voldins Dix '94
Title
Viola and Violin Instructor
At Nobles Since
2004
Bio
B.A., Harvard University, M.Mus. Boston University School of Fine Arts
For eight years in New York City Andra enjoyed an active career running a string program at Berkeley Carroll School, and freelancing for Broadway shows, live television, studio recordings, and string backup for major touring artists. Currently Andra performs with Boston Ballet, serves on the music faculty at Phillips Academy in Andover, MA, and has a private teaching studio.
Ellyses Kuan
Title
Classical Piano Instructor
At Nobles Since
2018
BioAt Nobles since 2018
A native Hong Kong pianist who started taking piano lessons at the age of three,
Ms. Ellyses Kuan is currently the owner and music director of EKS Music School the south shore area. She was also the recipients of the 2017 & 2018 Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Award. After she graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Ellyses received a full scholarship for her Master Degree, studying Piano Performance with Barry Snyder at the Eastman School of Music. She was selected to represent Hong Kong and attended the International Kirishima Music Festival in Japan. Among her other major teachers and mentors are Dr. Siu-Wan Chair Fang and Paul Odette. She also performed in masterclasses by John Perry, Alan Chow, Dang Thai Son, Malcolm Bilson and Jane McGrath. Ellyses is enthusiastic about chamber music and collaborates with artists from all over the world. She also performs as a soloist often. She is passionate about Baroque and Classical Performance Practices and she strives to bring authentic music interpretation to her audiences. She also performed at the prestigious EperialHal at the Schloss Esterhazy in Austria. She is also the co-founder of the Duo Amie, a cello and piano duo in Greater Boston area.
Ms. Kuan also organizes and hosts house concerts at the Alida House Concert Series in the South Shore area. Her goal is to build a community, promote performing arts awareness, and support local young musicians through advocacy, inspiration and performances. She has recently set up a music scholarship fund at her school to support quality music programs in the area. In 2014, Ellyses was invited by the Boston GuitarFest Roundtable Panel to speak about Entrepreneurship and Making a Career in Music Work. Her music school was also featured in the Boston Globe the same year.
Ellyses is currently the President of the Massachusetts Music Teacher Association.
Carmen Marsico
Title
Voice Instructor
At Nobles Since
2004
Bio
B.S. in Architecture, University Institute of Venice, Italy; Diploma in Professional Music, Berklee College of Music; M.M., Jazz Performance, New England Conservatory
Founder and co-leader/arranger of the Italian Folk Ensemble, “Newpoli.” Voice faculty at the Community Music Center of Boston, among other. Performed at venues such as Northeastern University and Berklee Performing Center in Mass., and Stanford University in Calif.
Linda Poland
Title
Clarinet Instructor
At Nobles Since
2015
Bio
B.M., Clarinet Performance, University of Maryland
M.M., Clarinet Performance, New England Conservatory of Music
Ms. Poland has had extensive orchestral experience as a section clarinetist, most notably with the New Bedford (MA) and the Albany (NY) Symphony Orchestras. She has performed as a substitute clarinetist in symphony, opera, and ballet orchestras throughout the Boston region as well. She currently performs with Kammerwerke, a professional double wind quintet (www.kammerwerke.org) and in concerts for senior communities throughout eastern MA (www.nostalgiasongfests.com). Ms. Poland is also a clarinet instructor for Milton Academy, Dedham Country Day School and the Milton and Newton Public Schools.
Aleksandra 'Sasha' Pustilnikova
Title
Piano Instructor, Accompanist for Choral Program
At Nobles Since
2009
Bio
B.M. in Piano Performance and Music Education, Boston University
Winner of numerous competitions, including the American Fine Arts Association competition and the International Young Artist Piano Competition. Performed at Carnegie Hall in NYC. Pustilnikova teaches piano at Martin Snow’s Pianos, and in her private studio.
Greg Reinauer
Title
Electric Bass Instructor
At Nobles Since 2013
Bio
B.M. in Bass Performance at Berklee College of Music
Greg Reinauer is a musician, songwriter, and certified creative life coach. Greg plays bass and writes with the band Melodeego, and co-founded Tree Funk Music, LLC. He currently plays bass for the band Element 78 along with Nobles faculty member Derrick Campbell.
He is on the songwriting team for the environmental non-profit Clean Green Music Machine. As a life-coach he works with musicians and artists and runs online programs including “Get Your Song Out” and “Money Mastery for Starving Artists.” More information at CreativeActionCoaching.com.
Marty Richards
Title
Director of Drum Ensemble, Percussion Instructor
At Nobles Since
2002
Bio
B.A. in Professional Music, Berklee College of Music
Drummer for jazz great Gary Burton for 10 years and for Grammy-nominated blues guitarist Duke Robillard. Currently the drummer for rock legend Peter Wolf, The Joe Perry Project (guitarist for Aerosmith) and for the J. Geils Band.
Binney Stone
Title
Guitar Instructor, Director of Guitar Ensemble
At Nobles Since
1998
Bio
B.A. Psychology, SUNY at Buffalo, NY; B.Mus Composition, Berklee College of Music
Played and recorded with Bill Frisell, D. Sharpe, Gary Valente, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Strickland and Leslie Gore. Currently a freelance guitarist/vocalist working in Boston and New York areas.
Gretchen Stone
Title
Piano Instructor
At Nobles Since
2001
Bio
B.M.,Berklee College of Music
Has performed both in jazz combos and in classical venues, and in a piano/vocal jazz duo. She also teaches at MusicMaker studios in Brighton, and at Solomon Schechter Day School in Newton.
Sarah Manning Stuart
Title
Harp Instructor
At Nobles Since
2019
Bio
B.M., Oberlin Conservatory; B.A., Oberlin College; M.M., Cleveland Institute of Music; M.B.A., in Nonprofit Management, Boston University
Sarah performs regularly with the Cape Symphony. She also teaches at the South Shore Conservatory in Hingham, MA and is an active chamber musician. Sarah has performed on numerous occasions with New England ensembles including Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Rhode Island Philharmonic, New Bedford Symphony and New England String Ensemble.
Randy Zigler
Title
Double Bass Instructor
At Nobles Since
2011
Bio
B.A. Oberlin College, B.M. Oberlin Conservatory of Music, M.M. Boston University
Randy is a member of Boston Ballet Orchestra and Emmanuel Music, as well as a frequent substitute with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. He is also a founding member of the New York based International Contemporary Ensemble, and a is currently Associate Professor of Double Bass at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Additionally, Randy is the Bass Coordinator for Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), and has been on the faculty of BYSO’s Intensive Community Program since 2004.