Monument Square Music School Faculty
Joe Mazzarella
Piano (Jazz, funk, R&B) B.M. jazz studies, New England Conservatory of Music
Joe is a pianist/composer who brings a unique blend of jazz, classical, and pop music to his performances and teaching. He has played with many bands and as a solo artist in the Worcester and Boston area. Joe has studied privately with Ran Blake, Danilo Perez, Mark Marquis, Frank Carlberg, and Bob Moses. Joe has been teaching private piano lessons for over ten years. Joe’s Website
Chuck Langford
Sax/Flute/Piano University of Massachusetts, New School in New York
Originally from Texarkana, TX, by way of Springfield, MA, Charles L began
playing saxophone at the age of nine. Coming out of a musically rich and
diverse town, which spawned artists such as Phil Woods, Taj Majal and Avery
Sharpe, Charles began his musical training at home with his mother, classical
vocalist Mary L. Prior to reading music, with the instruction of Mary,
Charles learned his favorite saxophone solos note for note, starting with Paul
Desmond’s solo from “A Bridge over Troubled Water.” He began studying with
Harvey LaRose, Phil Wood’s saxophone teacher, at 10.
Charles began playing saxophone professionally at 13. Two years later, Charles
Majeed Greenlee, Dizzy Gillespie’s trombonist and the husband of John Coltrane’s
cousin Mary, became one of Charles’ first mentors. From that point, Charles
began sitting in at every opportunity with one of his most influential teachers,
Archie Shepp. Charles also spent countless hours listening to the musicians who
would become profound influences on his musical growth such as Grover Washington
Jr., David Sanborn, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Kenny G,
Michael Brecker, Stan Getz, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis.
After high school, Charles studied music at the University of Massachusetts at
Amherst with teachers Max Roach, Yusef Lateef, Archie Shepp and Lynn Klock. He
then went to Houston, where he opened for George Benson. Charles continued his
musical study in New York City, attending The New School. He lived in New York
for four years, playing with Melvin Spark’s, Norman Connors, The Temptations,
Hilton Ruiz and Joe Farnsworth while studying with Barry Harris, Donald Byrd and
Billy Harper. Charles was then afforded the opportunity to study privately with
the great George Coleman.
Since completing his formal education, Charles has toured world wide with
artists The Temptations, Solomon Burke, Mighty Sam McClain and Toni Lynn Washington.
Charles now takes his gift of playing saxophone, and the extraordinary education
he has received, into the realm of teaching.
Stephanie Rogers
Voice (Jazz, R&B, Latin), piano Fitchburg State University, Worcester State University
Stephanie is a singer songwriter, currently working on her third studio album. She has studied Elementary Education extensively at Fitchburg State University. She has studied voice privately with MSCMS teacher Matt Rippere, and Berklee professor Paul Pampinella. She has also studied jazz theory and improvisation with Mark Marquis. Stephanie is bilingual and composes and sings in Spanish and English. Her music can be found on her website https://stefaniamusic.com/
Emily Mazzarella
Piano – B.A. in Music at Westfield State University
Emily completed her B.A. in music from Westfield State University in 2013 where she studied privately with jazz pianist James Argiro and classical pianist Galina Gertsenzon. She enjoys both solo performance and collaboration with other local artists. Her musical interests include music composition, production, and improvisation.
Maya Maria
Piano, Violin, Voice – UMass Lowell
Maya Maria has been playing piano for twenty years and has developed a unique and practical approach to learning piano which she enjoys sharing with her students. In the classroom, she emphasizes the importance of strong technique and form, prioritizes practical piano methods, and enjoys sharing a wide knowledge of music with her students that goes beyond the keys. While she focuses on classical music, she has studied jazz in the past and plays music of all genres and origins. She has studied under Roy Imperio and Joe Mazzarella.
Paul Lanciani
Piano – BA in Music Education at UMass Lowell
A Leominster native, Paul graduated from UMass Lowell in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and teaches private piano lessons in and around Leominster. In addition to teaching piano, Paul also teaches chorus and general music at the Applewild School in Fitchburg. Throughout his 7+ years of teaching private piano lessons, he has taught a wide variety of genres, including Rock, Pop, Country, Jazz, Classical, and more. Outside of teaching, Paul collaborates with a small team of independent video game developers as a composer and sound designer as a hobby, blending his love for music with his interest in gaming.
Jodi Lynne
Voice – Boston University College of Fine Arts
Miss Jodi Lynne is a proud graduate of the Boston University College of Fine Arts having received degrees both in music education and classical vocal performance studying under Joan Heller and Phyllis Curtin. She has been offering instruction in private voice, piano, and acting for over 30 years. Various styles and techniques for every age and level. Miss Jodi prides herself on being able to adapt her teaching style to accommodate the specific unique wants and needs of each individual that walks into her studio. She utilizes her experiences as a performer to enhance the lesson experience teaching audition techniques and preparation, professionalism and etiquette, sharing her various contacts in the business and more. She resides locally but hails from a 15 year career in NYC as a performer having traveled the world appearing in more than 100 Musicals, Plays, Operas, Films, and
As the pinnacle of her teaching career and one of her proudest achievements, Miss Jodi Lynne is thrilled to currently be on staff as the Professor of Music and Voice at a local college. When not teaching, she can occasionally be seen performing onstage at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester and on Television and Movie sets acting in scenes with some of Hollywood’s biggest stars such as Chris Evans, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Isla Fischer, and Marlee Matlin.
Film Credits: The Sleepover (Netflix film), Coda (Feature film), UnHoly (Feature film)
TV Credits: Defending Jacob (Apple TV), Castle Rock (Hulu), The Society (Netflix), Sex in the City (HBO), Godmothered (Disney Plus)
Her resume also includes: Directing, Music Directing, Owning her own Music and Movement Company, Music Rehabilitation Therapy, Soloist for Weddings and Funerals.
She’s happy to be part of the faculty here at the Monument Square Community Music School.
Liam Gleason
Piano – B.M. Professional Music (performance concentration), Berklee College of Music
Liam has been a piano player since he first began lessons at four years old. Throughout his musical beginning he studied with a number of different teachers in multiple towns across Massachusetts, leaving him with a vast and varied understanding of music and piano performance.
Very early on, Liam was reluctant to play piano in front of anyone, including his daily and sometimes his teachers, due to high performance anxiety. However, after joining various musical extracurricular programs in school, he soon grew into a natural performer. He became involved in concert band in middle school, and in high school partook in choir and jazz band, where he was recognized for outstanding musicianship by the Massachusetts Association for Jazz Education. This led him to find opportunities to perform at different local functions and jazz jams at various restaurants and arts centers in central Massachusetts.
Liam has since gone on to attend Berklee College of Music, studying one-on-one with Russ Hoffman, and in group settings with other professors such as producer Anthony “Turt” Nembhard and renowned session musician Marty Walsh. Throughout his time there, he was fortunate enough to perform at multiple Berklee-hosted functions, as well as other clubs, restaurants, and music venues before graduating in 2024.
David Szebeda
Trumpet, Guitar – Ithaca College
David Szebeda is a multi-instrumentalist from Rochester, NY. He started playing trumpet at age 9 and, by 19, was performing with local legend Bill Coffey, opening for Leon Russell at the original Milestones Club. A graduate of Ithaca College in 1999, he studied under Steve Brown and Kim Dunnick and trained with renowned trumpet players like Lew Soloff, Jon Faddis, Nicholas Payton, Vaughn Nark, and Herb Smith. Over his career, Szebeda has performed with numerous national acts, including a sold-out show with Dispatch at MGM Fenway in October 2024.
Nolan Leclair
Piano, Percussion, Composer, Arranger – Oakmont Regional High School Student
Nolan is a student musician from Westminster, who has been playing music since he was nine years old. Having performed with the Central District and All-State Jazz Bands in 2024 and 2025, Nolan has proven himself to be a talented young musician. Other ensembles Nolan has been a part of include the Worcester Youth Jazz Ensemble, the Leominster Colonial Band, the award winning Oakmont Jazz Ensemble, and Sixth Avenue Groove. Sixth Avenue Groove, a six-piece jazz combo of high school musicians have made a name for themselves, with their most notable performance at the Do Good Festival where ten thousand people were in attendance. Nolan is also a composer and arranger, who has had both original compositions and unique arrangements performed in ensembles.
Autumn Hughes
Voice – Fitchburg State University
Autumn Hughes is entering her senior year at Fitchburg State University. She studies Creative Arts Therapies and has a music concentration. Autumn has been singing her whole life, with a special love for jazz, pop, and musical theater (though classical music can be pretty fun too!). She has been taking private lessons for two years, and teaching privately for about four months. When she’s not doing music, Autumn works as a registered behavior technician with kids on the autism spectrum. She gigs in southern NH with the Latchkey Trio and the Blue Rose Duo.
Nick Burns
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Drums, Vocals
Nick has been a seasoned and educated player for the last eighteen years. He fell in love with music at a young age. His passion began with jazz, blues and rock and roll guitar and grew into a colorful array of genres and instruments as his career progressed.
He began with first chair guitar in the Jazz ensemble in high school, and continued into choir and jazz chorale in college. He’s been a touring stage musician, a studio session artist, and has created a successful and rewarding career teaching private one-on-one and group lessons for the last five years.
His philosophy on teaching is about nurturing that same passion, providing a fun, creative environment for anyone to fall in love with music. His specialty is teaching technique, music theory, improvisation and songwriting. He’s taught through volunteer public school programs, private studios and has mentored young artists that are starting their musical journey. He’s had about a hundred students from beginner to expert levels, from ages six to sixty five. He has an adept ear and can learn a piece of music very quickly after hearing it, and loves when people challenge him in that regard. He’s proficient in teaching Guitar, Bass, Drums, Ukulele, and Vocals.
Whether you’re just picking up your first instrument, or looking to take your playing to the next level, Nick is ready to help you find your voice and accomplish your musical goals!