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.
James Morrell
Guitar/Bass – Berklee College of Music
James’ original guitar style makes him one of the most exciting and creative musicians in New England. James can be found performing locally throughout New England. He has studied with Mark Marquis and attended Berklee College of Music.
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.
Alisha Lopez-Marrero
Trumpet – BA in Music at UMass Amherst
Alisha is a trumpet player that began her journey at the age of 12. Since then she has performed with orchestras, marching bands, big bands and many other settings. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in Music degree at UMass Amherst (2020) and is very eager to teach students of any age. She enjoys sharing the love of music no matter what genre it may be, especially Latin based music since it resonates with her heritage and roots.
Maya Maria
Piano, Violin, Voice
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.