Piano

A native of Beverly, MA, John Hyde has been playing piano since he was a child. At Berklee College of Music, he majored in composition while studying classical piano under Ed Bedner. After graduating from Berklee, he was swayed by jazz and studied under Charlie Banacas and Paul Schmeling. John has performed with a multitude of bands as well as doing solo work, spanning many genres of music including Jazz, R&B, Blues, Cabaret and Classical/Liturgical Music. He has worked with Bobby Hebb, Maria Muldaur, Whoopie Goldberg, Harry Belafonte, and members of the Room Full of Blues Band. He also played at the “Cheers” bar in Boston for 3 years. Most summers John works at the Lincoln Center in New York composing and performing the music for some of their outdoor productions. Recently, he was the music director and keyboardist for the play “Bass Saxophone” in New York City. In addition to writing and performing, John has a roster of private students who keep him busy teaching. He teaches all ages, levels and styles. He also performs throughout the Greater Boston area as musical director/arranger and accompanist for jazz, classical and liturgical concerts and often accompanies his wife, vocalist Sandi Bedrosian.

Marguerite Sanentz – Piano

“Maggie” was born of Armenian parents and raised in Beirut, where she began playing piano at age six. As a teenager, the family moved to Paris, where she continued her private music training and attended the Ecole du Louvre. She moved to the U.S. in 1994, and in 1995, she studied with Betty Roberts at the Longy School of Music. She also studied Early Childhood Education at Northern Essex Community College and for many years taught preschoolers and toddlers at the Amesbury Country Day School. With her nurturing style of teaching, Maggie has quickly expanded her student base and become one of our most sought after teachers for young beginners.

Malgosia Smolarek – Piano

Malgosia graduated from Bydoszcz Academy of Music in Poland with a master’s degree in music theory, composition and piano. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in Eurhythmics. Her teaching experience includes ear training, harmony, counterpoint, basic orchestration and solfege. She has been a featured accompanist in competitions in Poland and Germany, and at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School. Malgosia is currently the Music Director at the Riverside Memorial Church in Haverhill, MA.

Don Weng – Piano, Clarinet, Flute, Recorder, Trumpet

A native of Ohio, Donald Weng did his undergraduate studies in music at Bowling Green State University and Indiana University. He also studied privately with conductor Seymour Benstock and clarinetists Robert McGinnis and Robert Marcellus. He joined the Toledo, OH Symphony and served as clarinetist with the Toledo Opera, Toledo Symphony and Toledo Concert band for thirty-six seasons. Throughout his career, Don has taught private piano and clarinet students, along with teaching at St. John’s Jesuit High School and Heidelberg College, both in Ohio. His conducting credits include four seasons as Music Director at Croswell Opera House in Adrian, Michigan and seven seasons as conductor of the Jewish Center Community Orchestra in Sylvania, Ohio. He moved to Massachusetts in 2007, and as a member of our faculty, continues to inspire and expand his base of private piano, flute, recorder and clarinet students.

Teaching instrumental students of all levels, Chuck emphasizes music fundamentals, improvisation, and repertoire development. In addition, he teaches three Music Industry Studies classes: a Recording Arts class, focusing on digital recording techniques and studio post-production; a Concert Production class, focusing on live sound reinforcement, stage & artist management; and a Music Business class focusing on promotions, marketing, and distribution. Chuck graduated from San Francisco State University with a Master of Arts in Creative Arts, Interdisciplinary Studies, in 2002. Playing the San Francisco jazz scene in the late 90′s with musicians like alto saxophonist John Handy (Charles Mingus), drummer Eddie Marshall, and guitarist Mimi Fox, Walker toured both American coasts, Canada & Mexico, and has performed extensively with Team Scrub, End of the World Ensemble, Skyline Electric, Jivechops Ensemble, Random House Band, and his own band, the Chuck Walker Trio featuring tenor sax legend Daniel Jackson (Ray Charles, Jimmy Smith, Art Farmer).

As an instructor, Chuck brings his rich repertoire of classic jazz standards, innovative original material and improvisational music training to his teaching experience at the Musical Suite. With a deep passion for music, the arts and creativity, Chuck is a patient, experienced teacher who enjoys sharing the gift of music. He custom tailors his teaching technique for each student to make every lesson comprehensive, fulfilling, and enjoyable. Whether you’re interested in the blues, jazz, funk, rock, or reggae, Chuck works with you to research popular artists of that genre and to develop your personal repertoire.