Jessica, our Center Director, is celebrating over a dozen years with Music Together. She is a candidate for Certification level II for teaching mastery. She has a long musical life that started by dancing in her father's arms. Voice is her primary instrument. Jessica studied at Conservatorio Cherubini in Florence, Italy and at Boston Conservatory. She has sung around the world and under the baton of many fine conductors including Mehta, Mazur, Abel and Botstein. A recent thrill was sharing the stage with vocal great Bobby McFerron. Jessica has an eclectic performance background ranging from medieval polyphany to jazz but feels most in tune sitting in a circle, making music with families that didn't know they could. She is particulary proud to have gathered a staff of diversly talented and engaging educators who in their spare time are known to make music together! With husband Joe of many years, she has two beautiful boys; Henry and Jack.

Anastasia is in her seventh year with us. Her natural storytelling skills creatively enhance her classes. She is a lifelong musician and infuses her work with plenty of guitar playing. A pied piper with kids and adults, Ana creates a relaxed playful atmosphere for lots of family music making.Anastasia has achieved Certification I for teaching mastery of Music Together. She's added improv comedy to her resume, this girl has got it going on. Stay tuned.

Amy has been a strong addition to our staff since her arrival in 2003. A multi-talented Broadway actor/singer/dancer, she brings a wealth of vitality and energy to the classroom. Outside of our classroom, she has been seen performing at Ivoryton Playhouse.Amy teaches music in several area pre-schools. Mother of two beautiful children.BA Music Ed. Amy has Certification I for teaching mastery. She is the founder of Treehouse Players, an excellent theater company for little ones and a natural next step for our music together friends that want to branch out!

Kathleen Cartwright has been a part of our staff for four years. She loves to sing, dance, and play the guitar and flute.When she's not having a musical education blast in a Music Together classroom she exercises her bookish tendencies being a librarian in Clinton, CT. Kathleen is part of the MT of the River Valley band, Binky, and formerly was a member of the Deep River duo, The Red Motors. She listens to everything from Bach to Pavement to Music Together collections. She has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Umass-Amherst. She is happy to be here making music with families on the CT Shoreline. Kathleen says, "Music Together is the best thing ever!" She's found harmony outside the classroom too! Wedding bells are ringing.

Carrie sizzles with a unique super grooviness and warmth. She has always considered herself musical; singing and dancing have always been part of her daily living. She performed in musicals during her high school years, something she truly misses doing. Now the mother of three boys, Carrie enjoys being musical with them. She experiences firsthand how music can effect their little minds,bodies and souls. Carrie is very eager to bring her enthusiasm for music, creativity and playfulness to other children and their caregivers. She is also a freelance Graphic Designer ,holding a BA in Studio Art from SCSU. We love her enthusiastic spirit (and design talent...our professional look is all Howes Design!)

Carrie Wechsler is thrilled to join the River Valley Music Together team, having just moved to Glastonbury. Previously, she taught Music Together in Fairfield County, CT. Carrie is a professional singer/actor, and has worked in New York, London, and throughout the U.S. as a singer and musical theatre perfomer. She toured the country in a children's theatre adaptation of The Poky Little Puppy for which she also wrote the book and music. She continues to perform regionally, most often with Connecticut's Theatre Artists Workshop. Carrie discovered Music Together after moving to Connecticut from NYC with her growing family, which now includes two wonderful, singin'-and-dancin' boys! Carrie plays piano, flute, a bit of guitar and a smidgen of harmonica. She is a native of the Boston area and a graduate of Boston University.

Heather Petrie has spent many years working with children as a camp counselor, nanny and preschool teacher, and even more years singing...she is very excited to combine her two passions by teaching Music Together! Heather has an M.M in Voice from SUNY Purchase and a B.A from Bard College, where she had the good fortune to study Balinese Gamelan and North Indian percussion, as well as Bellydancing. She has sung with the American Symphony Orchestra and Westchester Philharmonic, and recently performed at Carnegie Hall with Pacific Opera. Up here in Connecticut, Heather sings with the Asylum Hill Congregational Church choir and CONCORA, and can be seen with the CT Lyric Opera in Eugene Onegin and La Traviata.