Infinity Performing Arts Program

Bill Ward

Infinity Acoustic Project director

Carol Svensen

Piano Instructor

Carol Svensen is a graduate of Thiel College with a Bachelor's degree in English, cum laude. She has been a piano instructor at JCC for over five years, the organist and choir director for many local churches for over twenty-five years, the rehearsal accompanist for JCC musicals since 1997, and a freelance cocktail pianist. She is involved in the Ladies First Big Band (Voted Buffalo's Best Big Band 2004 & 2005) and The Jamestown Municipal Band. Carol is currently the organ/choir director at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. She is also involved in the bans Colla Voce, Lightning Strikes Twice, and Curt & Carol.

Cynthia Riggle

Theatre Arts Instructor

Cynthia Riggle is a native of Chautauqua County recently returned to the area after sixteen years teaching Social Studies, Theater Arts and Reading Comprehension in Union County, North Carolina. She has been active in theater productions through out her life starting with self written and produced plays with sisters and friends in early childhood.

Ms Riggle started the Monroe High School Drama Club in 1995 which led to the re-instatement of Theater Arts classes in the school s curriculum. At annual North Carolina Theater Conference Play Festivals, Ms Riggle and her students won numerous technical and acting awards and were the only troupe, during their years of participation, who won any awards for a Shakespeare production. Her students also consistently won top honors at regional Shakespeare Recitation Contest under the auspices of The English Speaking Union of the United States. One of her students placed fifth in the National Competition.

Ms Riggle was a founding member of the Union County Performance Ensemble, which continues to produce an annual all county high school musical. With UCPE she designed and created all costumes for the productions of West Side Story, Peter Pan, and Beauty and the Beast.

She is a past board member of Rainbow Theater, Inc., a non-profit group bringing multi-cultural arts to predominately minority schools in Union County.

Ms Riggle has staged the works of Shakespeare with students as young as six through her work with the local Head Start Program and Union County Summer Enrichment Program. She is currently leading a Theater/ Shakespeare enrichment project at Panama Central School after school program for students in K through Fourth grades through Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Inc.

Daman Holland

Dance Instructor

My name is Daman Holland and I currently live in Randolph , N.Y. where I own a dance studio Sole's Expression Dance. I have danced for 20 years, studied with many teachers at various dance schools including Fredonia State University. I am well versed in many styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Tap, Modern, and ballroom. I love to teach young people the art of dance and how to express themselves through dance refining their technique to improve them as a better dancer.

Debra Eck

Art Instructor

Debra Eck is an internationally exhibited British artist living and working (in her attic studio) in Western New York. She holds a BFA in painting from the University at Buffalo and an MA in Visual Culture from the University of Northumbria in Newcastle, England.

For many years she has been fascinated with the discourses surrounding madness and the stories of women historically trapped inside the boundaries of those ideas. Recently she has been further engaged by a resonance perceived between this discussion and the language of Victorian design reform. All of this interest has most recently been focused through the space of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper”, a work that concerns both mad women and immoral design.

In addition to teaching at Jamestown Community College and several other cultural organizations, she is also a wife and mother and consequently engages in all the activities common to such everywhere, including but never limited to, music and voice lessons, track and soccer practices, musical and other theatrical rehearsals, as well as dinner, dishes, laundry etc...

Doc & Bill

Special Presenters

Doc & Bill are an acoustic folk-music duo specializing in Irish songs, original songs and tunes from the so-called “Folk Era.” Seasoned musicians and vocalists, John “Doc” Hamels and Bill Drellow, play a variety of stringed instruments that includes three varieties of guitar in addition to 5-string and tenor banjo, mandolin, Irish bouzouki and harmonica.

Although Hamels and Drellow display a strong sense of respect for their material and its traditions, the emphasis at their performances is on fun rather than dry academics. Their audiences enjoy singing and clapping along with the duo, and having an old-fashioned good time.

Gary Peters

Art Instructor

Gary is one of Infinity's art instructors. He teaches classes such as cartooning, drawing animals, portraiture, and many many more. Gary is also very well known through the community for his "Lucy" murals and poster designs. Gary is also a part of "The Unexpected Guests" comedy troupe.

Howie Feldman

Steel Drum/Rising Stars instructor

Howie is a 30 year veteran music teacher. He was born in Long Island and went to school at SUNY Buffalo, graduating with a Master's Degree in Music Education. He has directed several steel drum bands: the Gustavus Adolphus Learning Center Steel Band, the Jamestown Community Steel Band, the Randolph Academy Steel Band, Infinity's own Steel Pan Alley and Infinity Steel Band, and Howie and the Feltones, a professional steel band. His passion is teaching and his bands have performed throughout Western New York, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Disney World in Orlando, Florida and Moscow, Russia. The Infinity Steel Band and Steel Pan Alley has been a great opportunity to work with talented local high school and college students. The collaboration of gifted instructor of Infinity is a source of great motivation.

Jim Beal

Vocal instructor

James Beal is a native of Jamestown and a graduate of Jamestown High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater from Franklin & Marshall College and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Opera and Voice from Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Beal's teachers have included Beatrice Krebs (Pittsburgh), Thomas Houser (New York) and Ena Thiessen (Munich and Hanover, Germany). He has performed as a soloist in opera, oratorio and concert in the US, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Mr. Beal has been noted for his performances of works by J.S. Bach, Benjamin Britten, Rossini, Puccini, Mozart, Schumann and Schubert, as well as music theater stage works such as Man of La Mancha, Oliver, Guys and Dolls, Carousel and Kiss Me Kate. He has also performed jazz, rock, folk and gospel music professionally over the last 35 years. In addition to teaching and coaching singers in Jamestown, Mr. Beal has worked with singers in New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Europe.

James Beal is currently the tenor soloist and Cantor for St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Jamestown. He founded and is lead singer of the St. Luke's Acoustic Band and appears as a soloist in various local concert presentations.

Jim Torrey

Drum instructor

James Torrey's passion for studying and playing the drums started at the age of nine years old, and has grown even stronger over the past forty years. He had been teaching privately for sixteen years, and is in his second year of being on the teaching staff at Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Inc.

James studied under Mr. Nelson Kass for several years. Mr. Kass was a student of Al Miller, who is a very prominent drummer and teacher from Long Island. Due to Jim's hard work, commitment and dedication, he has had many achievements. One of them being the first drummer to ever win the Outstanding Musicianship Award while he attended Jamestown Community College.

James has been involved in several local bands over the years such as: Joint Effort, Mindchoir, Cold Shot and Deep Water. He is currently the drummer for the band Planet Fred, who is presently in the recording studio working on a CD.

Jim feels that it is an honor and a privilege to teach so many talented children and adults. His students can attest to one of Jim's favorite mottos, "Perfect practice makes perfect."

Joe Glarner

Guitar, Voice and Piano Instructor

Joseph Glarner was born in Warren Pa. He thrived in the musical world as a child and ended up testing out of the first year of acclaimed school of Music, Musicians Institute in West Hollywood California where he completed level two and obtained a Journeyman's Certificate in Jazz/Commercial Music. He then took a scholarship at Five Towns University just outside NYC in Long Island where he studied Jazz/commercial music as well as teaching over 30 private lessons a week at highly acclaimed musician and author ''Gil Briene's Conservatory of Music'' in Deerpark Long Island. He feels blessed his voice and music has crossed radio and tv airwaves countless times and continues to strive harder everyday. Setting his sites on the production world Joseph started his first business at the age of 22, a production studio and music retailer. At the same time he started scoring music to video and offering up audio tracks for businesses across the country. His musical, and business experience bring a positive team effort to the table with years of methodic training in the craft of making music, and media. Joseph is now the President of Glarner Group Production Studios and After Dark Entertainment.

In addition to running his own indie record label "GGADNEWS" Joseph is a Jazz artist and music producer for Chenoa Records, San Fransisco, California. In 2010 Joseph also accepted the position of East Coast Musical Director for the "Stars of America" tour featuring former "American Idol" finalists.

This opportunity has given Joseph the chance to work with many American Idols on stage and in the studio as their musical director.

Joseph's Jazz Band host's the regions longest running Jazz night at the Liberty St Cafe in Warren PA. They are celebrating 11ys of jazz in 2012 hosted by Joseph Glarner since day 1.

Joe Grice

Art Instructor

Joe grew up drawing at a young age. He pursued a major in art in high school and took every art course offered at JHS. He went to JCC in 2004 and took various art courses before deciding to choose fine art as his major. He attended SUNY Fredonia from 2008 to 2010 and graduated cum laude with a bachelors in visual art and new media, with a concentration in drawing and painting.

Joe has worked on several design commissions from local businesses including suburban blend and townhouse records. He is interested in pushing the boundaries of art and exploring all that he can do within the art world. Joe enjoys working in many different mediums and is now trying to work in illustration, design, fine art, and photography.

John Cross

Infinity Big Band director

John Cross attended Edinboro University and received his Master’s Degree in Music Education from SUNY Fredonia. John has been the Director of Bands at Cassadaga Valley High Schools since 1981. He is the founder and conductor of the Chautauqua Concert Band from 1994 to the present. He is the band leader/arranger for the Chautauqua Lake Idol Shows in Bemus Point and Jamestown (2004-2011). He is an active performer on flute, clarinet, saxophone, flugelhorn and percussion instruments. Mr. Cross has an active music ministry with Jazz Praise, the IHS Dixieland and the IHS Big Bands.

Mr. Cross is the Middle School and High School Jazz Band Director for the Chautauqua Music Camp at Chautauqua Institution (2004-2011). He is the director for the Infinity Horns and Big Band (2004-2011). The Infinity Big Band includes band members from over 10 local schools and has performed concerts throughout the entire Western New York region.

Julia Ciesla-Hanley

Violin Instructor

Julia Ciesla-Hanley lives in Jamestown with her husband, Matthew, two dogs, a cat, and three turtles. She is the Recreation Coordinator for the City of Jamestown and provides the morning news for WRFA-LP. Julia has been a violinist for more than 20 years and performs with several local groups including the Jamestown Community Orchestra, First Covenant Church's "The Living Christmas Tree," and local stage musical productions.

Julie Anderson

Piano instructor

Julie Anderson has taught general music classes, piano, and guitar. A graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Elementary Education, she applies heading education ideas to reading music, looking for patterns in rhythms and sound to teach students to become musically literate. Julie has graduate credits in music education studying with Jean Sinor, Grace Nash, and Jane Alexander. Since coming to Jamestown in 1989, she has studied piano with Mrs. Helga Hulse and performed in 6 faculty recitals of keyboard instructors. She currently sings at Zion Convenant Church under the direction of Brian Bogey, plays with 2 praise bands, and is in the handbell choir.

Julie Cotter

Vocal instructor

Julie Cotter attended SUNY Fredonia where she received a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. She received her Master's of Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Julie has been the choir director at Maple Grove for 2 years. She is currently their Voices select choir director, as well as the music director for youth musicals at Springville Center for the Arts.

Katie Ryan

Voice Instructor
Katie is a trained soprano with over 10 years of classical and theatrical vocal experience. She received her Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music Education from the State University of New York at Fredonia, where she studied under the tutelage of Dr. Gwendolyn Coleman-Detwiler. She was a featured vocalist with the Fredonia Chambers Singers and Vocal Jazz Ensemble, with whom she toured nationally and globally. Katie has received solo and ensemble musical honors by performing in numerous venues and productions, recently including local productions of Annie, White Christmas, and Chicago.

Katie teaches elementary general and vocal music at Chautauqua Lake Central School, where she has 5 choirs under her direction. She enjoys performing in local productions and volunteering in her community. Katie lives in Fredonia NY with her husband and two dogs.

Kellyn Baron

Art Instructor

Kellyn Baron is a young artist from Lockport, NY and is new to the Jamestown area. She received a Bachelor of Art with a concentration in painting from the State University of New York College at Brockport in 2009. Kellyn spent the last semester of her college career studying art at the University of Portsmouth in Portsmouth, UK. She has a great passion for artistic expression and continues to explore new creative endeavors.

Ken Larsen

Guitar instructor/Infinite Groove director

Ken Larsen attended Hunter College in New York City. He has thirty years experience as a performing musician, and has been instructing for 10 years. Ken is a member of four local bands and plays often throughout the community.

Kyle Gustafson

Guitar Instructor

Leticia Ferrer

Dance Instructor
Leticia Ferrer was born in Manhattan, but she grew up on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico where she started her career in the performing arts. Later in her life, she lived in Asia and Europe where she performed and organized events for their Hispanic Heritage months. After she returned to Puerto Rico, she began lessons in Afro-Puerto Rican Dances. Leticia has instructed Ballroom dancing, Caribbean Dance, Salsa, Bomba and many other styles. She has instructed in Puerto Rico and many places throughout the Florida region. She is now offering her experience and knowledge to Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, Inc. in hopes that Jamestown will become a dancing town!!

Liz Jones

Art Instructor

Liz Jones has a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Art from SUNY Fredonia and works in several mediums; drawing (pencil, charcoal), watercolor, acrylic, oil paints and mixed media. She enjoys sharing and introducing art into her two young children’s’ lives. Liz is an advocate for making art accessible in your everyday life, especially for children who it helps focus on creativity, imagination, self-exploration and expression. She teaches Explore Art Classes for young children ages 2- 5 years old, that emphasize the process of art making and the experience of the child.

Mark Alpaugh

Milestones director

Mark Alpaugh is the General Music and Vocal instructor for George Washington Middle School. He graduated from Jamestown Community College with an Associates Degree in Applied Arts, Berklee College of Music with a Bachelors in Music Education, and SUNY Fredonia with a Masters in Music Education. Mark has also been an adjuct Ensemble Instructor for Jamestown Community College in the past. He formerly served as the pianist at Emmanual Baptist church, and has been involved in many local bands including Rhythm Express, the Babalu Band & the Bill Ward Band. In 2005 Mark won the Carol Penniman Faison Award for Educator of the Year. He has been teaching with Infinity for 11 years and instructs the band Milestones.

Millie Torres-Ruiz

Instructor -The Art of the Spanish Language

Millie Torres-Ruiz presently teaches Spanish I & II at Panama Central School in Panama, NY and holds her Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts from S.U.N.Y. Oswego and Master's of Arts and Teaching from Grand Canyon University.. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Lindsey and Olivia and is passionate for teaching the Spanish language and its culture, in particular culture from Puerto Rico, where her father was born. She enjoys being outdoors and at the beach (especially when in Puerto Rico!) She teaches for her own business as well, Be Bilingual...Learn Spanish!

Renee Pye

Art Insructor

Rhonda Harp

Vocal Coach for Infinity Collective Groove Project

Rhonda Harp is a current and founding member of GAHU Drum Ensemble. Harp is vocalist/percussionist for Last Stop Willoughby (featuring several members of the 10,000 Maniacs). She has played extensively with local musician Ken Hardley and spent several years as a member of Howie & the Feltones demonstrating both vocal and steel drum talents. Rhonda is a teaching artist for the Arts Council for Chautauqua County, and currently teaches vocals at Infinity Visual & Performing Arts Center. Rhonda has studied drums & percussion with T.R. McKotch and studied vocals under the tutelage of Jody Vitarelli.

Rhonda currently tours with GAHU Performing Arts in collaboration with T.R. McKotch facilitating their Universal Hand Drum program at theatres, schools, art centers and more.

Recording credits include GAHU Drum Ensemble “Live”.

Ryan Atkins

ESL Audio Production, Trumpet, Trombone Instructor

Ryan Atkins is a local musician from Jamestown, NY. He studied trombone privately with Bill Knight through high school, then went on to study Music Business at SUNY Fredonia and Business Administration/Computer Science at SUNY JCC. He has been involved with music for most of his life and during college also became interested in the field of audio production. During his college years he also worked as a DJ at the college radio station and was one of the founding members of Fredonia's Music Industry Club. He currently lives in Jamestown and enjoys teaching as well as creating and playing music with his band.

Steve Davis

Piano Instructor

Tara Eastman

Art Instructor
Tara Lamont Eastman grew up in Southwestern Pennsylvania surrounded by family and 95 acres to roam. Her interest in art, music and writing was fostered by family members and teachers throughout her childhood. Tara has performed with several local bands: "Prime Minister", "The Bubble Gum Machine", "Tree House Tea Party", "Soul Friend" and currently plays music with "Sacred Fire" (worship band at FLC) or solo acoustic performances locally. Tara also teaches multi-media art classes, paper craft and mural painting.

Tracy Hewitt

Flute Instructor
Tracy Hewitt is trained to teach flute students of all abilities, and beginning voice students. As a student of Susan Royal in flute and of Sylvia Sharp in voice, she graduated from SUNY College at Fredonia in December 2005. Her degree is a B.A. in Applied Music, concentrating in flute. Tracy performs on the flute locally with the Jamestown Area Community Orchestra; and sings as a mezzo soprano on a local church worship team. Tracy also enjoys playing the piano, having studied with Helga Hulse for 5 1/2 years, and continued study at Fredonia in piano class. Tracy is married to Eric Hewitt, also works at the Hazeltine Public Library, and resides in Busti.

TR McKotch

Drum instructor

T.R. McKotch is best known for his work with the Steve Johnson Band, the GAHU Drum Ensemble, and Jim Donovan (Rusted Root). Most recently, T.R. has joined fellow musicians in Last Stop Willoughby featuring Steve Gustafson (10,000 Maniacs), Jeff Erickson (10,000 Maniacs), Rhonda Harp (GAHU Drum Ensemble) and John Merino.

He has shared stages with Rusted Roots Michael Glabicki, Jenn Wertz and Jim Donovan.

T.R. is a founding member of GAHU Performing Arts with the development of his Universal Hand Drum workshops, and most recently Universal Drum & Dance workshops with the collaboration of dancer/choreographer Nicole Ten Eyck and vocalsit Rhonda Harp.

Recording credits include:
T.R. McKotch "Hand Drum Instructional Vol.1"
GAHU Drum Ensemble "Live"
Steve Johnson Band "New Beginnings"

McKotch is the Director of Drums & Percussion for Infinity's GAHU Drum & Dance Ensemble.
Photo by Lori Savare.