Teachers
Our instructors at Strand Studios just don’t teach, explain, or demonstrate. They inspire…
Mr Rob Reyes
Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Banjo, Mandolin, Music Production,
Harmonica
A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Robert Reyes has
rounded out a diverse career by working professionally as a sound
engineer, performer, and music teacher.
As an assistant recording engineer in a commercial recording studio,
Robert had the responsibility of recording and assisting on many
demos and commercial albums as well as having opportunities to
play and sing on several albums. Performing both as a soloist, and
with several bands in numerous venues, he has played
predominantly guitar, bass, and vocals.
Rob’s acting credits include theater for children where he portrayed
The Gingerbread Man in The Gingerbread Man, and The White Rabbit
in The Trial of Alice in Wonderland. Robert has played several roles in
musicals. These include Moonface Martin in Anything Goes, Captain
Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and Fred Graham/Petruchio in Kiss
Me Kate.
His television credits include two episodes of MTV’s Damage Control
where he portrayed The Bard. Robert also had the opportunity to
perform at the Paramount Theater and at Madison Square Garden as
a cast member of the New York City Church of Christ’s Celebration of
Life.
Robert’s formal musical education includes Classical & Jazz Guitar
studies with Carol Hammersma; Music Theory, and Jazz Harmony
with Dr Richard Gradone; Electronic Music and Recording with Dr
Matthew Halper; Vocal studies with Dr Vincent Ruffino; and jazz
guitar with world renowned jazz guitarist, Fabrizio Sotti.
In 1991, Robert took on his first guitar student. He has been teaching
music since that time, and many of his students are now playing and
teaching professionally.
Prof Chris Lance, Artistic Director
President + Owner, NJ State Certified K-12, All Instruments, Vocal,
Career Management, ASCAP, AEA, WGA
Owner of Paladin Knight Entertainment, LLC and Strand Studios.
Chris started drums at 4, the guitar in second grade, trumpet in
third, the piano in fifth and in sixth grade, was accepted into the
Bergen Youth Orchestra under Mr. Eugene Minor. This was the start
of Chris' musical career. He achieved degrees and certificates in
music education, music business, performance and audio
engineering from Caldwell College, Jersey City State College,
Montclair University and William Paterson University, to name a few.
His instructors and mentors include, but not limited to, Prof. Louis
Hooker, Dr. Jack Sacher, Amy Larkey, Don Butterfield, and Bucky
Pizzarelli. Chris has directed numerous male, female, mixed and
children's choirs in and out of competition. He directed over 250
voices for the Mayor of New York City. Chris has conducted
community and concert bands, has performed in bands of all genres
from polka to rock, and classical to jazz. His first CD, "Christmas Gifts
of Music" was recorded when he was in college. When major labels
wouldn't pick it up, Chris created his own label, Paladin Knight
Records, and sold over 5,000 copies independently. He is currently in
production on a jazz, techno and Halloween CD.
But Chris wasn't satisfied with just music. His first attempt at film
making was at 10, when he made a stop-animation film with toy
dinosaurs. His interests quickly expanded to horror films and bribed
his older cousins to star in "The Exterminator," a home movie
complete with dummies falling out of windows! He attended Bergen
Community College for acting and later, the Lee Strasberg Institute
in New York City, where he improved his craft. Chris obtained a lot of
experience as an extra on OZ, Law and Order, and the motion
picture, Serendipity. He then grabbed leading roles in several film
and theater productions, including Wilson in "The Rut," an
independent film and on stage, Serebryakov in "Uncle Vanya."
Switching to another acting method, Chris studied the Sanford
Meisner Method for five years. From acting to directing to producing,
Chris has Buffalo Diamonds and Missouri Loves Company to his
credit, with two more films on the table with long time famed
American poet and screenplay writer, John Dorsey.
As Musical Director, his credits include Anything Goes, Oliver, On the
Town, Pippin, The Fantasticks, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown,
1776, Stewart Little, Charlotte's Web and has even composed music
for Woyczek. Chris has produced and directed several plays off-
Broadway, including Moon Magnets and Answers with George
Feaster (Law and Order), and colleague Kevin Interdonato (The
Sopranos, CSI: NY). He has produced the NJ Family Medieval and
Fantasy Festivals, St. Greg's Medieval Festival, Hunt for the Jersey
Devil Halloween Attraction, has consulted for the Warren 4H Ren
Faire and was on the Board of Directors for the Stone Soup
Symphony Orchestra, where he also performed. His casting division
has placed actors in shows such as MTV's reality show, "Damage
Control," NFL Films SuperBowl XXXVI DVD and many modeling photo
shoots. Chris was the resident trumpeter at St. Joseph RC Church in
Washington for two years and the music director at St. Mark's RC
Church in Long Valley for five. He currently is the music director at St.
Theodore's RC Church in Port Murray, NJ. Chris is the creator of The
Paladin Knight medieval fantasy hero. He has successfully created
several entertainment businesses, including Paladin Knight Comics,
Paladin Knight Pictures/Films and Paladin Knight Publishing.
In his spare time, Chris enjoys traveling and video games!"Music is a
beautiful gift that exists to stimulate and stir within us all that the
universe has to offer. For when we understand and appreciate
music, we better understand and appreciate the gift of our
existence." ~ Chris Lance
Mr Joe Hart
Vocal: Pop, Country, Broadway, Contemporary, Classical
Joe is a pop singer/songwriter and recording artist. His degrees
include B.A. in Vocal Performance, B.A. in Music Business, and a
minor in Social Media and Marketing from Lebanon Valley
College.
Joe has been an active stage singer for eight years and a voice
instructor for four. His performances include “Little Shop of
Horrors” as well as with his band at private and public venues. In
July of 2020 Joe participated in the online audition of “The Voice”
and plans to re-audition in the near future.
Joe’s teaching experience includes children to adults as well as
those working on auditions for vocal competitions, trying to get
into the school of your dreams or for personal pleasure. Having
gone through the audition process, Joe is familiar with and knows
what colleges want to see how they want you to sound. Joe is
adept in using vocal and movement techniques such as the
Alexander Technique to help students be comfortable and less
tight with their body so they can perform at their best. He has
studied diction, vocal pedagogy and vocal health and movement
to help his students learn in the best way possible for them to
succeed as a vocalist.
Joe Hart album credits include: “Lovers Holiday” released in 2019,
and soon to be released “Don’t Help Me,” both are singles
Miss Alison Ervin
Co-owner, Piano, Music Theory, Early Childhood Music, Preschool
Music, Acting, Strings, Woodwinds, Drums, Voice, MTNA Member
Alison holds an Associate of Arts in Music from County College of
Morris, where she studied piano and voice. While there, she was
the alto section leader of the Chamber Choir. She is currently
pursuing a B.M. in Contemporary and Popular Music with a
concentration in Music Education at the University of Maine at
Augusta. Alison started her music education in elementary school
with the recorder, saxophone, and chorus. She then moved onto
private vocal, piano lessons, and so forth. Alison also holds a
certificate in Music Theory from Berklee College of Music, a
certificate in Piano Pedagogy from Valley City State University, and
a certificate in Theatre & Performing Arts from Warren County
Technical School. She is proud to be on the Dean's List and a
member of the Sigma Alpha Lambda honor society.
Alison has studied Piano with Prof. Joseph Bilotti, Music Theory
with Dr. Richard Gradone & Prof. Joseph Bilotti, Voice with Dr.
Melanie Mitrano, Prof. Marielaine Mammon, and Prof. Marcia
Gallagher; Drums/Percussion with Prof. John Mehrmann; and
Violin/Viola/Cello with Prof. Eliza Meyer.
She is a graduate of Warren County Technical High School. While
there, she earned a place in the National Technical Honor Society,
membership in The National Society of High School Scholars, the
PTA Citizenship Award, and the John B. Laporta Scholarship. She
took part in the schools a Capella club, bowling club, SGA,
peer2peer mentoring, and Key Club.
Alison is the former Music Director at St Peter & Paul Church in
Great Meadows, NJ. She has sung in the St. Marks Invitational
Christmas Concert in Long Valley and has also sung with the
Church of the Messiah in Chester. She is a member of the choir at
St. Theodore's in Port Murray. Her other credits include many
theatrical productions. Some favorite roles of hers include Margot
in "The Diary of Anne Frank," Belise in "The Learned Ladies,"
Helen in "Carrie: The Musical," and the Angel in "The Journey." She
has been involved in numerous recitals/concerts/showcases, co-
hosted Knightline News for her high school, modeled for Paladin
Knight Entertainment, LLC and was featured in and on staff for a
Paladin Knight Pictures independent film production.
Alison has performed the National Anthem at various Morris
County USBC bowling tournaments. Her favorite musical
accomplishment is singing with one of her musical theatre idols,
Idina Menzel during her world tour in Bethlehem, PA in 2015.
In her free time, Alison enjoys volunteering, bowling,
photography, ATVing, amateur radio, traveling, and modeling.
Additionally, Alison holds a seasonal job as an actor at Schaefer
Farm of Horrors in Flemington, NJ. She is part owner/manager of
the Hackettstown Center for the Arts and is an active member of
Strand String Ensemble and the Strand Performance Group.
Miss Averie Washington
Woodwinds (Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet), Piano
As a classically trained musician, Averie Washington has been
studying the flute for over sixteen years and the alto saxophone
for over ten. In addition to her main instruments, she has
experience on the piccolo, alto, and bass flutes. While a student,
she gained solo and chamber music experience, including
performing in woodwind quintets, klezmer ensembles, and
symphony orchestras. Averie has studied with teachers such as
Alison Hale and Karen Demsey and performed in masterclasses
for flutists Valerie Coleman and Nicholas Duchamp, among
others.
In addition to performing she has experience as a concert
manager and as an instructor and has worked with students of a
variety of ages. When teaching, she provides a supportive
environment in which to help the student achieve their personal
goals.
She received a Bachelor of Arts in music and French from Mount
Holyoke College and a Master of Music in music education from
William Paterson University. As part of her master’s degree she
researched and gave a lecture recital on the use of extended
techniques in flute literature. Currently she teaches flute and alto
saxophone lessons and subs with two community orchestras in
northern New Jersey.
Ms Donna Kiszonak
Piano
Donna has been involved with music all her life and started
playing piano at the age of four. As an adult, Donna continued
piano and voice studies. In addition, Donna studied acting at
Herbert Berdorf Studios in NYC and is a member of County Gate
Players in Belvidere, NJ. She has been teaching since 2007. Donna
has been a Music Director at Delaware Presbyterian Church and a
Pianist at Hazen Presbyterian Church since 2008.
Miss Emily Kinoshita
Violin
Emily has been studying violin since a very young age. The past
seven years have been with Prof. Chris Lance. She has performed
at Victorian Days and several weddings solo as well as in groups.
Emily holds first chair as an active member of the Strand String
Ensemble, Emily joins the ranks of other educators at Strand
Studios teaching violin.
Ms Deborah Jacobson
Acting, Playwriting, Directing
Deborah Jacobson is a New Jersey certified, retired teacher,
drama coach, and play director. Having earned her BA and MFA
degrees from Brown University and Rutgers University, she
worked for over 34 years at West Morris High School in Mendham
and later was an adjunct professor at the College of Saint
Elizabeth in Morristown. She is a Geraldine R. Dodge Grant
Recipient for 25 Top NJ Drama Teachers to study with The
Playwrights’ Theater of NJ in Madison. She has published many
plays, one acts, resource books, duet scenes, and monologues.
Deborah enjoys visiting her daughter on the West Coast, playing
with her tireless Yorkies, and collecting cookie jars.
Mr Ejvind Boccolini
Drums
Drum Instructor Ejvind Boccolini has been playing drums since he
was 9 years old, when he decided he loved John Bonham's style
from Led Zeppelin, and developed a general love for rock n' roll.
He studied jazz drumming for several years as a teenager and
now has a long history of writing, recording and performing in
original jazz/rock/fusion acts.
Boccolini has also done session work in New Jersey, New York and
Pennsylvania with various regional artists as well, and studied
under New Jersey jazz drummer, Glenn Davis, learning swing and
Latin styles. He has been teaching drumset since 2003.
In 2004 and 2010, respectively, he wrote and recorded two cds for
his jazz/rock solo band Scurry Toward Ascension - working with
sound engineers and producers in Bushkill, PA, Brooklyn, NY, and
Asbury Park, NJ.
In 1999, he helped write and record a NYC-produced cd for gypsy
fusion band Screwtape's Roast.
For 20 years, he has performed live at nightclubs in New Jersey,
New York and Pennsylvania, most notably opening for Johnny
Winter and Kix, and has hosted hand drumming circles in NJ.
He is excited to be working with a very talented and friendly staff
at Strand Studios in Hackettstown and is currently accepting
students.
Mr David Smith
Acting, Playwriting, Directing
David Smith is an actor from Warren County, New Jersey. He
graduated from County College of Morris with an Associate of
Fine Arts in Drama Performance. David is a member of the Strand
Performance Group, where he performed in “A Thing of Beauty,”
“The Amazing Majesto,” and “Cheating Death.” He has also
appeared on the County College of Morris and Dover Little
Theatre stages. In film, he has been involved with
Leavingsomedayproductions and Paladin Knight Pictures.
Additionally, David is a member of the band, SPEXT. David is
excited to share his knowledge with the students at Strand
Studios.