Our Staff at Port Washington

Ryan Hall is the Site Director at B2R Port Washington. Ryan, admittedly, is a recent New York transplant—but he is no stranger to the Bach to Rock family. Prior to relocating to his new home in Queens, he served two years in director roles at B2R’s Herndon and Lansdowne schools in Virginia. Ryan holds a BA in Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management from Columbia College Chicago. During his Windy City years, Ryan worked in event production and helped coordinate major festivals such as Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago. Although Ryan’s current focus is arts administration, he has a unique musical background that includes bass guitar and tuba performance, composition, and studio production. Ryan is thrilled to be a part of the B2R team. His passion for quality music education and organizational development make working with Bach to Rock a dream come true. His taste in music is as diverse as his background, ranging from Arcade Fire to Igor Stravinsky. Most of all, he enjoys creating fun and original music with his B2R colleagues and students.

Katie Berliner is a music specialist and administrative assistant at B2R. She graduated cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Music Synthesis. To her close friends, Katie is known as a total music nerd. Classically trained from the age of seven and even winning several piano competitions, her affinity for composers of the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods has never waned. Both fascinated and inspired by the creative genius of contemporary artists from Frank Zappa to Ian MacKaye, she has played in numerous bands, most notably a Nintendo pop band that received wide acclaim on the east coast and was featured in SPIN magazine. She constantly refers to tickling the ivories in general conversation and will regularly pass up family boating expeditions to spend 8 hours perfecting a Rachmaninoff prelude. Although she first started out with B2R in Virginia in 2009 where she not only taught but worked extensively on curriculum development, she is super excited to mentor the next generation of music fanatics in New York.

Meghan Cork, MS, MT-BC is very excited to be joining the Bach to Rock team. She recently graduated with her Master’s in Music Therapy at Molloy College and she is looking forward to launching a new music therapy program at Bach to Rock! As a music therapist, Meghan works closely with clients and students using music to help them develop and improve their quality of life in a rich way. Music can help students to grow in cognitive, social, communicative, motor, and musical domains. She believes that everyone responds to music, no matter their level of functioning and that music therapy can help students connect and relate to the world around them, and to experience true enjoyment!

Rachael Heberling specializes in bowed strings, voice, piano, and early childhood at B2R. She holds a BFA in Violin Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Music Education from Arizona State University. Originally from rural Eastern Pennsylvania, Rachael joins Bach to Rock’s Port Washington team from the sunny, hot desert of Phoenix, Arizona. During her time in the Southwest, Rachael worked as a strings and general music teacher in the public school system of Scottsdale and maintained a private studio of aspiring string, vocal, and brass students. In addition to teaching, Rachael enjoys an active career as a performer, specializing in genres ranging from classical to jazz, rock, and folk music. She has an eclectic musical background, with experience teaching and performing on a wide variety of musical instruments, including the mesmerizing electric violin. Rachael is excited to return to her East Coast roots and become a part of the B2R family. Her boundless energy and creativity in teaching music will make Bach to Rock her best musical experience yet. Rachael’s musical tastes are as diverse as the genres she enjoys performing. In addition to daily walks with her three Australian Shepherds, she enjoys composing, arranging popular music, and transcribing solos of famous jazz artists in her spare time.

Elana Hayden is a New York session singer, songwriter, jingle/voiceover artist and children’s book author. She studied Musical Theatre at Sarah Lawrence College and C. W. Post and has had the privilege of appearing and/or recording with Harry Chapin, Patti LaBelle, Bob Hope, Tony Orlando, The Pointer Sisters, Willie Nelson, Klaus Doldinger and Boomer Esiason, among others. She has written, recorded, produced and licensed numerous songs and jingles for TV, film and radio, including spots for Showtime, HBO, the NBA, WNBA, Maury Povich, The Montel Show, and several other shows as well. In addition to touring the US and Europe as a lead and background vocalist for many bands and recording artists, Elana appeared in the National Touring Company of the Off-Broadway show Beehive and New York productions of Gym, Carrie, Starmites and Goose. Her film and TV credits include 20th Century Fox’s Unfaithfully Yours, starring Nastasia Kinski, Armand Assante, and Dudley Moore, and the ABC-TV After School Special Over the Limit, which aired on network television in the U.S. Currently, Elana enjoys singing background vocals for Songs In The Attic, a NY-based Billy Joel Tribute Band and most recently, she was featured in Wendell Hanes' latest book, "Making 30 Grand in 30 Seconds! Vol. 4 - Singing on Major TV Commercials." Elana lives in Port Washington with her daughter, Julia and is thrilled to be part of the B2R team!

Nicki Kunzinger specializes in piano, voice, and early childhood at B2R. She is a Wisconsin native who got her start in music at a very early age through classical piano training, children’s choirs, and jazz bands. After completing coursework in education and application at both NYU and University of Wisconsin, Nicki decided to put down roots on Long Island and pursue music. In addition to teaching at multiple schools and institutions, Nicki is also an avid dancer and actress. She has been featured in countless theatrical productions and performed with jazz vocalists Kurt Elling and the iconic Bobby McFerrin. Having vast musical tastes, her influences range from Mozart to Muse to Metallica, and many more. She also plays with her own band Disco Vietnam, and records original songs from time to time. You will find Nicki teaching B2R Port Washington's Rock City, Kids and Keys, Glee groups, and private lessons. Stop in and say hi today!

Mike Leslie is a bass, guitar, and fretted instrument specialist at B2R Port Washington. He received his degree in Electric Bass Performance from Berklee College of Music in 1978. After touring with several national bands, he moved to New York City as a working professional musician and songwriter in 1983. He has appeared and/or recorded with Carole King, Joan Osborne, Rufus Wainwright, Rick Derringer, Tom Dowd, Steven Stills and Mick Jones, Eddie Van Halen, the Gypsy Kings, Meryl Streep, Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary), Paul Hipp, Max Weinberg and the Uptown Horns, Hunter S. Thompson, and many others. He also appeared in the hit, off-broadway productions of "Love Janis" and "My Boyfriend Is a Zombie." Mike is a founding member of Citizens of Contrary Knowledge. Their songs "You're What you Wish You Are..." and "Contrary Radio" are played on hundreds of independent and college radio stations in the USA and in South America. The band also had songs featured on Nickelodeon's "Zoey 101" and "Drake and Josh". Mike's own song "House of Cards" was licensed by Showtime's acclaimed show, "The Tudors" Additionally, his music has been played on National TV commercials for Taco Bell, Applebee's, Pepsi, General Motors, American Express, and even featured in the movie soundtrack for the movie "I am Sam." Mike brings a wealth of experience and robust musical knowledge into his classroom. We are proud to have him on the the team at B2R Port Washington!

Eitan Prouser is a Guitar Specialist at B2R Port Washington. In addition to guitar, Eitan plays bass and piano and has dabbled in trombone, oud, tenor banjo, ukulele, drums, and anything else he can get his hands on. He also is an avid bass vocalist, having sung in multiple vocal ensembles. Among them are the award winning Long Island Sound Men’s Barbershop Chorus and his beloved barbershop quartet, 99 Problems But a Pitch Ain’t One. Eitan expects his degree in music therapy from Molloy College in Spring of 2014. He has taught music and interned as a music therapist in summer camps, nursing homes, and schools. He has performed in pit bands for Molloy College productions of Rent and Grease. Music he has composed and performed with his progressive metal band Piercing Silence has been featured on such TV shows as Countdown to UFC, Home Wreckers, and VH1’s Behind the Music. Eitan loves being part of the B2R family and brings his own eclectic approach and tastes to his work. He continues to be guided by the spirit of the barbershop anthem “Keep the whole world singing... Keep the melody ringing and ringing in your heart.”

Josh Schusterman is a drum and percussion specialist at B2R Port Washington. Originally from Dallas, he spent his formative years at the renowned University of North Texas College of Music, where he studied with Ed Soph (Bill Evans, Woody Herman) and Ignacio Berroa (Dizzy Gillespie). While in school, he played in the 13 time world champion UNT drumline, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian ensembles, marched with the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps, and was a member of the 2000 World Champion Desperadoes Steel Drum Orchestra in Trinidad. Since then Josh has shared the stage with multi-platinum artists The Nelson Brothers, Las Vegas soul legend Earl Turner, Grammy winner Paul Wertico (Pat Metheny), the Liberty Orchestra (Royal Caribbean), and of course many indie bands. As an educator, he spent several years as a state certified K-12 band and percussion director in Texas, as well as adjunct faculty at Baylor University. These were some of the busiest and best years as he racked up thousands of hours of experience teaching in the classroom and privately.

Silvio Vega is a guitar, bass, and band teacher at B2R Port Washington and member of Indie pop band Il Abanico. Silvio began guitar lessons at the age of 12, studying at a popular South Florida music school where he was introduced to a range of musical styles including jazz, pop and rock. He eventually left to study blues, and jazz with various private teachers. By 18, he was playing in professional bands and developing a teaching career, instructing a studio of loyal students in South Florida. At age 20, he was awarded a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston where he studied Music Theory and Guitar Performance. After receiving his two-year certificate, he took the opportunity to go with Il Abanico on their first national tour of the US. He continues to play with them and splits his time between the band and his own musical projects. Some of his favorite bands are The Police, Jimi Hendrix, Chris Potter, Tribal Tech, The Miles Davis Quintet and Albert King. He is also totally and completely infatuated with bacon in every possible sense!

Jeremy Viner is a woodwinds and piano specialist at B2R Port Washington. Originally from Maine, Jeremy moved to New York in 2004 to study at New School University’s jazz program and finished graduate studies at The Juilliard School in 2010. While at the New School, Jeremy studied with many of the improvised music community’s important figures including Tyshawn Sorey, Vijay Iyer, Chris Speed, Tony Malaby, and Rudresh Mahanthappa. At Juilliard, Jeremy studied interactive computer music composition with violinist/composer Mari Kimura and had the opportunity to learn from/perform with many of jazz’s celebrated post-bop musicians. These include Terence Blanchard, Christian McBride, Branford Marsalis, Mulgrew Miller, Jimmy Heath, Benny Golson, and Kenny Barron, among many others. Since arriving in New York, Jeremy has had the honor to work and perform with many great musicians across a range of creative music communities. You can hear him on recordings with the GRAMMY-nominated John Hollenbeck Large Ensemble, Rafiq Bhatia, Bing & Ruth, Langhorne Slim, Jesse Elder, Krystle Warren, Curtis Macdonald, and others.

Jared Winzelberg is a music and studio specialist at B2R (guitar, bass, drums, vocals, and beginner keyboard and saxophone). Whether teaching basics to a first-timer, or honing advanced guitar techniques with an expert student, Jared's communication, passion and attention to nuance and expression make his lessons exciting and comprehensive. Jared is a Long Island native and multi-instrumentalist who has performed in numerous groups since childhood. Jared received his BFA in music from the prestigious Jazz program at The New School University, studying under the the school's renowned faculty of jazz legends. His instrumental prowess has brought him to performances in storied New York City venues such as the Tribeca Rock Club, Le Bar Bat, Pianos, Sweet Rhythm, and Santos' Party House. His credits also include notable pit orchestras, having played guitar for an acclaimed run of The Who's "Tommy" at Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, and other shows across Long Island such as "Rent", "Damn Yankees", "Little Shop of Horrors", and guitar/vocal for Neil Sedaka's "Breaking Up is Hard To Do". Jared also currently works with a talented team of colleagues at Sound Association, a music production studio in Times Square.