Melissa has taught lessons through the Community of Music School at Central Michigan University for 4 years in addition to accompanying multiple ensembles, instrumentalists and vocalists. She currently works for Portage Public Schools as a Para Professional and is the Assistant Band Director for the Portage Northern High School Band program.
Sarah is currently majoring in Music Education/Music Therapy at Western Michigan University. She began teaching piano while still in high school. She has worked as an accompanist for dance classes, musical theater camps, choirs and many solo performers.
Dan has been teaching piano, guitar, drums/percussion, music theory/composition and recording engineering for over 6 years. He is currently on the Crescendo piano staff. His degree is from WMU in Music Composition. He enjoys working with people in classical, church, pop and rock styles. (Maybe some jazz and blues too.)
Brent teaches saxophone and piano for Crescendo, as well as accompanying students at recitals. Brent has worked as a freelance accompanist and pit orchestra musician throughout the Kalamazoo area. He also has experience as a Stage and Musical Director for Community Theater productions.
Mark Portolese received a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Instrument Performance and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Illinois Wesleyan University. There he studied violin with Vadim Mazo and piano with Lawrence Campbell. He also received a Masters in Music in Violin Performance and Chamber Music from the University of Michigan where he studied violin with Stephen Shipps and piano with Louis Nagel.
Mark Portolese is an active violinist and pianist in the Western Michigan area. As violinist, he is Associate Concertmaster of the South Bend Symphony and was a featured soloist with the orchestra in March 2009. He is also Associate Principal Second Violin of the West Michigan Symphony, a member of the Kalamazoo Symphony, and a substitute member of the Grand Rapids Symphony. He has been a substitute violinist of both the Opus IV String Quartet and the Arioso Trio. As pianist, Mark is a member of the Crescendo Faculty Trio with Sarah Hedlund (violin) and Luke Cook (cello). He is a staff accompanist for the ballet courses at Western Michigan University and has also accompanied students in such events as the All-State Solo-Ensemble Contest and the Stulberg Competition Master classes. He is an instructor and accompanist for Crescendo, and, through Crescendo, the instructor for the Vicksburg String Program.
