All of our teachers are passionate about music and the development of children.
They create a fun, informal, social setting that spurs engagement and supports each child's musical development.
WE LOVE WHAT WE DO!
Leslie Lucas
Leslie Lucas is the Founder and Center Director of Music together of Summit and Chatham. And more recently is also the Director of Music Together® of Montclair. She has been teaching and running MT Centers for over ten years. She is a singer, songwriter and has played jazz vibes for many years. Her songs have been recorded by various artists and the television show Fame. She plays piano and a little guitar. Leslie is a mother of a college graduate step daughter and a 17 year old son who is a Music Together graduate!
Joan Ragno
Joan Ragno holds a liberal arts degree with a minor in music from Dickinson College.Joan studied piano,flute and performed with various choral organizations in th US and Europe.She was a Music Together parent and is the mother of Joseph (age 8) and Julia (age 6).Joan plays piano and a guitar, she also brings her flute to class sometimes and the kids love it!
Carolyn Dempsey
Carolyn Dempsey is originally from Nebraska, but left the midwest to attend the College of William and Mary, earning a degree in Russian and Spanish. She moved to New York to study theatre, and worked as an actress and singer for ten years. One of her "day jobs" was teaching children's music programs in the city and entertaining at birthday parties. Carolyn plays guitar, she is an avid tennis player, baker, and enjoys taking her two young sons and new baby girl, to Music Together.
Laura Brenden
Laura is a vocalist, dancer and has studied voice and vocal performance at the New School as well as NYU. She has performed in both fields locally and has experience in all aspects of the theater. She loves to generate physical and musical responses in her two small children, both MT veterans, and is currently studying piano, much to their delight! She also holds a BS in Foreign Service and an MBA. She is fluent in Spanish as well. Laura has been living and teaching Music Together in the City. She has recently moved to NJ and we are thrilled to have her join our staff!
Chris Brendel
Christine has been teaching Music Together for many years in Montclair and we are excited to have her join our staff!Chris has been a MT mom for 8 years and was immediately drawn to the idea of leading a class of children through their first musical experiences! She is a natural leader with a gift for working with children. Chris lives in North Caldwell with her husband Bob and son's Luke and Sam.
Jessica Temlock-Fields
Graduating from college as a vocal performance major, Jessica has recently been working as a Reading Recovery teacher for first grade. She has many years of classroom teaching experience. Last year, her life changed when she introduced her third baby to Music Together. It was the first class for both of them, and her entire family has benefited from the experience. Jessica is anxious to share a love of music with other families so that they, too, can find a way to incorporate music into their everyday lives.
