Bonnie Surowiec

Voice/Piano/Flute/Ukulele

Bonnie studied at the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Studies (Education) with a focus on the voice but learning all sorts of instruments along the way including piano and ukulele. She is a classically trained dramatic soprano but loves to sing jazz, pop, Broadway and everything in-between. She can be seen singing at Northern Essex Community College’s choir during their end of semester concert and singing a solo at the biannual Cabaret Show. She even can be seen in their annual show of a “Christmas Carol”. Bonnie has also started conducting a small but mighty Youth Choir at Groveland Congregational Church in fall 2015. She has studied the flute while in the middle school band but never put it down when she left the school band for chorus in high school. She teaches Voice, Piano, Ukulele, Flute, Summer Choir and working the front desk before lessons.

Michael Thompson

Drums/Audio&Video Production/Recording

 Michael has been studying the drums since 2010. He is now a studio engineer here at On The Fringe Studios. He received his Pro Tools certificate in 2015, and has been working with video film & editing since 2013. We are excited that he is now teaching lessons here at the West Newbury School of Music.

Brian Nickerson

Brass/Winds/Piano

A life-long musician, Brian has been playing the piano for over 30 years. He picked up one instrument after another throughout his schooling and also developed a passion for music arrangement and composition. In 2004 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Piano Performance. In 2011, he completed his Master’s in Music Education all at UMASS Lowell.  Since 2013 he has been the Music Director at the Nock Middle School in Newburyport where he is the conductor for the concert bands, a 6th grade boys choir, and the 7th-8th grade Jazz/Rock band. Additionally, he is the Director of the Spring Musical Productions.

Jamie Sokolowski

Violin/Viola/Cello

 Jamie graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a B.M. in Music Education and earned her M.A. in Music Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from Lesley University. Jamie believes in well-rounded music education where students learn through exploring, creating and performing. She teaches music full time at the Nock/Molin School in Newburyport as well as at the Seacoast Academy of Music in North Hampton, NH.

Erica Cloutier

Piano/Voice/Audition Preparation/Songwriting/Theory

Erica graduated from Berklee College of Music with a bachelor degree in songwriting and a focus on voice. While at Berklee, her coursework varied from theory and sight singing classes, to keyboarding and vocal style labs, as well as many songwriting classes. Currently Erica teaches Piano, Voice, Songwriting, Music Theory, and Audition Preparation lessons to a wide range of students starting from age 5 to adult. She is also running “Quarter Notes” a program designed to bring young children and their parents together through song, movement, and the use of percussion instruments while interacting with other kids their age and learning about music at the same time. Since being at the West Newbury School of Music, Erica has helped her students prepare for and get accepted into music colleges. She has helped students audition for and perform in New Hapmshire’s Jazz All States Chorus and the Northeast District Chorus. Many of her students have gotten lead and supporting roles in school and community plays. She is very patient and conscientious teacher who goes above and beyond for her students. We are thrilled to have her on our staff.

Les Harris

Theory/Composition

Les Harris Sr. is a drummer and retired Berklee College of Music professor. He recalls listening to his father and uncle’s vocal group, The Three Blue Aces, on the radio in the 1930s. A time when jazz all but dominated that medium; the dance halls and record stores of America.

Peter Davis

Guitar/Bass/Drums/Ukulele/Theory

 Peter has been playing percussion for 14 years and guitar for 11. He works as a studio musician here at On The Fridge Studios. Peter has performed with David “Bucket” Colwell, formerly of Bad Company. He also works with several local bands performing various gigs. He has even traveled across the country on tour with a local band.

Joe Cannatelli

Owner/Director

Joe has been engineering music since 1976. On The Fringe Studios began as a home studio in 1993 when he chose to design and build a custom home with a live room designed by an acoustic architect. By 2003 his house was not a home but a studio. The decision was made to purchase a building and transfer the business from home to a separate, stand-alone facility. He purchased the property where they are now conducting business in August of 2003. At that time the facility was approximately 2,000 sq./ft. When purchased it was a single story building with parking and ground floor access (perfect for loading/unloading gear). Soon after acquiring the building, he set out retrofitting the new studio and began enjoying the new recording space.
(Stories, Local. “Meet Joe Cannatelli of On The Fringe Studios in North Shore.” Boston Voyager Magazine | Boston City Guide. October 23, 2017. Accessed July 16, 2018. http://bostonvoyager.com/interview/meet-joe-cannatelli-fringe-studios-north-shore/. )