Bonnie Surowiec
Voice/Piano/Flute/Ukulele
Bonnie studied at University of Massachusetts Lowell with a BA in Music Studies (Education) with a focus on the voice. She is a classically trained dramatic soprano but loves to sing jazz, pop and Broadway. She teaches Voice, Piano, Ukulele and Flute. She is usually seen working the desk and teaching her lessons too. She has also started conducting a small but mighty Youth Choir at a local church in fall 2015.
Dave Swillum
Drums
Dave graduated from Plymouth State University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Audio & Music with percussion as a declared instrument and has been working to complete his MBA with a concentration in Music Business from Southern New Hampshire University’s partner program with Berklee College of Music. He is now the Chief Engineer here @ On The Fringe Studios.
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.
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.
Chris Drury
Guitar
Chris is our newest Guitar teacher. Chris earned a bachelor’s degree in 2014 for Music Technology with a focus in classical and jazz guitar from Plymouth State. He has been playing guitar for 13 years and enjoys composing, performing, and producing music in a variety of styles. He will be available Saturdays starting in September.
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.
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 country on tour with a local band.
Lucy Murphy
Cello/Piano/Voice
Lucy Fillery Murphy (BA Honors Music, Southampton University UK, and Prague Conservatory) is a versatile and passionate musician, recording artist, performer, composer and instructor. Lucy has been teaching for 19 years, including being part of the faculty at the International School of Prague, Czech Republic, and at various prep schools in the UK. She is currently teaching at Seacoast Academy of Music NH, Sparhawk School MA and of course here at West Newbury School of Music.
Jamie Sokolowski
Violin/Viola
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.
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/. )