Contact Information:

Highland Visual and Performing Arts Institute
21 Crimi Circle
Highland, NY 12528
Email: MariaPeterson@HVPAI.com

Co-Director: Maria Peterson
Home: (845)-691-9313
Cell: (845)-706-2575

Faculty:

Co-Directors
Maria Peterson |Matthew Eisenhower

Pat Henneberger| Sam Ruiz | Kristen Ruiz
Tim Allen | Sue Morano | Jessie Levey
Karen Zocchi | Heather McArdle | Counselors

Co-Director Maria Peterson
has studied at NYU and SUNY New Paltz and holds a B.S. in Music History and Piano Performance. She has been teaching both private and Master classes since 1982 and is a life-long performer. She is currently on the faculty of the Arts Community and the Dutchess Community College Music School and is director of The Peterson Studio in Highland, New York.

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Pat Henneberger
is currently on the faculty of the Arts Community where she has been teaching children’s theatre since 1986. She has directed audience participation plays for SUNY New Paltz Summer Repertory Theatre, taught acting workshops through Ulster County Community College “College for Kids” program, and was lower school drama teacher at Poughkeepsie Day School. Pat has written, directed and produced over 35 productions. She received her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from SUNY New Paltz.

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Sam Ruiz
currently teaches vocal music at the George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo, NY. He is a graduate of Nyack College with additional training at the University of New England and Juilliard Choral Union. He and his wife have performed together in Orange, Dutchess and Ulster Counties, as well as on the stages of Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. Sam is the co-director of Cantate Vocal Studio where he currently teaches voice and ear training classes.

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Kristen Ruiz
studied singing with the Juilliard Choral Union and received a BM from Nyack College in 1998. She has performed on the stages of Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and currently performs with her husband. She has taught both in public school and privately and is currently the director of Cantate Voice Studio.

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Jessie Levey
has been dancing and teaching children dance for over 20 years. She is the founder, director of and principal teacher at the Barefoot Dance Center in West Park, NY. She teaches modern technique, creative movement, improvisation and choreography. She also directs a teen dance company, which performs throughout the Hudson Valley. Her eclectic style combines her greatest influences: Cunningham, Limon & Release Techniques, Yoga and Pilates.

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Co-Director Matthew Eisenhower
holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Therapy from SUNY New Paltz, and a Master of Arts and Master of Education from Columbia University. Matthew has taught general music for over 10 years in the New York City public school system. In addition to his music degrees and teaching experience, Matthew is a certified Gyrotonic and Gyrokinesis teacher, a Tai Chi facilitator and a Level 2 Reiki practitioner. He resides in New York City.

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Tim Allen
holds an A.A. from Simons Rock Early College, and a B.A. from Bard College. In addition to playing various genres of South Eastern European "Balkan" music, he has been playing, performing and teaching traditional, and modern traditional West African music for over twenty years. Tim regularly features in Mimo Camara's ensemble KIBOLA SOUGE; Mohamed Camara's ensemble FOLIBA; Fode Sissoko's ensemble FAKOLI; Assane Banji's ensemble MELODY AFRICA; Moustafa Djedjou's ensemble BAOBOB; and many more. He is a featured player in the Hudson Valley's African dance classes. He is also a visiting teacher in public and private schools.

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Sue Morano
has been the Health Aide with HVPAI for six years now. She is certified in CPR-AED and Advanced First Aid. Sue also serves as the Assistant to the Co-Directors.

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Karen Zocchi
is the Band Director at the Highland Elementary School, where she is also the district's Music Coordinator. Ms. Zocchi received her Bachelor of Music degree as a double major in Music Education and Performance from the Crane School of Music. She holds a Master's Degree in Performance from Indiana University. She teaches private flute and performs with the Vassar Wind Ensemble as well as the pit orchestra for The County Players.

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Heather McArdle
is currently the Visual Arts teacher at Robert F. Wagner Middle School in New York City. She received her BA in Studio Art from SUNY Albany and her Masters in Art Education from New York University. She has also studied photography at the University of Westminster in London and Art Theory at the Universite de Architecture in Venice, Italy. This Fall, Heather was chosen for the 2010/2011 Whitney Museum Teacher Exchange Program and started the Museum Explorer Club in her school in an effort to enhance her students' appreciation for the arts outside of the classroom. Heather lived and taught in Japan for four years and currently resides in New York City.

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Counselors

Each year the HVPAI employs counselors who demonstrate talent in the arts and a desire to work with children.