vocal Instructors

Stephen Sikorski

Acoustic Guitar, Composition, Electric Guitar, Piano, Voice; Music 101 instructor since 2005

For more than 10 years, Stephen has been an active freelance musician throughout the Boston area. He has earned his BM in Classical Composition and continued graduate study from the New England Conservatory. Stephen has a diverse musical background ranging from classical, jazz/improvisation, to rock. Performing solo, or on stage with modern bands, Stephen is comfortable teaching various types of music. He has been tenor section leader/soloist at various churches in the greater Boston area, and is currently organist and choir director of Christ Church, Waltham.

Brian Church
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Electric Bass, Piano, Ukulele, Voice; Music 101 instructor since 2008
Brian Church holds a BM in Music Education from The College of New Jersey, an MM in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory, and is also an accomplished bassist with the avant-noise post-punk group Tristan da Cunha with whom he has toured the midwest and released several recordings.  Brian has a busy and varied career in the Boston performing arts scene.  A longtime member of the Choir at King's Chapel and the Cantata Singers as well as a frequent guest performer with Callithumpian Consort, Brian has been a strong proponent of contemporary music.  Performances have included SoundIcon, Boston Musica Viva, Dinosaur Annex, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Firebird Ensemble, NEC Shivaree and many others.  Brian is also a member of Renaissance Men, New England's professional male vocal chamber ensemble. Brian has been an elementary music educator in the Melrose Public School System teaching at the Roosevelt, Hoover and Horace Mann Schools, and has used his skills to help create almost 30 original songs with his students under his curriculum.

Joan Contarino

Piano, Voice; Music 101 instructor since 2013

Joan has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from UMASS Lowell and two subsequent Master's degrees. She is a licensed Music and Performing Arts teacher in Massachusetts and New Mexico. She has been teaching piano, voice, and music theory for over 40 years in public, private, and home school environments, plus private lessons in music and drama coaching. She has written and produced plays and musicals for audience entertainment and competition. Joan has directed youth, adult, and ecumenical choirs in both Massachusetts and New Mexico. She has been accompanist for the Billerica Men's Choir, supply organist for St, Anne's Episcopal Church, and had the privilege of playing the pipe organ at the St. Francis Auditorium at the Museum of Fine Arts in Santa Fe. She sang with the All New England College Choir on tour in Europe. Joan has been a singer/soloist with a variety of church denominations and community choruses including the Los Alamos Choral Society, the Santa Fe Community Orchestra Chorus at the St. Francis Basilica and the auditioned chamber group Coro de Camara of Northern New Mexico, and most recently at St. John's Episcopal Church in Saugus. Joan has filled in as a substitute for Music 101 instructors for several years.

Carmen Carbonell
Piano, Voice; Music 101 instructor Fall 2022
Carmen Carbonell is a pianist, organist, vocalist, and educator who strives to help all of her students find joy through music and reach their full potential! She received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Syracuse University. While at Syracuse, Carmen received several awards for her achievements in piano, including the Lena Corbin prize for highest achievement in solo piano and the George Mullfinger prize for highest achievement in solo piano by a graduating senior. She went on to study organ in the Master’s Program at Boston University under Peter Sykes (Keyboard Faculty Member at The Juilliard School) and has completed additional graduate study in child psychology, special education, and music pedagogy.
As a performer, Carmen has appeared as a pianist, organist, vocalist, and accompanist in several venues. These include performances at Old North Church, Boston as an organist and choral conductor and appearing as an accompanist for The Syracuse University Singers who were selected to perform at the ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore, MD. Teaching is Carmen’s true passion, and she has taught children and adults in a variety of settings. In addition to her experience teaching music, Carmen also has extensive experience teaching in special education classrooms as well as coaching gymnastics for Special Olympics Massachusetts. She loves teaching students of all ages, learning styles, and abilities!