PTW Faculty: Professional, College & School Show Audition Preparation Private Lessons / Audition Technique Classes / Song Interpretation Classes / Acting & Drama Classes / Acting & Drama Private Lessons / Show Director / Musical Theatre Performance Classes / Jr. Jr. Classes / PTW Summer Camp & Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory

PTW Faculty: Private Songwriting & Composition

Lessons / Private Music Theory & Sight Singing Lessons

Amy Engelhardt has been the sole female member of Grammy-nominated vocal "band without instruments", The Bobs, since 1998. She has won numerous ASCAP awards for her writing on The Bobs' CDs and DVDs, toured with them everywhere from Lincoln Center to Los Angeles to Lichtenstein, and created Rhapsody In Bob, Gershwin's concerto arranged for piano and vocal orchestrafor the group, which premiered at Wolf Trap. Amy’s solo CD, Not Gonna BePretty, hailed as the "unlikely marriage of Nellie McKay and Meat Loaf," was nominated for two Just Plain Folks Music Awards--"The "Grassroots Grammys" according to the LA Times. Her insanely diverse vocal credits include Jim Henson's Animal Jam, Barbra Streisand's Timeless concerts, Neil Young's Living With War, The Doctor Demento Show, countless appearances on Comedy Central’s Sit-N-Spin series and countless commercials and soundtracks. As a composer/lyricist/librettist, Amy recently completed the score for Bastard Jones, a rock adaptation of Henry Fielding’s Tom Jones, with playwright/novelist Marc Acito (How I Paid For College). Other theater credits include lyrics for commissioned adaptations of Carl Sagan's Contact with Hungarian rocker Peter Sipos, Nicholas Nickleby with electric violinist Eyvind Kang; and music/lyrics for the Bobs/Flying Karamazov Brothers collaboration, A Comedy of Eras at ACT Seattle. Amy was recently a creative consultant on Ashley Brown’s (Broadway’s Mary Poppins) PBS concert special Call Me Irresponsible and Musical Director/Arranger for the world premiere of Drunk with Love: A Tribute to Frances Faye at San Francisco's New Conservatory Theater. Amy is a graduate of Syracuse University and Berklee College of Music.

PTW Faculty: Song Interpretation Classes / Jazz Hip Hop Classes / Musical Theatre Performance Classes / Show Director / PTW Summer Camp & Summer Musical Theatre Conservatory

Stephanie Jones has performed Off Broadway at the Players Theatre in "Oedipus the King" and "Treasure Island", and recently closed a two season run as Juliet in The Castle Shakespeare Repertory’s production of "Romeo and Juliet." She has played Dorothy in the Magical Caravan Players production of "The Wizard of Oz, a New Musical," and Cressida in the Hudson Shakespeare Company’s production of "Troilus and Cressida." In addition to her theatrical resume including "A Tale of Two Cities" at the Paper Mill Playhouse, as a singer, Stephanie has played clubs in the NJ/NY and Boston areas including a brief stint as the house band at the Bitter End with original rock band, Wild Blue. Having recently recorded a demo with her jazz quartet, The Stephanie Jones Ensemble, she is currently playing clubs and halls in the Metropolitan Area and is delighted to be part of Main Street South Orange's Downtown After Sundown 2011 summer concert series. Stephanie graduated from Wellesley College in 2006, and will be pursuing a fine arts degree for Vocal Jazz at City College in the Fall. Her voiceovers and vocals can be heard on commercials for Anbesol, Nerf, Busch Gardens, Nickelodeon and Toys R Us.
 

With over 20 years of experience performing and teaching throughout the New York City area, Shirley is adept in a variety of musical styles.  Her expertise as a voice teacher is based in classical music, but she is also an accomplished jazz singer and can easily work with anyone who wishes to learn how to sing in Musical Theater, Jazz or other styles.

Shirley’s training and experience includes a Masters of Music in Classical Voice from Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Northwestern University School of Music and numerous stage performances.   Past teachers include Betty Allen, Elizabeth Fischer, Renee Corenne, & Beth Roberts to name a few.  

She has also performed at some of New York's finest Cabarets and Jazz Clubs: recently appearing in two showcases at the world famous NYC jazz club Birdland. In concert, she has opened for Abby Lincoln and has been honored to have the formidable Harold Mabern and Jamil Nasser be members of her back-up band. Performances at Madison Square Garden, the Paramount Theater and in various NYC area Jazz Series' also complement Shirley’s career. Other credits include the role of Armelia/Charlain in Ain’t Misbehavin’ at the Elmwood Theater and featured soloist on the CD recording Africa by the Mystic Pilgrims. On September 27, 2011 Shirley released her debut CD Home, on which she sings musical theatre, American Songbook and jazz standards.  For the ensuing 26+ weeks (with 6 weeks Chartbound) the album remained on the Jazz Week Album Chart, the definitive jazz national radio chart that reports the top Jazz albums played each week on radio stations across the US.

Shirley’s awards include 2010 Top 5 Finalist in the NY Jazz Mobile Best of the Best Vocal Competition; 2009 Arts Council of Rockland Performing Artist Award; and the Stanton Bronze Medal Winner in the American Traditions Vocal Competition. Shirley taught Voice at PTW for many years, and we are thrilled to have her returning to teach at PTW again, now having even more experiences and knowledge to share with our students!

Steve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Toronto, his Masters in Voice and Conducting from the University of New Mexico, and most recently, his Professional Studies Certificate in Voice from the Manhattan School of Music. Steve is classically trained and has extensive experience teaching voice to students with varied skill levels and performance goals, from beginners to advanced students, preparing for school show auditions, professional auditions or preparing to enter conservatories. Steve has taught on the university level to both undergrad and graduate voice students. Steve was also the principal conductor for the Symphony of Albuquerque and Chorus, for their 2009 – 2010 season, and has conducted opera and oratorio as well as various other ensembles in various genres and styles, both in Canada and the United States.

As a performer, Steve is equally at home on stage or in the studio. Steve has sung on several commercially released CDs in popular music styles and has held many full roles as a tenor soloist. He enjoys performing varied styles of vocal repertoire, including musical theater, pop, gospel, art song and opera. His musical theatre credits include The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King) and his operetta credits include The Gondoliers (Luiz), and The Yeomen of the Guard (Col. Fairfax). His solo concert credits include Orff’s Carmina Burana, Händel’s Judas Maccabeaus and Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, Brahms’ Liebeslieder and Mozart’s Requiem. Most recently, Steve performed the role of Émile in the musical Rose Marie, Canio from Pagliacci, and is currently performing Alfredo in La Traviata and as the tenor solo in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.

Steve is excited to be joining the PTW faculty where he will be sharing his love and knowledge of singing with the PTW students.

Marie holds her Masters in Vocal Performance in Opera Studies and Vocal Pedagogy from NYU, and received her Bachelor’s degree at Providence College in Vocal Performance, graduating with honors. In addition, Marie was Resident Artist for the Nevada Opera in 2012, she performed in the Florence Voice Seminar in 2011 through Westminster Choir College, and studied in the Opera Workshop for the Institute of European Studies in Vienna, Austria in 2008. Marie served as the assistant conductor at Providence College and was a featured soloist in the Bach Festival. As both a performer and a teacher, Marie enjoys to share her love for music and the performing arts with those around her. Marie’s beautiful pure voice is a perfect fit for both musical theatre and opera. Some of Marie’s performance credits include Damn Yankees (Gloria), Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), Company (Sarah), House (Betty), Cendrillon (Cinderella), The Impresario (Miss Silverpeal), Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes (Soprano Soloist), Dido and Aeneas (Belinda), Amahl and the Nightvisitors (Amahl), and Funny Girl.

Marie teaches voice to Graduate students at New York University (NYU) and also teaches yoga at NYU. She hopes to further her practice in yoga for singers and musicians of all ages. She is very excited to join the PTW community and is extremely grateful for her dear friend and colleague, Molly Dunn who opened this door of creative opportunity.

Elizabeth has worked extensively in musical theatre, on Broadway and in National tours.   Beth starred on Broadway as Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, a role she also performed in the Vancouver, B.C. production and the National tour along side her husband, Gary Mauer.  She was chosen by Harold Prince to star as Magnolia  in his latest revival of Showboat  in the First National Tour.   She was also seen Off-Broadway in Jack Eric William’s Swamp Gas and Shallow Feelings as Sherlyn. Other tours include:  Christine in the Yeston/Kopit Phantom and The Sound of Music with Marie Osmond.  Regional highlights include Yum-Yum in The Mikado, Claudia  in Nine, and Sukey Tawdry in Three Penny Opera. Elizabeth has been guest soloist with orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony with Marvin Hamlisch, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Anchorage Symphony, and the Flagstaff Symphony. She also toured throughout Germany and performed at the Opera Comique in Paris.  Elizabeth received her degree in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College School of Music. She received a scholarship to study at the prestigious American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria and went on to receive first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.  Beth is joyously married to actor Gary Mauer and plays Mommy to Nicholas and Eden and looks forward to joining PTW in the Fall.

Garrett Taylor is an accomplished voice teacher, performer, orchestrator and musical director. Garrett has trained and prepared many students for roles on Broadway and National Tours, including Mary Poppins, Wicked, A Chorus Line, Jersey Boys, Full Monty & A Christmas Story (coming soon to Broadway). His Broadway credits include Wicked, Annie, the recently completed National Tour of GREASE, as well as the National Tour of Sweet Charity with 80’s star, Molly Ringwald, and TLC’s Trading Spaces host, Paige Davis. His Regional Theatre credits include roles in CATS, The Light In The Piazza, A Little Night Music & Chicago. He has been seen in concert with the New York City Master Chorale, Essential Voices and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall, Danville Symphony Orchestra, Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra, as a guest soloist at the National DAR Convention at Washington D.C.'s Constitution Hall and as a pianist and vocalist at La Musica Lirica Festival in Italy. He has taught at NYU, Manhattan School of Music, Marymount College, AMDA (American Musical and Dramatic Academy) in New York City, Queens College & Performers Theatre Workshop. He received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

Holli holds the following academic positions: Adjunct Professor for applied jazz voice at Hofstra University, Jazz department under the direction of David Lalama since 1996; Adjunct Professor for applied jazz voice and Director of Jazz Vocal Ensemble “Vocamotion” at Montclair State University, Jazz Department under the direction of Jeffrey Kunkel since 2006; Extension Division at Mannes College of Music since 1997; Called upon to substitute teach at The New School, New York University, and City College.

She has experience working with adults and children with communication disorders of voice, language and fluency. Holli is a professional singer and is able to synthesize her singing experience with her speech language pathology training to help those with voice disorders, especially people who use their voice professionally, to regain full vocal capacity. Holli has received additional training in Voice Disorders, attended Lessac-Madsen Resonance Voice Training, Stroboscopy Training at Vanderbilt Medical Center as well as Stroboscopy Training with Dr. Anat Keidar.

Over the last several decades, Holli – jazz vocalist, music educator, and voice specialist – has been a vibrant force in the jazz world. Alongside her career as a member and co-founder of the celebrated vocal trio String Of Pearls (25 years and counting), Holli has garnered fans and praise as a swinging, intensely musical solo singer with a deep knowledge of the jazz tradition. Holli is proud to belong to the generation that helped to legitimize vocal jazz at the college level. Along with her peers (some of the finest working jazz vocalists today), Holli has helped to develop and form many of the major vocal jazz programs in the country.

She has toured nationally and abroad with high-profile performances at the JVC Jazz Festival, the 92nd Street Y, Town Hall, and the Kennedy Center. She is happy to call Maplewood her home and looks forward to working with young artists this fall at PTW.