Music Faculty

Susan Gish Forry - Music Director   teaches Piano for ages 4 to adult and Music Mates. She has studied with Dr. Malvina Leshock, internationally acclaimed concert pianist and composer. In addition to private lessons and introductory classes to young children, she coordinates music for the Institute Preschool and has been an accompanist for internationally renowned operatic Bass-Baritone Brian R. Gibson. 

Martin P. Bonk is a guitar teacher and ensemble coach at the Institute. He teaches ages 10 to adult. He holds a BS in Music/ Composition and guitar from City University, New York.

Theresa Cocci teaches family music, rhyhthm patterns and preschool music. She is a graduate of KutztownUniversity with BA in Elementary Ed. She is a member of MTNA, and has taught private music for many years. She currently serves a music instructor for our Preschool Department.

Andrew Cusano teaches Percussion to Beginner and Intermediate students of all ages. He is a graduate of EastmanMusicSchool, holding a BA in applied percussion. He is an active member in the Reading Pops Orchestra and the Reading Civic Opera Society Pit Orchestra.

Michael Fox is a trumpet and brass instructor as well as an ensemble coach. He teaches ages 10 to adult and holds a BA in Music Education, MillersvilleUniversity. He Currently performs with Fink’s Constant and with the Black Horse Brass, both out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Kathie Gilbert teaches Piano at the Institute of the Arts. She has a B.S. in Strategic Intelligence and a B.S. in Information Systems and a Minor in Music from Alvernia. She is continuing her studies toward a M.A. in Education from KennedyWesternUniversity.

Suzanne Grove teaches private Voice as well as group voice classes. She received her BA in Integrative Music from Concordia University Montreal, Quebec and Diplome d’Etudes Collegiales in Creative Arts from DawsonCollege in Montreal, Quebec.

Chris Heslop is a composer and saxophonist. He holds a BA in Jazz Performance from TempleUniversity and has performed throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. His compositions for big band, orchestra and choir appear on numerous CDs on various record labels. Chris is currently a member of the BMI Jazz

Malisa Knoll teaches woodwinds and received her Bachelor of Music Performance from Temple University also having studied music education at Michigan State University. She is an experienced teacher who also has performed at various public and private functions.

Vitalij Kuprij is a graduate of KievLyssenkoMuisAcademy in Ukraine, Basel Conservatoire, Switzerland and Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes and was the youngest person to win first prize in the All Union Chopin Competition and won first prize in the Kiev Conservatory Competition and the Geneva Duo Competition for Piano and Violin.

Jessica Manning teaches violin, viola, cello and bass. She is a graduate of Susquehanna University and is pursuing a Masters of Music degree from West Chester University. She is a violist with the Reading Pops Orchestra and teaches string instruments for the Oley Valley School District.

Tama McConnell teaches the Kindermusik program and is active in many theater productions. She is a teacher for the Bridges program.

Danny Phillips teaches guitar at the Institute and has been studying and playing guitar for 36 years. He has performed in numerous local and regional bands including “Hunter”, “Rogue” and “Karnevil of Souls”. He is versed in many styles of music and holds degrees in Music Theory and Modal Study. Mr. Phillips has studied classical guitar with the virtuoso classicist Rod Hill and has attended National Guitar Workshops in Connecticut for cutting edge guitar techniques. 

Lisa Speece teaches voice elementary through adult. She received a Bachelor's in Music Education from Susquehanna University and Master of Science in Education from Duquesne University. She has been a choral/music teacher as well as general music.