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Why Manasquan Music Academy

Manasquan Music Academy offers private and group lessons for ages 4 to adult. We provide many performance opportunities throughout the year allowing our music students to showcase what they’ve been working on. While you are here researching the best school for you, please consider the benefits of becoming a Manasquan Music Academy student and find out why we are the area’s number one choice for music lessons.

We teach Piano, Vocal, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Drums, Rock Shop, Woodwinds, Brass, Jazz House & Ukulele

Meet Our Teachers

Evan Hutchins

Guitar, Bass, Ukelele, Piano & Drums

Evan has been the Studio Manager and an instructor of MMAcademy since 2021. His work is focused around the philosophy that music is fun first, and all learning happens once that is established! He hopes you’ll join him for our Ukulele on The Beach program in the Summer, and that you laugh at his bad jokes!

Evan has been playing music since he was 14 years old. Starting with guitar, he has branched out to bass, ukulele, piano, drums and flute. He actively performs in the greater Asbury Park area with his band Blush. His favorite bands are The Beatles, Vulfpeck, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Alabama Shakes, The Strokes, and Dr. Dog.

Joe Caroselli

Drums

Joe Caroselli has a degree in Communications from Seton Hall University. Joe has performed with some of the nation’s best known orchestras, groups, and soloists– including The Temptations, The Drifters, Dionne Warwick, Dick Clark, The Manhattan Transfer, Kelly Ripa, Barbara Walters, and the legendary rock icon Chuck Berry. Joe was the “Chief Drummer” for Disney on Ice, The Ice Capades, the touring company of Jersey Boys, the Broadway shows Grease, Shenandoah, and the Motown Revue at the Ritz Theater. More than anything, Joe helps to develop his students’ skill level and self confidence, and helps to make learning to play the drums “FUN” for them at MMA!

Jim Pellegrino

Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet and Oboe

Jim Pellegrino was born in Plainfield, NJ and started his musical studies at the age of nine. At the age of fourteen he was a member of the NJ All-State Band on saxophone.
He is a Graduate of Kean University where he received his BA in Music Education. Studied Classical Music with such notables as John Wion (New York City Opera), Harold Bennet (Philadelphia Orchestra) and Engelbert Brenner (NY Philharmonic). Has performed with many orchestras in the New York and Metropolitan area. Studied Jazz with Jazz Greats Frank Foster (Count Basie Band), John Stubblefield (McCoy Tyner Band) and Jimmy Heath (Saxophone)

Matt Balkovic

Guitar, Bass, Piano, Drums, Ukulele and Rock Shops
Matt Balkovic is a NJ based musician and has played over 1,000 live shows. He’s been with MMA for about a year and is currently the lead instructor for 3 of our ROCKSHOP bands. Most recently his student lead band “STRETCH” won our first MMA LIVE! Band Demo Contest!

Adam Malarich

Trumpet

Adam Malarich is a trumpeter in the Central New Jersey area living with his wife and two dogs. He graduated with a Bachelors of Music Performance from Rowan University and a Masters in Jazz Studies from the Mason Gross School of the Arts. You can find him playing various gigs around New Jersey whether it’s in musical pit orchestras, churches, jazz combos, parades, brass quintets, or anything else that may have a trumpet! Besides music he enjoys other arts of woodworking and cooking. He’s been happy to be teaching at Manasquan Music for over three years.

Chris Catania

Guitar, Drums and Rock Shops
Growing up in a house where music was playing at all times, Chris got his first guitar at age 12. It led him to study at Berklee College of Music, where he graduated with studies in Songwriting and Studio Production & Engineering. He has since formed his band Moonwater for whom he writes, produces and performs with throughout the greater NYC/NJ area and freelances as a recording and mix engineer, having worked in a commercial studio in Manhattan as well as an independent studio in Philadelphia. Chris plays a wide variety of genres but his favorite songs always have a little extra groove to them.

Ashlee Driscoll

Voice
Ashlee Driscoll studied vocal performance at Columbia College in Chicago. There she was in many ensembles and performed at the historic House of Blues. She graduated in 2017 and started teaching voice lessons in 2018. With 5 years of experience she hopes to help her students discover their own sound and confidence with performing!

Fran O'Brien

Guitar, Bass, Drums and Piano
A local to Manasquan NJ, Fran O’Brien previously studied at Berklee College of Music. He is known for being the lead guitarist in the Gabi Cinque Band and Duo. Fran is also an alumni of our very own MMAcademy Summer Jazz Ensemble.

Steve Honshowsky

Drums, Bass

Steve Honoshowsky is a percussionist and bassist who also plays a variety of electronic instruments.  He has been performing, recording, composing, and facilitating workshops individually and with a variety of artists since 2001. He has studied with Chris Pennie and Billy Martin and currently performs and records with Billy’s Fang Percussion Ensemble, which was featured in the film/dvd, “Life On Drums”.
In 2008, he represented the United States with solo drum performances at the YMCA Europe Festival in Prague, Czech Republic, and co-founded the drummers collective Speak Softly And Carry A Big Stick with Amir Ziv, which was featured in Modern Drummer Magazine.  He has been teaching children and adults for over twenty years and is a facilitator of The Rhythmic Arts Project (TRAP (http://www.traponline.com/)

Zachary Voelbel

Piano

Zachary Voelbel is from North Brunswick, New Jersey, currently lives in Manasquan and has a degree in Music Theory and Composition from New York University. They studied under contemporary composers such as Marc Consoli, Justin Dello Joio and Ezequiel Viñao. Zach has a diverse background in music, from contemporary rock and electronic music to a variety of classical music styles. Zach has experience playing in bands, contemporary chamber groups and composing original music for both the stage and the dance floor. With their training in piano and composition, they offer a comprehensive study in music that will give students the tools they need to not only play music but also understand the music they learn at its fundamental level.
Music is not just a hobby, but it also provides cognitive enrichment for aspiring musicians of all ages. Along with their background in theory, Zach is passionate about the positive therapeutic affects music can have on our minds and bodies.
By taking their lessons, you will be able to learn how to play the classics, play the modern hits and how to write music of your own.

Martin Terry

Guitar, Bass, Drums, Piano and Ukulele

Hey! My name is Martin Terry, and I have been playing and enjoying music my whole life. When given the opportunity to come teach at MMA, I knew it was meant to be. So here I am, ready to share my knowledge and help anyone I can to grow in their musical endeavors. Like a bee drawn to a flower, music is in my nature. Over the years, I have played in countless gigs, spent endless amounts of hours in the studio producing and recording, and have accumulated millions of plays on Spotify from my solo music “Love James”, to my band’s music “Recess Radio”, and other amazing artists I’ve collaborated with, including LaRussel, Drex Carter, Blake Foster, and American Girlfriend, to name a few. In the fall of 2022, I decided to start giving lessons privately to some of my friends who were interested in learning guitar. I found a deep love for teaching during this time, sharing knowledge with others, and seeing their growth is really something special.

Pamela Flores

Voice, Piano, Guitar and Ukulele
Pam is a passionate and experienced music educator with 10 years of teaching expertise. Her background in musical theatre brings a unique blend of performance and technique to her lessons, fostering creativity and artistry in every student. Pam has performed at renowned venues like the Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, The Stone Pony, and has performed for Sofar Sounds on Oahu and Sea Hear Now in Asbury Park.

Johnna Orrico

Voice, Vocal Performance and Beginner Guitar

Johnna Orrico began singing and studying voice at the age of seven under the instruction of Jody Joseph Bonjovi, a mentorship that later evolved into a full apprenticeship. After years of training, Johnna went on to teach alongside her for over a decade, building a strong foundation in vocal technique, performance, and student development.

In addition to her teaching background, Johnna has extensive performance experience across multiple disciplines. She has appeared in numerous musical theater productions, studied voice and performance at Caldwell University, and spent her teenage and early adult years as a background vocalist for local bands. Her live performance credits include renowned venues such as The Stone Pony, Wonder Bar, The Paramount Theatre, Pollak Theatre, and The Cutting Room.

As a voice instructor, Johnna works with students of all ages and experience levels, emphasizing confidence, healthy technique, and authentic expression. She believes singing should feel both disciplined and joyful, and she strives to create a supportive environment where students can grow vocally while finding their own unique sound. When she’s not teaching, you can usually find Johnna at the front desk as part of the excellent Manasquan Music Academy staff team!

Alyssa Cuccurullo

Voice

Alyssa Cuccurullo is from Brick, New Jersey and is currently pursuing a degree in Music Education and Vocal Music Performance at The College of New Jersey. Throughout her life, she has sung in many famous venues and worked with a variety of talented musicians. She has performed four times in New York City, twice at Lincoln Center and the other two at Carnegie Hall, in which she debuted as a soprano soloist.

In her studies, she continues to hone her skills, such as acting as both stage director and performer in the school’s performance of Opera scenes as well as conductor and soloist in the school’s performance of Mozart’s Requiem; a collaboration with Symphony in C, a mid-Atlantic pre-professional orchestra.

Adah Christian

Voice & Ukelele
Adah Christian is a performer born and raised at the Jersey Shore. They have been in numerous theater and vocal productions since they were very young and was also a former student at MMA for over 5 years in vocal lessons and a rock band! They studied voice at Grunin Performing Arts Academy and studied musical theater for a short period at Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Brian Abrecht

Guitar, Bass, Drums & Beginner Piano
Brian Abrecht is a multi-instrumentalist who plays clarinet, saxophone, guitar, bass, and drums. He studied music at Montclair State University and currently teaches guitar, bass, and drums at Manasquan Music Academy. Outside of teaching, Brian performs regularly throughout the Asbury Park music scene and has shared the stage with members of notable acts including Jefferson Starship, David Crosby Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Bob Weir’s RatDog, and Dark Star Orchestra. While guitar is his primary instrument, Brian is also qualified to teach advanced bass students and intermediate drum students.

Sophia Symonowicz

Voice & Piano

Sophia is a classical soprano vocalist and recently graduated from American University with a BA in Music (Vocal Performance) and with a Minor in Education Studies. She has performed in numerous ensembles including AU’s Chamber Singers (SopranoI) and toured with them to Colombia where they collaborated with the UNAB Colombian Choir to perform Haydn’s Nelson Mass. She studied abroad under the IES Vienna Music Program where she performed in solos and ensembles at the Palais Corbelli-Schoeller and took private voice lessons with soprano Sylvia Greenberg. Sophia has competed in the AU Aria & Concerto Competitions and was one of the 2025 finalists.

Following her involvement with the DC community, Sophia was a proud member of the music fraternity Mu Beta Psi as New Member Educator. She has sang the National Anthem for AU sporting events, including men and women’s basketball, swimming, and soccer games. Sophia participated in the Kennedy Center’s Internship Program, under the Music Education department and as a Production Office Assistant, for the Washington National Opera.

In addition to her involvement with the arts, she has taught children voice and beginner piano lessons for several music schools in Washington, DC and New Jersey. Sophia is excited to continue her journey in vocal performance and teaching music.

Sergio Rojas

Guitar, Bass, Piano & Beginner Drums

Sergio’s love for music started with the guitar and alto saxophone at a very young age. He began taking private lessons at age 10 and later become a student at Manasquan Music Academy. He joined the Jazz House Band and participated in summer jazz ensembles for many years which solidified his passion for music.

Sergio graduated from Berklee College of Music in 2025 with a degree in Music Production, where was able to explore his interest in audio engineering.

He currently teaches guitar, bass, piano, and beginner drums at MMA and directs multiple Rock Shop bands.

In addition to teaching, Sergio is an active participle in the local music scene. He writes and produces song and plays bass in two bands.

Nick Bongiovanni

Guitar, Bass & Drums

Nick Bongiovanni has been immersed in music for most of his life, playing drums since the age of 4 and guitar and bass since he was 12. His musical influences span emo, hardcore, new wave, thrash, and pop punk, with favorite musicians including Brian May, Phil Collins, Thomas Erak, Ray Toro, and Ace Frehley.

Nick has been playing in bands since high school and has been teaching music since 2018, including time as an instructor at School of Rock Marlboro. Over the years, he has performed at venues throughout New Jersey including The Brighton Bar, The Saint, Crossroads, Dingbatz, iPlay America, and The Wonder Bar.

Amanda Addotta

Piano

Amanda has been classically trained and playing the piano since the second grade. She likes to keep her classes fun & encouraging while still providing structure for a mix of modern and improv techniques.

Aside from teaching piano, Amanda has always gravitated towards community and the Arts. In 2011 she cofounded her own Arts nonprofit in her hometown of Paterson, which provided Arts, leadership, & community service programs to inner city youth. 

You can also find Amanda at our front desk to help you with all your scheduling needs; around the Jersey shore area teaching Hiphop or Latin dance classes; or on Season 10 Episode 13 of Impractical Jokers with Paula Abdul!