The Music Studios at Creative Greensboro

Jeffrey Carlson, Voice

Jeff holds a bachelor's degree in music from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and a M.M. degree in vocal performance from UNCG. In 2006, he was a recipient of the North Carolina Arts Council Resident Artist Grant. An accomplished performer, Jeff has sung a variety of genres, including musical theatre, art song and jazz standards, but his first love is opera. He has sung on stages in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, Austria, and throughout central North Carolina. Influenced by his research in vocal pedagogy, particularly the effects of acoustic response on the learning process, Jeff began teaching more than 20 years ago, and enjoys working with students whose musical interests range from opera to musical theater to rock-n-roll. In addition to performing and teaching, Jeff also serves as executive director of the semi-professional chorus, Bel Canto Company. For information about lessons, please visit his website.

Linda Cykert, Flute, Piccolo, Recorder

Linda teaches at Elon University and is a member of the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the Roanoke Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and NC Symphony. She was a winner of the National Flute Association’s Solo Masterclass Competition, won positions in four NFA Professional Flute Choirs, and was a judge for five Newly Published Music Contests. Ms. Cykert performed with Sheridan Stokes, Hollywood Flutist and Professor of Flute at UCLA at the 2001 and 2005 National Flute Association Conventions, and has also performed with Los Angeles Composer-Guitarist Christopher Caliendo at MusikFest in Bethlehem,PA. Cykert, a Conn-Selmer Artist, along with Ohio’s Katie DeJongh, presented “New Strategies for Student Flute Performance” at the August 2006 National Flute Association Convention. Ms. Cykert also performs frequently in the triad area.  Please contact her at by email or 336-675-2798.

Elena DeAngelis, Voice

Hailing from Buffalo, NY, classically trained soprano Elena DeAngelis holds a master's degree from UNCG in Music In Vocal Performance, a bachelor's degree  in Music in Education with a Vocal concentration and Piano Minor from the D’Angelo School of Music at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania, and additional intensive training at the Wesley-Balk Music-Theatre Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota, the American Singers’ Opera Project in residency at Wake Forest University, and the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Elena has taught vocal instruction privately since 2000, as well as in public and private school settings in the areas of voice and general music. A freelance dramatic and vocal coach, Elena has consulted and worked with high school drama programs and community summer arts festivals. An accomplished performer, Elena is a soprano known for her lively and captivating embodiment of characters and lustrous tone. She has charmed audiences at home and overseas in opera, musical theatre, oratorio, and recital. Regionally, Elena has appeared in leading roles and as a soloist with Greensboro Opera, Greensboro Symphony, Eastern Music Festival, Capital Opera Raleigh, Long Leaf Opera, Fayetteville University Summer Opera Festival, the Touring Theatre of North Carolina, Open Space Theatre, and Greensboro Ballet. Elena spent a season as Artist-in-Residence with Greensboro Opera and appeared nationally in recitals as a North Carolina United Arts Council Resident Artist grant recipient. Read more about Elena and her voice studio.

Sam Frazier, Guitar, Bass, Keyboard, Ukulele

Sam is a guitarist (and sometime pianist, bassist and ukulele-ist) from Greensboro. After studying music at UNCG and the University of Southern California, he embarked on a musical adventure that continues to this very day: playing, singing, songwriting and teaching with no end in sight. Some of his past endeavors include stints with Martha Bassett, Laurelyn Dossett, Molly McGinn, Tornado, Mary Lyon, Billy Ransom Hobbs, the Piedmont Songbag, Bruce Piephoff, Johnny’s Middle Finger, Lisa Dames, Lacy Green, Claire Holley, the Numbers (with Britt Harper Uzzell, Snüzz) and Mr. Potatohead. He has opened shows for Joan Armatrading, The Neville Brothers, America, The Funky Meters, The Duhks, The Del McCrory Band, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Eric Church, Craig Morgan, Root Boy Slim and others. Currently, Sam is happily ensconced in Sam Frazier & the Side Effects with occasional solo shows here and there. During the daylight hours, he’ll be teaching!  Contact him at 336-255-1597.

Allegra Gicla, Piano

Allegra has a Bachelor of Music degree from the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, IL, and has more than 40 years of experience teaching both Suzuki method and traditional piano. She is a member of the Suzuki Association of America and is also the assistant organist at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro. Prior to moving to Greensboro, she taught at the Wheaton College Suzuki Program in Wheaton, IL, for 17 years. She currently has students ranging from ages 4 to age 50 and believes we are all born with an ability to learn - talent is not the deciding factor.  Allegra can be reached by email.

Eve Hubbard, Violin

Eve is the coordinator for Greensboro Strings Cooperative and offers regular Suzuki group lessons, workshops, and concert events for Suzuki violin students in the Greensboro area. Eve's other teaching activities include conducting the Greensboro Symphony Youth Strings and teaching string classes at Greensboro College and North Carolina A&T State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in music from UNCG and her master's in music degrees from both UNC-CH and Northwestern University. She is an active recitalist and performs for area theater productions, choir concerts, and special events. Area ensembles with which she has played include the Greensboro Symphony, the Winston-Salem Symphony, the Charlotte Philharmonic, and Philharmonia of Greensboro. For more information, visit Eve's website.

Tanya Ross, Voice

Tanya Ross is a singer, songwriter, musician and vocal instructor and is a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  In college she founded her first band “Ebonique" and had the opportunity to open for several major recording artists: Sybil, Boney James, Kirk Whalum, Norman Brown, Rick Braun, Zapp Band, Temptations and many more. As an artist her career took a turn and she became a solo entrepreneur, contracting other musicians to accompany her during performances as The Tanya Ross Project. She has been performing on stages all around the U.S. for over 34 years.  Her repertoire consist of music from the 70’s to 2000’s with styles that range from R&B, Neo-Soul, Smooth Jazz/Traditional, Reggae and her Originals. She has released three CD’s; “Free as a Bird”, “Baggy Jeans” and “Sunshine and Rain” which have had rave reviews. In September 2016 she opened Ross’ Performance Music Studio. Some of her true joys are teaching others how to sing using different techniques, helping to develop confidence during a stage performance and sharing knowledge to singers about stage equipment etc.  “I just want to spread love, healing and hope through music.” Tanya thanks the Creator for blessing her with unique gifts in music.  Contact Tanya for lesson inquiries at 336-989-2456.

Luci White, Violin, Viola

Luci was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where she began studying Suzuki violin at age eight. She received her bachelor's in music from Northwestern University, where she studied with Almita and Roland Vamos. Luci has completed Suzuki teacher training through Book 8 at the Chicago Suzuki Institute and the American Suzuki Institute. She performs with the Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, and Salisbury Symphony. Luci offers both Suzuki and traditional lessons. For more information, please visit her website.

Peter Zlotnick, Percussion

Peter lives in Greensboro and serves as principal timpanist for the Greensboro Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, and Winston-Salem Symphony. He is a founding member of Amphion Percussion and performs frequently with the Philidor Percussion Group. Peter also plays regularly in small ensembles and bands on timpani, keyboard percussion, drum set, steel pan, and other percussion instruments. In addition to performing, Peter is the Education Director for the Greensboro Symphony where he coordinates small and large ensemble concerts, instructional programs, and the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra. During the school year, Peter teaches percussion and in the summer he is on the Instrumental Music faculty at NC Governor's School West. Peter received his master's of music degree in percussion and music education from Northwestern University and bachelor's from the Eastman School of Music. For more information, visit him online.