Hyeseon Hong-Piano and Composition Faculty

HYESEON HONG is an accomplished composer, arranger and pianist working extensively in both New York City and Seoul, Korea. She is adept in many different genres of music including jazz, musicals, pop and film composition. She has composed and performed in several different musicals and has been commissioned to write music for film. As an educator Ms. Hong served as assistant professor at Dae Gu Art Music College in South Korea teaching classes in jazz arranging, composition, theory and piano. In 2017 she released a big band album on Summit Records to much acclaim featuring Rich Perry and Ingrid Jensen. A recipient of the prestigious Copland Fund composers grant her group currently consists of some of New York’s finest musicians while she also continues to lead her choir group in Seoul. Ms. Hong received a Bachelor of Music from Yonsei University, a Masters of Arts in Jazz Performance from NYU, and pursued additional independent study courses in improvisation and composition at City College.

**Matt Panayides-Director, Guitar and Piano Faculty**
MATT PANAYIDES is a guitarist and composer whose distinctive playing has led to performances throughout New York City and all over the world. Influenced by the language of jazz musicians, rock bands and singer/songwriters Panayides has set out on his own path creating a unique body of music documented across numerous performances and recordings. Based in Jersey City, Panayides can be found leading his own groups and collaborating with other musicians throughout NYC and abroad. His current musical project was formed in 2018 and is called FIELD THEORY. The new CD entitled FIELD THEORY will be released April 9th, 2021 on the PACIFIC COAST JAZZ record label. His previous projects also featured RICH PERRY on tenor sax which led to the creation of two albums: CONDUITS [2015] with MARK FERBER (drums) and THOMSON KNEELAND (bass), and TAPESTRIES OF SONG [2011] with STEVE LASPINA (bass) and DAN WEISS (drums). Panayides has been taking his music to Asia for several years now, collaborating with the famous Korean drummer Oh Jong Dae in Seoul and Alec Haavik, a legend of the Shanghai jazz scene, in China. Panayides, who grew up in Springfield, OH, and Indianapolis, IN, studied with jazz guitarist Rodney Jones and pianist Garry Dial, both of whom have had a lasting impact. Matt holds a BM from Manhattan School of Music and an MM from William Paterson University.

**Jeff Sassaman-violin, bass, piano faculty**
Jeff Sassaman is a bass player and teacher in the NYC area,both in the classical and jazz genres. He has overseas tours reaching Europe, Africa and Asia and South America. He has performed with Placido Domingo, Jon Manasse, Carter Brey to name a few. He has performed at the White House, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall.
As an educator, Jeff has taught hundreds of students in his career. He utilizes all of the gold star teaching methods on various instruments. He is a member of The American String Teachers Association (ASTA),The Music Educators Association of NJ (MEA), The International Society of Bassist and The American Federation of Musicians. Jeff holds a B.F.A. from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

Marc Velez-Guitar and Piano FacultyMARC VELEZ is a guitarist and educator currently living Union City, New Jersey. His primary instrument is guitar, but also teaches piano, bass, and ukulele. He is drawn to the guitar for its versatility, and emphas… — **Marc Velez-Guitar and Piano Faculty**
MARC VELEZ is a guitarist and educator currently living Union City, New Jersey. His primary instrument is guitar, but also teaches piano, bass, and ukulele. He is drawn to the guitar for its versatility, and emphasizes developing a strong technical foundation so that his students are well equipped to handle a wide variety of genres. He is a graduate of NJCU’s jazz performance program, where he studied under esteemed musicians and educators such as Paul Meyers and Nathan Eklund while also sharing stages with fantastic performers. He was also afforded opportunities to travel, which included a week-long stay in Mumbai with an NJCU student quartet to work with the True School of Music and also perform at the Blue Frog. Marc was a faculty member within the music department of High Tech High School from 2018-2020, primarily instructing guitarists and assisting upperclassmen with their college applications and preparation for auditions. He now spends his time performing and teaching within northern New Jersey.

**Asnley Huang-Piano Faculty**
With over 5 years of expertise as a dedicated piano teacher, Ms. Ashley cultivated an exceptional record of success. Her students consistently triumph in piano competitions, achieve remarkable results in ABRSM examinations. In 2023, four of her students were accepted into the prestigious Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division. Ashley excels in nurturing talent, shaping musicians, and presenting not just piano skills, but a deep understanding of music theory.
Ashley Huang was born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1999. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, studying under Alexander Shtarkman. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music degree at the Mannes School of Music with a high amount of scholarship under the legendary master Ann Schein.
Ashley began playing the piano at the age of 5 and she has been guided by numerous masters, including Meng-Chieh Liu, Gwhyneth Chen, Jerome Rose, Alexandre Moutouzkine, Sandra Shapiro, and Spencer Myer.
Ashley has achieved outstanding results in numerous domestic and international competitions, including winning first prize in the Taipei City Music Competition, and second prize in the International Youth Chopin Piano Competition in Vietnam, where she was praised by the judges and Master Dang Thai Son as a "musical young pianist". In 2023, she was awarded as the winner of the Taiwanese Chapter of the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Society.

Matt Moore-Guitar, Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Piano FacultyMatt Moore is from Austin, Texas. He picked up guitar at the age of 7. In middle school, he began with the saxophone. During high school, Matt learned piano and drums. Through college, he learned… — **Matt Moore-Guitar, Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Piano Faculty**
Matt Moore is from Austin, Texas. He picked up guitar at the age of 7. In middle school, he began with the saxophone. During high school, Matt learned piano and drums. Through college, he learned to play the clarinet and flute as well as perfected the rest of his instruments. Matt graduated cum laude from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. From then, he has performed in many professional bands and formed his own groups, such as Nowsterday. Matt has a lot of experience in all the instruments he teaches. Combining what the students wants to learn with his knowledge of all aspects of music. He likes to integrate music theory with a good understanding of technique and songs they're working on. Most importantly, he wants the students to enjoy learning everything they can about music.