MERRY MELODY
MUSIC ACADEMY
“I see confidence, interest and self-motivation growing inside my daughter. I can't thank them enough!”
- Li, Westwood
CONTACT US
Voice

Hope Banach | Voice


Hope is a native of Boston, MA, where she began her musical studies in piano, musical theater, and classical voice. A recent graduate of Northwestern University, Hope holds a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance after studying under the tutelage of international soprano Nancy Gustafson, coaching with vocal coach and pianist Richard Boldrey, and participating in masterclasses from master teacher Marlena Malas and renowned soprano Barbara Bonney. Hope has extensive performance experience as a vocalist, having performed as a soprano and alto in Northwestern’s University Singers, University Chorale, and The Renaissance Singers, and participating in several university productions, including Les aventures du roi Pausole, Iolanthe, Trial and Error, Interim, and 1776, as well as giving recitals. Hope knows the effects a good music teacher can have on students and aspires to equip students with the tools and encouragement necessary to foster a love for music and help them reach their fullest musical potential!

Hope
Banach

Marissa Dyer | Voice


Soprano Marissa Dyer is an enthusiastic voice and piano teacher dedicated to building community and connection through music education and performance. Marissa’s studio is an imaginative space for students to explore their unique artistry and musical craft. She loves working with students of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds, supporting every student in achieving their goals. Marissa is a firm believer in student led learning and that every student deserves lessons crafted to their needs, interests, and personalities. A diverse singer, Marissa performs a variety of styles including opera, oratorio, musical theater, jazz, and choral works. Favorite past roles include Barbarina in Boston Opera Collaborative’s Marriage of Figaro, Monica from The Medium with Old Town Actors Studio, and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls with Idaho State Opera Theater. Marissa holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Idaho State University and a Master of Opera from the Longy School of Music of Bard College. When she isn’t busy teaching and singing, Marissa enjoys cooking, crafting, walking her pup Quincy and snuggling her cat Oliver.

Marissa
Dyer

Alena Feldman | Voice


Alena Feldman received her Bachelor of Music from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee under the tutelage of Professor Frank Kelley. She is looking forward to starting her graduate studies this year at Boston University College of Fine Arts under the tutelage of Professor Bitzas. Alena has over 10 years of music making experience and likes to create a holistic environment in her teaching studio. She has been studying classical vocal performance for 12 years, but has ample experience in musical theater singing as well. Alena is a multi-faceted musician whose other instrumental studies include violin, guitar, electric bass, and piano. Some of her favorite roles include: Idamante (Idomeneo), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), Bernarda Alba (Bernarda Alba), and Mina (Dracula). Ms. Feldman's other interests include martial arts, which she has been studying since she was 4 years old. She received her black belt and has teaching experience in that art form as well. Alena will be certified in the Alexander technique in May 2023 and has a unique teaching style, which she attributes to her studies in the Alexander technique. She believes the student is the whole instrument and that connecting to mind and body will bring out their true voice.

Alena
Feldman

Marissa Fieland | Voice


Marissa Fieland received her Bachelor of Music from the New England Conservatory. She is originally from the West Coast but came to Boston to study music where she was a recipient of the Andy Anselmo scholarship. Marissa is one of those talented musicians who excel in several instruments - voice, piano and percussion. She is an experienced and versatile teacher who is experienced in classical music, but also other genres such as musical theater and pop. Marissa performed at Carnegie Hall in 2017 as a finalist for the High School Honors Performance Series and recently placed second in the International Art of Artsong Competition in 2019. A Soprano, Marissa’s operatic roles include: Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte, Countessa in Le nozze di Figaro, Alice in Falstaff, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Mimi in La bohème and Antonia in Les contes d'Hoffmann. Marissa aspires to give her students the tools they need to express themselves musically and to assist her students in their musical journey.

Marissa
Fieland

William Holloman | Voice


William (Bill) Holloman is finishing his Bachelor Degree at the Clark University School of Music studying Composition and Theory. He is studying under Guggenheim Fellowship-receiving composer John Aylward and is instructed in voice by Cailin Manson. A countertenor and pianist, he has been active in music since a young age and his father has toured with many renowned artists. He works for Brian Keane, Emmy-award winning composer on film-scores and soundtracks, arranging and editing sheet music. Bill has taught voice and piano to students ranging from ages 8 to 50 in contemporary, classical, blues, and jazz. Bill has played hundreds of gigs, recitals, weddings and performances in many styles as well as having spent two seasons as principal countertenor with The Hartford Chorale. He is very excited to bring his skills and experience to children to impart everything he has learned as well as learn as much as he can with the students and teachers at Merry Melody!

William
Holloman

Jennifer Judd | Voice


Jennifer received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance for Voice from Westfield State College in 1998. She began teaching voice and piano in 1997, working for some local lesson centers, as well as running her own lesson center for 6 years. Jennifer has assisted as music director for theater groups and has been a conductor for several local and national church choir concerts, particularly through the Polish National Catholic Church. As a choir member, she has enjoyed performing with the Schola Nova Chorus, Springfield Symphony Chorus and Westfield Community Chorus. Jennifer has recorded and continues to record with recording artists known as Autumn Tears, has appeared as backup singer for underground metal bands…and then changed it up for a time by touring as backup singer with a Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Changes In Latitudes. These days she dedicates a lot of her focus on yoga, which incorporates a lot of singing and breathing techniques, and where she is learning to play the harmonium. Jennifer feels that we are our own best teachers. Her focus is to help students to be interested in self-discovery - to find that strength, courage and self-discipline within themselves and cultivate it. And, of course, all learning is a more enjoyable experience if we allow ourselves to stand in that power.

Jennifer
Judd

Holly Krafka | Voice


Holly MacEwen Krafka teaches voice and piano. She has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Gettysburg College and a Masters in Conducting from the Boston Conservatory, where she studied both voice and piano. Ms. Krafka is founder and Artistic Administrator of the New World Chorale, performing with Boston’s major orchestras at venues such as Sanders Theater, the Hatch Shell, Fenway Park, Jordan Hall, the Opera House and the Wang Center with the Boston Ballet. She has taught music and chorus at both public and private schools, as well as her own voice studio. Her children’s choruses have performed at the Colonial Theater in Boston and European tours. She has decades of experience in teaching classical, opera, musical theater, jazz, pop, contemporary a cappella, sacred and secular music as well as theory and music history. Her other love is her precious baby granddaughter, and following the careers of her three very musical sons.

Holly
Krafka

Enjie Lian | Voice


Enjie is finishing his Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance at Longy School of Music of Bard College under the tutelage of Dr. Christopher Sierra. He has sung with some prestigious organizations like Seattle Opera for the leading role of Happy Prince in " Wilde Tales", and the First Sailor(Cover) in " Dido and Aeneas" at Boston Camarata. He also has played piano for many years, studying piano in high school and at Longy. Being and experienced teacher in both voice and piano, Enjie is willing to explore music with his students no matter their age. His teaching philosophy is for his students to learn how to sing and play in a healthy way and with good foundations, but still find the musical and emotional voice in everyone.

Enjie
Lian

Amber Naugle | Voice


Originally from Missouri, Amber Naugle earned her Master of Music in Voice Performance from the Boston Conservatory in 2019 under the tutelage of Victor Jannett. She arrived in New England after obtaining her Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, studying under Stella Roden, and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Ms. Naugle studied voice and piano from an early age and is accomplished in both instrument. She has performed voice in Italy, France, and across the United States. Her notable roles are Mother (Hansel und Gretel), Pamina (The Magic Flute), La Princesse (L’Enfant et les Sortilèges), Mrs. Gobineau (The Medium), and Despina (Così Fan Tutte). During her undergraduate studies, Ms. Naugle served for 2 years as President of the Student Chapter of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. She also virtually teaches English to Chinese children aged 3-18 and aspires to bring fun and positive energy into every class setting. She strives to understand her students on a personal level to better tailor the learning experience to the students’ interest.

Amber
Naugle

Omar Sandakly | Voice


Omar is a graduate of The Hartt School with a Bachelor of Music in Composition with a concentration in Voice. He is a multi-talented musician, being a skilled vocalist with two years of conservatory musical theatre training, in addition to having professional experience singing — as well as playing piano, drums, and guitar— in rock, pop, jazz, alternative, and R&B styles. Omar is an experienced teacher who has been teaching voice and piano lessons since 2018. A composer, arranger, filmmaker, and absurdist, Omar brings a diverse educational perspective to the table.

Omar
Sandakly

Andrew Stack | Voice


Operatic Baritone and Voice & Piano Teacher Andrew Stack earned his Graduate Diploma in Voice from New England Conservatory, his Master’s in Voice Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and his Bachelor’s in Voice Performance from Westminster Choir College. Andrew has played piano since a young age learning from his jazz pianist Father. As a performer, Andrew recently was part of the world premiere cast of Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abel’s opera Omar, and performs with organizations such as Boston Lyric Opera, Spoleto Festival USA, and Carolina Performing Arts. An experienced teacher, Andrew has taught both voice and piano lessons. As a teacher, Andrew firmly believes in modeling positive self-talk as often as possible, so that students learn to become their own biggest cheerleaders on stage, while practicing, and in every day life.

Andrew
Stack

Alexandra Tan | Voice


Alexandra Tan started her musical studies at the age of four in classical piano. She later received a Diploma in piano performance from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, Australia where she majored in voice performance and instrumental teaching and minored in piano, she continued her graduate studies at The Boston Conservatory, receiving a Masters in voice performance under the tutelage of Dr Marilyn Bulli. She has also performed and given recitals in her home country, Singapore, Australia and here in Massachusetts. Discovering her passion for teaching, she also undertook a Post Graduate Diploma in Music Education. Alexandra has taught in a variety of settings. Besides teaching private piano and voice lessons, she has also taught in public schools in Massachusetts such as the Boston Latin School and Bigelow Middle school, teaching general music, chorus and instrumental ensembles. As a teacher, she endeavors to help students achieve their full potential by adapting her instruction to the student’s needs. Besides this, she believes music should be enjoyable and fun for all.

Alexandra
Tan

Ana Maria Villa Pico | Voice


Ana María Villa is a multi-talented vocalist and pianist from Bogotá, Colombia. She studied and performed Musical Theater in Bogotá for 7 years and later moved to Boston to pursue a career in music when she got admitted into Berklee College of Music. Ana María graduated with a performance degree in 2016 and has been actively performing around the Boston area. During her time in Boston she has performed along artists like Juan Luis Guerra, Joyce Moreno, Noel Schajris, Tigran Hamasyan and Mane Dela Parra. Besides performing, Ana loves teaching and sharing her love of music with her students!

Ana Maria
Villa Pico