Our Team
Inspiring our Campers
For over 70 years Encore/Coda has been operated by music teachers who love to share their craft and inspire young musicians.
Our Directors
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Cara Bergantino
Owner/Director of Camp! Violist and Strings Teacher with a Master of Science in Arts Administration, Boston University, Boston, MA; Bachelor of Music in Music Education, New York University, NYC; Performances with Brookline Symphony Orchestra, One World Symphony, Jackson Heights Orchestra, NYU Symphony Orchestra; Private Strings Lesson instructor at Beaver Country Day School (Chestnut Hill, MA), Newton Public Schools (Newton, MA), and The Conservatory at Highlands (Newton, MA); Director of the Newton Public Schools’ All City Orchestra; Former Strings & Band Teacher, Newton Public Schools, former strings teacher in the Belmont Public Schoolsstudied with Bonnie Black, Karen Ritscher, Stephanie Baer; instrumental music teacher in the Newton Public Schools (Newton, MA), orchestra director, Newton All City Orchestra, former music teacher, Belmont Public Schools, former music teacher at Mark Twain I.S. 239 for the Gifted and Talented (Brooklyn, NY); member, American String Teachers Association.
22nd Summer at Camp
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Nathan Hubbard
Doctor of Musical Arts in Oboe Performance, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI; Master of Music in Oboe Performance, Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI; Bachelor of Music in Oboe Performance, Baldwin–Wallace Conservatory of Music, Berea, OH; studied with Jan Eberle, Jeffrey Rathbun; performances with Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, Dearborn Symphony Orchestra, (Dearborn, MI); Member of the Wayside Winds. Private oboe and piano studio in Cincinnati area.
12th Summer at Camp
Summer Team
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Ceci Cipullo
Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies & Commonwealth Honors Thesis in Writing Comedy Television, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Rising Masters of Fine Arts in Writing for Film & Television student at Emerson College. Film Industry Assistant both on set and in office (Worldwide Production Agency; Hallmark; Universal Content; 20th Century Studios; Apple Original Films; HBO Max; 101 Studios). Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade & Improv Asylum trained Comedic Improviser. Writer / Director. Member, Actors Equity Association.
15th Summer at Camp
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Eustaquio Dones
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, University of New Hampshire; Masters of Education in Educational Leadership, University of Maine; Education Doctoral Candidate in Educational Leadership, researching Multi-Tiered Systems of Support in rural schools, University of Maine; Assistant Principal, North Berwick Elementary School; Communications Director, Maine School Administrative District #60; 6th Summer at E/C.
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Lindsay Gassman
Bachelor of Music in Music Education, University of Florida; Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting, University of Florida; Certificate in Clarinet Performance – studied with Mitchell Estrin; Director of Bands, Freedom Crossing Academy; member, National Association for Music Education; clarinet, piano.
6th Summer at Camp
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Maya Milic-Strkalj
Bachelor of the Arts in Philosophy and German, Wheaton College, Norton, MA; Masters of Social Work, Boston University; Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Massachusetts; clinical focuses include working with LGBQ/T community, social justice in clinical practice, and family therapy; current member, steering committee of Boston Liberation Health; 4th summer at E/C.
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Riley McCurdy
Waterfront Director. Master of Music in Music Education, Master of Music in Choral Conducting, Syracuse University, Bachelors in Music Education, Syracuse University; Aquatics Director British Swim Schools – Northern Baltimore; member, National Association for Music Education, American Choral Directors Association, Maryland Music Educators Association, Sigma Alpha Iota; certified lifeguard, CPR, AED, waterfront safety, first aid, stop the bleed.
9th Summer at Camp
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Albert Fuentes
Current Sophomore in Music Education and Horn Performance from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
1st Summer at Camp
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Alex LeBouef
Rising Senior at Princeton High School, Princeton, NJ. Band Manager for the Princeton High School Studio Band and Jazz Ensemble.
6th Summer at Camp
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Aya Bernstein
Rising senior at Winchester High School. Studies with Ririka Tokushige and Shizue Sano. Performances with NEC Prep in the Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensembles and Orchestras, MMEA All State, MMEA Senior Northeastern District Festivals, the Boston Charity Concert and Women In World Jazz; performances with the New England Piano Teachers Association, Music For Hope charity concerts and Ensemble concerts; performances with Winchester High School Jazz Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra.
6th Summer at Camp
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Da’la Tinsley
Junior voice performance at Xavier University; studies under Dr. Annie Barr-McAllister; performances with Xavier Concert Choir, Xavier Gospel Choir, and Xavier Album Project (Billie Eilish, Hit Me Hard and Soft); Hometown is Rock Hill, South Carolina.
1st Summer at Camp
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David Lehrer
Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, New York University; studied with Rich Perry, Dave Pietro, David Prez, Billy Drewes.
4th Summer at Camp
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Dayana Read
Sophomore studying Sociology at Smith College in Northampton, MA. Mentor, Counselor, Social Justice Coordinator, and Board Member for Community MusicWorks in Providence, RI.
1st Summer at Camp
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Elijah Thomas
Junior in Music Education at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA.
1st Summer at Camp
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Erica Goodman
Rising Senior at Hoboken High School; Studies with Corey Moore; Performances with Hoboken High School Concert Band and Hoboken High School Wind Ensemble; Certified Lifeguard.
6th Summer at Camp
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Erin McNeilly
Sophomore at University of Southern Maine’s Osher School of Music. Majoring in Music Education with a concentration in Jazz Voice. Studies with Dr. Malinda Haslett, Dr. Chris Oberholtzer and Amanda Roswick. Theatrical Apprenticeships done with The Seacoast Rep and The Barnstormers.
3rd Summer at Camp
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Ethan Heimbach
Recent graduate from Longwood University (Bachelor of Music Education); Studied Clarinet under Dr. Roland Karnatz; Hometown is Richmond, Virginia; Performances with: Longwood University Wind Symphony, Longwood University Clarinet Ensemble, Richmond Pops Band, and Camerata Singers.
2nd Summer at Camp
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Fatima Sullivan
Senior at Northwestern University Bienen School of Music, Music Education and Viola
Performance majors, studies with Helen Callus (Northwestern University) and Ivo-Jan van der
Werff (Rice University), performances with Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra, Dana
Point Symphony Orchestra, Corona Symphony Orchestra, Temecula Valley Symphony.1st Summer at Camp
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Jarrail Stevens
Graduating Senior. Bachelor of Music Education Choral Emphasis from University of Texas at Arlington. Music Director, Rise A Cappella.
1st Summer at Camp
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Jeimy Valerio
Sophomore at Community College of Baltimore County majoring in civil & technical engineering. Currently working with large and small ensembles with latin percussion, & violin. Programming staff at Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Orchkids.
5th Summer at Camp
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Lauren Brown
Bachelor’s in Neuroscience from Reed College in Portland, OR.
1st Summer at Camp
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Luca Colombi
Bunk Counselor. Sophomore, University of Maryland Baltimore County; studies with Brent Madsen and Matt Belzer; performances with the UMBC jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, and orchestra; Trumpet, some drums.
1st Summer at Camp
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Madison Branch
Graduate of Longwood University with a bachelor’s in music education; Studied Classical Piano under Dr. Lisa Kinzer; Studied Clarinet under Dr. Roland Karnatz; hometown is Richmond, Virginia; performed with Longwood University Wind Symphony, Longwood University Band, Longwood University Clarinet Ensemble, Chamber Singers, and Camerata Singers.
2nd Summer at Camp
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Marcos Santiago
Bachelors of Music Education from Muhlenburg College in Allentown, PA.
3rd Summer at Camp
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Milo Goffredo
Rising senior at Amherst Regional High School. Studies with Kaila Graef and Geoffrey Hudson. Performances with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, MMEA Senior Western District Orchestra, and Springfield Symphony Youth Orchestra.
6th Summer at Camp
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Nathan Schuster
Current Sophomore in Music Performance and Teaching and Learning from University of Maryland Baltimore County. Associate of Arts in Humanities & Social Sciences/Music from Community College of Baltimore County.
1st Summer at Camp
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Olive Paradis
Rising Senior at Amherst Regional High School. Co-Director of Feminist Generation Amherst.
4th Summer at Camp
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Rachel Dickie
Rising senior at Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, Cambridge, MA. Member of the Lexington Chamber Music Center, Lexington, MA. Violinist with NEC Prep.
5th Summer at Camp
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Rob Gardner
Bachelor of the Arts in Music and International Studies, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA. Studied with Sonya Ovrutsky Fensome.
1st Summer at Camp
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Sam McGee
Graduating from River Hill High School May 2026. Violin at River Hill GT Orchestra and Howard County Youth Orchestra. E/C Choir. Attending University of Maryland Baltimore County Fall 2026, Nursing Major and Music Minor. Certified Lifeguard.
5th Summer at Camp
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Sam Wagner
Junior studying Jazz Guitar Performance from William Paterson, Wayne NJ.
1st Summer at Camp
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Santiago Vera
Undergraduate Student in Jazz Piano Performance, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (transfer student at Oberlin College and Conservatory beginning in the fall semester); studies with Joan Hickey, soon to be Luis Perdomo. Ravinia Jazz Scholars Alumni, 1st summer at E/C
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Sarah Hegenderfer
Rising senior at University of Akron studying Music Composition. Composer working across concert music, orchestral performance, and narrative-driven composition for screen. Performing musician on trumpet, classical guitar, and voice. Works programmed by the Akron Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Women’s Orchestra at Severance Hall. 1st summer at E/C.
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Sofia Davis
Rising Senior at the Waring School; Studies with Andrea LeBlanc; Performances with Waring School Chamber Choir, Northeast Massachusetts Youth Orchestra; Certified CPR.
4th Summer at Camp
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Soleil Huang-Dale
Sophomore Music Education Major, concentration in Jazz Studies, at the Osher School of Music, USM. Studies with Brian Diehl, and Christopher Oberholtzer. Performances with the Portland Jazz Orchestra, Portland Symphony Orchestra, Osher Jazz Ensembles. 2025 International Women’s Brass Conference jazz competition runner-up. 2026 Osher School of Music concerto competition winner. 3rd summer at E/C.
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Sophie Crossland
Rising sophomore at University of Maryland, Baltimore County double majoring in vocal performance and psychology, in hopes to become a children’s music therapist in clinical settings. Performances include, professional and school theatre productions, honors orchestras, honors and Allstate choir, dance ensembles, and bands.
8th Summer at Camp
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Stella Stroud
Rising senior at Amherst Regional High School, Alto, Tenor, and Baritone saxophones, Certified Lifeguard. 3rd summer at E/C.
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Jocelyn Faison
Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance, University of Maryland Baltimore County. Master of Music in Oboe Performance candidate, University of Maryland College Park. Performances with Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra. Music Instructor at Expressions Music Academy. Studies with Emily Tsai. Has studied with Fatma Daglar, Mark Hill, Noelle Drewes.
9th Summer at Camp
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Melissa Birkhold
Faculty Member. Master of Music in Bassoon Performance and Literature, Eastman School of Music, Rochester, NY; Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance, Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, MD; studies with William Kaplan, Phil Kolker, John Hunt; performances with Washington Chamber Orchestra, Classical Revolution Baltimore, Symphony Syracuse, Syracuse Opera Company, Orchestra of Northern New York, Eastern Music Festival Orchestras; general music and modern band teacher, Crescent Park School (Bethel, ME) and Woodstock Elementary School (Woodstock, ME), former bassoon teacher, Baltimore School for the Arts, former bassoon teacher, TWIGS program, former instructor, Baltimore Symphony’s OrchKids Program, former musicianship instructor, RocMusic (Rochester, NY); Vision Team Leader, Maine Arts Education Partners in Leadership, Advocacy Chair, Maine Music Educators Association, member, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
14th Summer at Camp
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Kristin Gianelis
Faculty in Doctor of Nursing Practice at Frontier University. Owner of Real Wellness for Humans, LLC. Doctor of Nursing Practice from Frontier University. Masters of Science in Nursing from Simmons Univeristy. 1st summer at E/C.
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Lisa Morgan, RN
BSN, Indiana University; member, Indiana University Alumni Association; registered nurse; 11th summer at E/C.
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Lisa Romero
RN,BSN Graduate of Niagara University. Worked as an ER nurse for 30+ years throughout the US and Europe. Retired Flight Nurse from Alaska Currently teaching wilderness Medicine and working in the ER setting at a local critical access hospital. Lives to be outdoors with her dog Zion.
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Tanya Belcheff, RN
Director of DEI and Assistant Professor at Frontier Nursing University. Has worked as a full scope CNM in multiple hospitals and health centers. Doctor of Nurse Practice from Frontier University. Post Doctorate from University of Massachusetts Global. 3rd summer at E/C.
Directors Emeritus
Jamie Saltman and Ellen Donohue-Saltman
Jamie– (JAZZ PIANO, CONDUCTING) – Master of Music in Conducting, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA; Bachelor of Music in Music Education, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA; studies with Frank Battisti, Walter Chesnut, Nigel Coxe; performances with UMASS Large Ensembles, MA Youth Wind Ensembles, NEC Wind Ensembles, Encore/Coda Ensembles; staff pianist and musical director of jazz services, Temple Beth Avodah (Newton, MA); freelance musician and jazz piano teacher, greater Boston area; member, Massachusetts Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Maine Summer Camps; 64th summer at E/C.
Ellen– (HORN) – Artist Diploma in Chamber Music, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA; Master of Music in Horn Performance, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA; Bachelor of Arts in Political Economy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA; member, Ariel Wind Quintet; Grassmere Trio, current horn instructor, Lexington & Weston public schools (MA); performances on WGBH, Boston; member, Maine Youth Camping Association; 41st summer at E/C.