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.
This will be their 21st summer at Encore/Coda!
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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); private oboe and piano studio in Cincinnati area, piano proficiency TA, Michigan State University; member, International Double Reed Society, Music Teacher’s Association of California, College Music Society.
This will be their 10th summer at Encore/Coda!
Summer Team
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Ceci Cipullo
Senior, Bachelor of Arts in Italian Studies, University of Massachusetts Amherst; performing member, Mission:IMPROVable Short Form Improv Troupe, UMass Comedy League; creating an Honors Thesis project in comedy television and screenwriting; performances and training with Wheelock Family Theater (Boston, MA), Harwich Junior Theater (Cape Cod, MA), UMass Theater Guild (UMass Amherst); member, Actors Equity Association.
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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
Masters student in Instrumental Conducting at University of Florida; Bachelor in Music Education with Clarinet Performance Certificate, University of Florida; studies with David Waybright and Mitchell Estrin; current assistant conductor of UF Symphonic Band and Clarinet Choir; short-term assistant middle school band director in 2022, Gainesville, FL; private clarinet instructor, performances with UF Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Gainesville Pops, FMEA All-State Intercollegiate Band (Tampa, FL); member, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, National Association for Music Education; clarinet, piano; 4th summer at E/C.
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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; 8th summer at E/C.
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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 E/C.
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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 E/C
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Ethan Heimbach
Junior Instrumental Music Education Major at Longwood University; studies under Dr. Roland Karnatz (Clarinet); performances with Longwood University Wind Symphony, Longwood University Clarinet Ensemble, and Camerata Singers; hometown is Newport News, Virginia; 1st summer at E/C.
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Jeimy Valerio
Graduated senior from Dundalk High School in Baltimore, MD; 3rd summer at E/C.
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Kalleigh Gibson
Popular Music Major at Arizona State University; studies with Mario Yniguez; hometown is West Jordan, Utah; 1st summer at E/C.
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Marcos Santiago
Junior, Muhlenburg College studying Music Education in Allentown, PA; 2nd summer at E/C.
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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.
This will be their 5th summer at Encore/Coda!
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Nick Valencia
Junior Studying French Horn Performance at the University of Michigan. Studied with Adam Unsworth. Performed in the YOLA National Festival, Juilliard Summer Winds, New World Symphony Side-by-Side, University of Michigan’s Philharmonia Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra. 1st summer at E/C.
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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 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
Junior Counselor; 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 E/C.
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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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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; 12th summer at E/C.
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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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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.
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Alejandro Tagle Ruiz
Prep Cook and Dishwasher. 4th year student at Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. Majoring in Software Engineering. Passionate about technology and enjoys connecting with nature and practicing meditation.
This will be their 1st summer at Encore/Coda!
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.