Emanuel Ayvas

piano/guitar/voice/recording+tech production/composition

STUDIED CLASSICAL COMPOSITION AND CLASSICAL PIANO PERFORMANCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL.  HE BEGAN TEACHING MUSIC IN 2000 AND HAS BEEN DOING SO SINCE, BOTH PRIVATELY AND FOR VARIOUS SCHOOLS AND MUSIC PROGRAMS.  HE HAS TAUGHT ALL AGE LEVELS AND CURRENTLY HAS A PRIVATE STUDIO OF 35 STUDENTS IN MANHATTAN.  ON TOP OF TEACHING, HE HAS FORMED AND CONTINUES TO LEAD WHAT HAS NOW BECOME AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED ROCK BAND THAT TOURS AROUND THE WORLD AND HAS ALBUMS RELEASED ON EVERY CONTINENT. HE'S BEEN FEATURED IN THE GUARDIAN, ROLLING STONE, VICE, TAPE OP, THE VILLAGE VOICE, AND ON VARIOUS NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION AND RADIO PROGRAMS INCLUDING BBC, FOX, AND WNYC. HE ALSO WORKS AS A FOR HIRE COMPOSER AND PRODUCER, COMPOSING MUSIC FOR PLAYS, FILM, AND TELEVISION HAVING WORKED ON A NUMBER OF MAJOR PROJECTS FOR EACH MEDIUM AT STUDIOS LIKE CAPITOL RECORDS STUDIO A, AND RESERVOIR STUDIOS NYC.  

Dallin Applebaum

voice/piano/songwriting/recording+tech production

is a vocalist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer and teacher. She is classically trained and studied at New York University. She has recorded and performed with Rachel Platten, MATCHBOX 20, Ryan Star, Passion Pit, Phil Phillips, Jillette Johnson, Emanuel and The Fear producers Derek Furhman, Ido Zmishlany, and many more. SHE HAS HAD SONGS FEATURED ON THE OLYMPICS, AND MANY TVS SHOWS. She is currently based in NASHVILLE where she teaches, COMPOSES AND OCCASIONALLY PERFORMS.

Claire Wellin

Violin/voice/Ukulele/Guitar

Claire helps students from early childhood to adulthood find and use their voice—to know themselves, and love themselves, more fully. She started violin lessons at age five, and has since studied methods in classical, folk, jazz, and musical theatre. Her own lessons helped bring her to Broadway and to dozens of cities on tour over the last 15 years as a singer-songwriter, as the lead singer and violinist of the powerhouse band San Fermin, and as a supporting musician with other nationally-touring acts.

Claire teaches singing, songwriting, violin, guitar, ukulele, and piano for students ranging from early childhood to adulthood and from absolute beginner to seasoned professional. To support her students, she pulls both from her extensive formal training, and from what she’s learned over two decades working to find and use her own voice as a musician and singer.

Caroline Getz

Guitar/Voice

Caroline Getz is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist originally from San Francisco. As a member of Brooklyn's indie-jazz scene, she performs regularly around NYC with her group Ambrose Getz and has toured across the US and Europe with groups such as Lisa Hoppe's Third Reality, Breakneck Trio, Almog Sharvit's Coralition. She has studied guitar and voice with Theo Bleckmann, Tal Yahalom, Camila Meza, and Brandon Seabrook, and has completed Levels I-III of the LoVetri Institute for Somatic Voicework™. She has taught both privately and in classroom settings since 2017, helping hundreds of students overcome self-doubt to understand the power of their musical voice. Her guitar, songwriting, and voice lessons are grounded in creating a supportive learning environment to allow each student to access their own creativity. There is nothing she loves more than sharing music and hopes students will leave each lesson feeling supported and inspired! 

Leah Rich

Piano / voice

Leah Rich is a child of refugee Soviet musicians. A first generation American, Leah was taught from birth, that freedom of expression is worth living and dying for. After a lifetime spent playing unsanctioned jazz under the oppressive Soviet regime, Leah’s family risked everything to start over in New York City. And there, a new creative powerhouse came to be. Leah’s authentic, urban style bridges the gap between her Soviet Azeri roots, and her metropolitan upbringing. 

Leah's anticipated sophomore album, Caspian, seeks to celebrate this cultural fusion and courage. In collaboration with renowned producer Cale Hawkins, Leah has managed to do just that. Caspian is available on all streaming platforms. 

Dave Scalia

DRUMS / Percussion

Dave Scalia is a professional drummer, producer, and songwriter based in Nashville and Brooklyn. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music, where he received the Performer’s Certificate for exceptional musical and technical achievement. For over 15 years, Dave has worked with Grammy-winning, multi-platinum, and internationally acclaimed artists including Elle King, Theo Katzman, Sky Ferreira, Miranda Lambert, and Dierks Bentley. He’s appeared on over 50 major TV shows such as The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Sesame Street, and Good Morning America.As a touring drummer, Dave has performed in over 24 countries at iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, and Glastonbury Festival. His compositions have been featured on HBO’s Big Little Lies, Netflix’s Riverdale, and in commercials for Adidas and the NFL. With deep experience in jazz, rock, pop, and experimental music, Dave brings a versatile, real-world approach to teaching—focused on technique, creativity, and building confident, adaptable musicians.

Laura Spineti

Piano / voice / Songwriting

Laura Spineti is a Brooklyn-based actor/multi-instrumentalist & certified NYS music educator, with over a decade of experience teaching little ones! She just returned to the city after a stint with YAYA Youth Theatre Company in Shenzhen, China as their resident Music Director/Teaching Artist, and is delighted to be re-joining the wonderful world of children’s theater with the Treasure Trunk team. As a performer, she is a proud member of Actors Equity (AEA), SAG-e, and represented by The Luedtke Agency with extensive stage (and a few screen) credits, including The National Tour of “Annie” – which she looks forward to Music Directing this year! In her free time, you might see her performing at local venues like 54 Below, or co-writing music with other Brooklyn-based composers. After school, she also enjoys teaching private lessons in Voice, Piano, and Composition/Music Theory to all ages! More on www.groove-n-grow-nyc.com