Our Faculty

Simone Cartales

Instructor of Violin and Viola

Simone Cartales is a violist and violinist. Born and raised in the Boston area, Simone began her viola studies at the Longy School of Music in 2002 in Paula Majerfeld’s Suzuki viola class. Now, Simone is pursuing her M.M. in Viola Performance at the Longy School of Music of Bard College, studying again with Paula Majerfeld.

Simone graduated magna cum laude from Ithaca College with a B.M. in Viola Performance in 2020, studying with Kyle Armbrust. She is an active performer in solo, chamber, and orchestral ensembles. Simone performed at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center with the Ithaca College Symphony Orchestra and has played with ensembles such as the DuBois Orchestra, the Quincy Symphony Orchestra, and the Binghamton Philharmonic Orchestra. Simone’s performances range from early music to contemporary, including custom commissioned pieces by Ithaca College alum, Grace Dashnaw, and Longy School of Music student, Patrick Wu. She strives to put contemporary composers and underrepresented composers in the forefront of her performance and study.

In addition to teaching at the Merrimack Valley Community Music school, Simone teaches violin and viola with Lexington Community Education. Over the summers, Simone is a Teacher’s Assistant at the Summer Chamber Music Festival at the Winchester Community Music School where she also works as a part time Administrative Assistant.

Kyoko Hida-Battaglia

Enrichment class instructor in Lawrence Public Schools, Oboe, Chamber Ensembles

Kyoko Hida-Battaglia holds a Bachelor's of Music degree from Tokyo College of Music and a Master's degree from the New England Conservatory. She is a regular player with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony New Hampshire, and Lexington Symphony. Kyoko has performed in the past with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, Boston Ballet, Boston Lyric Opera, New Haven Symphony and Colorado Music Festival. She is studying Dalcroze Eurythmics.

Kyoko is a faculty member at the Winchester Community Music School, Boston Conservatory, the New England Conservatory Preparatory Division, the Rivers School Conservatory, and Manchester Community Music School in New Hampshire.

Tad Hitchcock

Instructor of guitar, Electric Bass and Ukulele, Ensemble Coach: Jazz, Blues and Beatles Ensembles, Monthly Jam Session leader, Early childhood teacher in the Lawrence Public Schools and other regional programs.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Tad Hitchcock was raised in New England and came to Boston to pursue musical goals in 1975, making his first stop at Berklee College of Music. Since that time he has worked steadily as an accompanist, bandleader, and vocalist. In 1988-89 he toured with the Artie Shaw Orchestra under the direction of Dick Johnson. Tad has enjoyed playing clubs and concerts with reed players Billy Novick and Scott Hamilton, cornetist Ruby Braff, and trumpeter Herb Pomeroy. Previously he taught K-2 music at Tenacre Country Day School in Wellesley and was the former music director at Stoneridge Children's Montessori School in Beverly. He has been on the faculty of Winchester Community Music School for over 20 years, teaching guitar lessons, coaching ensembles, and co-teaching the early childhood programs during the summer. He loves talking about his favorite jazz guitarists Wes Montgomery, Oscar Moore, Jim Hall, and Charlie Christian.

Valerie Walton

Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder, Saxophone Ensembles, Early Childhood Classes, Executive Director

Valerie has a Bachelors degree from Berklee College of Music in Flute Performance and a Masters Degree in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Studies at New England Conservatory. Her early years were spent playing in a soul band, a Haitian dance band, and a Brazilian dance band and she was able to travel to France, Martinique, Guadalupe, Venezuela and Columbia to play gigs.

She has played in Saxophone Quartets, Wind Ensembles, Jazz big bands, pit orchestras for musicals, and small combos. Former faculty, Bristol Community College, Boston College, Winchester and Salem public schools. Current faculty at the Winchester Community Music School and Manchester Community Music Schools.

Jeanne Snodgrass

Instructor for Community Outreach Program

As a performer, I have always been involved with many different styles of music including classical, jazz, Latin, and world music. I like to help my students develop their sense of what they like by exposing them to a variety of styles along with establishing a strong base of solid trumpet technique.

My teaching philosophy is to gently guide each student toward their own potential on the instrument and to show them that it's fun and rewarding to be involved in music!

• Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance, Boston University School for the Arts
• Studies with Armando Ghitalla, Roger Voisin
• Previous Faculty: New England Conservatory Extension Division, All Newton Music School
• Member of and recorded with the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, winner of the 2000 Independent Music Awards
• Toured worldwide and recorded with Les Miserables Brass Band
• Performances with David Byrne at Carnegie Hall (2007), Lester Bowie, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Greensboro Festival Orchestra, Bel Canto Opera
• Other performances at The Knitting Factory (NYC), Town Hall (NYC), Symphony Space (NYC), the Blue Note (NYC)