Dokurno, Neil – Reeds (Clarinet, Sax, Flute), Piano, and Guitar
Neil has been an adjunct instructor at Goldie & Libro for over five years, and has thirty years of private teaching and performing experience in Fairfield, Milford, Norwalk and Southington studios.Beginning as a piano major at Acadia University in Nova Scotia, Canada, he graduated summa cum laude in clarinet performance from the University of Bridgeport, where he also studied saxophone and flute.  He has also studied guitar from the age of twelve. Neil is a professional librarian and educator with two graduate degrees in these fields from Southern Connecticut State University.  He resides in Wallingford with his wife and three children.

Gaylord, Tim - Percussion and Guitar
Before coming to Connecticut in 2007, Tim spent most of his life in Toledo, OH and Detroit, MI.  He has always enjoyed playing music in a wide variety of settings and genres.  Tim’s credits ‘back home’ include various small ensemble Rock, Jazz, and Pit Orchestra groups.  Tim also played with Majestic Brass, Pontiac Oakland Symphony, Oakland University Symphonic Band and North Oakland Concert Band.Since arriving in Connecticut, Tim has been playing with and/or serving as section leader for various ensembles at Wesleyan University including Weswinds, Orchestra and Chinese Ensemble.  He has also played drum set with the Middletown Children’s Circus Band. Tim has played in Pit Orchestra for Shakespeare Productions (and other projects) with Middletown based Art Farm and for the University of New Haven.  He plays Bodhran with  the Middletown Irish Group “Ceol Go Maidin”.  Tim currently plays drum set with Middletown groups “House of Moses” (soul) and “Jook Joint” (blues). In the Summer of 2011, Tim will once again be joining Art Farm for Shakespeare’s Argument July 14-17 and July 21-24, and Middletown’s Children’s Circus August 5.

Smith, Drake - Trombone
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Drake studied trombone with Pittsburgh Symphony trombonists Harold Steiman and Robert Hamrick III.  He completed his Bachelors of Music at the University of Bridgeport, studying trombone with Fred “Moe” Snyder and jazz legend Eddie Bert, and arranging with Bill Finegan.  Mr. Smith also holds an MBA from the University of New Haven. As a jazz arranger, composer, and bandleader, Drake Smith’s work has featured many noted jazz artists including Randy Brecker, Donald Byrd, Steve Davis, Gerri Allen, Joe Harris, Charlie Persip, and The Count Basie Orchestra.  His critically acclaimed arrangements for blues artist Jesse “Wild Bill” Austin can be found on the two top ten charted blues albums “Steel Trap” and “Baby’s Back” and have been heard by millions as bumper music for the “Rush Limbaugh Show." Drake is the musical director of “The New Haven Jazz Orchestra” and “The Jazz Stars Orchestra”.

Scalia, Kathy – Piano

            Kathy Scalia comes to Goldie & Libro with over 40 years experience playing piano and organ.  She worked for Keyboard Center for 10 years teaching beginner and intermediate students on the piano and organ.

            She took accordion, piano and organ lessons for a combined 20 years. 

            Kathy was the Music Director at Our Lady of Pompiei from 1975 – 1987 and from 1987 to present she is the Music Director and organist at St. Vincent de Paul Church.  Her responsibilities include 2 choirs, all week end services, holidays, weddings and funerals. 

            Kathy has also recently made a CD of her performances with her 2 vocal accompanists which was released under the title name of “I am with you always”, and has sold more than a 1,000 copies locally.

Valerio, John – Piano, Baritone Horn, Trumpet,Trombone,Clarinet,Flute, Beginner French Horn  

            John has been playing professionally for 44 years!  He studied Piano with Mr. Lawrence Honan and Baritone Horn with Mr. Howard Williams at Western CT. State University.  He graduated from Western CT. State University in 1971 with a BS in Music Education and in 1978 graduated with a MS in Music Education.

John has been teaching private piano lessons since his senior year of high school.    During his sophomore year of college, John gave accordion lessons and theory at the Caprice School of Music in Brewster, NY.  After a year at the school, he assumed the directorship of the Music School. 

1971 – 1977 John played baritone horn in the 76^th division Army Band in West Hartford and East Windsor, CT.

 1978 – 1979 John taught piano, accordion and brass at Betterini Music in Southington, CT. 

             1973 – 2006 John worked at Regional District #13 in Middlefield, CT teaching classroom music to grades K - 5 and instrumental music (band) to grades 4 – 6.  He directed the summer lesson band program for a number of years. He retired in June 2006 after a 35 year public school teaching career.

Rispoli, John. - Drums, Percussion

     John received his BS in Music Education from Southern Connecticut State University and has been teaching and playing professionally for over 25 years. 

     Some live and studio performances include:  Axiom Jazz Quartet, The Convertibles, Street Temperature, Sonny Costanza, Les Julian (Parents Choice Award for Children’s Music), Jonathan Edwards, Bobby Buster, Dan Cipriano (Wilson Pickett), Funky Butt Jazz Band, Jeff Pevar (Ricki Lee Jones, James Taylor) and Marvin Stamm (Paul McCartney).

      His Studies in acoustic and electronic music include sessions with Ed Soph, Jim Mola, David Garibaldi, James Stavris, Rick Liso, Nick Forte and Peter Erskine.

Wahl, Amity- Vocal

Ted Samodel – Trumpet

Elizabeth M. Choti Bayruether – Clarinet, and all beginner band instruments.

Jon Peckman - Drums

Martin, James (Jim) – Guitar     

At the present time, Jim is an Artist Instructor at the Educational Center for the Arts and the Hartford Conservatory.   He was formerly an Artist Instructor at the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts and a Guitar Instructor at the Center for the Creative Youth – Wesleyan College.  Jim attended Manhattan School of Music, Berklee College of Music, and Dick Grove Music School.

Hamden Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Symphonic Band, Naugatuck Community Band, New Haven Opera Company Orchestra and Big Change Productions Musical Pit.

Richardson, Nathan – Guitar
Nathan studied Music Theory at Greenfield Community College  where he developed an interest in building and repairing guitars.  He is a graduate of John Marshall’s Luthiers International 2006. Since then he has been building and repairing a variety of stringed instruments independently and in collaboration with various shops throughout New England.  Nathan has experience teaching guitar to children and continues to educate with an open mind and a passion for the guitar.  His thorough knowledge of acoustic guitar design, construction, history and theory, along with his enjoyable, neat, professional and patient technique leaves him at the forefront of music today.