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Meet Ms. Bailey

Known for her thoughtful interpretations and rich sound at the keyboard, Bailey-Michelle Collins is a pianist defined by her lyrical touch and keen sense of rhythm. Her repertoire spanning across all genres of piano literature, Bailey’s greatest passion is communicating with her audience both on and off the stage. A fluent music instructor and collaborative pianist, she proudly serves her community as a leadership figure and for young musicians.

Bailey began her piano studies at age five in Gainesville, Florida, and she has since had the privilege to work with renowned instructors such as Natalya Antonova, Robert Roux, Fabio Bidini, and Julian Martin. As a developing soloist, Bailey received scholarship awards from organizations including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the National Society of Arts and Letters, and the Florida Federation of Music Clubs. She made her orchestral debut at age sixteen under Robert Gary Langford as winner of the David Hubbell Concerto Competition, and has appeared with orchestras throughout the United States including the Santa Fe Symphony and the Tampa Bay Symphony. Her summer festival appearances include the University of Florida International Piano Festival, the Texas State International Piano Festival, and the Miami Music Festival.

Bailey served as a piano instructor for the Lynn Preparatory School of Music in Boca Raton, Florida, where she also taught music to children ages 3-12 at the Emerging Minds Montessori Academy. She has had the pleasure to work at the internationally-acclaimed Interlochen Center for the Arts as a counselor for young artists. Bailey graduated summa cum laude from the Lynn Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Dr. Roberta Rust and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. Bailey holds a Masters Degree in piano performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Meet Ms. Gloria

Gloria (HyeWon) Huskey is a flutist and music educator based in Severna Park, MD. She holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music (BM), Columbia University Teachers College (MA), and is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy. Gloria is a passionate and dedicated music teacher and well-rounded educator who has taught for over a decade in diverse settings, including The Montessori Schools at Flatiron, Columbia University’s Teachers College, New York Philharmonic’s Very Young People’s Concerts and Children’s Museum of Manhattan. In addition to teaching music to young students, she has collaborated with educators and musicians to create musical and artistic curriculum at a variety of institutions. Gloria continues to seek opportunities to develop and establish creative musical curricula for students of all ages.

A passionate music educator, Gloria has participated in many workshops including Teaching Artist Training Institute’s regional practicum (2023) and Orff-Schulwerk workshops at George Mason University (2022). She is also one of the cohort members at the Teaching Artist Training Institute for 2022-2023, where she was selected as one of the scholarship recipients of TATI’s Miami Learning Retreat to teach at the Miami Music Project’s summer camp and collaborate with other teaching artists across the United States. Gloria is a directing board member at the Bronx School for Music where she was appointed as their first Early Childhood Music Development Advisor & Curriculum Coordinator, where she has successfully established and launched their new department and currently oversees the program design and supports the faculty members to create an engaging musical space for students and families.

Gloria’s primary teachers and mentors include, Dr. Lori Custodero, Dr. Claudia Cali, Mary Kay Fink, Nancy Stagnitta and Don Gottlieb.

We are proud to have a team of extremely talented and experienced musicians teaching at Patterson Park Academy of Music. Each member of our faculty holds advanced degrees from some of the nation's top conservatories and schools of music. Be assured that we have hand picked our teachers for their pedagogical expertise, energetic teaching style, and passion for music education!

Ms. Stephanie
Piano

Ms. Stephanie is in high demand on the East Coast as a chamber musician and collaborator. As a musical director for the renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts during the 2021 season, Ms. Stephanie led talented high school musicians through scenes from Die Fledermaus and The Merry Widow. Previous teaching positions include the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, Morgan Sate University, and Western Michigan University. A patient and talented pedagogue, Ms. Stephanie excels at working with young children, capturing their excitement and developing their musical minds during fun and engaging lessons. She holds a Master of Piano Accompanying from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Western Michigan University.

Ben Gascon
Guitar

Classical guitarist Benjamin Gascon is an award-winning performer and educator. His priority as a teacher is cultivating and supporting the individuality of each of his students as musicians, learners, and people. His philosophy in teaching centers on a conviction that musical study provides a unique opportunity for joyful engagement with the act of learning. Mr. Gascon carefully constructs lessons to help each student pursue their artistic curiosity, while also giving them strong musical and technical foundations. A winner of the James Winship Lewis Memorial Prize in Performance, Mr. Gascon holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and is currently completing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Peabody Institute.

Ivan mendoza
strings + piano

Ivan Mendoza is a dedicated music educator, tailoring every lesson to the needs of each
individual student, and has taught masterclasses throughout the United
States and Canada. Ivan is on the faculty at the Artsahimsa Chamber Music Festival in Lenox, MA.
In addition to being a string instructor, Ivan is also an active professional violist. Notable engagements include a
recital at Carnegie Hall, Felix Mendelssohn’s Octet with the Shanghai
Quartet, and Music of Charles Loeffler with soprano Barbara Dever and pianist Ron Levy. As a chamber musician, Mr. Mendoza has held string quartet residencies at Montclair State University, Lunenberg Academy of Music Performance, and Shenandoah Conservatory. Mr. Mendoza also regularly appears with the New Orchestra of Washington, Baltimore
Chamber Orchestra, and the Montclair Orchestra. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Montclair State University where he also held a graduate string quartet residence.

Autumn england
strings

Cellist Autumn England has performed internationally as a solo artist, chamber musician, and orchestral performer. As a recording artist, she has completed projects for the BBC, Warner Brothers, and Netflix, as well as a recent album with Inscape Chamber Orchestra for Naxos. Autumn completed a Bachelor of Music from Rice University, studying with Norman Fischer, and a Master of Music from the Royal Northern College of Music, studying with Nicholas Trygstad.

Autumn has worked as a music teacher in public schools for over 20 years and previously held positions at RNCM Young Strings and University of Utah Preparatory. Recently, she has focused on teaching at social change programs and currently works as Cello Faculty and Manager of Tuned-In Strings at Peabody Preparatory. Autumn believes in music as a tool for growth, empowerment, and community development, and she includes culturally responsive teaching practices and social-emotional learning in her teaching curriculum.

Gloria Huskey
Early Childhood

Gloria (HyeWon) Huskey is a flutist and music educator based in Maryland. She holds degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music (BM), Columbia University Teachers College (MA), and is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy. Gloria is a passionate and dedicated music teacher and well-rounded educator who has taught for over a decade in diverse settings, including The Montessori Schools at Flatiron, Columbia University’s Teachers College, New York Philharmonic’s Very Young People’s Concerts and Children’s Museum of Manhattan. In addition to teaching music to young students, she has collaborated with educators and musicians to create musical and artistic curriculum at a variety of institutions. Gloria continues to seek opportunities to develop and establish creative musical curricula for students of all ages.

A passionate music educator, Gloria has participated in many workshops including Teaching Artist Training Institute’s regional practicum (2023) and Orff-Schulwerk workshops at George Mason University (2022). She is also one of the cohort members at the Teaching Artist Training Institute for 2022-2023, where she was selected as one of the scholarship recipients of TATI’s Miami Learning Retreat to teach at the Miami Music Project’s summer camp and collaborate with other teaching artists across the United States. Gloria is a directing board member at the Bronx School for Music where she was appointed as their first Early Childhood Music Development Advisor & Curriculum Coordinator, where she has successfully established and launched their new department and currently oversees the program design and supports the faculty members to create an engaging musical space for students and families.

Gloria’s primary teachers and mentors include, Dr. Lori Custodero, Dr. Claudia Cali, Mary Kay Fink, Nancy Stagnitta and Don Gottlieb.

Ms. Bailey
piano + Early Childhood

Known for her thoughtful interpretations and rich sound at the keyboard, Ms. Bailey is a pianist defined by her lyrical touch and keen sense of rhythm. Her repertoire spanning across all genres of piano literature, Ms. Bailey’s greatest passion is communicating with her audience both on and off the stage. A fluent music instructor and collaborative pianist, she proudly serves her community as a leadership figure and for young musicians.
Ms. Bailey began her piano studies at age five in Gainesville, Florida, and she has since had the privilege to work with renowned instructors such as Natalya Antonova, Robert Roux, Fabio Bidini, and Julian Martin. As a developing soloist, Bailey received scholarship awards from organizations including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the National Society of Arts and Letters, and the Florida Federation of Music Clubs. She has appeared with orchestras throughout the United States including the Santa Fe Symphony and the Tampa Bay Symphony. Her summer festival appearances include the University of Florida International Piano Festival, the Texas State International Piano Festival, and the Miami Music Festival.
Bailey served as a piano instructor for the Lynn Preparatory School of Music in Boca Raton, Florida, where she also taught music to children ages 3-12 at the Emerging Minds Montessori Academy. She has had the pleasure to work at the internationally-acclaimed Interlochen Center for the Arts as a counselor for young artists. Bailey graduated summa cum laude from the Lynn Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Dr. Roberta Rust and received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education. Bailey holds a Masters Degree in piano performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Jorge Amaral
guitar

Guitarist Jorge Amaral is held in high regard as performer and educator. He was the first prize winner of the 29th Fernando Sor competition in Rome, Italy, and has since gone on to a successful career as a solo and duo performer alongside his wife, Mia Pomerantz Amaral. Together, they formed Duo Amaral, and perform regularly both nationally and internationally. Their tours have taken them to Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, Poland, Panama, Mexico, Israel, and around the United States. As a teacher, Mr. Amaral has guided students to become top prizewinners in competitions such as the Guitar Foundation of America, the Beatty Competition, and several former students have performed at Carnegie Hall. Mr. Amaral holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, and a Master of Music Degree from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.

Winona Liao
PIano

Pianist Winona Liao is a multi-disciplinary performing artist dedicated to bridging the gap between instrumental music, opera, and dance. A talented performer, Ms. Liao blends her time as a collaborative artist, solo performer, and music educator. She is passionate about working with children and fostering their creativity and excitement for music. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music in piano performance from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Heidi Ackerman
Choral Director

Heidi Ackerman is thrilled to join PPAM as the director of the Patterson Park Community Chorus. Building community connections through choral music is Heidi's passion. She has conducted concerts across the country as an enlisted conductor of the United States Army Field Band Soldier's Chorus, and currently serves as Musical Director of The Frederick Chorale and the American Military Spouses Choir, based in Washington, D.C. As a mezzo-soprano soloist, Heidi has performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, Severance Hall with the Cleveland Pops, and the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra. She holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Choral Conducting and Education from Northwestern College (Iowa). In her spare time, Heidi performs around the DC/Baltimore area, including a concert series she started at the Maryland Correctional Women's Facility. She lives in Butchers Hill with her husband and two dogs.

Erik Franklin
Co-Director

Award-winning composer and clarinetist Dr. Erik Franklin balances a vibrant, varied career on and off the stage. A consummate performer, his lyrical, expressive playing earned him a coveted position in the U.S. Army Field Band of Washington, D.C. He has given concerts in nearly all fifty states and throughout Europe, performing for audiences large and small in venues from veterans’ homes to Carnegie Hall. He holds teaching positions at Towson University and the Peabody Preparatory Academy.

Franklin holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Furman University, a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He is an active member of the Baltimore arts community, where he enjoys organizing house concerts, performing chamber music, and constantly seeking new collaborations.

Joshua espinoza
co-director

Pianist Joshua Espinoza is a dedicated educator with a passion for sharing music on and off the stage. As a jazz pianist, Mr. Espinoza has collaborated with such living legends as Sean Jones, Warren Wolf, Paul Bollenback, and Miho Hazama. An internationally recognized recording artist, Mr. Espinoza's releases have been featured on Spotify's genre-defining State of Jazz Playlist, and his single "And So It Goes" broke into the Top 40 of Spotify's Global Jazz Charts in 2022.

As an educator, Mr. Espinoza has held faculty positions at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Morehead State University, and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Currently, Mr. Espinoza serves on the adjunct faculty at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University and co-directs Patterson Park Academy of Music, which he founded in 2020 with composer and clarinetist Erik Franklin. He holds a Bachelor of Music in piano performance from Furman University and a Master of Music in jazz studies from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

Alex Mendoza
drums

Percussionist Alex Mendoza's recent performances include appearances with the Baltimore Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Ft. Worth Symphony, and the Classical Tahoe Festival Orchestra. Mr. Mendoza is former Principal Percussionist of the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra (PA).

Teaching music is something he cherishes, and he loves to share knowledge with anyone that is willing to learn, regardless of age or past experience. Former students of his have gone on to attend music schools such as the University of Texas, University of North Texas, Rice University, and Texas State University.

Mr. Mendoza holds a B.M. in Music Education from the University of North Texas, and an M.M. from Duquesne University.

Currently, he lives in Baltimore, with his wife, Chloe, and their two cats, Bulldozer and Potato. When he is not practicing, he enjoys exploring the city, strength training, baking, reading, and playing video games.

Sherry du
piano

Pianist Sherry Du is a sought-after performer and educator who balances teaching with an active performing career as a soloist and collaborative pianist. Having appeared in competitions and festivals throughout the US, Canada, and Europe, Ms. Du is an experienced and versatile musician known for her deeply insightful performances of solo, chamber and orchestral repertoire as well as new music. Ms. Du dedicates her time to the pursuit of advanced musical performance and research, as well as sharing her knowledge and experience with budding musicians. She guides her students through a uniquely artistic vision that seeks to inspire creativity and well-roundedness. A native of Toronto, Ms. Du holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Toronto and a Master’s degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University.

Nicholas wynn
violin

Violist Nicholas Wynn discovered his passion for music at an early age as a part of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Mr. Wynn graduated Summa Cum Lade with a Bachelor of Music Education and Performance from University of Houston. A dynamic, energetic, and patient music
educator, Mr. Wynn has nearly two decades of symphonic and chamber performance experience, and is dedicated to creating exciting and welcoming learning
environments for his students. Mr. Wynn is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance and Pedagogy at the Peabody Institute with Victoria Chiang.

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