Virginia Music Adventures  Virginia Music Adventures, Inc.
VMA Staff

Directors

Jeff Cummins is a local composer, teacher and performer. He was the founder and Director of the McLean Jazz Workshop and is the Director of Instrumental Music at Green Hedges School in Vienna, VA. He was a past recipient of the McLean Community Arts Award for Outstanding Contribution. He has been recognized by the City Council of the City of Los Angeles, the Ministry of Tourism of Nassau, The Bahamas, and the Board of Supervisors of Fairfax County, Virginia

Over the past 30 years his student groups have toured extensively throughout the US, Europe, Australia, South America, and the Caribbean.  They have performed by invitation at such prestigious venues as Wolf Trap, the Kennedy Center, the National Theatre, Blues Alley, the World's Fair in Knoxville, and the World's Fair in New Orleans. Mr. Cummins has been interviewed on WMAL and WDCU Radio, and was also the feature of a local PBS program.

His composing credits include jingles, themes for public television programs, music for local musical productions, as well as a recorded collection of original compositions. He served as orchestrator and arranger for the musical Vodu which enjoyed a 4 week performance run as part of the 2004 Harlem Repertory Theatre inaugural season. Mr. Cummins currently composes and teaches private lessons in theory, performance, composition, and improvisation. He performs both as a solo artist and as a member of the Summit Trio.

Aaron Broadus A native of the Washington DC area, Aaron Broadus is a rising talent in the music industry. Aaron is a professor of music at Georgetown University, accomplished writer, producer and recording artist. He holds a Bachelor of music from George Mason University and a Master of music from Howard University. When he's not in the recording studio, or classroom you may find him directing the Georgetown Jazz Ensemble, or Pep Band at local games and NCAA tournaments. Mr. Broadus has been interviewed on WPFW, WHUR, im4radio.com and featured in the August 2006 edition of Washingtonian Magazine. His performing credits include Pattie LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Al Jarreau, Common, Marlina Shaw, The Temptations, Hug Masikala, Theloneous Monk Jr, and the late Ray Charles just to name a few. Currently Aaron is working on his new solo project showcasing his abilities as both a trumpeter and vocalist.

Photo Courtesy Bob Flint Photography

 

Jonathan Laine, A native of Nothern, VA, Jonathan Laine received a BM from George Mason University and an MM from Howard University. He frequently travels to New York, Los Angeles, Memphis and other major cities performing with artists including John Hicks, Julie Dexter, El DeBarge, Aretha Franklin, Yusef Lateef, Jimmy Heath, Louie Bellson, Charlie Byrd, Erykah Badu, Dionne Warwick, Common, Omar, Frank Wess, Fred Wesley and performed in groups including the American Youth Philharmonic, National Symphony

Orchestra Summer Youth Ensemble, Aspen Concert Jazz Ensemble, and the Disney Collegiate All Star Band. He has become an in demand music producer in the area and produced numerous records for local artists K'Alyn, Aaron Broadus and W. Ellington Felton in addition to preparing to release several albums with his production team and solo/independent projects.

With influences ranging from Quincy Jones to Duke Ellington, Laine looks to further his skills as a musician reaching all genres of music.

Steve Lovecchio, originally from Rochester, NY, received his Bachelors of Music Education at George Mason University. He has been teaching and performing in the DC/Northern Virginia area for the past 10 years. Trained in saxophone, flute, and clarinet and well versed in many different playing styles, his performances have taken him all over the country as well as the Caribbean and Mexico. He has studied with many jazz artists including Pete Christlieb, Jim Caroll, Mike Tomaro, Bob Florence, Jiggs Whigham, Steve Houghton, Rick Baptist, and Shelly Berg. Steve was fortunate to be a part of Chuck Magione’s "The Hat is Back" New York tour in 1994. Locally, he has also studied with Dale Underwood (saxophone), Judy Lapple (Flute), and Sharon Bonneau (Clarinet). He currently teaches in Fairfax County Public Schools and maintains a small private studio.

Photo Courtesy Bob Flint Photography

Clinicians

 

Matthew Heap, is a prolific music composer, with many stage musicals already performed in prestigious locations, and others under development. The most well known examples being Dies Irae, Peter and Maimie, I Want to Grow Old with You and, most recently, Dumped! Premiered at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA in late 2003. He is particularly interested in creating effective and challenging theater and film musicals, and would welcome commissions to collaborate on new ventures. He has also composed a range of classical pieces, both accessible and challenging!

 

Marshall E. Maley, the PASIC ‘97 Chapter President of the Year, is an active percussion instructor and working musician in the Washington, D.C. area. In 2000, and 2002, he received the Governors’ School Outstanding Teacher Award, presented by the Virginia Department of Education. He teaches at George Mason University, Mary Washington College, Prince Georges’ Community College, and Northern Virginia Community College. As a professional musician in the D.C. area, Marshall’s work spans commercial, jazz, rock, show, and classical fields. He has worked with the Baltimore Symphony, Eugene Fodor, Hour of Power Orchestra, Patti Lupone, the Sesame Street Show, and Yakov Smirnoff. For eleven years, he worked in and led the big band at Andrews Air Force Base Officer’s Club. Additional studio/media performances include the sound track for television’s “America’s Most Wanted” and WMAL radio appearances. Marshall has written for and instructed a number of Northern Virginia high school marching drum lines and concert percussion sections. Marshall owns and manages Maley’s McLean Music, and the Music Studio of McLean.

 

Julietta Marie Curenton. At the age of seventeen. Julietta Curenton made her debut with the National Symphony under the baton of Marvin Ilamlisch. In addition, Ms. Curenton has appeared as soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, Kennedy Center Institute Orchestra, and the U.S. Army Orchestra. Julietta has been heard on Washington DC’s WGMS and Boston’s WGBH radio station. She has participated in various summer festivals including the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Orchestra, the National Repertory Orchestra held in Breckenridge, Colorado, and the Spoleto Music Festival located in Spoieto, Italy. Her awards and honors as a soloist include first prizes in the young artist competitions sponsored by the National Symphony Orchestra, and the National Flute Association. Most recently, Julietta performed with world- renown soprano Frederica von Stade at The Kennedy Center’s terrace theater. The Washington Post deemed her “a worthy support” to the opera diva.

 

 

Anotonio Parker, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., Antonio Parker has gone from street corner musician to a multi-talented saxophonist, composer, arranger, educator, music producer, record label owner, and President and Founder of the Inner City Jazz Foundation. As the head of his own music publishing and production company, Parker’s Mood Entertainment Group, LLC and record company, Airegin Records, Antonio is a young visionary who is carving out his own niche in the music industry. Whether he is touring internationally, performing in the top jazz venues in the Washington Metropolitan Area, writing, producing music, or educating youth, he continues to chart his own destiny while discovering new ways to express the music within.

Antonio holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Studies (Performance) from Howard University, a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University Of The District Of Columbia, and a Master of Music Degree in Jazz Studies (Composition & Arranging), also from Howard. He has taught in the D.C. Public School system for nine years, teaching at Brown Jr. High, Charles Young Hilltop Academy and The Arts & Technology Academy respectively.

Support Staff/Chaperones

Taty Frankin, Premier Travel. Drawing upon over 28 years of experience in the travel industry, Taty Franklin has traveled extensively and brings to you her expertise and knowledge of travel. A 1977 graduate of McConnell Airline School, in Minneapolis, MN, Taty returned to the Washington Metropolitan area and operated All Star Travel Center, Inc. in Bethesda, MD for 25 years. She now owns and operates Premier Executive travel, a full service agency. She is currently on the board of advisors for eTravCo, a multi-channel marketing and distribution network for the travel industry with over 3 billion in sales. Wherever in the world you're bound, with a group or alone, on business or pleasure, call Taty at Premier Executive Travel. 1-888-57WORLD.

Premier Executive Travel is an experienced, independent corporate & leisure travel management company. Located in Boyds, Maryland, we have been servicing clients worldwide in a broad range of travel services since 1977. We offer personalized service via our consultants who understand the needs of our clients. Our corporate headquarters is located in New York City, 255 West 35th St., and our sister office is located at 839 W. University Parkway, Baltimore. Our combined resources provide our clients with custom tailored, cost-effective, programs and services of the highest quality. Visit us on the web: www.onlinepremier.com

Chaperones

Additional information about VMA, including our directors, pictures of some of our performance, and ways to donate to VMA, please browse our website using the navigation bar. If you have any questions, please send an email to: jeff@vamusicadventures.org.