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Paul Riser needs no introduction... but we’ll do it anyway! As a musician and music arranger for Motown, Paul Riser has written and arranged songs for some of the biggest names in the business: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Joss Stone, Kylie Minogue, Marvin Gaye, Carly...READ FULL BIOPaul Riser - Artist In ResidenceArtist In Residence -
Shara Nova (singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond) has become one of the most distinct voices of her generation. The multi-instrumentalist and composer has written numerous works for film, choir, marching bands, orchestra, and chamber ensemble. She has recorded as a guest vocalist with David Byrne, Laurie Anderson, The...READ FULL BIOShara Nova - Artist In ResidenceArtist In Residence -
Drew Schultz lives and breathes the music of Motown. Beyond being a phenomenal drummer with the CV to prove it, he plays guitar and keys.READ FULL BIODrew Schultz - DrumsMSU Denver at DIME Campus Manager -
Eric “Rain Man” Gaston is such a good drummer that we’re starting to wonder if he sold his soul at the crossroads. Is there a better drummer in the U.S. than Rain Man?READ FULL BIOEric ‘Rain Man’ Gaston- DrumsHead Of Drums -
One of the most sought after guitarists in Detroit, Kris has experience playing in a myriad of styles. Kurzawa earned a BA (2003) and MA (2012) in music and jazz studies from Wayne State University.READ FULL BIOKris Kurzawa – GuitarHead of Guitar and Bass -
Audra Kubat is a Detroit-born singer-songwriter who began composing music on the piano at the age of 8. By her teens, she was adding lyrics to the songs, then singing at local coffeehouses.READ FULL BIOAudra Kubat - SongwritingHead of Songwriting -
Stephanie Belcher – Music Industry Studies Everyone knows there’s no business like show business, but few people know the ins and outs of that business the way Stephanie Belcher does. After studying at Indiana University with a major in Telecommunications and minors in Business and Psychology, Belcher entered the music...READ FULL BIOStephanie Belcher-Music Industry StudiesHead of Music Industry Studies -
Born and raised on the west side of Detroit MI, Brandon Fletcher started his musical journey working under the helm of his Grammy award-winning uncle Michael J Powell. It was at Detroit's legendary Vanguard Recording Studios, where Brandon honed his producer/engineering skills working with major acts such as Aretha...READ FULL BIOBrandon Fletcher - Music Industry StudiesINSTRUCTOR -
Adia G. Dobbins is a native of Johnstown, PA and a proud 1995 graduate of Richland Senior High School. Following her days in Pennsylvania, Adia attended CCM where she matriculated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in Jazz Voice and General Music. She then remained in Cincinnati, Ohio,...READ FULL BIOAdia Dobbins - VocalsINSTRUCTOR -
Born and raised in NYC, Nina is a music industry professional who has recently relocated to the Motor City and is looking forward to sharing her wisdom with the next generation of music entrepreneurs at DIME Detroit! Nina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Artist Management, Psychology and Entertainment...READ FULL BIONina Nichelle - Music Industry StudiesINSTRUCTOR -
Joe teaches the Music Industry Event Management class at DIME. His career in the music industry started as a passion project: a booking agency routing tours for developing artists around the country, with Joe booking calls from the car during his lunch hour at a brokerage firm job. Since...READ FULL BIOJoe Choma - Music Industry StudiesINSTRUCTOR -
Kris Johnson is an award-winning trumpeter, composer, and educator. He has appeared on an impressive list of albums including five Grammy-nominated releases. The most recent is the Grammy-Nominated Concord Jazz album “All About That Basie” from the Count Basie Orchestra that features three of Kris’s arrangements for big band....READ FULL BIOKris Johnson - SongwritingINSTRUCTOR -
An eclectic and ambition musician, Timothy earned his Bachelor of Arts in Music with an emphasis in Music Theory and Composition from Adrian College (2013) and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Music Production and Sound Design for Visual Media with an emphasis in Film...READ FULL BIOTimothy Martuch - Music TheoryInstructor -
Patrick Fitzgibbon is a percussionist with a wide range of experience in world music, jazz, and classical traditions. Born and raised in Saginaw, MI, Patrick began playing drum set at an early age and quickly took to other percussion instruments as well as piano and guitar. Under...READ FULL BIOPatrick Fitzgibbon - World MusicInstructor -
Bio coming soon!READ FULL BIOScott Posada - GuitarINSTRUCTOR -
Jennifer Catallo is a Detroit-born singer and vocal coach, singing everything from Pop and Jazz to Classical and Musical Theatre. She's sung with the iconic Bobby Brown and in front of audiences of ten to tens of thousands over the past three decades. She holds Bachelor of Music and...READ FULL BIOJennifer Catallo - VocalsINSTRUCTOR -
Tracy Kash began her musical life as a classical musician. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas (flute performance/music theory) and a Master of Music degree from Boston Conservatory (flute performance). She is frequently invited to serve as a clinician in the areas...READ FULL BIOTracy Kash - SongwritingINSTRUCTOR -
Alex Anest has been teaching, performing, and recording music professionally in the Southeast Michigan area since 1996. He founded and leads the Ann Arbor Guitar Trio and is also currently playing with the Anest, Kendrick & McKinney Organ Trio, Nomad (featuring Janelle Reichman, Gayelynn McKinney, Peyton Miller, Eric Nachtrab,...READ FULL BIOAlex Anest - GuitarINSTRUCTOR -
Brad Russell’s bass guitar has been rattling walls from LA to NYC, banging out basslines for legends of rock ‘n’ roll such as Joe Satriani, Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band, Steve Smith of Journey, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, and more. Before these gigs, Brad earned his Bachelor’s...READ FULL BIOBrad Russell - BassINSTRUCTOR -
Michael Malis is DIME’s piano prodigy and instructor. When Michael isn’t in the classroom and educating future pianists, he’s behind his own keyboard, composing and performing around the globe. At the University of Michigan, Malis double-majored in English and Jazz Studies, then went on to Wayne State to earn...READ FULL BIOMichael Malis-Piano & Music TheoryINSTRUCTOR -
You’ll never worry about picking up the mic again once you’ve worked with Rebecca Mickle, DIME’s voice instructor. No need for auto-tune, and no need for stage fright. Rebecca helps students build confidence in their voices and find the range that’s right for them. Rebecca Mickle earned her Bachelor...READ FULL BIORebecca Mickle-Vocals, Music Theory & PianoINSTRUCTOR -
If you’ve seen David Leve perform, you know he wears many hats—literally, he has a lot of hats. Leve is a jack of many trades in the music world: he DJs under the name Ma3stro, reviews pop music on YouTube, is a professionally trained jazz musician who served as...READ FULL BIODavid Leve-Songwriting, Music Theory & Music Industry StudiesINSTRUCTOR -
Cory Allen – Guitar Meet Cory Allen: award-winning guitar maestro. If ever someone could teach burning scales, sweeping arpeggios, and how to arrange a solid session, it’s Corey, who received top honors from Michigan State University where he earned an M.Mus. degree in Jazz Studies. Prior to studying at Michigan...READ FULL BIOCory Allen-Guitar & Music TheoryInstructor -
At the age of 2, Chi performed his first concert. Ever since, his electrifying approach to drumming has resonated with the ears and souls of audiences everywhere.READ FULL BIOChinelo Amen-Ra - DrumsINSTRUCTOR -
Joel Levise has always had one foot in music and the other foot in English studies. He started first with music, but always already directed toward an eclectic collection of styles due to the influence of his father, Detroit rock music legend Mitch Ryder. Just as his father was...READ FULL BIOJoel Levise - EnglishINSTRUCTOR -
If you like Detroit music, it’s very likely you’ve heard Sam Beaubien’s work. In addition to being DIME’s songwriting instructor and sensei, Sam has worked with some of Detroit’s best and biggest musical names, including the legendary Amp Fiddler on his new project with Sam’s world-touring funk band: Will...READ FULL BIOSam Beaubien - SongwritingINSTRUCTOR -
Detroit metropolitan native Carmen Woodruff is thrilled to return to her hometown to share her journey and experiences with the talented students at DIME after performing and studying throughout the United States and around the globe. Carmen specializes in teaching and performing many styles of contemporary music with an...READ FULL BIOCarmen Woodruff - VocalsINSTRUCTOR -
We are pleased to have Kern Brantley as our 2018/19 Artist in Residence! As a bass player and musical director, Kern has worked with artists like Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Mary J Blige, Puff Daddy & The Bad Boy Family, David Foster, Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Brandy, Ciara, Chris Brown, Destiny’s Child,...READ FULL BIOKern Brantley - Artist in ResidenceArtist in Residence -
Crowned “Detroit’s Queen of the Blues” in 2015, Thornetta Davis a multi-talented international singer and songwriter from Detroit, MI. She has been wowing audiences all over the world for decades with her strong, melodic and smooth vocal delivery. Thornetta is the winner of over 30 Detroit Music Awards, including SWEEPING the 2017 and 2018 DMA’s following the release of her album “Honest Woman.” Thornetta...READ FULL BIOThornetta Davis - Artist in ResidenceArtist in Residence -
Traveling all over the world performing with so many talented musicians can be an exciting experience, but for Nate, it is more exhilarating using the gift of music to spread joy to the people who listen.READ FULL BIONate Winn - DrumsINSTRUCTOR -
Matt Callaway – Guitar A good jazz musician needs spontaneity, mastery over an instrument, and the ability to anticipate how the rest of the band plays: who better, then, to teach guitar and group performance than jazz aficionado Matt Callaway? With a B.M. in Jazz Studies from Wayne State University,...READ FULL BIOMatt Callaway-GuitarInstructor -
Mo has toured with some of the biggest names in their respective genres—names like Alice Cooper, Bo Diddley, ZZ Top, Hank Williams Jr., Incubus, Creed, Kid Rock, the J. Geils Band, Ben Harper, Dr. John, Sponge, Eric Burden, Joe Walsh, Johnny Johnson, Mitch Ryder, Uncle Kracker, Tom Petty, Hubert...READ FULL BIOMo Hollis - BassInstructor -
Bassist, composer, and educator Bobby DeLisle brings a passion for music ranging from orchestral to progressive rock to the classroom at DIME.READ FULL BIOBobby Delisle - Music HistoryInstructor -
Stanislav Kozadayev – Public Speaking Stan is an artist-scholar with research focused on the intersection of rhetoric, media, and aesthetics. He has extensive experience in media production and post-production. An instructor with excellent communication skills he has the ability to engage students in conversations that go deeper than the surface...READ FULL BIOStanislav Kozadayev-Public SpeakingInstructor -
Ghassan Husseini-Math Math is as easy as 1-2-3 when Dr. Ghassan Husseini is in the place to be! As he demonstrates mathematical strategies to our students, Dr. Ghassan Husseini's approach allows our students to use these methods in their everyday life.READ FULL BIOGhassan Husseini-MathInstructor -
Jimmy Smith is a master on the trumpet who can go blow for blow with the best of horn players. Smith has showcased his trumpet skills in jazz bands throughout metro Detroit and New York. He’s also played with symphonic groups like the Harlem Renaissance Orchestra and the Detroit...READ FULL BIOJimmy Smith-Music TheoryInstructor -
Mahogany Jones is a lyrical force, hailed internationally for her work, as a recording and performance artist, arts advocate, community activist and educator.READ FULL BIOMahogany Jones - Hip Hop Short CourseSHORT COURSE INSTRUCTOR