Julie Snyder
FOUNDER and head instructor
BM (Summa Cum Laude) Voice Performance, Susquehanna University
MM Voice Performance, Temple University
DMA Voice Performance, Temple University
Two-time GRAMMY-award winning soprano Julie Snyder excels as an educator, performer, and scholar. As an educator, Dr. Snyder served on the adjunct faculty of the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University for seventeen years, and taught private voice (classical and musical theater), class voice, vocal repertoire, music theory, and vocal diction. During that time, she also served as an accompanist and advisor for several courses in the musical theater program. Dr. Snyder has operated a private voice studio (now Snyder School of Singing) in her home for 17 years, and has also created and led camps, courses, and workshops for students of all ages at Wyoming Seminary, The Center on the Hill, Abington High School, Parkland High School, Old Pine Presbyterian Church, The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania Youth Orchestra, The Valley Players of Ligonier, and Actors and Artists of Fayette County. Additionally, Dr. Snyder is a professional-level pianist, vocal coach, and diction coach. Her students have been accepted into top undergraduate, graduate, and Young Artist programs, and have appeared professionally on Broadway, in regional theater and national tours, and with top opera houses and choral ensembles throughout the country.
As a performer, Dr. Snyder is equally at home in choral, opera, operetta, musical theater, and recital settings, and has appeared with The New York Philharmonic, Opera Philadelphia, The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, Variant 6, The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Chester County, The Philadelphia Gilbert and Sullivan Union, Opera Libera, The Delaware Valley Opera Company, Sarah Brightman in Concert, and The Centre Theater. She currently serves as section leader, soloist, and children’s choir director at The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill and recently completed a five-year tenure as a core member of The Crossing.
Dr. Snyder’s research in the field of Swedish vocal diction and Swedish art song has been utilized by singers and vocal scholars worldwide. She is also sought as an authority on topics pertaining musical theater pedagogy and repertoire. Dr. Snyder holds a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance (summa cum laude) from Susquehanna University, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in voice performance from Temple University. Originally from Latrobe, Pennsylvania, she now resides in Erdenheim with her two children, Wesley and Natalie.
Nathaniel McEwen
STUDIO VOICE and class INSTRUCTOR
BA (Magna cum laude) Music, Cornell University
MM voice performance, Eastman School of Music
DMA Voice Performance, Eastman School of Music
Hailed for his “voice of exquisite facility and flexibility” (Observer Today, Dunkirk, NY), tenor Nathaniel McEwen has performed as soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, the Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, the Maui Chamber Orchestra, the International Baroque Soloists of the Bach & Beyond Baroque Music Festival, the Cornell Chamber Orchestra, and the Eastman Philharmonia.
Dr. McEwen has sung the roles of “Albert Herring” in Britten’s Albert Herring, “Peter Quint” in Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, and “Don Basilio” in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro in Eastman Opera Theatre productions. He also has sung the role of “Gherardo” in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi and has done abundant opera scenes work in Italy as part of the Si parla, si canta Italian language and opera program. Most recently, Dr. McEwen could be seen in Opera Philadelphia’s production of Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges as one of “The Eccentrics,” as well as singing in the chorus of the company’s early 2020 performances of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem.
Dr. McEwen completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance and Literature with a minor in Pedagogy at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Jan Opalach and Ruth Hennessy. He also holds a Master of Music degree from Eastman, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University, where he double- majored in Biological Sciences (with a concentration in Microbiology) and Music (magna cum laude).
Megnot Toggia
STUDIO VOICE INSTRUCTOR
BM VOice Performance, Temple University
MM voice performance, Temple University
Soprano Megnot Toggia recently graduated with her M.M. in Voice Performance from Temple University's Boyer College of Music and Dance. She has been seen in Opera Ithaca's production of Gianni Schicchi as "La Ciesca", Temple University Opera Theater's production of Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore as "Adina", and ENA Ensemble's Fringe Festival production of Ganymede 5 as "Rita". Megnot seeks to nurture her students' passion for music as well as their confidence in singing.
Steven Berlanga
Studio voice instructor
BM Opera Performance, California State University Long Beach
MM Choral Conducting, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati
DMA Choral Conducting (abd), Indiana University
Steven Berlanga is a bass-baritone, conductor, and composer from Salinas, California. As a conductor and educator, Steven has worked with Youth Orchestra Salinas, the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, the Williston Northampton School Choirs, Indiana University Choirs, University of Cincinnati Cabaret Singers, CSULB Bel Canto Chorus, Cabrillo Youth Chorus, the Fairfield County String Festival, and the Summer Music Clinic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As a soloist onstage and in concert, Steven has performed for West Bay Opera, Cabrillo Stage, Indiana University Opera, New Voices Opera, Espressivo Ensemble, Santa Cruz Symphony, Arizona Philharmonic, and Ensemble Monterey. As a choral artist, he has performed with The Crossing, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Exigence, The Thirteen, Kinnara, Brevitas, Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the Quartz Ensemble. Steven is finishing his doctorate in Choral Conducting at Indiana University, and has also studied at University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, California State University Long Beach, and Cabrillo College.
Marcus Huber
Studio Voice and Class/CAMP Instructor
BM Voice Performance, Temple University
At home in a variety of vocal styles, tenor Marcus Huber has performed in opera, musical theater, and cabaret productions with Fulton Theater, Temple University Opera Theater, Servant Stage Company, Timbers Dinner Theater, Sketch Club Players, Gemini Voices Co., Popovsky Performing Arts, and others. He has been a winner of OperaLancaster’s Young Artist Competition and the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competitions. Marcus is the Tenor Soloist/Section Leader at Arch Street UMC in Philadelphia, and he has performed as a frequent soloist with Temple University Concert Choir and Thomas Jefferson University Choir. Recent and upcoming performances include Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance with Delaware Valley Opera and Dr. Blind in Die Fledermaus with Temple University Opera Theater. In the voice studio, Marcus aims to build students as confident singing musicians through fostering a sustainable and flexible technique. His students are frequently cast in lead and supporting roles in high school, college, and community theater productions, and have been selected to participate in PMEA All-State choirs.
Chris Caulder
Guitar instructor
Continued study at Berklee college of music
Chris Caulder has been teaching and performing in the Philadelphia metropolitan area for the past twenty years. He enjoys performing on guitar, bass, drums, and piano in small independent ensembles. Favorite genres include indie, folk, and alternative. Chris is passionate about educating growing musicians and developed a curriculum for teaching songwriting to teens. He resides in Fort Washington.
Cathy Mazza
piano instructor
BM, West Chester University
MM, University of the Arts
Cathy Mazza is a multifaceted musician and music teacher. She is both a classical pianist and a rock and pop keyboard player, as well as a singer, songwriter, composer and conductor. Cathy has performed at many venues in the Philadelphia area as a collaborative pianist, rock band member, and choral singer. Cathy teaches piano and Children’s Music Workshop at Settlement Music School, is an associate director of music with Philadelphia Youth Choral Ensembles, music directs at Upper Darby Summer Stage, and is Staff Accompanist at Snyder School of Singing in Erdenheim, PA. She has been a choral singer in the Musikfest Choir of Bethlehem, the Germantown Oratorio Choir, and Philomusica Chorale, and was an alto and accompanist for the Mary Green Singers. Cathy has been a member of a number of rock bands, including The Kwerks, whose eponymous first CD contains two of her own songs. Cathy also enjoys composing and arranging choral pieces and children’s songs. At West Chester University, Cathy studied with Benjamin Whitten while earning her Bachelor of Music in Keyboard Performance. She also holds a Master of Music from the University of the Arts.
Andrew McMaster
PIANO INSTRUCTOR
Pianist/vocalist/composer Andrew McMaster has extensive experience in the pop/jazz genre. As a long time member of The Flamin’ Caucasians, Andrew performed with Warren Zevon, David Bromberg, Julian Lennon, Tom Jones, and Jon Anderson and Bill Bruford from the band, Yes. He has also played keys with local artists such as the Hooters and Tommy Conwell. Andrew has composed for and performed as a member of the contemporary Christian band, For The Spirit. His compositions span various genres and instrumental ensembles as well as choral works. Well-versed in the land of electronics, video, and midi, Andrew also composes music for and produces multimedia presentations, and writes for film.
Andrea Rose Cardoni
Acting Class Instructor
BS SECONDARY EDUCATION (ENGLISH Concentration), DREXEL University
Andrea Rose Cardoni is a performer and teaching artist located in Philadelphia. She is so excited to join the team at Snyder School of Singing. With a degree in Secondary Education and vast experience in theater education and performance, she brings creative learning solutions into classrooms with the perspective that art and performance can truly free us - leaving room for creativity and exploration. She works closely with many theatres in the Philadelphia area, with classes currently running at the Walnut Street Theatre and Allens Lane Art Center. For more information, visit www.andrearosecardoni.com.
Mary Kate Foley
Studio voice instructor
BFA Musical TheatRe (Magna Cum Laude), Temple University, 2018
Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy, New York Vocal Coaching
Mary Kate Foley is a professional singer, actor and dancer originally from Downingtown, Pennsylvania. She received her degree in Musical Theatre from Temple University, where she studied with Dr. Julie Snyder, and her certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from New York Vocal Coaching. Since graduation, she has gone on to perform regionally in shows such as Sister Act (Mary Robert) Footloose (Ariel), Mamma Mia (Lisa), and more. In addition to performing, Mary Kate also directs and choreographs theatre productions for kids and teaches preschool music classes.
Beth Dzwil
Violin/Viola Instructor
BM Viola Performance, Philadelphia College of the performing arts
Suzuki certified - books 1-4
Beth Dzwil, violist, is a seasoned chamber musician, performing for over thirty years with the Fairmount String Quartet and for fifteen years with the Elysian Camerata. She has been featured as a soloist with the Pottstown Symphony, where she served as principal violist for over twenty years, and with the Buxmont Chamber Players, the St. John’s Festival Orchestra, and the Fairmount Chamber Ensemble. In addition to her classical work, she has performed internationally and recorded six critically acclaimed jazz albums with the Tyrone Brown String Sextet. She teaches violin and viola at the Community College of Philadelphia and at the Haverford School, conducts the Philadelphia Sinfonia Strings youth orchestra, and coordinates the Adult Chamber Music Program at Settlement Music School. With the Fairmount String Quartet, she is a Spring Garden Records Artist. Her most recent album with the FSQ titled “Unleashed” of music by women composers was released in February 2023.
Wanting Chen
Piano Instructor
BM Piano Performance, Wuhan Conservatory of Music, China
MM Jazz Piano, Royal Welsh COllege of Music and Drama, UK
Wanting Chen is a passionate and experienced piano teacher who specializes in both classical and jazz styles. She is also bi-lingual. Wanting is skilled at teaching piano to students of all ages and skill levels, from beginners to advanced learners. She tailors her teaching methods to suit each student’s needs and goals, and incorporates music theory and composition into lessons. Whether you are a beginner or advanced player, whether you want to play for fun or for auditions, whether you prefer classical or other genres of music, she can help you achieve your goals while enjoying playing the piano.
Toto Dobbs
Acting Instructor
MFA Theatre Arts, University of Louisville
Toto Dobbs is a theatre and teaching artist originally from North Carolina. They received their MFA in Theatre Arts from the University of Louisville in 2019 and moved to Philadelphia to pursue theatre focused on community enrichment at the start of 2021. Toto's background is in physical and movement based teachings such as Suzuki, Viewpoints, Laban Movement Analysis, and the Alexander Technique. Toto's philosophy in theatre and teaching is always to "joy seek". Toto encourages all their students to find the joy in what they do and works to empower them to make confident choices on and off stage. Toto also teaches and directs at the Wolf Performing Arts Center and works as an intimacy and fight coordinator in the community.
Kailey Labovitz
STUDIO VOICE INSTRUCTOR
BM MUSIC EDUCATION/VOCAL PERFORMANCE
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
Soprano Kailey Labovitz is a versatile teaching artist originally from Abington, Pennsylvania. Kailey is an experienced performer in musical theater, choir, and opera, and has also studied drama and dance. Favorite roles include Logainne in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Rheba in You Can’t Take It With You. As an educator, Kailey has taught music in both public and private school classrooms in Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs, worked as a drama instructor, stage director, and stage manager, and conducted various classical and contemporary ensembles. She is a graduate of the Boyer College of Music and Dance at Temple University’s dual degree program in voice performance and music education.
Abigale Hobbs
STUDIO VOICE INSTRUCTOR
BM MUSIC EDUCATION/VOCAL PERFORMANCE, Texas Tech University
MM Voice Performance, Temple University (anticipated 2026)
Mezzo-soprano Abigale Hobbs is currently pursuing her graduate degree at Temple University where she was awarded a Graduate Assistantship and studies under mezzo-soprano Dr. Kathryn Leemhuis. She is an experienced opera, oratorio, and musical theater performer. Opera and musical theater credits include Carmen in Carmen, Edith in Pirates of Penzance, Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof, and Petra in A Little Night Music with the Seagle Festival, Madame de la Haltière in Massenet's Cendrillon with Temple University Opera Theater, Ethel Toffelmier (Zaneeta cover) in The Music Man as an Ader Emerging Artist with Charlottesville Opera, Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito and La Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica at Texas Tech University. Abigale has also performed with the Lubbock Chorale and Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and is a soloist and section leader at The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. She holds undergraduate degrees in both music education and voice performance.
Chelsea Haynes
studio voice instructor
BM Voice Performance, University of North Alabama
MM Voice Performance, Temple University (anticipated May 2026)
Soprano Chelsea Haynes is pursuing her master’s degree in vocal arts at Temple University. She is in the studio of Dr. Christine Anderson. A performer of both opera and musical theater, some of her favorite roles include Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore, Lynn in A Grand Night for Singing, and Titine in Libby Larsen’s Silver Fox with University of North Alabama Opera Theater, Rapunzel in Into the Woods with Ritz Theater Sheffield, and most recently appearing in Cendrillon and Don Giovanni with Temple Opera Theater. Chelsea has also performed with Temple University’s Concert Choir and is a section leader at Trinity Episcopal Swarthmore. Chelsea holds an undergraduate degree in vocal performance from the University of North Alabama.
Luna Dantagnan
Studio voice instructor
BM, Voice Performance/Music Education, Temple University
Luna Dantagnan, mezzo-soprano, is a voice teacher and a Philadelphia native with a strong foundation in vocal performance and music education. She is highly engaged in the local choral community, having served on the board of Epiphany Singers, an auditioned choral ensemble of young adults. Luna has also performed with Opera Box in numerous roles, including her most recent appearance as First Witch in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. This performance and leadership background is complemented by her experience teaching general music and directing choirs at institutions like J. R. Masterman School and her current role at Academy Park High School. This combination allows her to offer students a well-rounded approach to vocal technique and artistry. Luna earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Temple University.
Aaron Scarberry
Studio Voice Instructor
BM Vocal Performance, West Virginia University
MM Voice and Opera Performance, McGill University
Tenor Aaron Scarberry is known for his expressive and versatile performances across recital, orchestral, chamber, and community-based stages. Equally at home in multiple musical styles, he is particularly recognized for his work in Chinese vocal repertoire and his commitment to performances that engage diverse audiences through cultural connection and accessibility.
In 2025, Aaron was featured as the tenor soloist in The Crucifixion by John Stainer at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Philadelphia. He also recently portrayed Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro with Keystone Opera. Additional appearances this season include projects with Liberty City Arts and Delaware Valley Opera Company. Recent highlights include his Carnegie Hall debut singing in the Grand Bilingual Concert of Chinese Tang Dynasty Poems in fall 2024. He also appeared in collaborative concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra and iSING! International Festival in Philadelphia, New York, and Beijing.
Aaron has built a notable international presence, having performed across China with orchestras including the Shanghai Symphony, Shanghai Philharmonic, and Beijing TV & Radio Orchestra. He performed the roles of Maximilian and the Captain in the Chinese premiere of Bernstein’s Candide with the Xi’an Symphony and was featured on CCTV4’s 2018 Chinese New Year celebration 非常传奇 (Very Extraordinary). In 2025, a performance of his went viral on 小红 书 (Rednote), later shared widely across Chinese news outlets and television platforms.
A passionate advocate for cross-cultural music exchange, Aaron has performed extensively in Mandarin Chinese and was a finalist in the inaugural International Chinese Art Song Competition. His work with Liberty City Arts in Philadelphia blends performance with education and outreach, building bridges between classical music and the local community.
In addition to his vocal work, Aaron is an accomplished bassoonist with over 15 years of experience. He performs regularly throughout the Philadelphia region in symphony orchestras, wind ensembles, pit orchestras for opera and musical theater, and chamber ensembles. His dual perspective as both singer and instrumentalist informs his musicality and ensemble sensibility, and he remains active in both capacities.
Aaron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance from West Virginia University and a Master’s in Opera and Vocal Performance from McGill University in Montreal, where he was active on both the opera and recital stage. His vocal mentors include Nicholas Perna, Sanford Sylvan, Ben Heppner, and Thomas Faracco; his bassoon teachers include Valerie Trollinger and Lynn Hileman.
Based in Philadelphia, Aaron continues to explore the intersection of language, culture, and music in his artistic work.
Roslyn Rich
Studio voice instructor
BM Voice Performance, University of Utah
MM Vocal Arts, Temple university
Roslyn Rich is a coloratura soprano based in Philadelphia. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Utah and a Master of Music in Vocal Arts from Temple University, where her graduate studies focused on performance and vocal pedagogy. She was awarded a teaching assistant position in voice during her time at Temple, teaching undergraduate students private lessons and the foundational elements of singing. With experience in musical theater and contemporary as well as classical music, her teaching emphasizes healthy vocal technique, breath support, and musical expression for her students. In addition to voice, Roslyn has extensive training in piano and violin, which inform her holistic approach to teaching and musicianship.
Roslyn’s performance experience includes roles such as Atalanta in Handel’s Serse with Utah Valley Arts Festival, Witch 1 in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas with the University of Utah, and cover roles of La Fée in Massenet’s Cendrillon and Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante at Temple University. She also covered the soprano solo in Poulenc’s Gloria with the Boyer College of Music’s performance at the Kimmel Center. Roslyn has performed solo works including Barbara Strozzi’s L’astratto and Zerbinetta’s aria from Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos and earned 3rd place in the Regional NATS Competition. She has volunteered by singing and playing piano for patients at Primary Children’s Hospital.
John Drake
Studio voice instructor
BM, Voice Performance, University of Georgia
MM, Voice Performance, Temple University
Baritone John Drake from Gainesville, GA is currently living in Philadelphia having recently graduated from Temple University with his Masters degree in vocal performance. John received his Bachelors degree from the University of Georgia where he began his performing and teaching career. His recent operatic roles include The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance with the Seagle Festival, Pandolphe in Massenet’s Cendrillon and the title role in Don Giovanni both with Temple Opera Theater. He was also a Smith Young Artist with Cedar Rapids Opera Company where he covered the role of Pandolphe. John has performed as the baritone soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Dona nobis pacem at the Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall with the TU Orchestra and Choirs conducted by Dr. Paul Rardin. His solo concert work also includes Fauré’s Requiem, and another Dona Nobis Pacem with Voices of Pride. John is a passionate pedagogue, and has been teaching students in South Philadelphia for two years and is excited to keep developing voices in the Philadelphia community. John spent the summer of 2025 as an emerging artist with the Seagle Festival, and stayed with them for the fall performing outreach with the children’s opera Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers.