Dennis Collins (Voice) is a singer/performer who works in the music and entertainment industry as a much sought after ‘voice for hire’ and consummate professional. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he attended the prestigious public college preparatory Cass Technical High School and Oakland University, where he majored in Music Education and Voice.

As an educator, he developed and implemented a music program for grades K–8 at a small independent school for children with learning differences. The program included the basic fundamentals of music, introduction to the orchestra, chorus, sight-singing, and beginning piano. He has done workshops at West Hill High School and Cloonan Middle School in Stamford. He has also created Precision Performance Education & Enrichment, a program designed to teach students life skills, discipline and self-esteem through the arts.

He has extensive experience as a singer, arranger, vocal coach and producer, and performs a wide range of musical genres, including classical, pop and jazz. He has recorded and performed with numerous acclaimed artists, orchestras and has toured internationally.

Dennis Collins believes that music is essential to the human spirit in bringing balance to one’s life, as a player or a listener. A good teacher of music must meet students where they are, and enjoy developing their talent, as well as stimulating their artistic growth.

Benjamin Steinhardt (Piano) is also an accompanist, vocal coach, conductor and pedagogue who can be heard regularly in venues throughout New York City. Mr. Steinhardt works with students of all ages and abilities, striving to create a fun, positive learning environment carefully structured for the individual learning styles and needs of each student. Strong emphasis is placed upon the development of self-esteem, healthy body movements, and advanced learning skills. As a pianist he has performed in the United States and Europe and has been heard at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and Merkin Concert Hall. A strong proponent of new music he has premiered new works by Dag Gabrielsen, Marc Chan, Zachary Abramson, and Anthony Rosado. He can be heard on an upcoming recording of Marc Chan’s My Wounded Head to be released next year. As a accompanist and conductor Mr. Steinhardt has worked with the Connecticut Light Opera Company, New York and Fairfield Universities, among others. Mr. Steinhardt studied at Manhattan School of Music, The Boston Conservatory, and Mannes College. His teachers have included Janice Weber, Sara Crawford Drogheo and Donn-Alexandre Feder. He currently studies with Teresa Dybvig, a leading proponent of the teachings of Dorothy Taubman. He has participated in Master Classes with Richard Goode, Peter Frankl, Amy Dissanayake, Jonathon Biss, and the Raphael Piano Trio. Mr. Steinhardt is on the faculty of the Douglaston School of Music, and City Music Schools/Joria Productions. Locally he has worked with the Center Stage and Pocket Players children’s theater companies and in the Westport Public school system.

Lu Ye (Piano) Born in Shanghai in 1977, pianist Lu Ye began her piano studies at age six with Professor Chen Qingfeng and Professor Lin Hua. Lu was accepted as an exceptional student for the Art Academy of Antwerp to study piano with Freddy Vander Keolen when she was fourteen, in which year she won the first prize with highest distinction in the Young Talent Competition in Belgium. She obtained her Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, Specialization in Piano and Chamber Music degrees with highest distinctions from the Royal Conservatory of Belgium, studying under Professor Jozef De Beenhouwer.

Lu's techniques and musicality have led to performances and concerts at concert halls such as Palais des Beaux Arts, de Singel, Queen Elisabeth Hall, Carnegie Hall, as well as tour throughout Holland, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Hungary and China. Her performances have been broadcast live on Belgian Radio and Television and recorded by Bavarian Radio. Lu has performed in master classes for such renowned artists and pedagogues as Boris Berman, Murray Perahia, Jan Wijn, Halkon Åustbø, Erwin Schiffer, Dan Epstein and György Kurtág. She has also collaborated with many top artists such as violinist Guido de Neve, violist Mate Szüsc and singer Lien Haegeman in chamber music performances.

Lu also holds a Music Pedagogy degree from the Royal Concervatory of Belgium. She has over 10 years of teaching experience in music academies and private studios.

Sarah Newman (Piano and Saxaphone) received her bachelor of music education degree from Oberlin Conservatory and her master of music degree from Manhattan School of Music. Her primary instrument is saxophone; in addition Sarah also sings and plays piano, guitar and most wind instruments.

In 2005, Sarah was selected to be part of Oberlin’s China Tour Orchestra, which completed a five-city tour of China in two weeks. Sarah is an active player of new music and especially enjoys working with composers. In 2007, she was the saxophone soloist in the U.S. premiere of Olga Neuwirth’s opera "Lost Highway," playing sold-out performances in both Oberlin and New York City.

Sarah’s saxophone quartet recently performed an hour-long program at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Last summer, Sarah was the instrumental instructor at Camp Belvoir Terrace, a fine arts camp for young women. There, she taught trumpet, trombone, drums, clarinet, recorder and guitar. In addition to her classical studies, Sarah is a singer-songwriter who has performed in venues in upstate New York and New York City.

Rachel Cohen (Piano and Voice) has a B.A. in Music from Manhattanville College and is currently a graduate student at Columbia University. She began her piano studies with her father at age seven and began studying with Linda Herring at age nine. She continued through high school with Marilyn Sophos in her hometown of Dobbs Ferry, NY. At Manhattanville she studied with Francis Brancaleone. In her senior year, she won the music department’s concerto competition with Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor and was the recipient of the David Fromkin Award, giving her the opportunity to perform with the Manhattanville Community Orchestra. She also participated in Chamber Ensembles and gave various performances in the department. She has worked professionally as an accompanist, most notably for Jenna’s Dream Choir in Yorktown Heights, NY. Performances included the Westchester Choral Festival and Broadway Sings for Jenna’s Dream. She currently studies with Michael Skelly at Columbia and is in a two-piano ensemble coached by Yelena Grinberg.

Rachel has studied vocally in both the classical and popular styles. She studied opera with JennyRebecca Walker and musical theater/pop with Rosemary Loar. She has a substantial musical theater background and participated in a Professional Summer Intensive at NYU’s CAP21 Studio in 2007. At Manhattanville, she sang with the Choir and the Selective Women’s Chamber Choir, and also participated in the theater department’s Cabaret workshop and performances.

In her teaching, Rachel provides a positive and encouraging atmosphere. She focuses on each student’s individual needs. Her primary goal for all students is cultivating a love of music and helping students grow in technique and musicality. Rachel has taught all levels and age groups and welcomes beginners, advanced players/singers, and everything in between.