James Bastani - Piano (all levels)
James is an honor graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston. Since his graduation in 1987, he has been active as a performer of a variety of styles of music. He has performed in major centers of culture all over the United States as well as Canada, Europe and South America. James is also active as an arranger and has produced a number of albums for a variety of singers in Los Angeles and Toronto. He was the recipient of NVCC’s “Talented Tenth” award in 1990. He resides in Annandale, Virginia where in addition to performing; he has been teaching private musical instruction for the past 20 years.

Michael Horton - Flute, Saxophone, and Beginning Piano
Michael is the leader of the Just-In-Time Band (name based on the song "Just in time") ... He has been a musician for more than 40 years and teaching music for 15 years. The majority of his adult musical training comes from the University of the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia Community College and most of his musical support comes from his church, which encouraged him and gave him the freedom to create and mature artistically... Michael is primarily a jazz/blues/gospel instrumentalist (sax and flute) influenced by a long list of vocal artists and instrumentalists--e.g. John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly, Dexter Gordon, and Joe Henderson (and Junior Walker, Maceo Parker, Billy Preston, Rance Allen) He still enjoys performing with and without the Just-In-Time band in the Washington, DC metro area.

Kat Whitesides - Violin
Kat studied at Catholic University, with Jody Gatwood, and received the degree of BM in violin performance, magna cum laude with a minor in Philosophy. Before attending Catholic, Kat was a member of the inaugural class of SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. While at the Governor’s School, she toured the states as a member of the Honors Quartet, to raise awareness and support for the Arts in South Carolina. She has experience teaching group classes and coaching chamber music as well as teaching private lessons. Kat has been on staff at the Duke University String School and SC Governor’s School Honors program. She is a member of the Maryland Symphony and is an active freelance musician in the DC area.

Sam Shin, Voice Instructor
Sam was born in Seoul Korea Jung Gu District. Sam began singing when he learned to walk and he came to the United States in search of a better education. After dealing with a family situation, this lead Novale to discover his hidden talent. Sam is both a singer and songwriter, who is now living in Northern Virginia. He is best known for powerful and compelling performances such as opening for Aretha Franklin at the Nokia Center, NY, NY and for KC & Jo Jo at Zanzi in Washington, DC. He describes his genre as “Neo Soul” fusing together elements of R&B,Hip-hop, jazz and Soul. Recently, Sam made his world premier in Season 4 “Making the Band 4” an MTV reality series that focuses on R&B musical acts, with Sean “Diddy” Combs being amongst the final five contestants for the band. Prior to that event, Sam thrilled his audience by singing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC on the Tom “Joyner Sky Show”. Sam is a voice coach for teenagers at a nearby school. If asked to describe his personality, he sees himself as a visionary and a World harmonizer.

Ms. Sloane-Hornseth - Voice and Beginning Piano
Sharon has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Music, with an emphasis in vocal performance, from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Ms. Sloane-Hornseth has a Certificate of Performance in Theatre from the Catholic University of America; a Certificate of Performance in Opera from L’Academie International d’ete, Nice, France; and a Master of Music Education, with a focus on vocal performance, from George mason University. Ms. Sloane-Hornseth’s Masters project is about teaching voice to children and teenagers.

Ms. Sloane-Hornseth appeared in 13 operas, with the Washington Opera at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. She has sung with both the Pittsburgh Symphony and the National Symphony. She has also performed roles in musical comedy at area dinner theaters. Ms. Sloane-Hornseth directs two children choruses at Vienna Presbyterian and St. Andrew the Apostle school. She teaches both piano and voice, and her great love is to see her students learn and succeed

Michelle Ayler - Piano (All Levels)
After studying the piano for four and a half years Michelle Ayler was accepted into Duke Ellington School of the Arts, an arts high school located in Washington D.C. She worked to earn not only her high school diploma but a diploma in instrumental piano studies. After graduating in the top ten of her class, Michelle went on to Radford University where she majored in Music Composition. Currently, Michelle works as a piano teacher and composer. Even though Michelle "adamantly stated" she would never teach music when she got older, teaching has become a way she can express herself and share her musical gift. To her, nothing is more exciting than watching young musicians grow, learn and succeed.

Charles Manson - Guitar
Charles Mason has been playing guitar for 15 years and professionally for over 10 years in the D.C. area. He has played with several bands and as a soloist. Steeped in traditional American folk, Rock and R&B, Charlie brings an eclectic mix to any performance. As a teacher, Mr. Charlie aims to simplify the instrument for his students. Music, especially individual instruments, can be daunting to a beginner. But with the right guidance and encouragement, any student can advance at a pace that grows exponentially with each breakthrough. Mr. Charlie hopes to bring out the creator in each of his students as they learn the ABC's of guitar and music theory.