, baritone (Music Education ’16; Performer’s Certificate in Voice ’22), who studied under esteemed voice teacher Karen Driscoll, takes on the pivotal role of Olin Blitch. A commanding presence both vocally and dramatically, Zacher brings depth and intensity to the complex revivalist preacher, marking an important professional milestone in his burgeoning operatic career.

Joining him on the Sarasota stage is , tenor (BFA in Musical Theatre ’12), who studied with Peter Stewart. Brauner performs the role of Sam Polk, adding to his growing list of professional credits with this role debut appearance. His transition from musical theatre training to operatic performance highlights the versatility and strong foundational training he developed at Ģ����Ƶ. This marks Brauner’s 4th season at Sarasota Opera (2013, 2024, 2025, 2026).

Composed by Carlisle Floyd, Susannah remains one of the most frequently performed American operas, celebrated for its emotional intensity and distinctly American musical voice. The Sarasota Opera production showcases both alumni in a work that demands dramatic nuance and vocal strength.

From campus to prominent professional stages, Ģ����Ƶ graduates continue to build distinguished careers across the field. Zacher and Brauner’s Sarasota Opera role debuts underscore the excellence of Ģ����Ƶ’s vocal and musical theatre programs and the enduring mentorship of its faculty.

Growing up in Union, New Jersey, Alyssa Muñiz dreamed of a life onstage – and she made it happen.

From touring internationally with Norwegian Cruise Lines to starring in an Off-Broadway show and even performing at legendary New York City venues like 54 Below, Birdland and the Blue Note, Muñiz built an impressive career in the performing arts.

But after the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Muñiz found herself asking a big question: Was there something more?

“I love music, and I love singing,” Muñiz says, “but I just felt like something was missing.”

That’s when she stumbled upon music therapy – a field where she could use her talents not just to entertain, but to heal.

At 32, Muñiz will receive her Bachelor of Arts in Music Therapy along with fellow College of the Arts����������ܲ��ٱ��.

Choosing Ģ����Ƶ for Music Therapy

Muñiz found a free music therapy course online and found her calling. So, when it came time to formally study music therapy, Muñiz knew exactly where she wanted to go.

“I always wanted to go to Ģ����Ƶ,” she says. “It’s a beautiful campus, and the music therapy program is incredible. All our professors are literally in the textbooks we read – the profession is blooming right now.”

Muñiz was accepted to both Ģ����Ƶ and Berklee College of Music, but ultimately chose Ģ����Ƶ for its congenial community, hands-on learning and proximity to New York City’s endless opportunities.

“I found it to be really welcoming,” she says. “The professors are so approachable and down-to-earth.”

She also found a welcoming culture and opportunities for growth. “What I found was a real community – people I could lean on. Ģ����Ƶ did a great job of helping me stretch, expand and find my voice again.”

Associate Professor of Music in Music Therapy Michael Viega says: “Alyssa has always brought her full life experience to her training as a music therapist. As a musician she is exceptional, able to play in many styles with fluidity and competence. She has been a mentor to many, with her inquisitive but grounded insight.”

Inspired by how she used music to help her grandmother combat the effects of Alzheimer’s, Muñiz returned to school and chose Ģ����Ƶ for its Music Therapy program. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

From Touring the World to Making a Difference at Home

Today, Muñiz is completing her music therapy internship at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, where she works with a wide range of populations, including kindergarten to fifth-grade students with ADHD, disabilities or trauma, adults with disabilities and seniors with Alzheimer’s.

“Music is this amazing thing,” she reflects. “When my grandma had Alzheimer’s, we used music to help change her mood, even help her eat. Now, every day, I see how music therapy impacts people’s lives.”

Her journey has come full circle. Looking back, Muñiz realizes that even her earlier performing roles – in Pip’s Island�����Ի���Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! – had elements of music therapy built in through its messages of emotional learning and connection.

“I’m doing what I love,” she says. “It’s so rewarding.”

Viega says he can’t wait to see where Muñiz’s career takes her. “She is going to be a wonderful music therapist filled with care, empathy and love for health and humanity.”

From Touring the World to Making a Difference at Home

Today, Muñiz is completing her music therapy internship at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, where she works with a wide range of populations, including kindergarten to fifth-grade students with ADHD, disabilities or trauma, adults with disabilities and seniors with Alzheimer’s.

“Music is this amazing thing,” she reflects. “When my grandma had Alzheimer’s, we used music to help change her mood, even help her eat. Now, every day, I see how music therapy impacts people’s lives.”

Her journey has come full circle. Looking back, Muñiz realizes that even her earlier performing roles – in Pip’s Island�����Ի���Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! – had elements of music therapy built in through its messages of emotional learning and connection.

“I’m doing what I love,” she says. “It’s so rewarding.”

Viega says he can’t wait to see where Muñiz’s career takes her. “She is going to be a wonderful music therapist filled with care, empathy and love for health and humanity.”

Muñiz will continue to use her voice and musical talents to assist people through music therapy. (Photo by University Photographer Mike Peters)

What’s Next for Muñiz

After graduating, Muñiz plans to become board-certified and work as a music therapist or start her own private practice specializing in music therapy for Alzheimer’s patients, their caregivers and even performers struggling with confidence.

“I’m so confident in what I’m doing now,” she says. “Music therapy is powerful, and I’m ready to take it wherever it’s needed – whether that means finding a job or creating my own opportunities.”

And when she walks across the stage, it will symbolize much more than earning a degree. She knows her family and boyfriend, Ģ����Ƶ alumnus Wesley DeSouza ’16, will celebrate her achievement – and so will she. During her academic career, Muñiz has supported herself through commercial advertising work, performances and even bartending, all in addition to her internship.

“I’m really proud of myself,” she says. “I did this all on my own. When I throw my cap in the air, I’m going to cry like a baby because it’s been 15 years of hustling – and now, I can finally breathe.”

The University will celebrate its graduates at Commencement exercises on Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2025, at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. 

Story by Sylvia A. Martinez,��University Communications and Marketing

And the results speak for themselves.

Tessa Dolce (MM ’18) has become a sought-after Broadway multi-woodwind specialist, currently subbing in the pit of Death Becomes Her. A specialist in the low woodwinds, she has covered numerous productions over the years and will begin a new show, The Seat of Our Pants, this fall at The Public Theater.

Alex Lemma (MM ’22) is performing in the national tour of Kimberly Akimbo, playing bassoon, baritone/tenor saxophone, clarinet, and bass clarinet — while also returning to New York to sub on Wicked on Broadway.

Quinten Hansen (MM ’25) is currently touring with The Notebook 1st National Tour, performing on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, and English horn. In addition to his work as a doubler, he is a prolific composer and arranger.

Maria Vincelette (MM ’25) is performing with the First National Tour of Water for Elephants, playing piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto saxophone, and baritone saxophone — part of a rapidly expanding career on the national musical theatre circuit.

Woodwind Doubling — Student Accomplishments (2018–present)

• Alex Lemma — Broadway sub for Wicked and Kimberly Akimbo; currently on the Kimberly Akimbo 1st National Tour

• Amanda Morden — Freelance woodwind performer based in Portland, OR

• Ben Harris — Sub at Paper Mill Playhouse; regional theatre (NY/NJ); cabaret work

• Jamie Staton — Broadway sub for Wicked; How the Grinch Stole Christmas East Coast Tour; repair tech at AJS Woodwinds

• Jonathan Hart — MM in Woodwind Doubling at MSU; regional theatre in Long Island and NJ

• Katy Faracy — Players’ Theatre (NYC), How the Grinch Stole Christmas West Coast Tour, Ogunquit Playhouse; woodwind instructor at Elizabeth Morrow School (Englewood, NJ)

• Maria Vincelette — Water for Elephants 1st National Tour, Mean Girls National Tour, How the Grinch Stole Christmas East Coast Tour; regional theatre (NY/NJ)

• Olivia Dorschel — Little Women National Tour; woodwind performer at Palace Theatre (NH)

• Quinten Hansen — The Notebook 1st National Tour; regional theatre (NY/NJ)

• Tessa Dolce — Broadway sub for Gypsy, New York, New York, The Lion King, Water for Elephants, Death Becomes Her, Heathers; chair holder at Public Theater’s Seat of Our Pants (Oct–Nov 2025)

• Tristan Shafran — Regional theatre (NJ); woodwind repair technician at Odibella Music

For more information on this unique Multiple Woodwind Doubling program, please contact Chad Smith at smithchad@montclair.edu

A native of Toms River, New Jersey, Ricotta studied at Ģ����Ƶ State under Professor Donald Batchelder, Peter Bond of the Metropolitan Opera, and world-renowned baroque trumpet soloist John Thiessen. During his time at Ģ����Ƶ, he fondly recalls performing with the University Wind Symphony at the 2019 CBDNA conference in Tempe, Arizona—an experience that remains a highlight of his undergraduate years.

After graduating from Ģ����Ƶ in 2020, Ricotta earned a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance and Literature and a Performer’s Certificate at the Eastman School of Music, an Artist Diploma with distinction from the OAcademy Music Conservatory, and is now pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts at Michigan State University under Justin Emerich, where he also serves as a Graduate Assistant.

Beyond his recent appointment in Lansing, Ricotta has performed with numerous professional ensembles, including the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony Orchestra, and the Brass Band of Battle Creek. His artistry has taken him across North and Central America as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician.

Equally dedicated to teaching, Ricotta has held positions at both the Eastman School of Music and Michigan State University. He has taught Baroque Trumpet Studies, Brass Methods, Fundamental Trumpet Lessons, and coached chamber ensembles. He also works with the Spartan Marching Band and has mentored students who have gone on to achieve success in national competitions.

Ricotta has studied with many distinguished trumpet artists, including James Thompson, Matilda Lloyd, Mauro Maur, John Thiessen, Peter Bond, Donald Batchelder, and Justin Emerich. His festival appearances include the American Bach Soloists Academy, Sinfónica Azteca, and OAcademy, where he performed alongside Yo-Yo Ma.

The Cali School of Music congratulates James Reed Ricotta on this exciting new chapter in his career. We are proud of his accomplishments and look forward to watching his continued success on and off the stage.

Tessa Dolce has been busy performing in some of Broadway’s biggest productions, currently substituting in The Lion King,��Death Becomes Her, ���Ի���Gypsy. In addition to her work on Broadway, she has also performed at the renowned Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey.

Alex Lemma is currently on the road, playing an impressive array of woodwinds—including bassoon, flute, clarinet, and saxophones—in the first national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical Kimberly Akimbo.

Both Tessa and Alex studied under the guidance of Keri Ann DiBari,��Harry Searing,��Wendy Stern, ���Ի���Chad Smith during their time at Ģ����Ƶ State. They are shining examples of the success and versatility that the Woodwind Doubling master’s program was designed to foster.

The Ģ����Ƶ State Woodwind Doubling masters’ program, created and coordinated by woodwind artist Chad Smith, is a specialized hands-on training program preparing students for careers in concert, Broadway, recording and woodwind teaching.  During their 2 years, students have the opportunity to study 4 instruments with the specialists on each instrument.  The program was implemented in 2019 and since then has attracted students from across the nation and abroad.  Graduates of the program are now playing on Broadway, regional theatre, national tours and teaching woodwinds at prolific music schools in the tri-state area. 

For more information about this program contact Chad Smith,��smithchad@montclair.edu

A trailblazer in every sense, Camryn will complete her Master of Music in Opera Performance under the guidance of Metropolitan Opera’s Barbara Dever next May. Her outstanding artistry and commitment to cultural advocacy have already gained international attention, and this Fulbright Award marks yet another milestone in her rapidly ascending career.

From Rural Roots to Global Stages

Camryn’s musical journey began in rural Manitoba, where she developed her passion for opera and the performing arts. She earned her Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance with Distinction) at the University of Manitoba before joining us at Ģ����Ƶ’s John J. Cali School of Music. Despite the shift from small-town life to some of the world’s most renowned concert halls—like her recent performance in The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall—Camryn remains deeply connected to her heritage as a proud Red River Métis.

Fostering Truth and Reconciliation Through Music

As part of her Fulbright project, Camryn will present a Lecture Recital Series titled “Harmonizing Truth and Reconciliation: Female Indigenous Representation and Community Engagement in Music.” Through these lecture-recitals, she aims to bridge cultures and spark critical conversations about reconciliation. Mark your calendars for these upcoming presentations:

• April 13 – Ģ����Ƶ Art Museum
• Late April – Ģ����Ƶ
• May 12 – American Association of University Women

Celebrating a Multitalented Performer

Camryn’s performance résumé already showcases her remarkable versatility:

• Indians on Vacation (workshop) at Banff Centre
• The Grapes of Wrath at Carnegie Hall
• Blind Injustice in New Jersey (with a future Lincoln Center engagement alongside MasterVoices)
• Li Keur: Riel’s Heart of the North with Manitoba Opera

She will soon take on the role of the Mother in Hansel and Gretel with Ģ����Ƶ Chamber Ensemble Opera—yet another opportunity to witness her exceptional talent.

A Champion for Indigenous Women’s Voices

Beyond the stage, Camryn has been recognized by numerous organizations for her academic excellence, cultural advocacy, and dedication to community engagement. Her accolades include the Association of American University Women Scholarship, Canadian Federation of University Women Scholarship, Modern Métis Woman Scholarship, Les Michif Otipemisiwak Fellowship, and the Association of Opera in Canada Fellowship—reflecting her steadfast commitment to uplifting Indigenous stories in the arts.

About Fulbright Canada

Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program has supported over 325,000 students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists, and artists across 155 countries. It remains one of the world’s most renowned academic honors, dedicated to fostering mutual understanding and excellence. As a bi-national, treaty-based organization, Fulbright Canada provides merit-based grants to students and scholars from both Canada and the United States.

Looking Ahead

As she prepares for graduation and for an even brighter future in the world of opera, we couldn’t be prouder of Camryn’s accomplishments. Her success is not only a testament to her passion and resilience but also a celebration of the power of music to unite communities, honor cultural legacies, and inspire lasting change.

Jason, a bass-baritone, has earned national acclaim for his versatility across opera, concert, and musical theatre. He has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, The Atlanta Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Kentucky Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Ars Lyrica Houston. His recent accolades include winning Second Prize at the Lotte Lenya Competition and being named an NY District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

For the 2024-25 season, Jason will return to The Glimmerglass Festival, performing in Elizabeth Cree�����Ի���The Pirates of Penzance, and will also join The Atlanta Opera’s Studio Artist Program for a second year, appearing in La bohème,��The Magic Flute, ���Ի���Macbeth.

Join us in celebrating Jason Zacher’s impressive achievements and we are looking forward to his bright future!

Following his graduation from the Cali School of Music, Matthew Searing became interested in a career as an orchestra librarian by accepting seasonal positions with the Brevard Music Center, Aspen Music Festival and School, and an interim position with the Utah Symphony and Opera. Matthew then became a Library Fellow with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach under the artistic leadership of Michael Tilson-Thomas. He has worked in the libraries for the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic. Prior to his appointment to the San Francisco Symphony, Matthew held similar positions with The Sarasota Orchestra and the Florida Orchestra. Matthew also serves as a librarian for Carnegie Hall’s NYO-USA program.

Congratulations Matthew!

Lisbelkis Santana MSU ’19 was hired by the Union City Board of Education as a full time music substitute teacher for the 2020-2021 academic year. Now, she teaches Grades 1-8 General Music and two electives (Gilmore Glee and Music Explorations: Musical Theater) at Sara Gilmore Academy. Additionally, she teaches private keyboard and voice lessons at the School of Rock in Hoboken owned by Ģ����Ƶ Alum, Rachel Pores. Lisbelkis is on track towards receiving her Standard Teaching License through the Alternate Route Program at NJCU. In attempts to keep up with musical chops, she continues taking classical voice lessons with Julia Rolwing and will be participating in the NJVAC’s production of Magic Flute this summer. She also recently had the pleasure of playing in the orchestral pit for Perth Amboy’s Production of Freaky Friday the Musical and has been picking up singing gigs such as princess parties. Lisbelkis had the pleasure of taking a musical theater writing course with American Musical Composer Ryan Scott Oliver and is currently composing an original musical.

“Upon graduating Ģ����Ƶ, I wasn’t sure what my next path was going to be since I didn’t go through their teacher preparation program. After much convincing, I decided to get my substitute license and soon after applied for my Certificate of Eligibility and the Alternate Route Program. While teaching in a pandemic has come with many challenges, I am extremely grateful for the connections and relationships I developed with my colleagues and professors at the Cali School of Music.”

Are you a Cali School Alum?
Let us know what great things you are up to! You might be featured in our new series Cali Alumni Spotlight!

We are honored to feature Emily Pivovarnik, who graduated with her bachelors degree in Music Therapy in 2018. After her time at MSU, she received her master’s degree in music therapy and specialized in NICU research from Florida State University. After a fellowship at the National Insitute of Infant and Child Medical Music Therapy, she secured her dream job as the pediatric and NICU music therapist for the University of Missouri Healthcare Children’s Hospital. Her article, “Sensory Processing in Premature Infants and Implications for Music Therapists in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” will be published in Neonatal Network this summer. Emily also launched an IRB approved research study at the hospital’s NICU, where she is examining the long-term effects of Multimodal Neurologic Enhancement, an evidence-based music therapy intervention for premature infants, on neurodevelopment. This study will enroll 130 participants and will follow patients with neurodevelopmental assessments through 2 years of age.

“A dynamic music therapy student and leader within her community, Emily was always engaged in numerous artistic, scholarly, and clinical areas of interest, simultaneously. She has unflaggingly demonstrated genuine care, compassion, and empathy for others, as well as an openness to perpetual learning. I have every confidence that Emily will continue to contribute as a valuable stakeholder, both within our profession of music therapy and beyond.”

—Professor Abrams,��Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Therapy

Are you a Cali School Alum?
Let us know what great things you are up to! You might be featured in our new series Cali Alumni Spotlight!