Jessica, our Center Director, enters her 15th year with Music Together. She is a candidate for Certification level II for teaching mastery. She has a long musical life that started by dancing in her father's arms. Voice is her primary instrument. Jessica studied at Conservatorio Cherubini in Florence, Italy and at Boston Conservatory. She has sung around the world and under the baton of many fine conductors including Mehta, Mazur, Abel and Botstein. A recent thrill was sharing the stage with vocal great Bobby McFerron. Jessica has an eclectic performance background ranging from medieval polyphany to jazz but feels most in tune sitting in a circle, making music with families that didn't know they could. She is particulary proud to have gathered a staff of diversly talented and engaging educators who in their spare time are known to make music together! With husband Joe of many years, she has two beautiful, musical boys; Henry and Jack.

Anastasia is in her eighth year with us. Her natural storytelling skills creatively enhance her classes. She is a lifelong musician and infuses her work with plenty of guitar playing. A pied piper with kids and adults, Ana creates a relaxed playful atmosphere for lots of family music making.Anastasia has achieved Certification I for teaching mastery of Music Together. She's added improv comedy to her resume, this girl has got it going on. She is also an accomplished actor.

Kathleen Cartwright joined us in 2006 . She loves to sing, dance, and play the guitar and flute.When she's not having a musical education blast in a Music Together classroom, she exercises her bookish tendencies being a librarian in Clinton, CT. Kathleen is part of the MT of the River Valley band, binky, and formerly was a member of the Deep River duo, The Red Motors. She listens to everything from Bach to Pavement to Music Together collections. She has a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from UMass-Amherst. She is happy to be here making music with families on the CT Shoreline. Kathleen says, "Music Together is the best thing ever!" Kathleen received her Cert I for teaching mastery in June 2009.

Carrie sizzles with a unique super grooviness and warmth. She has always considered herself musical; singing and dancing have always been part of her daily living. She performed in musicals during her high school years, something she truly misses doing. Now the mother of three boys, Carrie enjoys being musical with them. She experiences firsthand how music can effect their little minds,bodies and souls. Carrie is very eager to bring her enthusiasm for music, creativity and playfulness to other children and their caregivers. She is also a freelance Graphic Designer ,holding a BA in Studio Art from SCSU. We love her enthusiastic spirit (and design talent...our professional look is all Howes Design!)Carrie also joined our staff in 2006 and received Cert I for teaching mastery in June 2009.

Carrie Wechsler loves being part of the Music Together of the River Valley team. Previously, she taught Music Together in Fairfield County, CT. Music has always been a source of passion and joy for Carrie. She is a professional singer/actor, and has performed in New York, London, Los Angeles and throughout the U.S. She toured the country in a children's theatre adaptation of The Poky Little Puppy for which she also wrote the book and music. She continues to perform regionally, most often with Connecticut's Theatre Artists Workshop. Carrie discovered Music Together after moving to Connecticut from NYC with her growing family. She is the proud mother of two boys, Colin and Ben, and a brand new baby girl, Sarah, who loves it when her big brothers sing to her. Carrie achieved Cert 1 in Spring 2010. She plays piano, flute, a bit of guitar and a smidgen of harmonica. She is a native of the Boston area and a graduate of Boston University