Jason McFeators
Site Director, MD Campus: Strathmore
Jason McFeaters has been working with Levine Music for over 20 years, and is thrilled to return as Strathmore Site Director. He is a member of the Levine saxophone faculty, and studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the University of Michigan. He regularly performs with the Capital Wind Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, and the District Sax Quartet. Jason is also the choir director and department chair at North Bethesda Middle School in MCPS.
Noam Kagan
Assistant to the Site Director, MD Campus: Strathmore
Noam Kagan is a University of Minnesota student studying developmental psychology and a longtime member of the Camp Levine community. After growing up at camp and progressing from camper to Teen Apprentice to leadership roles, Noam is passionate about creating spaces where campers feel confident, curious, and completely themselves. When he’s not at camp, he enjoys traveling, playing guitar, and trying new foods. He’s excited for another summer filled with music, laughter, and camp spirit.
Nathaniel Hale
Teen Apprentice Coordinator, MD Campus: Strathmore
I’m Nate and I’m gonna be your teen apprentice coordinator for the summer! I’m a college student at Loyola New Orleans and I’m excited to work with all of you this summer! I have a Passion for music! I play the Drums and Piano for fun and I love rock music!
Barbara Gesumaria
PreK/K Teacher – Session 1 & II – MD Campus: Strathmore
I am thrilled to be returning to Camp Levine for my 15th season. I am a retired Montgomery County Elementary School Music teacher. I taught for 39 years and really enjoyed my career. I like helping young children discover the joy of music and the arts. I try to create a warm and nurturing environment where creativity thrives. Watching students explore, create, and grow inspires me every day.
Allyson Ger
Art Teacher – Session 1 & 2 – MD Campus: Strathmore
I am so excited to be back at Levine! I am a multidisciplinary artist, musician, performer and now a creative life coach who has taught all ages and populations. Empowering others and facilitating the collaborative process along with open, creative expression is most important to me when working with Levine students.
Alfreda Davis
Dance Teacher – Session 1 & 2 – MD Campus: Strathmore
Alfreda is a teaching artist with a background in dance and theatre arts. She is a choreographer, dance instructor and director. Her mission is provide a safe and creative space for young people to enjoy and thrive through arts education.
Jade Russo
Games/Sports, Snack & Break, After care Teacher – Session 1 & 2 – MD Campus: Strathmore
Hi! My name is Jade, I use they/them pronouns, and this is my 9th year working with children. During the school year, I am the assistant director of a childcare center, but I used to be an elementary school general music teacher! My first instrument was saxophone, but now I mostly sing and play piano. I love Nintendo video games like Pokemon and The Legend of Zelda, and I also enjoy writing and being outside in nature. I am excited to be back at Camp Levine for my third awesome summer!!
Paula Zabel
Music+ Teacher – Session 1 – MD Campus: Strathmore
Ms. Zabel loves working with the campers at Camp Levine. During the school year she teaches music for MCPS. She continues to enjoy learning new music, playing the piano, and ballroom dancing.
Junghee Son
Piano Teacher – Session 2 – MD Campus: Strathmore
Junghee is currently pursuing her D.M.A. in piano pedagogy at The Catholic University of America. With over 20 years of teaching experience, she has worked with students of all ages and levels. Junghee holds multiple degrees, including a bachelor’s and master’s in music therapy and a bachelor’s in Piano Performance. She is certified in Kodaly education and has a Kindermusik license. Passionate about incorporating students’ musical interests into their goals, Junghee helps them develop their piano and musical skills. Her students have achieved success in piano guilds, competitions, and examinations like RCM. Junghee strives to nurture each student’s potential and tailor lessons to their unique personalities and needs.
Avner Finberg
Violin Teacher – Session 2 – MD Campus: Strathmore
Avner Finberg is an Israeli American composer and violinist. He performed with the Israeli Philharmonic, The Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the Tel-Aviv Soloists, and the Ithaca New Music Collective, as well as performing numerous chamber music and solo recitals nationally and internationally. His first original solo album, The Four Seasons of Isolation (2022), was released with Ravello Records and hailed as “intriguing, entertaining and thought-provoking” by Gramophone Magazine. He currently lives in metro Washington DC, where he teaches violin, Suzuki violin, and composition at the Levine School of Music. Avner earned his Doctor of Music degree in composition from Manhattan School of Music in 2015. His compositions have been performed by Meitar Ensemble, ensemble mise-en, The Boston New Music Initiative, Ensemble Platypus Wien, and The Mannes Orchestra, among others. He was a composition fellow at American Opera Project’s Composers and the Voice workshop in 2013-14, and his second opera, The Exagoge, received its premiere run at La Mama Experimental Theatre in New York in April-May 2024.
Tory Shaw
Drama Teacher – Session 1 & 2 – MD Campus: Strathmore
Tory is the Choral and Theater director at Tilden Middle school in Rockville where he has directed over 40 full-length productions. He is thrilled to be returning to Levine and is looking forward to working with all of the campers this summer! In addition to 6 years with Camp Levine, Tory has also been a Music and Theater teacher with MCPS’s SmARTSummer program. He is also active with community Theater groups. Previous credits include Har Shalom Players (Music Director, Into the Woods), American Music Stage (Franz Liebkind, The Producers), Kensington Arts Theatre (Audrey II Puppeteer, Little Shop of Horrors/ Ensemble, Sweeney Todd), and the Montgomery Playhouse at Asbury (Music Director, Godspell).
Dr. Ceylon Mitchell
Before care & Flute Teacher- Session 1 & 2- MD Campus: Strathmore
Dr. Ceylon Mitchell II serves the arts ecosystem as a multi-hyphenate arts leader: contemporary classical flutist, educator, and entrepreneur. On a mission to celebrate marginalized identities in music, especially Black and brown voices, his diverse repertoire spans from Western European classical to living cultural traditions across the Americas, along with everything in between. Originally from Anchorage, Alaska, Dr. Mitchell earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland School of Music, under the tutelage of Dr. Sarah Frisof. He has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall with Angélique Kidjo, the National Gallery of Art, the Music Center at Strathmore, the Arts Club of Washington, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with Robert Glasper, and esteemed venues across the United States with hip-hop icon Jeezy.
Aaron Klaus
Trumpet Teacher- Session 1- MD Campus: Strathmore
Aaron has taught band and orchestra in MCPS for many years. In addition, he performs regularly throughout the DC area. Aaron studied music performance and physics at Oberlin College and music performance and music education at Towson University. When he is not teaching, Aaron loves hiking, cooking, playing the trumpet, and watching baseball!
Marbelly Davila
Guitar Teacher- Session 1 & 2- MD Campus: Strathmore
Marbelly received her BM from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University and a BS from Universidad Central de Venezuela before going on to earn an MS from UMass Amherst and an MM from The Catholic University of America. She has also completed Suzuki training in the Guitar Books 1-3
Marbelly joined Levine’s First Music faculty in 2023 and Suzuki Guitar Faculty in 2024.
“I strive to teach my guitar students to develop awareness of each step and goal they reach, the habit of practice, and a sense of musicality and good technique from the beginning. I try to meet each student’s needs at their level and pace.”
Iris Cheng
Piano Teacher- Session 1- MD Campus: Strathmore
An active pedagogue and pianist, Iris is artist-faculty for the Tutti Chamber Music Summer Festival Program in Wheaton, Illinois, principal accompanist for Children’s Chorus of Washington, and collaborative pianist for Holton-Arms School. She also maintains a private studio. Iris previously served as collaborative pianist for National Cathedral School, St. Albans School, National Children’s Chorus, and the American Youth Chorus, and adjunct instructor at Wallace Community College in Dothan, Alabama.
Gilberto Torres
Vocal/Choral Teacher- Session 1- MD Campus: Strathmore
My name is Gilberto Torres, and I have been teaching music for over twenty years. I am passionate about creating inclusive, high-quality musical experiences that help students grow in skill, confidence, and creativity. I play four instruments and love making music with my students. I’m excited to be part of this camp and look forward to having fun, sharing my love of music, and helping each student have a rewarding musical experience.
Emily Thaler
PK/K Teacher- Session 2- MD Campus: Strathmore
Emily Thaler has been teaching prek and art classes at Camp Levine for the past 6 years. She is currently a full time art educator for Montgomery County Public Schools. She enjoys incorporating hands on art making with students as well as song, dance and exploring play. She is very excited to be teaching at Strathmore for session 2 this year!
Cassandra Gruber
Music+ Teacher- Session 2- MD Campus: Strathmore
Cassandra Gruber is an 8th year Elementary Music teacher and incredibly excited for her first summer teaching at Camp Levine! She earned her degree in Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University and is finishing her Master’s in Music at Lakeland University.
Jared Liscinsky
Vocal/Choral Teacher- Session 2- MD Campus: Strathmore
Hello! I’m Mr. L, and during the school year, I teach choir, general music, and piano at Odessa Shannon Middle School in MCPS. I love to sing, dance, and play instruments. On a Tuesday night, you’re likely to find me singing barbershop harmony with the Alexandria A Cappella Collective.