Camp Levine DC Campus: NW Teacher Bios

Jon Hamilton, an Erie, PA native, graduated from Allegheny College with his Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance in 2007. He later earned his M.Ed. from Pennsylvania Western University (formerly Edinboro University) studying Middle & Secondary Education and Music Education in 2011. Jon has performed as pianist and vocalist with many organizations including: The Thomas Circle Singers, The Alexandria Singers, The Erie Philharmonic Choir, The Young People’s Chorus of Erie, Sudden M-Pac Band, and even his own group 3rio. Jon has served the last 10 years as an educator in the Title 1 schools of Fairfax County Public Schools. He also teaches private voice and piano to intermediate and advanced learners. When not working Jon is often giving his time to depth work and self development, whether alone or in group facilitation trainings. Such full hearted living provides many opportunities for enriching relationships as well as experiences.

Cierra holds a bachelors and masters of Music education from Norfolk State University. She has taught elementary and early childhood music for 13 years and has been with Levine for 6, teaching in their First Music department, primarily at the Silver Spring campus. Cierra enjoys cooking and baking for her husband, friends and family and also enjoys shopping!

Jonathan Velsey has been introducing campers to the wonders of the cello at Levine’s Music & Arts camp since 1999. A Levine alumnus himself, Jonathan received a B.A. from Bard College, and got his Master of Music degree at Northwestern University. During the year, Jonathan teaches strings in Howard County, Maryland, is on the faculty as a studio and group cello instructor at Levine and is an active freelance cellist in the Washington area. Jonathan’s musical journey has allowed him to travel and perform as solo, chamber and orchestral cellist, giving critically acclaimed recitals at home and abroad. When not teaching or performing, Jonathan enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, traveling, composing and arranging music and learning new languages.

Christine Kharazian is a concert violinist, a graduate of the Komitas State Conservatory and the Tchaikovsky Advanced School of Music in Yerevan, Armenia. She has performed in concerts at the Kennedy Center, Strathmore Hall, Dumbarton House, the Gallery at The Ellipse, and various Embassies in Washington, among other venues as a soloist and with various groups. Christine is an experienced educator. Currently she teaches violin technique at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Sidwell Friends. Christine is also the author and presenter of a series of interactive programs in music education. As a versatile and adventurous musician she loves exploring various styles, from Gypsy Jazz to Brazilian Choro and performs often with various ensembles including Orchester Praževica. Christine Kharazian enjoys experimenting with the merging of various art forms, such as theater and music. In addition Christine was a 2nd prize winner of the Unsigned Only competition in 2021 for her original composition Valse Astolfi. She serves as a Chair of Student Activities at Friday Morning Music Club, coordinating concert series for young aspiring musicians, and is a board member of Blues Alley Jazz Education Society.

This will be Savannah’s second year with Camp Levine, having taught Instrument Building in the Summer of 2022. A graduate from George Washington University with a double major in Music and Psychological & Brain Sciences, she has since worked as the Performance Events Assistant for the GW Music Program, as well as a stagehand and member of the set team for productions at the Washington Stage Guild. Currently, Savannah is the Educational Program Coordinator with the Washington Bach Consort, an organization dedicated to introducing DC public school students to the musical works of Bach. Having spent much of her life and career engaging with music in a variety of different formats, she is excited to return this year with fun projects that work to encompass the nuances of music creation and the meaning of sound. As a performer and life-long lover of music she is excited to bring new challenges to the table for this year’s campers.

DC native Emily is a graduate of the SUNY Purchase conservatory with a double BA in Theatre & Medieval Studies. A Screen Actors’ Guild member since 2022, she is an actor, singer, teaching artist, and company member with the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Her post-grad training includes Studio Theatre, Shakespeare & Co., & Shaw Festival (Ontario); as well as classical voice with one of Broadway’s most sought-after teachers. Since 2013 she has performed around the region, originating roles at Source Fest, Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage, & on the radio with Jabberwocky Audio Theatre, among others. In 2020 she worked with The Show Must Go Online, a UK-based global collective of actors from all over the who performed the entire Shakespeare canon live on YouTube. Emily’s regular job is as a substitute teacher for DC Public Schools. Her classes emphasize theatre as play, with a focus on improv, character creation, group work, and movement. Her first feature film, RUSTIN, will be released on Netflix later this fall.

Ariel Nathanson currently teaches piano at Levine. Prior to teaching at Levine, Nathanson taught piano and chamber music at community music schools in New England and Maryland including The Hartt School Community Division in West Hartford, CT and the International School of Music in Potomac, MD. In addition to her teaching, Nathanson has had the opportunity to perform throughout the east coast of the United States as well as internationally, in Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. In 2016, she was awarded Honorable Mention in the Cremona International Competition for Piano. In 2019, she was a judge for the Little Mozarts Competition. Her principal teachers have included James Litzelman, Maggie Francis, Barbro Dahlman, Steven Snitzer, Constantine Finehouse, Mana Tokuno, Ana Popa, and Marsha Starikov.

Dr. Albrecht has had the privilege of freelancing all over the US, performing with groups at the Kennedy Center, Boston Symphony Hall, Kupferberg Center for the Arts, Mondavi Center, Krannert Center, and others. Dr. Albrecht is the professor of trumpet at Frostburg State University, where he teaches jazz and classical trumpet. He has held teaching positions at several musical institutions over his 15-year teaching career. Dr. Albrecht’s students have gone on to many careers as professional musicians and attended several top colleges and universities. Dr. Albrecht is a graduate of Berklee College of Music, the University of North Texas, Aaron Copland School of Music, and the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

Emma is an elementary art teacher in MCPS. She has a BFA in Sculpture and Expanded Media and a MAT in Elementary Education. Emma’s goal this summer is to support the development of campers creative confidence, artistic identity, and critical thinking and problem solving skills. She plans to accomplish this through a variety of material processes and techniques and providing opportunities for student choice.

Kyng Cleveland is an Alumni at Salisbury University and is excited to join Camp Levine this summer! 

Hi, my name is Ashlei Peoples! I studied piano performance at Spelman College and attained my Master’s degree in Music Education from University of North Carolina at Greensboro! I have taught elementary music and private piano lessons for the past 8 years! I absolutely love working with children and nurturing their individual musical talents!

I have taught elementary music for 15 years in New York, New Orleans and Northern Virginia. I have a BA from Stanford University and MA from Teachers College Columbia. In my music room, students understand through experience how to create an environment where everyone thrives. Our success as an ensemble, whether measured by accurate notes or palpable joy, depends on each and every member’s sense of belonging and self-expression.

VL is an experienced elementary music teacher with 7+ years in the classroom. They are also a passionate early childhood educator and childcare professional. Musically, you can find VL performing with and supporting the symphonic band, colorguard, and marching band of DC’s Different Drummers. VL looks forward to another exciting, creative, and unforgettable summer with Camp Levine!

Emily Thaler is an experienced teacher with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Art Education. She works full time during the school year for Montgomery County Public Schools and teaches art to students aged 3 to 11. She has worked for Levine School of music for over 5 years. In her free time, she enjoys painting, reading, dancing and hiking. She is very excited to be teaching at Levine again this summer!

Francisco Quintero is a musician, composer, producer and educator based in Washington D.C. In addition to regularly performing with some of the most well known musicians in the DMV area and the east coast both as a leader and sideman, he’s a dedicated teacher at some of the most prestigious schools in the Washington D.C. area.