Teacher biographies
Bill Beaudoin drums, flute, bassoon, 401 556-5251, bbeaudoin@gordonschool.org
Bill attended Rhode Island College and Berklee College of Music. He plays rock, jazz, and classical music among other genres. He enjoys playing drums, flute, and the bassoon. Bill is principal bassoonist with the Fall River Symphony Orchestra and Classic Winds woodwind quintet. He has performed with the Rhode Island Wind Ensemble, local orchestras, and smaller ensembles, and enjoys performing in a variety of musical styles. He is the director of the Jazz/Rock Band for the Gordon's seventh and eighth grades, as well as founder and director of the Percussion Ensemble electives.
John DeBossu bass, guitar, mandolin, ukulele, 401-500-5746, jdebossu@gmail.com
John is a double bass and electric bass player and performs jazz, rock, and classical music in the Rhode Island area and on various stages in New England. Classically trained, John lived in Geneva, Switzerland and performed in France and Switzerland in various jazz groups and studied classical bass in Geneva. After moving to the Boston area, John studied with Miroslav Vitous, the founding bass player of Weather Report, and later with Paul Del Nero, a respected jazz bassist in the Boston and Rhode Island area. John regularly plays jazz and swing in the New Providence Big Band, rock and R&B in the Paula Clare Band, Gypsy Jazz with Minor Swing and fusion jazz with the Dave Howard Initiative. In addition to bass, John also plays the guitar and mandolin.
Cheryl Faria piano, 401 419-8682, cherylafaria@verizon.net
Cheryl has been teaching piano at the Gordon School since 2009. Her specialty is young beginner students and she is passionate about helping students learn the joys of piano playing. Her teaching style emphasizes a focus on the individual, connecting students to the type of music they love and includes sight reading, rhythm, ear training and theory. Cheryl grew up in a musical family and began taking classical piano lessons at the age of 6. She has dual undergraduate degrees in Music and Art Education, has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and is certified by the Suzuki Association of the Americas. She studied classical piano with Judith Stillman, both at Rhode Island College and privately. Her other passions include dance, gardening and 1640’s history. Besides teaching piano at Gordon, she also teaches at the RI Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School.
Gary Ferguson guitar, bass guitar, piano, ukulele, drums, glockenspiel, (401) 410-3119, garyf0578@gmail.com
Gary Ferguson has a bachelor's degree from Charter Oak State College Connecticut in applied arts/music. He also studied at Rhode Island College, and has a composition/instrumentation certificate from Rhode Island School of music, and took guitar and theory lessons from Berklee college of music graduates and teachers. He has been teaching privately since 1984: group lessons and some chorus and classroom theory, ear training, sight singing, and American music history and listening. He has taught K thru 8 at Grace Christian School in California, and Montessori Children"s House in Providence, along with their talent shows, pageants, and has assisted with musical theater productions. He mainly teaches guitar, but also voice, bass guitar, drums, piano, ukulele and glockenspiel (like a small marimba or xylophone.) He also has taught adults at his studio in Barrington, as well as 2 music store locations (Rick’s Musical Instruments) in Cumberland and Rehoboth. He has toured in show and dance bands, and taught Brian Yale, the bass player in Matchbox Twenty, years ago. He also warmed up some oldies headliners, and played with musicians from famous bands and has done some recording. He currently performs a solo act on guitar/ vocals and electric piano in RI and Massachusetts.
Susan Hodgin piano, recorder, 401-323-9183, shodgin108@gmail.com
Susan taught music at Gordon School to fourth to eighth grades from 2010 to 2021 and directed two choirs, a handbell ensemble, musical theater, and an auditioned a cappella group, the G-Notes. She has two degrees in piano performance, a Bachelor of Music from the University of North Carolina and a Master of Music from the University of Illinois, and she completed post-graduate work at Boston University and the University of Rhode Island. She has worked extensively as a chamber musician and theater collaborator, most recently with the Wilbury Theater production of Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. Susan works as a private teacher, accompanist, consultant, and adjunct faculty member at Rhode Island College. She sings with the Gracenote Singers to provide bedside singing at the end of life. Susan believes that each person can develop their own talent and love for music, and that time spent in individual study is a means of discovery and self-integration via synthesis of emotion, reason, sensory perceptions, physical coordination, and outreach. Students at any level can feel deep satisfaction through their achievements!
Michelle Kaminsky violin, fiddle, beginning guitar and ukulele 401 246-2720, mkfiddle99@gmail.com
Michelle joined Gordon’s after school music program fourteen years ago, and has been teaching music and fiddle for over thirty years: recently adding beginning guitar and ukulele as well. She is known for her flexible teaching style and patience, inspiring a love of music in her students. Combining her background in classical violin with familiar folk songs to teach good technique; her goal is to give students a good foundation for wherever music will take them. Michelle currently plays with Magnolia Cajun Band and French Roast. Michelle has had the honor of teaching fiddle as a master for the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA). Michelle also teaches in her private studio, and for Rhode Island Fiddle Project. Michelle has a degree in elementary education, specializing in early childhood music. She is certified in Level 1 Orff, Early Childhood Kodaly and Music Together, as well as having studied the Suzuki method. Michelle offers private lessons and group experiences.
Cheryl Poisson piano 508 761 4225 (home) or 401 359 3329, cheryl.poisson@juno.com
Cheryl has been teaching piano and keyboard to adults and children for over twenty-five years. She has her Masters Degree from Rhode Island College. She is very excited for the opportunity to be continuing teaching in Gordon's after school remote music program. Teaching is one of Cheryl's passions! Her philosophy is to offer her students stress free yet professional lessons. Giving exposure to music and the opportunity to learn an instrument is so beneficial for children! She teaches note reading and rhythm in a progressive manner and offers a strong foundation of chord skills with opportunities for solo and duet pieces. Besides giving lessons at the Gordon School since 2014, she is continuing to teach private lessons in her home and remotely to adults as well as young people.
Denise Berson clarinet, saxophone, and flute 774-282-0004 dberson06@gmail.com
Denise has a degree in music education and specializes in teaching woodwinds. She has a wealth of experience teaching in public and private schools in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Many of her students have participated in Rhode Island All State and Solo and Ensemble, and in Massachusetts District Music Festivals on junior and senior levels. Performance experience includes a clarinet choir, the Rhode Island Wind Ensemble, the Marion concert band, and the Swansea Community Musicians.
Peri DeLorenzo violin, viola and cello. 917-704-2602, peridelorenzo@gmail.com
Peri received her undergraduate degree from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she studied Violin Performance. While her training is in classical music, Peri also enjoys playing in celtic, folk and bluegrass styles. She performs with the Chamber Orchestra of Barrington St. John's, her Irish duo, Bank of Ireland, and with her americana trio, The Whelks.