WESTERN RESERVE MUSIC
144 North Main Street
Hudson, Ohio
“Across from the Clocktower”
(330) 342-7317

Sean Collins, the founder of Western Reserve Music, decided after years of teaching that people needed a place that offers quality musical instruction in an atmosphere conducive to enjoyment and learning on an individual basis. Sean received his degree in music from the University of Akron in Jazz Studies and Guitar Performance. He is a protégé of Ohio and nationally known guitarists Dean Newton and Bob Fraser, as well as keyboard legend and jazz great Roland Paolucci, and classical guitarist Steve Aron. Sean has been in many bands and has performed at Blossom Music Center and other venues across the Midwest and also has his own instructional guitar videos. He is well versed in all respects of music and is accomplished in all styles of music from rock to country.


Jeremey Poparad, guitar teacher, is an Akron area guitarist and bassist who performs regularly with jazz, rock, and fusion groups. Jeremey is a 2006 graduate of the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Jazz Studies and Music Composition. He studied with local jazz greats Bob Fraser, Jack Schantz, Rock Wehrmann, Bobby Selvaggio, Rich Shanklin, and Dean Newton. He currently can be seen and heard performing with the Paul Stranahan Trio, the rock band Alexander the Ghost, and various other jazz groups, including his own trio and quartet. You can learn more about Jeremey on his website www.poparad.com.

BJ Bishop is our large brass instructor. He graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Music Performance. He has been teaching music lessons at Nordonia High School for 3 years, and also teaches at Highland High School and Middle School. BJ has very diverse musical interests including jazz, classical, rock, Dixie and R&B. He is currently playing at the Carousel Dinner Theater in the musical “Urinetown”. He also plays with Ernie Krivda’s Fat Tuesday Band. BJ has played with several notable nationally known musicians including the Temptations, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, and has opened for the Aquabats, a Ska/Punk band.

Andy Flanagan, percussion, is currently attending The University of Akron for a degree in Percussion performance. He is a student of Dr. Larry Snider as well as Mark Gonder for Jazz/drumset, and Matt Dudack for steel drums/improvisation. As a member of the University of Akron Steel Drum Band, Andy has performed at various venues throughout Ohio. In addition, he currently plays with the U of A African and Brazilian ensembles, as well as various Jazz combos and Contemporary Percussion ensembles. He has played with many groups including the Paragon Brass Quintet and works as Percussion Instructor/private lesson teacher for Barberton City Schools.

Sam Belfiglio, guitar and bass instructor, is a University of Akron graduate with an education degree, who studied under Ohio jazz guitar great Dean Newton. Sam has six years of teaching experience at Western Reserve Music, and is well versed in all aspects of his instrument. He has performed with rock bands at many local venues in the Akron/Cleveland area, and currently performs as a soloist.

Ti-Li Nastycz, piano and voice, is a 2006 graduate of the University of Akron’s School of Music where she received her degree in music specializing in piano and voice performance. In 2003 she received her certification of piano pedagogy, also from the University of Akron. Her experience includes eight years of teaching piano, voice and music theory, piano and voice instruction at the Talent Tree in Hudson, and is the Interim Conductor of Children’s Music at Messiah Lutheran Church in Akron. Currently, Ti-Li works as the mezzo-soprano soloist and section leader at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Canton. She also performs with the Canton Symphony Orchestra Chorus and performs across Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ti-Li has an eclectic teaching approach, focusing on the learning style and need of each student as a guide for her individual instruction.


Jason Little, percussion, is a graduate of the University of Akron where he studied percussion with Dr. Larry Snider, and jazz with Jack Schantz and Mark Gonder. An active freelance musician throughout Ohio, Jason has performed with the Canton Symphony, Wooster Symphony and Canton Lyric Opera, as well as numerous jazz, rock and fusion groups. Also a member of the 7 Mile Isle Steel drum band, he teaches many steel drum/world music classes through the Children’s Concert Society, Young Audiences of Greater Cleveland, Canton Symphony, Akron Public Schools and the Magical Theatre Company. Now a staff accompanist at the University of Akron School of Dance, he has performed with many dance theater groups. In spring 2007 and 2008, Jason traveled to Brazil to study Brazilian percussion and samba and has since founded “Boombox”, a carnaval batucada ensemble.

Dave Rodriguez is our trumpet teacher. Dave holds a Bachelor’s degree of Jazz Studies and classical trumpet from the University of Southern Mississippi. At USM he was a featured soloist with the USM Jazz Ensemble appearing along side such acclaimed musicians as the late Bob Berg and Tom “Bones” Malone (Trombonist for Dave Letterman’s band). He attended the Berklee College of Music for 2 years, and is currently completing a Masters of Classical Trumpet at the University of Akron. As a graduate assistant at Akron, he has taught combos and was a featured soloist with the University of Akron Jazz Ensemble. Mr. Rodriguez has played shows for Little Anthony & the Imperials, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, and the Temptations. Currently Dave has appeared with his own group “Pale Moon Risin’” Jazz trio at venues in and around Northeast Ohio. He has been teaching private lessons for 3 years.

Nick Fritsch, a percussion teacher, is a professional drumset player from the Akron area. He studied at Kent State University under Ted Rounds and Chas Baker, as well as private instruction with Mark Gonder of the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra. He has played professionally locally and in the Austin, TX area. Nick toured nationally with blues singer/songwriter Patrick Sweany, and also has played in the KSU jazz ensembles. He currently leads his own band “Operations”.

 Allison Lint, holds a Bachelor of Music from the Oberlin Conservatory, where she studied violin performance with Gregory Fulkerson and received a minor in Music History. Allison is an alumna of the Cleveland Institute of Music’s Young Artist Program and the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra. She is also an avid violist, winning first prize in the Ohio Viola Society competition at both the high school and college levels under the tutelage of Peter Slowik. Summer festivals include the Encore School for Strings in Hudson, the Credo Chamber Music Program in Oberlin, and most recently, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival. Allison was invited to perform as a guest artist at the 2010 Vasculitis Symposium in Long Beach, California. Since 2006, she has been a regular pit musician for several theaters in the Northeast Ohio area, and was last heard as the violinist in the Beck Center for the Arts’ production of My Fair Lady. She has been invited to participate in masterclasses with Gil Shaham, Anner Bylsma, Vadim Gluzman, and Midori.

 In addition to her classical violin studies, Allison has a fervent interest in pop/rock and contemporary styles. She makes regular appearances with Los Angeles-based band The Strange Familiar (seen in the top 48 of NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” season 5), and has performed live shows with bands in Akron, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and elsewhere.

Jefferson Rice BIO
Education : Kent State - Music and Theater - Theory, Piano, Clarinet, Saxophone, Violin Berklee College of Music - Composition and Theory Mayor studied on piano, sax, flute ,clarinet, voice , and electronic music Studied with Joe Viola, John La Porta, Billy Pierce, Steve Defuria Performance : Started playing professionally while still in high school. Has performed throughout the eastern US for over 35 years. Played with Bo Didley, Johnny Johnson, the Platters, the Marveletts , Jerry Shirley and Humble Pie, and the Sonny Geraci Band with Dennis Tunfano of the Buckinghams. Opened for dozens of top acts including Ringo Star, Aretha Franklin, Merle Haggart, Alan Jackson, Steppin' Wolf , Three Dog Night, and many more. Has done theater work at Carousel Diner Theater.

Recording : Has recorded on dozens sessions including many distributed nationally. Recently on self released CD by the X Men and the Class of 57.
Teaching : Has been teaching for over 20 years. Taught at Akron Music

Montrose for 10 years. Original partner in forming Musically Sound Studios in Medina and Westside Music Studios in Fairlawn.
Currently :Musical director with the Aquarius Rising 60's show. Performs as a member of the Calabash band, Class of 57, the Zydeco Kings, and usually 3 or 4 other groups.

The Western Reserve Institute of Music offers high quality instruction on all instruments and aspects of music including theory and improvisation. We also provide excellent repair service specializing in guitar, vintage guitar, and classic tube amps. In addition, we offer student instrument rentals for band and orchestra. We also buy and sell new and used musical instruments and musical merchandise. We look forward to serving you again this year in our new location and helping to make music an important and enjoyable part of your lives.