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.

Bobby Selvaggio, Saxophone/woodwinds, is one of the top jazz musicians in the area. He received a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from Kent State University, then Bobby went on to New York City and earned a masters degree in Jazz Performance on a full scholarship from Manhattan School of Music. While in NYC, he studied with such jazz greats as Joe Lovano, Bobby Watson, Dick Oatts, and Maria Schneider. He has performed with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Joe Lovano Nonet, Kenny Werner, Ryan Kisor, Dan Wall, Jamey Haddad, and Aretha Franklin just to name a few. Bobby has recorded four cd’s. He has toured throughout the USA and Canada with his group, the Bobby Selvaggio Quartet. He is also a published writer in The Saxophone Journal with an article on jazz improvisation. You can find more info on Bobby by going to his web site, www.bobbyselvaggio.com

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.

Chris Lopez, guitar instructor, is a jazz studies major at Cuyahoga Community College. He has been teaching guitar privately for over two years, and plays in the Life Teen Music Ministry Band at St. Mary’s Church, as well as a jazz/fusion band, Bus Company. Chris strives to appeal to the musical preferences of each individual student without sacrificing the basic technical and harmonic knowledge necessary in being a well-rounded musician.



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”.

Jenny Baird, piano and voice, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Commercial Music Technology from Malone College. She has had the privilege of studying classical piano under excellent teachers, including Kim Bakkum, Mayumi Kikuchi, Philip Thomson, and Sandra Carnes. She has also studied voice for eight years under the instruction of Lucy Melian. Jenny has performed in many settings from classical recitals to rock concerts to worship services. As a performer, of classical and popular music, and with three years teaching experience, Jenny believes in giving students a solid foundation in music theory and sight reading so that they will have the freedom to enjoy making music for a lifetime.

Timothy Cuffman teaches violin and viola. He began studying violin at the age of four. He is violin performance major at the University of Akron where he maintains a 4.0 GPA. He currently studies violin with Alan Bodman and Corie Smith. In 2007 he was named the most outstanding undergraduate string student at the University of Akron. In addition to teaching, Timothy can be heard playing in many venues and ensembles in the Akron area.

Bryan Kennard, a Cleveland native, grew up with a diverse musical background. He recalls the sounds of folk, bluegrass, rock, and classical music throughout his childhood before he began taking piano lessons in elementary school. In high school, Bryan began to study flute and apply what he learned in classical, bluegrass, and jazz settings.

Bryan attended Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA to earn his Bachelor of Music in Music Education. He studied flute with Wendy Webb Kumer and composition with Dr. Albert Glinsky. While at Mercyhurst, he took advantage of the many performing opportunities that were available to him. After graduation, he continued his education at Youngstown State University, where he received his Master of Music in Flute Performance. At YSU, Bryan was employed as the Graduate Assistant in Jazz Studies, which allowed him to work closely with the jazz faculty.

An active performer and recitalist, Bryan has performed extensively throughout the region. He has studied jazz flute with Ali Ryerson and Holly Hofmann. Additional flute instructors include George Pope, Amy Porter, Tatjana Ruhland. As of Fall 2008, Bryan was hired by Hiram College as the Instructor of Flute and teaches regularly throughout the Cleveland area. He has performed and recorded with YSU's Frank Zappa Ensemble, as well as with the Cleveland based bluegrass group, Brand New Hat. Bryan is a founding member of an experimental new music ensemble, AcoustiCombo, and a composer in both jazz and classical genres.



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.