Clinician Bios

John Feierabend is considered one of the leading authorities on music and movement development in early childhood. He is a professor of Music and the Director of Music Education at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford and is a past President of the American Kodály Educators.

In addition to serving as the lead scriptwriter for the Van Cliburn Foundation's "Musical Awakenings" program of classical concerts for children, Dr. Feierabend promotes music education through frequent presentations in the United States and abroad. He is the author of more than 60 books, recordings and DVDs including the popular "First Steps in Music" series and the "Conversational Solfege" curriculum materials.

Jeremy Cohen is Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where he directs the African Drum & Dance Study in Ghana program. A percussionist, composer and former middle school music director, Mr Cohen works with incarcerated youth through the non-profit Unlocking the Light. He is founder and director of ThisWorldMusic which partners with educational institutions and arts organizations to offer innovative, hands-on cultural learning experiences.

He holds a B.A. in Music from the University of California Berkeley and a M.M. in Composition from New England Conservatory and studied traditional music and dance in Ghana.

Walter Pavasaris completed a thirteen year tenure in Belmont, MA as the Director of Orchestra and Strings in 1990, where the string program consistently earned superior ratings at state, regional, and international music festivals.  From 1990 - 2009 Walter was Coordinator of Fine and Performing Arts for the Lexington, MA public schools.  For three decades, Dr. Pavasaris has served as an adjunct faculty member at the Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory and Boston University, in addition to Gordon College.

Dr. Pavasaris continues to be an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor throughout New England.  He has had the distinct priviledge of conducting the United States Youth Ensemble String Orchestra during their 1999-2001 European tour, and currently the Arlington Philharmonic Orchestra and the Northshore Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra.  Dr. Pavasaris holds a B.M. from the Hartt School, M.M. from the University of Michigan, and Ed.D. from Boston University.

Lillie Feierabend is known for her work with young children and instilling a love of music within them. This is her eleventh year as faculty at the University of Hartford Magnet School and her twelfth as a director for the Connecticut Children's Chorus. She received the 1998 Teacher of the Year Award from her district for her innovative and inclusive music programs.

In 2008, Lillie again received her district's Teacher of the Year Award and Outstanding Elementary Music Educator Award from the Connecticut Music Educators Association. Lillie is a frequent clinician at local, state and national conferences, speaking on many aspects of early childhood music.

Daniel Bara joined the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music in 2012 as Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music, having served as Associate Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities at East Carolina University. While at ECU, his university choirs were invited to perform for state, regional and national conventions of ACDA and MENC.  His conducting students have consistently advanced into the live rounds of the ACDA National Conducting Competition.

Dr. Bara is past president of NC-ACDA, has held the Artistic Directorship of the New York State Summer School of the Arts - School of Choral Studies, and has served as conductor of the World Youth Honor Choir at Interlochen Arts Camp. Daniel holds the DMA in conducting from the Eastman School of Music, organ and conducting degrees from the University of Michigan, and is a graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy.

Deborah Mello is the founder and Artistic Director of the Children's Chorus of Sussex County. She is the recipient of the Master Teacher Award from the New Jersey Music Educators Association, the New Jersey Governor's Award for Arts in Education, and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Master Teacher Collaborative Award. Deborah has conducted regional and honor choruses in several states and has taught numerous workshops on elementary music education and choral singing with children.

Recently retired as Director of Choral Activities at Randolph High School, Deborah is currently teaching at Montclair State University and is the director of the Junior Choir at Christ Episcopal Church Church in Newton, NJ. She currently serves the American Choral Directors Association as Eastern Division Childrens and Youth Choir Chair for Repertoire and Standards.