Nick Petrillo is a passionate music educator and versatile performer specializing in trumpet performance. He holds a Master of Music and Bachelor of Music, both in Trumpet Performance, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. While earning his Masters degree, Nick served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, instructing beginning education students in trumpet technique.

Nick’s teaching experience spans private, group, and classroom instruction for students ranging from elementary through college levels. He has served as a Music Appreciation Instructor at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in North Carolina and as an instructor of trumpet at the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School and Natick Public Schools. In these roles, he developed engaging lessons that integrate trumpet history, technique, rhythm, and music theory to inspire both skill development and a deeper
understanding of music.

As a performer, Nick is an avid freelancer in the Boston area, active across a variety of genres including rock, pop, funk, soul, R&B, and jazz standards. His classical credentials include serving as principal trumpet in the UMass Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band, as well as lead trumpet in all three UMass jazz ensembles. His accolades include being a semi-finalist in the National Trumpet
Competition and receiving the International Trumpet Guild Scholarship.

Driven by a commitment to fostering musicianship and a lifelong appreciation for music, Nick combines technical expertise with an engaging, student-centered approach. Through dynamic instruction, collaborative engagement, and a dedication to building community, he seeks to inspire the next generation of performers.

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Nicole Vega is a Chilean violinist and passionate music educator whose work bridges the worlds of performance and pedagogy. Originally from Santiago, she has dedicated her career to nurturing young musicians and expanding access to quality music education.

Nicole’s teaching experience spans private instruction, orchestral leadership, and community outreach. While living in Temuco, Chile, she served as the music coordinator at a local high school, where she taught violin, viola, and conducted the school’s beginner orchestra. Her holistic approach to teaching focused on both individual growth and ensemble collaboration. Later, during her graduate studies at Florida State University, she was a member of the university’s graduate string quartet, which collaborated with Sinfonia Gulf Coast to present interactive educational performances in schools across the Destin area—bringing classical music to life through storytelling and audience engagement.

As a performer, Nicole maintains an active presence in both modern and historical performance circles. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Montclair State University, studying with Mary Ann Mumm, and her Master’s degree at Florida State University, where she was the teaching assistant to Corinne Stillwell. She has performed in festivals such as Campos do Jordão (Brazil), Brevard Music Center (North Carolina), and was recently selected as a fellow for **Sphinx Ignite 2025**.

Nicole has also developed a strong profile in historical performance practice, studying baroque violin with Theresa Salomon and Karin Cuellar, and performing at festivals including Música Antigua FEMUSC (Brazil), Tafelmusik (Canada), Clarion Collegium Week (NYC), Festival de Música Antigua de Medellín (Colombia), Berwick Academy at the Oregon Bach Festival, the Baroque Performance Institute at Oberlin, and ARTEK’s Italian Insanity in NYC. Nicole continues to explore the intersection of education and performance, believing that both are essential to building meaningful, inclusive musical experiences.

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Solomon Jones was born in Boston, raised in Colorado and now based in Springfield, is focusing on his early career as an educator, professional bassist, producer and mix engineer. Finding his passion for teaching while attending Springfield High School of Science and Technology, he became a CMSS Sonido Musica intern in fall 2023, a Teaching Artist in 2024, and is now joining the Adaptive Music Program team for Fall 2025. He’s currently attending Holyoke Community College studying both education and music performance.

Growing up, Solomon moved around a lot, allowing him to experience a range of cultures and see many ways that people engage with music. These early formative experiences have shaped Solomon as a performer and educator. He is an active professional performer around Western Mass including at the Springfield Jazz and Roots Festival.

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Carolyn Dufraine is a Brass Teaching Artist originally from Westfield, Massachusetts, specializing in trombone performance. She received her BM in trombone from Westfield State University in 2018, under the private instruction of Mr. Timothy Atherton. She then earned her MM in Trombone Performance at UMass Amherst in 2022, under the tutelage of Mr. Gregory Spirodopoulos.

Carolyn has been a freelance musician since 2012, hired to perform in various college ensembles and bands in the Western region of Massachusetts. Some of these ensembles include the Amherst College Jazz Ensemble, the Mount Holyoke Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble, the Westfield State Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble, The UMass Chapel Jazz Ensemble, as well as The Leafies You Gave Me, Shokozoba, The Feldons, The Valley Moonstompers, The Soul Magnets, Rock Steady, The Berkshire Ska Orchestra, The Preservation Mob Band, Gunhild Carling (of Postmodern Jukebox) and Glori Wilder. She also regularly sings and plays trombone in The Lucky 5.

In 2022, the Berkshire Jazz Organization commissioned her to write an original composition for small jazz ensemble at the 10×10 Jazz Showcase.

In addition to her Sonido Musica teaching assignments in Springfield and Holyoke, she travels around Western Mass teaching private lessons on trombone, trumpet and euphonium. It brings her great joy to share the musical knowledge she has gained throughout the years, and she strives to create a safe and engaging environment for students to learn and make music in.

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Kyle La Fleur is a University of Massachusetts: Amherst graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Flute Performance. His notable teachers include Elaine Saloio and Cobus du Toit. He is a performing member of the Tuesday Morning Music Club in Springfield and a frequent guest artist with the vocal duo, Bella Voce. He loves to perform just as much as he loves to teach. Kyle is a knowledge seeker and a perfectionist which is the foundation of his ever-growing skillset. His favorite part about teaching is the amount of things he learns from his students, regardless of the student’s level, that shape him into a better musician. Kyle eagerly joined Sonido Musica in 2022.

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Care O’Leary is a teaching artist in CMSS’ Sonido Musica program. Care is a Hampden county musician who’s been playing violin for over 20 years, After studying music and graduating from Holyoke Community College, they picked up viola and cello as well. While they were classically trained and have played in numerous orchestras and chamber music ensembles over the years, they’ve also branched out into more contemporary music- from folk to avant garde rock to free improvisation. They play in multiple outfits in western MA, and they love to perform, tour and record with their bandmates.

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Alton Skinner is a Teaching Artist in CMSS’ Sonido Musica program. He is a professional saxophonist, musician, and Springfield native who discovered his passion for music at the Springfield High School of Science and Technology. After receiving an education in Music at Holyoke Community College, Alton has gone on to share the stage with musicians such as Robert ‘Sput’ Searight, Doobie Powell, The Delfonics, and Michelle Brooks-Thompson.

Specializing in Jazz, Hip-Hop, Rnb/Soul, Funk, and Fusion genres, Alton’s passion for the art of music has led to many performances and collaborations all over the East Coast. His influences include Stevie Wonder, Michael Brecker, Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, and Dexter Gordon.

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Jesey Meche is a Percussion and Music Production Teaching Artist in CMSS’ Sonido Musica program. Jesey is a graduate of the Hartt School of Music. He studied classical percussion with Benjamin Toth and composition with David MacBride. Jesey is constantly looking to push boundaries and create music that intersects traditions and practices.

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