Children’s Music Workshop Teaching Faculty
Larry Newman is the Founder and CEO of Children’s Music Workshop.
He holds a Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude degree from Temple University’s College of Music, a California teaching credential and a Master of Arts in Music Performance from Eastern Illinois University. (In 2012, Mr. Newman received the “Outstanding Graduate Alumnus Award” from EIU.)
Formerly an instrumental music teacher in the Philadelphia School District, Los Angeles Unified School District, and Santa Monica-Malibu Public Schools, Mr. Newman has supervised music programs in more than eighty public and private institutions from the Kindergarten through college levels.
Larry Newman is the recipient of five Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards presented by the Television Academy for Children/Youth Programming. Mr Newman wrote, directed and produced the shows which have aired nationally and feature students from more than two dozen Children’s Music Workshop school programs. Most recently, Mr. Newman was awarded an Emmy on July 28, 2018 at the Television Academy in North Hollywood, CA for his production “Making Music, Making Friends“.
In 2009, Mr. Newman was honored by the Los Angeles City Council at City Hall for his contributions to music education in Los Angeles (See photos and video.) He was also featured on CityView’s Channel 35 series, “Faces of LA” (See video.) Most recently, Mr. Newman was featured in an interview with VoyageLA where he discusses his career in music.
Mr. Newman received the Lori Petrick Excellence in Education Award from the Palisades Charter Schools Foundation. The award is underwritten by the Boone Foundation – a philanthropic group whose mission is to support “passionate people who provide excellent programs to youth”.
Larry Newman was nominated for the 25th Annual BRAVO Award, established by the Music Center of Los Angeles County to recognize individuals for innovation and excellence in arts education.
Mr. Newman served on the Leadership Committee for the 2009 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Music Education Day at the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California.
Larry Newman formerly was the trumpet instructor at Glendale College and also taught in the jazz studies department of Eastern Illinois University as a graduate teaching assistant. At Eastern Illinois, Mr. Newman directed the University Jazz Lab Band, taught private undergraduate studio trumpet and was also a member of the EIU Faculty Brass Quintet and solo trumpet player in the EIU Faculty Jazz Combo.
As a professional trumpet player, Larry Newman has toured The United States, Canada and Japan with The Glenn Miller Orchestra® under the direction of Larry O’Brien performed in The Claridge Hotel Casino Orchestra in Atlantic City under the direction of Jack Six and sailed the Caribbean and Northwest with the S/S Norway Big Band and other cruise ship orchestras.
He has backed such star entertainers as Dizzy Gillespie, Jack Jones, Florence Henderson, Jerry Lewis, Billy Eckstine, The Fifth Dimension, Al Martino, Shirley Jones, The Lettermen, Jim Nabors, Jerry Van Dyke, Jim Stafford, Michel Legrand, Stephane Grappelli, Clark Terry, Ed Thigpen, Cab Calloway, George Kirby, Margaret Whiting, Benny Carter, The Four Aces, The Modernaires, Bobby Rydell, Joe Williams, Roger Williams, Slide Hampton, The Smothers Brothers, Fred Travalena, Rita Moreno and others.
Mr. Newman worked as a trumpet instructor on the 2004 Universal release, Ray, starring Jamie Foxx as well as the 1999 movie, Anywhere But Here, starring Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman.
Mr. Newman is the author of more than two hundred and fifty music books – including The Recorder Fun Book which is used in hundreds of elementary schools throughout the United States. His string, woodwind and brass group method books are used in all Children’s Music Workshop music programs. All of Mr. Newman’s books are available at www.amazon.com
Larry Newman is leader of The Pacific Palisades Brass Quintet and is a freelance trumpet player in the Southern California area. He plays VANLAAR trumpets and flugelhorns.
Lyn Bertles
Lyn Bertles graduated from Bennington College in Vermont with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She holds a California teaching credential from Cal State Northridge. Ms. Bertles teaches strings, woodwinds, brass and choir. She is also a professional violinist and maintains a private teaching studio in Studio City, CA.
Desiree’ Deasy
Desiree’ Deasy teaches woodwinds, brass and strings. While majoring in violin performance at the University of Wisconsin, she studied under the tutelage of the internationally acclaimed Fine Arts Quartet. She recently returned from a world concert tour with the Yanni Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Deasy is also a certified Musikgarten® instructor and is in demand as a freelance violinist in the Los Angeles area.
Brenda Etterbeek
Brenda Etterbeek received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Miami University and her Masters of Music Degree from the University of Southern California. She has toured Europe with the Camerata Wind Quintet has been a featured performer with the Echternach Festival Orchestra in Luxembourg. In addition to Children’s Music Workshop, Ms. Etterbeek maintains a private teaching studio.
Dave Etterbeek
Dave Etterbeek received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Northwestern University and a Masters of Music Degree from USC. Mr. Etterbeek has performed trumpet with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Sacramento, San Diego, and San Francisco Symphonies, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, and the Chicago Symphony. (Click for photo.)
Suzanna Giordano Gignac
Suzanna Giordano Gignac studied at the Hartt School of Music, and then CSU Northridge earning a Bachelor of Music degree cum laude. She is a professional violinist and violist and is co-director of the Angeles Consort. She regularly performs with the L.A. Opera, Pasadena, Santa Barbara, Long Beach and Pacific Symphonies. Suzanna is an enthusiastic teacher with more than twenty-five years of teaching experience.
Jordan Leicht
Jordan Leicht holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Cal State Northridge. He has presented master classes in woodwinds, jazz and general music. Jordan has taught from the elementary through college levels. He is a freelance musician/bandleader in Los Angeles and maintains a private teaching studio.
Victoria Sabonjohn
Victoria Sabonjohn graduated Summa Cum Laude from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida with a Bachelor in Music Education. She also holds a music performance degree from the New England Conservatory of Music. Ms. Sabonjohn comes from a musical family, with both her parents members of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. She has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is a dedicated music educator.
Alex Vincent
Alex Vincent is a classically-trained cellist and talented music teacher. His undergraduate studies in music at Cal State Northridge have given him a depth of knowledge that he enthusiastically shares with students of all ages. In addition to strings, Alex teaches woodwinds, brass, piano, guitar, ukulele, and electric bass.
Sachi Yoshimoto
Sachi Yoshimoto is a strings specialist who holds a bachelor degree from the University of Southern California in Fine Arts. She has extensive experience teaching students of all levels. Sachi is an enthusiastic and creative violin and cello teacher who also plays Koto (Japanese zither) and qanun (Arabic harp).
