Meet Our Staff

 Dr. Frierson-Campbell 

Carol Frierson-Campbell, Executive Director

Carol Frierson-Campbell, Ph.D. is associate professor of music at William Paterson University, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in instrumental music education and research and coordinates the music education program. Her scholarly interests include music education in marginalized communities, instrumental music education, and research pedagogy. During the 2015-2016 school year she served as Scholar in Residence at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music in the occupied Palestinian Territories. Previous projects include the co-authored textbook Inquiry in Music Education: Concepts and Methods for the Beginning Researcher (with Hildegard Froehlich), the edited 2-volume Teaching Music in the Urban Classroom, and articles in Music Education Research and Arts Education Policy Review. Dr. Frierson-Campbell also serves as Executive Director of the Music After School project, providing music enrichment for children in Paterson, New Jersey.

 Nancy Christensen 

Nancy Christensen, Director

Nancy Christensen is the Founder and President of Christensen Arts, LLC – a management company comprised of innovative and vibrant artists committed to advancing and enhancing specific programmatic and career goals. Ms. Christensen also holds the position of Program Director for William Paterson University’s “Music After School” program, which is run in conjunction with the university’s music department.

For over a decade, Christensen worked as a Director for MCM Arts & Entertainment booking classical chamber ensembles, dance companies, and theater. In the late 1990s, Ms. Christensen held the position of Education Director at Chamber Music America where she created and implemented the Education and Residency Institute for chamber ensembles and presenters and administered the NEA/Chamber Music America Rural Residencies Program.

Nancy Christensen holds a B.M. in piano performance and a M.A. in music theory both from the Eastman School of Music. Following graduation, Ms. Christensen was employed as part of Carnegie Hall’s programming team as well as the educational organization, Midori & Friends where she was Acting Executive Director and Program Director.

Christensen recently completed serving on the Western Arts Alliance’s Board of Directors and co-chaired WAA’s annual conference for four years.

 

Caleb Rumley, Assistant Director

Caleb Rumley is the Assistant Director of the Music After School program. He graduated from William Paterson University with a B.M. in Jazz/Music Education and a M.M. in Jazz Composition. Caleb is a trombonist, arranger, composer and educator who loves to combine all of his talents into teaching the talented children at the Music After School program.

As the Assistant Director of the MAS program he helps run the program on a day to day basis, which includes teaching lessons, picking repertoire, adjusting curriculum, and working with representatives from the Paterson Public Schools District. He also teaches brass instruments and piano at the Shamrock School of Music in Pompton Plains.

As an arranger, Caleb’s pieces have been performed in a variety of settings. In 2014, he was commissioned by the William Paterson University Department of Music to arrange the smash hit “Rather Be” to be performed live at the 2015 Collage Concert. It took him over a year, but he completed an arrangement that featured over 90 musicians, including SATB choir, percussion ensemble, jazz orchestra, solo classical piano, and concert band.

As a jazz composer, he has been commissioned twice by Diane Moser’s Composer’s Big Band for their annual Peace Concert. His piece “Search for Clarity” was given Honorable Mention in the 2015 New York Youth Symphony Composer’s Contest. In 2016, Caleb composed the tone poem “Knowing Ms. Bland,” which was dedicated to the life and legacy of Sandra Bland. This piece was performed and recorded by the 360 Jazz Ensemble from the University of North Carolina. He performs regularly with his big band project, which is called Big Beat.

Teaching Fellow Bios
 Erica Arango

Erika Arango

Erika is a Music Education Major at William Paterson University with a concentration in French horn performance. She is very happy to be a Fellow of the Music After School Program teaching brass classes. It is such a joy to be able to work with the kids in the Paterson school district and see them overcome the challenges of learning how to play an instrument.

 

 Sean Dello-Monaco

Sean Dello-Monaco

Sean Dello Monaco: Born in Lyndhurst New Jersey, Sean Dello Monaco discovered a love for percussion while in high school. He is currently a classical performance percussion major at William Paterson University. Sean frequently plays in the pit for musicals and has performed at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. In addition to performing, Sean also builds percussion instruments and makes mallets; he has recently started a company called Telson Percussion.

 Anderson Brutus

Anderson Brutus

Anderson Brutus is a senior at William Paterson University who is studying music education with a concentration in classical saxophone. After graduation he plans to teach, travel around the word and compose his own music.

 Elise McAloon

Elise McAloon

Elise McAloon is a sophomore music education major at William Paterson. She plays percussion in the William Paterson Wind Ensemble as well as the Symphony Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble. Elise is also active in various community bands and orchestras in somerset county. She hopes to become a music teacher after graduating college.