Faculty

Steve Girardi, Guitar, Theory and Composition

Steve Girardi is the Director and Founder of the Summit Music Studio, established in 1990.

With over 25 years of teaching experience, Steve has guided students to be accepted into some of the finest colleges and universities in the country. NYU, University of Miami, Eastman College, Berklee College of Music, Peabody Conservatory and the College of New Jersey have all graduated Girardi students.

Qualified in the areas of theory, composition and advanced improvisation, Steve has the unique distinction of being an authorized Sandole method instructor. Dennis Sandole was the distinguished teacher of such jazz luminaries as John Coltrane, Pat Martino, and James Moody. The Maestro gave this honor to Steve after years of extensive study.

A highly regarded guitarist and composer in the East Coast jazz scene since the 1980’s, Steve regularly performs with his Quartet in venues around the NYC area.

Education: Authorized Sandole Method Instructor.
Berklee College of Music, Boston, and Mannes College, NYC

John Scalera, Guitar instructor

Education: BA, Fairleigh Dickinson University. Summit Music Studio, under Steve Girardi for 7 years. John has also studied privately under Matt O'Ree. John has been teaching professionally for the past 5 years.

Michael Posey, Voice instructor

Education: University of Maryland, PhD. Doctor of Musical Arts, Diploma of Musical/Dramatic Performance, Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria
As a professional tenor, Michael has performed throughout the U.S., Austria and Germany and was a member of the Ensemble Spinario, Salsburg Austria.
Michael has been teaching Voice professionally for over fifteen years.

Tony Rivera, Guitar instructor

Education: American Institute of Guitar, studied under Dennis Koster, Juan Orozco School of Flamenco Guitar
As a professional musician, Tony has performed extensively in the NYC area with artists such as Buddy Miles, Stanley Jordan, Tom Chapin, Will Calhoun and Billy Bang.
In addition, Tony has more than 20 years professional teaching experience in various styles of guitar, including Classical, Flamenco, Jazz, Rock, Country, Blue Grass and Folk.

Diego Badilla, Piano instructor

Education: National University, Heredia, Costa Rica, B.M. Piano Performance and B.M. Choral Conducting. Master Classes with Adolf Pla, Raphael Lustchevsky, and Arcady Aronov. Diego is an accomplished classical pianist currently finishing his Masters degree at Manhattan School of Music. He has been teaching professionally for the past 9 years.

P.J. Controneo, Guitar instructor

Education: Rutgers University, Masters of Arts in Jazz Studies
As a professional guitarist, P.J. has performed (and organized)
The Wadadli Jazz Exposition in Antigua, West Indies, and has performed extensively in  Northern New Jersey as well as throughout the U.S. and abroad.
P.J. has been teaching professionally for the past 14 years.

Catherine Spadora, Voice instructor

Education: Bachelor of Music, New England Conservatory of Music, Vocal Performance. An accomplished voice and dance instructor, Catherine brings a wide variety of expertise to her teaching. She has participated in master classes with John Moriarty and Sondra Kelly at the New England Conservatory in Boston. A professional vocalist Catherine performs regularly in the New York metropolitan area. She has been teaching professionally for over 3 years.