Students at Lakewood City Schools have the opportunity to take private lessons from highly trained musicians. Please talk to your choir director for more information about taking lessons and receiving scholarships.
Email: rdominic.aragon@gmail.com
Dominic Aragon is a Cleveland based vocalist known for “his fine singing and acting” (ClevelandClassical.com). He regularly performs with BWV: Cleveland’s Bach Choir, Cleveland Chamber Choir, and at the historic Old Stone Church as a soloist and ensemble musician. This April (2024), Mr. Aragon performed the role of the Celebrant in Bernstein’s MASS at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2020, Mr. Aragon completed an Artist Diploma in Voice Performance at the University of Colorado – Boulder. While living in the Front Range, he enjoyed performing with the Colorado Bach Ensemble and Boulder Bach Festival. In addition to his passion for early music and ensemble singing, Mr. Aragon feels equally at home with contemporary operatic repertoire having performed with the Ad Astra Music festival as a resident artist, Opera Grand Rapids, and Augsburg University as a guest artist. Exploring and delivering fresh musical styles and more immediate stories to the audience are what draws him to this genre.
Email: pitchpipejudy@gmail.com
Judy Fesko has been a music educator and performer in the Cleveland area for almost 40 years. Currently she teaches private voice lessons through the Lakewood City Schools, accompanies the high school musical, and sings with Good Company: A Vocal Ensemble. Judy graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music with degrees in Piano Performance and Music Education and a minor in the study of voice. She taught elementary general music in Lakewood, Avon Lake, and Vermilion. Judy completed all three levels of Orff Schulwerk certification while she was a teacher. She directed the Intermediate Children’s Choir at the Riverside Academy of Music [currently the Beck Center], was a music mentor for Opera Cleveland’s “Music! Words! Opera! Program, and long time music director of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lakewood until its closure in 2023. Mrs. Fesko has sung with the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Robert Page Singers, the West Shore Chorale, where she was a frequent soloist, and now with Good Company. She has accompanied myriad choirs, musicals, solos, wedding performers, and her own Trinity choir as she was directing them. Judy has always been a teacher either in a classroom, choir room, church, or studio. She enjoys getting to know her students and what brings them joy. Nothing is as exciting as when a student “finds their voice” and realizes that instrument is theirs for a lifetime and they are developing the best habits to continue to sing. As a mom of 3 graduates of Lakewood High and its music program, she truly enjoys participating in the continuing tradition of musical excellence that has been a hallmark of this program in the Lakewood City Schools.
Email: 1leahjennings@gmail.com
Leah has a master’s degree in musical theatre from Oklahoma City University, where she studied with the world renowned voice teacher, Florence Birdwell, who also taught Tony winners Kelli O’Hara (Leah’s classmate) and Kristin Chenoweth. With over 20 years of NYC, touring, international, and regional theatrical credits, she is well equipped to share her love of music with the next generation of performers. Previously, she taught voice through the EMG Collective in NYC. Most recently she starred as Franchesca in The Bridges of Madison County in Atlanta, Georgia. Favorite credits include multiple seasons with Great Lakes Theatre and Idaho Shakespeare Festival, featured soprano at Tokyo Disney, Mrs. Phagen in Parade, Carrie in Carousel, and both Sarah and Adelaide in Guys & Dolls. Fun fact, Leah is also a proud former Miss OCU (Oklahoma City University) 1999, and 3rd runner-up to Miss Oklahoma. Throughout her years competing in the Miss Oklahoma system, she was awarded over $50,000 in tuition scholarships. She has since judged several state pageants and worked closely with two former Miss America’s prior to their claiming the crown. A proud member of Actors Equity, she continues to perform and looks forward to making Cleveland her theatrical home.