Ms. Jodie Adessa is an enthusiastic performer educator who began her career as a musician working in opera and musical theatre. After graduating from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Music Education, Ms. Adessa began pounding the pavement in New York City. She has performed in regional theater, light opera, and Off-Broadway shows, including “Vincent” (national premier), “A My Name is Alice,” “Nuncrackers,” “Pirates of Penzance,” and “Children of Children” and is a member of the Actor’s Equity Association. In addition to operas and musicals, Ms. Adessa has also performed in regional plays such as “Kindertransport” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” been seen in films such as “Last Rites,” “Hot Tomatoes,” and “The Chorus Girl” and played Donna Leonte in a season finale episode of “Law and Order: SVU.”
Ms. Adessa earned a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the College of New Jersey, her Kodaly Certification from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and has been teaching music for thirteen years. In addition to teaching in the classroom, Ms. Adessa is an accomplished choral director, having conducted Primo Coro, the training choir for the New Jersey Youth Chorus, for three years. The ensemble grew and blossomed under her direction performing all over the tri-state area, including at the New Jersey Music Educators Eastern Conference, Shea Stadium, and the Mayo Performing Arts Center. Ms. Adessa also teaches private vocal and piano lessons with students who have placed in All-State, Region, and County Choruses and continues to perform as a soloist and with her band, The Two Ukes. She is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, the New Jersey School Music Association, and the American Choral Directors Association. She is thrilled to continue the tradition of vocal excellence at the Performing Arts Academy and is grateful for the opportunity to work with such talented and enthusiastic singers!
Ms. Lindsay Dunn is thrilled to be joining the APA staff full-time! She has been a part of the theater industry from a very young age, starting out in competitive vocal and dance competitions and later turning those passions into a career in musical theater. Ms. Dunn graduated with a BA in Theater Performance from Wagner College and has worked professionally in the theater for a number of years. Her most notable role was Princess Fiona in the Broadway International Tour of SHREK The Musical.
Ms. Dunn is excited to take her professional experiences into the classroom and instill values, etiquette, and appreciation for the theater in her students. Her goal is to prepare students to become successful in a professional theater career or college program and give them the tools they need to succeed in their everyday lives.
Mr. Brett Izsa is an acclaimed and versatile musician, educator, and performer whose work spans orchestral, theatrical, and sacred music. He currently serves as Director of Orchestral Activities for the Morris Hills Regional School District—home to the Morris Hills Regional Symphony, Chamber Orchestra, and String Ensemble—and as Director of Music Ministries at Denville Community Church.
An active pianist, guitarist, and vocalist with the eight-piece band From Jersey With Love, Mr. Izsa has also served as Music Director for countless musicals and operas, conducting major works such as Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Strauss’s Die Fledermaus, and numerous symphonic and choral-orchestral works. A strong advocate for arts accessibility, he co-founded the Morris Regional Performing Arts Company and has collaborated with the Cultural Fusion Initiative. His credits include associate producer and conductor roles on Tunde Kelani’s 2025 film Cordelia and Mark Hagerty’s Grammy-nominated album United Sounds of America. Mr. Izsa previously directed choral programs at Westwood Regional Middle School and served on the music staff at Newark United Methodist Church.
He holds a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Delaware, a Certificate in Musical Theatre Conducting from New York University, and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education at Boston University and has performed as a conductor, pianist, and singer on stages across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Mrs. Lisa Peluso (Montclair, NJ) began her career as a pre-professional performing in dance competitions, various cruise lines, and Disney World theme parks. She graduated summa cum laude from Montclair State University with a BFA in Dance and received several scholarships throughout her studies. While attending MSU, she was invited into the company in residence, Donna Scro/Freespace Dance, and performed extensively with the company for about 7 years with seasons in NYC and domestic touring. Lisa was a scholarship apprentice/understudy for Jennifer Muller/The Works for several years and has additionally performed with Flexicurve, project: Smith, BEINGs dance, and KDNY, amongst other project-based contemporary modern companies. She joined Elisa Monte Dance in 2011 and enjoyed performing Ms. Monte's signature works as a soloist for three years. She was recently asked to rejoin the company in a special alumni performance celebrating the company's 35th anniversary season.
Several dance companies throughout New Jersey have commissioned Mrs. Peluso's original choreography. Choreographic highlights include International Dance Festival in Hawaii, the 2010 American College Dance Festival Gala concert in Virginia, Bryant Park, Merce Cunningham Theater, and the Fringe Festival Edinburgh, UK. Her work has received acclaim nationally and internationally. Mrs. Peluso has enjoyed adjunct dance faculty positions at Montclair State University, Rutgers University, College of St. Elizabeth, Union County College, and County College of Morris (8 years). She continues to guest teach throughout New York and New Jersey. Mrs. Peluso is a state-certified vocational teacher. She obtained her Master in Dance Education (EdM) from Rutgers University. Mrs. Peluso has been a guest artist for many years at the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts since its inception under former dance director Ruth Clark. She is thrilled to continue the tradition of excellence and passion for dance education as the only dance faculty at Morris County Vocational Technical High School.