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!

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.