Music Staff Bios

Mark Adamski, Percussion, Bachelor of Music in Music Education (‘91), New England Conservatory of Music, Masters of Music in Percussion Performance (‘93), Indiana University (Bloomington). Mark has been teaching with the North Syracuse Central School District since 1997, and is currently the Band Director at Cicero - North Syracuse High School.  Working at both the Junior High and Senior High levels since his employment, Mark has taught  lessons, conducted various Concert Band groups, and taught 8th Grade General Music, Music Theory 1 & 2, and Basic Musicianship classes.  Mark has also worked with the C-NS High School Woodwind Ensemble and Percussion Ensemble during his tenure with the district, played with the Junior High and High School Pit Orchestras, conducts the High School Pit Orchestra, and has even worked on the Northstars Marching Band staff as the Drumline Caption Head and Assistant Marching Band Director.  Outside of school groups, Mark plays in a traditional Dixieland Jazz Band - the Soda Ash 6, and performs with the Central Winds, a wind ensemble for music educators. 

Maureen Alvaro, Flute, Bachelor and Masters of Music in Music Education, Ithaca College

Maureen is currently the music teacher at Lakeshore Road Elementary School. She began her teaching career in 1998. During her career, she has taught General Music grades Pre-K through 8th Grade, Elementary Chorus, Instrumental Lessons, and Band. Maureen is a member of several professional organizations and performing ensembles, including Central Winds, a wind ensemble for music teachers.

James Bamonte, Trumpet, Bachelors  in Music Education, Syracuse University. Masters in Trumpet Performance, University of New Mexico. 

Jim has been teaching in the district since 2005.  He has  played professionally for many Broadway shows, and rock bands in CNY.

Mark D’Alberto, Guitar, Bachelor of Music Education, Fredonia School of Music, 

Masters in Curriculum Development, SUNY Oswego.

Mark has taught in the North Syracuse Central School District since 2001. He has taught General Music classes at all levels, Orchestra, Music in our Lives course, and Chorus. He performs solo in the community, DJ events for weddings, parties, and not for profit organizations.

Danielle Delfanian, Violin, Bachelor of Music Education, Augustana University; Master of Music Education, University of South Dakota

Danielle Delfanian has taught elementary orchestra in the North Syracuse Central School District since January of 2018. She currently teaches beginning strings at Lakeshore, Smith, and Bear Road Elementary Schools. She has been teaching orchestra since 2007. 

Emily Guarino, Cello, Bachelor of Music Education, Ithaca College; Master of Music Education, The Hartt School of Music (University of Hartford)

Emily Guarino has taught in the North Syracuse Central School District since 2016.  She currently teaches orchestra grades 5-7 at Roxboro Road Middle School.  She is also the Co-Director of the Roxboro Road Drama Club.  She is a cello section member of the newly formed Syracuse Chamber Orchestra and performs as a freelance musician in the greater Syracuse area.  In the summers, she is the cello instructor for the Prelude Strings Camp at New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.

Rebecca Hall, Flute, Bachelor and Masters in Music Education from the Ithaca College.              

Rebecca Hall has over 20 years experience as an elementary classroom music teacher and chorus/musical director at Smith Road Elementary for the NSCSD. Becky has the extreme honor of being awarded the "NSCSD Teacher of Year" for 2010‐2011 school year, along with being a finalist in 2006. Becky was also named the GRAMMY© award semi‐finalist for "Music Educator of the Year" in 2013. Besides teaching music, Becky has enjoyed performing in community theater for 30+ years as an actress, singer, dancer and flutist. She enjoys singing the National Anthem for Syracuse University Basketball, Syracuse Crunch Hockey, Syracuse AAA baseball and at the SUPER Dirt Race Week in Oswego. Rebecca has also had the honor of presenting a workshop for the NYSSMA winter conference entitled “Music Education for Students with Special Needs.” 

John Halpin, Voice, Bachelor of Music Education, Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam. Masters of Music Education, Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam.

John was hired in the North Syracuse Central School District in 2000. He has taught General Music and Chorus at every grade level in the district, and now teaches Chorus, Vocal Jazz and General Music at NSJHS. Mr. Halpin also worked for 15 years as the stage manager for the CNS Musical productions, and is now the Assistant Director of the NSJHS Drama Club. John has sung with several local ensembles, and is currently a member of the Syracuse Opera Chorus and Syracuse Pops Chorus.

John Harnois, Violin,  Ithaca College (BMUS in Performance and Education) SUNY Oswego (MSEd) 

Taught In MA and NY since 1988 Currently Teaching 2 Orchestra Classes and a Basic Musicianship Class at CNS.

Emma Hinman, French Horn, Bachelor of Music Education and Performance, Nazareth College; Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, Western Governor's University.

Emma has been teaching in the North Syracuse Central School District since 2022. She has experience teaching classroom music for levels K-9 and middle school chorus. Emma currently teaches band at the North Syracuse Junior High School along with brass and percussion lessons, and the Music in Our Lives 9th grade class. 

Kate Hinman, Bass, Bachelor of Music Education, Ithaca College. Masters in Teaching and Curriculum, Syracuse University

Kate joined North Syracuse Central School District in 2023 and currently teaches Orchestra, Advanced Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra at the Junior High. Kate previously taught high school orchestra for several years as well as general music and instrumental lessons at the elementary level. She has maintained a private studio since 2004. In addition, Kate has been teaching Music Together classes since 2013.  

Mark Hover, Trumpet, Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Performance (SUNY Fredonia); Master of Music Education (Boston University)

Mark Hover has been teaching since 2005.  Beginning in 2006, Mark joined the faculty of the North Syracuse Central Schools.  Currently, he is one of the band directors at Roxboro Road Middle School.  Outside the day program, he has worked with the CNS marching band in capacities of pit instructor and assistant director, CNS Winter Drumline/Indoor Winds, NSJH Jazz Ensemble, and the District Brass Ensemble. Mark has performed with the Syracuse Brigadiers Drum & Bugle Corps, Empire Statesmen Drum & Bugle Corps, Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Symphoria, SU Brass Ensemble, and Central Winds.

Rachael Howard, Violin, Bachelor of Music in Music Education, Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam); Master of Music in Music Education, Boston University College of Fine Arts. 

Rachael Howard has taught in the North Syracuse CSD since 2017. She currently teaches classroom music and chorus for grades 5-7 at Roxboro Road Middle School. She has also taught instrumental music with the Gillette Road Middle School orchestra. She is the Co-Director of the Roxboro Road Drama Club.

Andrew Keegan, Percussionist - Associates Degree in Music from Onondaga Community College, Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, Masters Degree in Computer Education from Nazareth College in Rochester, C.A.S. - Oswego State University. 

Andrew has taught in the North Syracuse Central School District since April of 1999. He was Pit instructor for the Marcus Whitman School District marching band and Central Square marching band. Keegan has taught 5/6th grade General Music since he began in North Syracuse. Two years prior to joining NSCSD Andrew worked in 25 different school districts as a substitute teacher during which time he completed his Masters Degree. Andrew was Tech Director(stage crew) for the Musicals at Gillette from 2001-2014. Keegan is/has been the drummer for various bands in the CNY area: Umpteenth Time Band, SWK, In Too Deep, Opus Black String Quartet and Trio, Fish Creek Rodeo, various bands led by Liz Fiddle. Andrew has also played drums in the pit for many musicals in the area, schools, local theater groups, etc.

Mary Anna LaFave, Associate Of Arts from Onondaga Community College, Bachelor and Masters Degree in Music Education from Nazareth College in Rochester

Mary Anna has taught in the North Syracuse School District since 2019.  She has taught instrumental, orchestra and general music at the elementary and middle school levels.  Currently she is teaching general music at Roxboro Road Middle School.

Domenic Liccione, Syracuse University Bachelors of Music and Education -Classical Guitar and Choral Conducting/woodwinds. Masters Oswego State in Education and Music 

Dom Liccione has taught in the North Syracuse School District since 1997. He has taught classroom and choral music at Gillette Rd. Middle Schools for 14 years and has been an All- County Chorus Conductor. He currently is teaching woodwinds and the co-director of the Gillette Rd. Middle School Concert Band. Liccione has been a director of the Gillette Road Musicals since 2001 taking them from a one grade level participation to performing three night, school wide, full fledged productions.

Jennifer MacDerment, Clarinet/Woodwinds, Bachelor and Masters of Elementary Education/Literacy and Music Education (SUNY Cortland)

Jen has taught in the North Syracuse School DIstrict since 1999. She taught classroom and choral music at Gillette for 12 years and has since been at the Jr High School.  At Gillette, she was also involved in the Character Education Program, as well as the musicals as a stage crew and then show chorus director.  Currently, Jen teaches instrumental music and is the NSJH Concert Band Director for both the 8th and 9th grade bands.  She is also the director of the NSJH Select Band.  MacDerment has been a member of the Liverpool Community Chorus, Baldwinsville Community Band and has directed numerous musicals at the elementary level.

Thomas McCartney

Amy Musengo, Saxophone, Bachelor of Music Education, Crane School of Music, Masters of Elementary Education, SUNY Oswego.

Amy Musengo began teaching in the North Syracuse Central School District in 1995. She has taught instrumental, general, and choral music, and participates in local music ensembles.

Cori Patterson, Trumpet, Master of Music and Kodaly Certification, Silver Lake College; Orff-Schulwerk Certification, Eastman School of Music; Bachelor of Music, St. Olaf College 

Cori Patterson has taught K-4 elementary general music at Cicero Elementary School since 2016. She has been teaching elementary music since 2006. She is certified in Orff-Schulwerk and Kodaly Approaches to music education. She is a trumpet player and performs with the Syracuse University Brass Ensemble. Cori presents workshops on music education at the local, state, and national level.

Melissa Petrarca, Clarinet,  BA of Music Education and BA Elementary Education Crane School of Music, MA of Early Literacy SUNY Cortland

Melissa Petrarca started teaching  elementary classroom music in the North Syracuse Central School District in 2004. She taught at KWS Bear Road Elementary School for 6 years and has since been at Roxboro Road Elementary School.

Shannon Proctor, Mezzo-Soprano/Vocal, Bachelors of Music Education, Westminster Choir College; Masters of Music Education, Syracuse University

Shannon Proctor has been teaching K-4 elementary general music in North Syracuse since 2019.  Her career in music education began in 2004.  Shannon is currently serving as the music teacher at KWS Bear Road Elementary and the part-time music teacher at Lakeshore Elementary until the renovations of Bear Road are complete.  She has performed as a guest artist with the Syracuse University Opera Theatre, played the role of Giovanna in Verdi’s Rigoletto with Syracuse Opera and nationally toured with Andrea Bocelli and the Royal Philharmonic on A Royal Christmas.  Shannon is currently a member of the Syracuse Opera Chorus and cantors at a number of local churches. 

Danielle Rausa, Saxophone and Voice, Bachelor of Music Education – Fredonia State University, A.A.S., Criminal Justice – Jamestown Community College, Masters and C.A.S., Educational Administration- Oswego State University.  Director of the CNS Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Mixed, Honors, Advanced, and Treble Chorus.  Mrs. Rausa began her educational career in 1997 in the North Syracuse School District and spent most of her time at Roxboro Road Middle School.  There, she was Department Chair, Director of Bands, Musical Director, Chorus Director and began a parade band that fed into the C-NS Northstar Marching Band; helping to bring the marching band back to national status.  In 2019, after having directed the C-NS Jazz Ensemble for 5 years, she was asked to move to the high school. Mrs. Rausa is a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction, Finalist for Teacher of the year, North Syracuse Teacher Shooting Star, and has been awarded Al Stirpe’s Woman of Distinction in Education.  For the last 23 years, Mrs. Rausa continues to perform in CNY with her band “Mood Swing” as well as The Cafferty Band and The State Street Band.  You can also find her performing our National Anthem at numerous SU games and events, Monster Jam, Mets Baseball, and ESPN’s Bass Master Tournament. Her philosophy has and always will be to put the needs of the students first.  Their educational, mental, and physical health are combined in making a memorable, worthwhile and life-long musical learning experience. 

Drew Rebecchi, Clarinet, Bachelor of Music in Music Education, SUNY Fredonia; Master of Music in Music Education, Syracuse University

Drew Rebecchi has been teaching music since 2014, and first started in the North Syracuse Central School District in 2017.  He is one of the assistant directors of the C-NS Marching Band and is also the director of the NSJHS Jazz Band.  Drew is a member of several performance groups including Silverwood Clarinet Choir and Central Winds, a wind ensemble for music educators.

Shannon Santmyer, Viola, Bachelor of Music Education, Crane School of Music, Masters of Music Education, Boston University

Shannon Santmyer has taught in the North Syracuse School District since 2019. She currently assists in teaching orchestra and band at North Syracuse Junior High School as well as orchestra, chorus, and general music at Gillette Rd Middle School.

Karen Seamans, Clarinet, Bachelor and Masters of Music Education, Syracuse University, Educational Leadership, Canisius College 

Karen Seamans has taught in the North Syracuse School District since 1997. She has taught classroom and choral music at Bear Rd. and Cicero Elementary schools and Gillette Rd. and Roxboro Rd. Middle Schools. She has also taught instrumental music and band at both Gillette and Roxboro.  She is the co-director of the Gillette Rd. Middle School Concert and Parade Bands,  co-director of the Northstars JV and Junior Winter Guards, and is the Director and Designer for the CNS Marching Band. Under her direction, the Northstars Marching Band has won two NY state championships,  the Taxslayer Bowl Contest Championship, a USBands Class VA National Championship and performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Karen has been a finalist for the NSCSD Teacher of the Year three times and was the 2019 Music and Arts National Music Educator of the Year.

Suzanne Stephenson, Cello, Associate of Science, Indiana University, Bachelor of Science in Music, Indiana University, Master of Arts in Education, Indiana University

Suzanne Stephenson has taught orchestra in the North Syracuse School District since 1994.  She is a graduate of Indiana University with degrees in Music Education and Violin Making.  She is currently principal cellist in the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra and  the Syracuse Chamber Orchestra and is a member of the Candlelight String Quartet. She has performed with numerous famous artists while in the Syracuse area, such as Olivia Newton John, Clay Aiken and The Manhattan Transfer as well as Broadway Touring Companies. 

Kristina Vernyi, Piano, Bachelor of Music Education, Syracuse University, Master of Science in Elementary Education, SUNY Oswego, Master of Science and CAS in Disability Studies, Syracuse University

Kristina Vernyi has been teaching classroom music and chorus primarily since 2002 and is also been an Orchestra teacher since she's joined the ARE staff. 

The coursework completed within the last program made the most profound effect on me. Looking at the world through disability lenses made me realize what kind of obstacles and mistreatments people with disabilities have been fighting against in the last century. It also taught me not to take ableism as well as the Universal Design for granted. I know that my calling as a professional and as a person lays in bringing opportunities to people (kids in particular) that lead to increased sense of belonging to an educational setting, to feeling complete and empowered, to gaining zest for learning, to appreciating the power of the Arts, and finally to allow students to appreciate the opportunities in life brought through all aspects of education (including music education).  

Donna Marie Norton, Executive Director- BA LeMoyne College, MA SUNY Geneseo, CAS SUNY Oswego

Donna Marie Norton has been the Director of the North Syracuse Central School District Music Department since 2012.  She is a former classroom teacher and building principal.  Donna Marie is an avid lover of the Recorder and Early Music, and works regularly with an Albany-based Recorder group.