Faculty
Elementary Orchestra Faculty
Mr. Anderson earned a B.A. in Music Education from the Kean University Conservatory of Music, where he received the Nadia and Fritz Lambert Memorial Scholarship, a full tuition scholarship for four years. At Kean he studied violin with Brennan Sweet, Associate Concertmaster of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and served as the University Orchestras Concertmaster. Since, he has gone on to earn a M.M. in Music Education from Ithaca College where he pursued dual research interests including gender-bias in student instrument selection and developing lifelong learning through intergenerational music-making.
Mr. Anderson is an active violinist who has performed locally with the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra (NJIO), Summit Symphony Orchestra (SSO), Livingston Symphony Orchestra (LSO), and at private events as part of the Iceni Chamber Ensemble. He is also involved with a variety of local professional organizations including but not limited to the Central Jersey Music Educators Association (CJMEA), and the American String Teachers Association of New Jersey (ASTA/NJ).
Serbian native Nevena Bojovic is a violin teacher and a performer from Summit, NJ. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Musical Arts in Belgrade, Serbia. After moving to the United States, Mrs. Bojovic continued her studies with renowned pedagogue Masao Kawasaki and obtained a Master of Music degree from Brooklyn College. Mrs. Bojovic has had the pleasure of performing throughout the tri-state area as a freelance musician, and her orchestral experience includes performances throughout Europe with the Serbian Chamber Orchestra and St. George Strings. Mrs. Bojovic received Suzuki teacher training and certification from the School for Strings, NYC. She has been a faculty member of the Suburban Community Music Center (New Providence, NJ), String Project (Brooklyn College, NY), United Nations International School (New York, NY), Far Brook School (Short Hills, NJ), and New Jersey Youth Symphony (Sinfonia Conductor and Director of Summer Orchestral Camp) (New Providence, NJ). Mrs. Bojovic also holds a private violin studio in Summit, NJ.
Mrs. Ramsay - Jefferson, Lincoln Hubbard, Washington
Mrs. Maria Ramsay is a graduate of the Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University where she received her BA in music education. From 2008-2023, she taught Orchestra in the Bridgewater-Raritan school district. Her recent musical pursuits include orchestral, chamber, and solo performances at concerts, private events and parties with her music business "Simply Strings". Over her performing career, notable venues have included Carnegie Hall, NJPAC, and Lincoln Center.
Past teaching experiences include private violin and viola instruction since 1999, Concertmistress and coach for the New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra, Concertmistress of Freelance Ensemble Artists of NJ, Concertmistress of the Tim Keyes Consort, chamber music coach and violin instructor for the New Jersey Youth Symphony Summer Music Camp, and administrator and instructor for Summer Strings, which provided ensemble experience and instruction in classical music and fiddling for young string players. She is honored to be serving the students of Summit as an Elementary Orchestra teacher! Mrs. Ramsay resides with her husband, four children, and dog in Central Jersey.
Elementary Band Faculty
Michael Gleason has happily lived in Union county his whole life. He grew up in Scotch Plains where he succeeded at trumpet playing making it into both Regions and All-State. He then continued on to The College of New Jersey where he obtained his bachelor in Music Education with a focus on trumpet. Mr Gleason has played many musicals in his lifetime both here in Summit and at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Michael Gleason has also obtained his Master in Educational Technology from Ramapo University. Mr Gleason teaches at Brayton, Lincoln-Hubbard and Washington Elementary Schools, He also helps out with the High School Marching Band and for some time conducted the High School Jazz Band.
Jessica Morley is officially joining the Summit staff this year as the 6th grade band director and elementary band director for Jefferson and Franklin Elementary Schools. She will also be the visual instructor of the Summit High School Marching Band. Jessica has been a student teacher in the Summit School District for over a year in Washington, Brayton, and Summit High School. Ms. Morley graduated from Rutgers University - Mason Gross School of the Arts in 2022 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education and Clarinet Performance, with a minor in Psychology. At Mason Gross, she studied clarinet with the head of the woodwind department, Dr. Maureen Hurd. She also participated in the Rutgers Athletic Bands where she played baritone and had the opportunity to be drum major for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons. In her free time, Jessica enjoys attending football and basketball games at her alma mater. Fun fact: Ms. Morley got to meet NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, in 2019 who gave her tickets to Superbowl LIV in Miami, Florida!
Supervisor
Ms. Forgione - District Supervisor of Fine, Performing & Practical Arts
Karen Ann Forgione comes to Summit Public Schools with over twenty years of experience in the arts in both non-profit and educational settings. Ms. Forgione earned her BA in Theatre and English from Bucknell University and an MA in Performance Studies from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. In 2018, she was selected for UPenn/National Arts Strategies' Executive Program in Arts & Culture Strategy. As a former United States Fulbright Scholar, she lived and studied in Norway for several years and presented her research in Bergen, Oslo, Berlin, and New York.
In addition to her experience as a teacher and supervisor, Ms. Forgione has also held arts administration and fundraising roles at Bergen Performing Arts Center (Englewood NJ), Ars Nova Theatre (NYC), Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey (Madison NJ), and Annie's Playhouse School of Performing Arts (Far Hills NJ).