Alex Bocchino, began teaching in Summit in 1998 and has taught students throughout the District (in all the schools) over the past 24 years. Mr. Bocchino directs the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Big Band, and Pit Orchestra. Mr. Bocchino has conducted Summit ensembles at Carnegie Hall, Prudential Hall (NJPAC), McAfee Hall (Belmont University), Dekelboum Hall (University of Maryland) and recorded at Studio B in Nashville. Ensembles have also garnered Gold and Superior ranking at numerous festivals. Mr. Bocchino received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from William Paterson University and continued graduate study at Teachers College, Columbia University. Additionally, Mr. Bocchino has conducted select CJMEA Region Ensembles and was an adjunct faculty member at Caldwell University for 11 years.

Outside of things band, Mr. Bocchino is an avid college sports fan and enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 children.

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.

Bernadette Burke will be joining us as the new Director of Choirs and General Music at LCJSMS. Bernadette holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Rutgers University and will soon be completing her Masters in Music Education from Montclair State University. Ms. Burke was the Vocal/General Music Teacher at Hannah Caldwell Elementary School in Union for the past 6 years. She has been very involved in different musical productions in the Union and Summit school districts. Bernadette is also a certified yoga teacher, trained as a Social Emotional Learning Facilitator, and has led integrated programs for students with disabilities in the past. 

Mr. Giannone is a freelance musician, band leader and educator in Northern New Jersey. He currently holds a master’s degree in Music from William Paterson University, and a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University, with a dual focus in Jazz Studies and Music Education. While working as a full time music educator, Mr. G was selected to participate in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Class of 2017, located at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Mr. G has had the honor of performing across the United States, as well as across Europe. Mr. G teaches 4th and 5th grade orchestras at Jefferson, Lincoln-Hubbard and Washington Elementary School. When Mr. G is not teaching, he enjoys bowling, classic cars and hanging out with his wife, two children and dog. 

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.

Mrs. Lapinski teaches General Music, Grades 1-5, and Select Chorus at Brayton and Franklin Elementary Schools. 

Rebecca Mongioj is the assistant band director at Summit High School and teaches 8th grade band at LCJ Summit Middle School. Rebecca is in her 8th year teaching band in the Summit Public School District and works with the SHS Marching Band, LCJSMS Jazz Lab Band, and LCJSMS Pit Orchestra for their spring musical. Ms. Mongioj received her Bachelor’s in Music Education from The College of New Jersey, specializing in clarinet, and received her Master’s in Music Education from Montclair State University. 

Sarah Meadows teaches Art & Music at Jefferson and Wilson Primary Centers and General/Vocal Music at Jefferson Elementary School. She taught preschool music at the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York, Kodály musicianship classes for the National Children's Chorus in NYC, and has also taught elementary music at public schools in Maryland and Virginia. She holds a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Peabody Conservatory and a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Spanish from the University of Virginia. Sarah completed her Kodály Certification at George Mason University and has taught musicianship for the summer Kodály Teacher Training program at GMU as well. She served as both Secretary and President of the Kodály Organization of New York (KONY), as well as Member-at-Large for the Virginia Organization of Kodály Educators (VOKE). Sarah performs as both an accompanist and a choral singer. She sang as a member of The Washington Chorus in Washington, D.C. and The Oratorio Society of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia.

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!

Mr. Piepoli has been teaching 7th grade band and general music in the Summit Public School System since January 2017 and has been teaching since May 2013. Mr. Piepoli earned a BA from Caldwell University (NJ) in Music and Music Education as well as a MS in Educational Technology from Ramapo College. (NJ) Mr. Piepoli also directs the Stage Band at LCJSMS and serves as an Assistant Director / Drumline Instructor with the SHS Marching Band. 

Jasmine Quraishi is the orchestra director for Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School and Franklin Elementary School. Ms. Quraishi graduated from Rutgers University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Violin Performance, where she studied with Dr. Elena Chernova-Davis. She also attended Brevard Music Center’s summer festival in North Carolina as a student in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Ms. Quraishi student-taught in Edison, NJ at John Marshall Elementary School and John P. Stevens High School. After her student teaching experiences, she was a long-term substitute orchestra teacher at South Orange Middle School in South Orange, NJ. In addition to teaching in public schools, she has a private violin studio in Maplewood, NJ and enjoys performing in pits for musicals. She absolutely loves teaching orchestra and is excited to be joining the Summit music team!

Mary-Lynn Rhodes is the Director of Choral Activities, AP Music Theory & Audio Engineering at Summit High School. She holds a Masters in Music Education with a concentration in Ethnomusicology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Bachelor of Music from Ithaca College. With 18 years of teaching experience, Ms. Rhodes has had the pleasure of teaching secondary choral music in New York, Colorado, Indiana, Ghana, Minnesota and New Jersey. Ms. Rhodes also has a passion for musical theatre and has vocally directed 15 different musicals. She is thrilled to be a part of the award winning production team at Summit High School. Ms. Rhodes lives in New Providence with her husband and two children. Outside of teaching, she can be found cheering on the New Providence soccer team and braiding hair for the NPHS Marching Band. 

Colleen Schoderbek is the Vocal/General Music Teacher at Jefferson and Lincoln-Hubbard Elementary Schools. She will be starting her 11th year of teaching in Summit. Mrs. Schoderbek holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from Indiana University-Bloomington and has done Graduate Studies at Westminster Choir College where she received her certification in Kodaly Training. Mrs. Schoderbek is a classically trained opera singer and has performed throughout the country with opera companies and symphony orchestras. In addition she is also a pianist and organist. When she is not teaching or performing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family and her 2 beagles; Lilly and Molly, who love music too!

Diane Silvester is an experienced music educator who joined the Summit Public Schools in September of 2015 as vocal/general music teacher at Franklin and Washington Schools. She holds a Bachelors and Masters Degree in music education from Montclair State University and has received additional certifications in various approaches to elementary music education including: Kodaly, Orff-Schulwerk, Music Together and most recently, Feierabend First Steps and Conversational Solfege I and II. During her Masters program, she performed at various recitals and community events with the West African Drum and Dance ensemble based at MSU. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband, daughter, family and friends.