Our Team

Ryan Clark grew up in the Capital District and began his musical career in grade school, first taking piano lessons and then guitar lessons after his dad bought him his first guitar. By the time he reached middle school, he was performing acoustic sets at local cafes and organized a band that practiced in the basement of his church. His passion for music continued to inspire him and while studying accounting at Marist College, realized he needed to follow his passion, switching over to a New Media program recommended by one of his professors. Just shy of his 18th birthday, Ryan tried out for American Idol and after making it through a few auditions, he knew he had to follow his heart and pursue a music career. After graduating from college, Ryan moved to Nashville and honed his craft, writing songs, performing, touring, opening for national artists and eventually performing at the Country Music Fest on Broadway in downtown Nashville. Ryan recently returned to NY to start a new chapter of his life where he hopes to share his love of music and bring his dedication, enthusiasm and creativity to all his students.

Brian Chiappinelli is an all around musician. You can currently hear his music featured on Netflix, FOX Sports, NASCAR, WWE (Monday Night Raw & WWE NXT), HBO MAX, NBC’s “Grand Crew”, Peacock’s “Bel Air”, Buying Beverly Hills, Rhythm & Flow, NCAA Tip-Off, Mo Willems Workshop, HBO's "The Hype" and more. He also produced the outro for a #1 trending video on YouTube by creator TD BRICKS, which gained 25 million views. Brian is also signed with Atron Gregory’s (Digital Underground, 2Pac, Stanley Clarke) TNT Recordings as a producer. In addition, he has been endorsed by Eventide as an artist.

Brian has been perfecting his craft behind the drum kit for the last 21 years and has studied performance as well as music business under some of the greatest minds in the industry. As an educator who attended The College of St. Rose for Music Performance/Industry, honing his skills on drums, piano and songwriting, he offers a well rounded, fun & relatable approach to music. He has toured the country as a Drummer, Vocalist, and Tour Manager. Brian has independently amassed millions of streams on platforms like Spotify. He has also worked as an artist (drummer/producer/keys/vocalist) with labels like Black Country Rock (Shooter Jennings), Substream Records (Sony/The Orchard), Foundation Media & more. In addition to his experience in live music, drumming, and piano, he also has extensive experience in the studio as a Recording & Mixing Engineer, as well as a Songwriter & Producer for publishing companies and Record Labels. Brian loves to help people become passionate about music and has experience on all sides of the industry which helps easily adapt lessons to each student.

Gillian Coscia is a University of Albany graduate. She earned a Double BA in Childhood Development & Psychology with a Minor in education. Having an experienced background working with children of all capabilities, Gillian provides patience and understanding in all situations. Raised in NYC, she’s accustomed to being surrounded by all genres of music, which served to increase her knowledge and love for instruments of all kinds — including, but not limited to, the 11 years she spent singing in choir. She has worked in administration since 2016, expanding her experience with a variety of cliental. Gillian enjoys assisting students to develop their musical skills by finding them the perfect lessons and is thrilled to be a part of the team!

Owen Greene is a pianist with experience in many different styles of music. He began playing the piano when he was 11 years old and quickly fell in love with the instrument and music as a whole. Owen was trained classically, but quickly developed a love for rock and roll and the blues. In high school he began his study of music theory, participated in the jazz ensemble, and accompanied his chorus on piano. He was selected to participate in Area All State and All County Jazz Ensembles in both his junior and senior years. Owen went on to participate in jazz ensemble while attending SUNY Schenectady School of Music and played at different venues in the area. Currently, he frequents local open mics and picks up shows wherever he can. From accompanying a singular vocalist, to solo performances and full bands, Owen enjoys playing any style from classical, to the blues, to top 40, to rock and roll or jazz standards. Owen believes the key to learning a new instrument and sticking with it is to make sure to have fun! He brings out the best qualities within each student and shines a light on what makes their style of play unique and fun to listen to.

Callie Damouras is an emerging opera singer from Massachusetts. Callie started singing and performing musical theater at a very young age and has been classically training for over a decade. She graduated with her Master of Music degree in voice performance and opera from New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, and she holds a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She has experience singing, performing, and teaching genres such as opera, operetta, musical theater, jazz, art song, pop, country and more. Callie has taught all levels in group and private settings. She is passionate about helping her students develop an understanding and love for their unique instrument, while teaching them how to use it with healthy technique and to its fullest potential. In her years of higher education, Callie undertook intensive piano courses and specializes in teaching beginner to intermediate piano students. She strongly believes in adapting to her students’ individual pace, employing guided lesson books, and assisting them in creating simplified versions of songs appropriate to their level. Throughout her teaching, she emphasizes valuable lessons in music theory.

Deb Hedley is a classically trained pianist who has been studying piano for over 17 years. She grew her passion for music within Shenendehowa’s music program. Deb spent most of her high school career performing in various wind ensembles, jazz bands, and accompanying on piano for select choirs as well. After high school, Deb went on to teach private piano lessons while continuing her piano studies at Florida SouthWestern State College. Since moving back to New York, Deb has continued growing her music career performing at various venues and playing keyboards as part of her local church's worship team. She is a well rounded pianist who teaches from beginner to advanced level. Over the past several years, she has helped prepare students for Piano NYSSMA Festivals, college auditions, music camps, and The Chopin Competition. Deb enjoys teaching a variety of styles and genres with a coaching style focusing on the importance of music theory, proper technique, and having fun during lessons!

Chelsea Johnson began playing piano at the age of six. She studied piano through high school and played in several bands as well as competing and placing in NYACS Fine Arts competitions in the classical and sacred piano categories. After high school, Chelsea studied Music Industry: Recording and Engineering at Herkimer College. While there, she continued studying piano as well as recording and engineering. After graduating with an A.S. in Music Industry, Chelsea moved on to graduate with a B.S. in Music Industry from the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton College. She studied classical piano under Dr. William Newbrough, a Steinway Artist who studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Chelsea has been involved in many musical endeavors such as being a member of an a cappella group and performing Mozart's Requiem with the Houghton College Choir at Carnegie Hall. She was on staff with Koinonia, a student-led worship experience in which she led worship on piano with a band for the student body on Sunday evenings. Since graduating, Chelsea has recorded piano and background vocals for a few different projects, such as Sorrow Estate's The Happy EP (put out by vocal coach Laura Beth Johnson). She currently performs gigs periodically with family members and is a part of her local church's worship team. Chelsea is a passionate musician and pianist. Whether a student wants to learn classical music, pop music, chord charts, or how to play and sing just for fun, she's got you covered!

Areli Mendoza-Pannone has studied vocal technique and performance for over a decade. In high school, she participated in various musical theatre productions in the tri-city area and interned as an assistant stage/music director in her senior year. She attended Russell Sage College, where she received training and experience in musical theatre with the Theatre Institute at Sage. She later transferred to SUNY Schenectady School of Music for her vocal performance degree. During this time, she was educated in opera and classical performance as well as toured with a barbershop quartet she led. She has additionally travelled as a vocalist/keyboardist with The Fire Collective, a worship collective based in upstate New York. Since then she has also performed as both a singer-songwriter and classical soprano throughout the NYS Capital Region, Hudson Valley, and twice for a Toi Magazine conference based in California. In 2023, Areli received her Bachelor’s degree in Opera Studies from the Purchase College Conservatory of Music. While attending Purchase, she gained experience in opera performance as well as art song style in various languages. Areli hopes to awaken a passion for singing in the hearts of her students, challenging them to discover the unique characteristics of their individual voices, as well as encouraging them to grow in technique and versatility.

Mia Giovanna Longo is a Senior at the College of Saint Rose, majoring in Music Industry with a concentration in Voice. Mia has had the love of music, singing and performing since the age of five. She has a vast history of singing in school choirs, multiple theater companies and a cappella groups during her middle and high school years. Mia has been under the tutelage of seasoned professionals such as Nancy Auffarth, graduate of Yale School of Drama, whose career has spanned over three decades, including appearing on Broadway. She also trains with Elizabeth Cohen, an Albany native, who began her musical career at age nine and was selected to begin formal voice training at 15 with the Julliard School Pre-College program. She is an Adjunct Professor of Voice and freelance Opera Singer at The College of Saint Rose. Mia, a singer/songwriter and true storyteller at heart, loves to share all that she has learned and is continuing to learn with others that share her love for the art.

Chris Andreski is a multi-instrumentalist whose primary focuses are guitar and piano. Having studied the piano from a young age, he later applied his musical knowledge and experience to teach himself how to play the guitar, and eventually went on to study music theory, composition and practice at SUNY Oneonta, where he performed in a variety of ensembles and bands, engineered live sound for concerts at local venues, and from which he obtained his B.A. in music (and philosophy). Chris has been a performing musician in a variety of musical projects and bands in both the Central New York and Capital District music scenes for over twenty years, and his musical tastes are broad, ranging from jazz and blues, through classical and avant garde, to contemporary hip-hop, funk and rock. Recently he has taken an interest in the more technical aspects of audio engineering/music production and has been recording/producing original music in a variety of musical genres. He enjoys communicating his passion, experience and expertise in music to all the students at Modern Day Music.

Gabe Stallman is a musician to the core, having been drawn to instruments (guitar, bass, keyboards, voice) as far back as he can remember. As a formally trained graduate of the SCCC School of Music, Gabe approaches teaching like a musician, believing that the most important part of playing is identifying, developing and enhancing a love of the music. Gabe has been playing out professionally since the age of 16 having toured the northeast playing original music with his acclaimed band, Ampevene. You can hear his music on popular local radio stations like WEQX and WRPI. Gabe believes that the educational experience should be as exciting as the music itself. In lessons, Gabe works with students to identify the music they love from all genres, to understand the theory that explains why they love it, and to help them develop the auditory and technical skills to play and create the sounds that drive their passion. Gabe is excited to be teaching with the family at Modern Day Music, and seeks to give his students the best education they can get.

Joseph Woodul is a drummer from Texas. His education began by playing hundreds of shows up and down the East Coast. Later on in life he found mentorship under local Jazz master and SUNY Purchase graduate Joe Barna. This not only cemented his ability to read and write, but it also gave him a direct line of knowledge to such legends as John Riley, Adam Nussbaum and Hal Galper. Beyond this, he's been fortunate enough to attend master classes by Chris Coleman, Benny Greb, Steve Jordan and many others. Joseph places an emphasis on live performance and the ability to collaborate with others. Among his favorite styles are Rock N Roll, Funk and Blues. He currently shares his time between multiple groups, including locals such as The Erin Harkes Band, The Liam Davis Trio and The Silver Arrow Band. He also has extensive experience with CCM and Gospel, currently serving on the worship teams at both Life.Church of Latham and Liberty Church of Schenectady. Joseph focuses on cultivating passion and discipline in his students. He believes that the best way to improve on an instrument is to have fun!

Benjamin Zoleski is an engineer, producer and multi-instrumental musician who has lived in the Capital Region since 2012. A Berklee College of Music alumnus, Ben received a thorough education in all aspects of the music business ranging from the studio to the stage. Before embarking on a national Broadway tour as Children's Musical Director, he worked here at Modern Day Music as a guitar and piano coach, band director and studio engineer. Ben always sought to prepare students for performance in any setting. His time at MDM was also spent engineering and producing sessions for various projects including full bands, singer-songwriters and students experiencing their first time recording. In the studio, it is Ben's mission to provide a professional and fun atmosphere for clients to learn the ins and outs of modern music production and engineering, giving them tools that can last a lifetime.

Paul Guay's drumming journey began at 16, igniting a lifelong passion for rhythm and performance. However, his love for music took root much earlier, with classical training starting in the 2nd grade, where he mastered reading music and playing in concert bands. By high school, Paul was honing his skills through private lessons and showcasing his leadership by organizing musicians for local events. Paul's dedication led him to earn a music degree from SUNY Adirondack in 2014, a milestone that marked the beginning of his teaching career. His enthusiasm for sharing his knowledge and skills with others quickly became apparent as he began guiding his students. As an adult, Paul's musical tastes expanded to the vibrant worlds of Jazz, Funk, and Rock drumming. His talent and versatility landed him a spot in the acclaimed Jam band Let's Be Leonard. With LBL, Paul toured coast to coast, produced multiple studio albums, and won the prestigious Eddie Award for Best Jam Band three years in a row. Paul's dynamic career has seen him perform in diverse ensembles, from jazz trios and wedding bands to post-punk emo bands and reggae groups. His rich tapestry of experiences and unwavering love for music make him an inspiring drum coach, ready to ignite the same passion in his students and guide them on their own rhythmic journey.

Allyssa Gurnee spent almost their entire life in New York City and has been surrounded by music from a young age. They pursued this passion for music in high school, where they played the flute in the school band and participated in musical theater. With a great background in customer service, office work, and internal relations, Allyssa is always willing to lend a helping hand and better their understanding of any situation. They handle every circumstance with a smile and strive to better themselves and the workspace around them. Going forward, they hope to inspire others to continue their education in music, as well as provide insight and guide students on their journey towards success.

Deb Hedley, in addition to coaching piano lessons here at Modern Day Music, also spends her time as our Creative Director. With a strong work ethic and attention to detail, she helps create and facilitate new programs and serves as a liason between our students, coaches and office staff. Deb uses her strong musical background to come up with new ideas and student goals, creating overall program effectiveness within our school. Deb helps ensure a well rounded and complete experience for the students at MDM.

Cailin Schneider handles all marketing and social media content for MDM. Her love of music started at a young age as her mother was a piano instructor and taught her to play. She then transitioned to singing where she joined several select children’s choirs and performed in her school’s theater program. Although she comes from a musical background and is a big fan of the local music scene, her creativity is shown through photography and videography, which she pursues in addition to her work at MDM. Cailin graduated with a degree in Communications, Sports Journalism, and Art & Advertising Design from Marist College.

Paul Benedetti began his career in music more than 30 years ago. He started out playing saxophone for 9 years, added guitar in high school along with a little singing and took piano as well. Realizing his true calling was as a lead vocalist, he studied classical voice with various teachers for many years throughout high school, college and beyond. He then began to teach others in the rock/pop field using an applied song based method just like what Modern Day Music does today. Paul played in a local rock band in the 80's, often opening up for various national bands. During that time he also honed his skills as a producer/engineer in the studio, as well as doing live sound engineering for hundreds of bands. Paul has since been very fortunate to work with some incredible artists. He recorded and mixed projects from the 70's southern rock group, the Outlaws, to numerous CDs for hardcore favorites One King Down and Stigmata, all the way to engineering the CD, On My Way To You, for the legendary Tony and Emmy award winning star Leslie Uggams. Paul has also engineered cast albums for the Tony nominated broadway musical, Anna Karenina and the off broadway musical, Thunder Knocking On The Door with music by Grammy award winning artist Keb' Mo'. In addition to working with hundreds of musicians, Paul has also done editing, mixing, and mastering for independent films such as, The Last Round, featuring X-Files star William B. Davis, Hobo Heyseus starring Raymond Turturro and Kenneth John McGregor, and many others... Paul opened Max Trax Recording Studios located in Albany, NY, in June of 1994 and it soon became one of the areas premier music studios. He has since produced, engineered and mixed projects for hundreds of up-and-coming musicians and voiceover artists, including NBC's The Voice Top 20 contestant, Moriah Formica and American Idol's 3rd place, Madison Vandenburg. Paul is a respected veteran of the music industry and is known for getting the best sound out of the people he produces, records, and mixes. His experience and talent are essential to the quality of our operations and to the support of our studio. Paul's main objective for Modern Day Music, as it is with all ventures he is involved with, is to provide unparalleled value, education and ongoing support.

Marilu Benedetti, wife of owner Paul Benedetti, handles all financial related tasks for MDM. Marilu has many years experience running a multi-million dollar company. Retired from her full time management position to raise her children, she then came to Voices For All to oversee and assist with all things behind the scenes. Now she does the same for MDM. Marilu is fastidious in all that she does and is very conscientious of not only our team members and the company as a whole, but also of each and every vendor we work with. Everyone is very appreciative of Marilu's attention to detail and her quest to do things in the most ethical way. It is so great to have her as a part of the MDM family.

Areli has studied vocal technique since she was fifteen years old, both privately and at the college level. In high school, she participated in various musical theatre productions in the tri-city area and interned as an assistant stage/music director in her senior year. She attended Russell Sage College, where she received training and experience in musical theatre with the Theatre Institute at Sage. She later transferred to SUNY Schenectady School of Music for her vocal performance degree. In this time, she was educated in opera and classical performance as well as touring with the barbershop quartet she leads, Vintage Harmonics. She has additionally travelled as a vocalist/keyboardist with The Fire Collective, a worship collective based in upstate New York. It is Areli’s desire to awaken a passion for singing in the hearts of her students, challenging them to discover the unique characteristics of their individual voices, as well as encouraging them to grow in technique and versatility.