The Dryden Center for Community has space for lessons, individual and group practice, and performances. If you are a teacher in our community and or know of someone looking for a space to teach, let us know!

Some Strings Attached

This group is not meeting for the month of August Our new inclusive ukulele and acoustic strings collective will be meeting in the Queermunity Room, hosted by Big Mama. There will be a weekly theme, with some suggested tunes to work on together. Everyone is welcome! Email info@drydencenter.org for this week's song packet.

Music Together

Music Together is a a Mixed-Age music class, for children from birth through age 5—and the grownups who love them! All our classes are active music-making experiences, designed to teach the way children learn: through play with the grownups they love.

Join instructor Jennie Lavine for a FREE introduction to the Music Together experience on June 23, July 28, and August 25 at 10am. Register by emailing office@ithacasuzukimusiceducation.com

Dryden Area Intergenerational Band and Chorus

Mondays from 7-9pm starting June 29 This chorus will be meeting for 6 weeks in the Community Room at the DCC, directed by Scott Miller. This is a non-competitive, fun, free summer music ensemble experience to anyone of any age or musical ability. We offer area musicians the opportunity to strive for musical excellence while promoting the exchange of skills and cooperation across generations. Participation is free, and there are no auditions. Contact us at drydenbandandchorus@gmail.com. For more information and to register, go to the DAIBC website.

Guitar

Dan Forsyth is no stranger to writing and performing original music for the stage. As a founding member and primary singer-songwriter of the folk band Driftwood, he has spent over 20 years crafting songs, touring, and connecting with audiences through storytelling and musicianship.

Drawing from decades of real-world experience as a performing artist, Dan brings a practical, inspiring approach to teaching guitar. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your skills, his lessons focus on helping students develop confidence, creativity, and a genuine love for music.

Dan is currently welcoming new guitar students of all ages and skill levels to join his studio. Please contact him at daniel4syth@gmail.com for more information.

Piano

Jonathan Fenwick is an active performing violinist and music educator. He began piano at an early age and studied with Michael Salmirs, Patricia Canning, and Molly MacMillan. He is enthusiastic about providing a joyful and nurturing environment for piano lessons. Jonathan’s lessons for beginners take a fun approach to addressing music reading skills and rhythm, and he is also excited to hone the skills of more developed students or those returning to piano. He is passionate and knowledgeable about a wide range of musical genres from classical and jazz to film scores and pop.

Jonathan spent three years playing violin with The Orchestra Now at Bard Conservatory where he received an M.M in Curatorial, Critical, and Performance Studies. He holds an additional M.M. from the Eastman School of Music and a B.M. from Oberlin Conservatory in violin performance. Please contact him at jfenwickstudio@gmail.com for more information.

Suzuki Violin, Viola and Cello

Through cooperation with Ithaca Suzuki Music Education, we are excited to welcome string teachers Eugenio and Bianca to the DCC beginning in September 2026. If you are interested in lessons, please fill out this form and specify that you would like to have your lessons in Dryden!

Dr. Eugenio Figueroa is a registered Suzuki teacher in violin, viola, and piano with the Suzuki Association of the Americas. He currently serves on the faculty of The Hartt Community Division and the Music School at Sound Crossing. He previously taught at the New England Conservatory Preparatory School, the Escuela Preparatoria del Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, and Kids and Musik, the first Suzuki school in Puerto Rico. His dedication to Suzuki education has also taken him to workshops and institutes throughout Texas, Atlanta, and Puerto Rico.

Bianca d’Avila do Prado is a Brazilian cellist, pedagogue, and composer. She holds a Master of Music degree in Cello Performance and String Pedagogy from Illinois State University, where she completed her studies under Dr. Adriana Ransom and Dr. Cora Swenson-Lee, working as a String Project Graduate Assistant and acting as ISU Symphony Principal Cello. She had completed Suzuki Teacher Training in all 10 Units plus supplemental courses, receiving a "Distinguished Young Teacher" award from the Suzuki Association of the Americas at the SAA/ASTA Conference in 2024 and the Music Institute of Chicago "Teacher of Note" Honoree in 2023.

Organ

Stephanie Ortolano is our organ instructor. Stephanie has been a church organist since her early teens and studied with Bruce Smith, Stephen Best, and Annette Richards. She is currently the organist at Freeville United Methodist Church and served as organist and Music Director at First Unitarian Society of Ithaca for 14 years. Please contact her at sortolano@gmail.com to set up a time to tour the organ at the Dryden Center for Community and find out about lessons.