Rebecca J Carda Leigh, concert pianist, studied at the most prestigious music schools in the United States, the Eastman School of Music (BA in piano performance,) the Juilliard School and the Manhattan School of Music with such faculty as Nina Svetlanova, Rebecca Penneys, German Diez, Jackson Berkey, Madame Rosalyn Tureck and Dr. Ana Maria Trenchi de Bottazzi. She has played at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall, Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, Steinway Hall, The John F. Kennedy Library Boston, The Cardinals Villa Chicago, The Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series Chicago, Caramoor, Kilbourn Hall, Howard Hanson Hall, Lena Hall Chautauqua, the Chautauqua Amphitheater, St. Augustine’s Church Bexhill-on-Sea England, and Witherspoon Concert Hall. Her prizes and honors include: The Forsythe Memorial Award, the Gertrude Vayo, the Eleanor Daugherty, the George Eastman Scholarship, and the Chautauqua Summer Music Festival. Her patrons have included Mrs. Howard Hanson (wife of the late composer/conductor Dr. Howard Hanson).
She has been an appointed teacher for the American Music Scholarship Association, the Germaine Pinault School of Music, and is a member of the Leschetitzky Association. She adjudicated such competitions as the Leschetitzky Gifted Young People’s Concert and the World Piano Competition as a regional judge. She is the accompanist for choirs and orchestras at Riverside, Julian Curtis, and North Mianus Elementary school, Eastern Middle School, and Central Middle School. She holds the American Protégé International Competition 2013/2023 Diploma for extraordinary dedication and achievement in the field of teaching music and presenting students to perform. Her students perform at Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Lincoln Center, and Steinway Hall. They show talent and dedication, winning such awards as the Steinway Junior Piano Competition, American Protégé International Piano Competition, The World Piano Competition, The Golden Era of Romantic Music International Competition, The Leschetitzky Association Gifted Young People's Concerts competition, and the American Chamber Orchestra competition.
She is the 2022 Steinway Top Teacher Award recipient for dedication to music education, artistry, quality, and exquisite musical expression. She is the founder of The Summer Concert Series in Greenwich, CT and the First Friday Concert Series held at The Greenwich Arts Council in Partnership with The Wallace Center and Greenwich Arts Council.
Naomi Onda, concert pianist, passed the special music theory class at Osaka College of Music when she was in the first grade of elementary school, and mastered all music theory just four years later. She joined the special ear training team at Miyagi Gakuin University in Sendai when she was in high school, and received special intensive training. Naomi continued her music education and graduated from Osaka University of Arts, obtaining a master's degree. Her awards and honors are numerous, and include winning the Sakai City New Face Philharmonic Award. While in Japan, she performed often as a piano duo.
Naomi moved to the United States in 2004. She used her special skill of improvisation to play jazz, pop, and classical music, and was active as a professional accompanist for Broadway casting auditions in New York City. In 2009, her original CD "From Manhattan" was sold nationwide. Her concerts are extensive. In 2016, she gave a solo piano concert of "Gershwin’s, Rhapsody in Blue." In 2018, she did a piano and violin duo concert "An Evening of Francis Poulenc." In 2019, she performed in a piano, violin, and clarinet ensemble concert "L'Histoire du soldat Igor Stravinsky.” Recently, in 2024, she formed the vocal group WAONY and just starting live performances at Christ Church in Greenwich.
She is currently an accompanist for The National Competition and for elementary and middle schools in Connecticut. She teaches children at her own piano school at Riverside School of Music. Naomi's special program has attracted a lot of attention in Connecticut and has quit a following.
She won international teaching honors in 2023, IPPA Conero International Piano Festival & Competition. In 2024, she performed at Lincoln Center, Library of the Performing Arts and performed as soloist at The Summer Concert Series 2024 Greenwich Arts Council Concert Hall.
Joe Corsello, drummer, was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. Joe has made a lifetime commitment to playing drums and continually striving to reach new highs in the drumming world. Some of Joe’s works can be heard on BIG FISH MUSIC’s production of cinematic percussion sounds. Joe studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., under the watchful eye of drum legend Alan Dawson. After leaving Berklee, Joe enlisted in the U.S. Army band and was stationed in Staten Island, N.Y. During his Army stint, Joe studied with drummer Joe Hunt who was living in New York City. After completion of his service obligation, Joe went on tour with the Glen Miller Orchestra under the direction of Buddy DeFranco. Joe remained in New York City as house drummer for Michael’s Pub, backing such jazz artists as Red Norvo, Joe Venuti, Dave McKenna, Hank Jones, Zoot Simms, and pianist, Marian McPartland. Joe’s longtime relationship with jazz producer/writer Michael Cuscuna, brought about the formation of the jazz/rock band, New York Mary, (Arista Records). The band recorded two successful records and toured with the B52′s, Patti Smith, Stevie Wonder and Tony Williams Lifetime band. Joe traveled with saxophonist Sonny Rollins and can be heard on recordings with Rollins, Marian McPartland, Benny Goodman, Steve Marcus, Ralph Lalama, Mike Moore, Sal Salvadore, Gene Bertoncini, Mike Mainari and the list goes on............Joe endorses WFL III Drums and Avedis Zildjian Cymbals exclusively.