Meet Our Staff

Mr. Nate Lienhard, nlienhard@cwcboe.org, webpage, a graduate of William Paterson College in Wayne NJ., has a B.M. in Jazz Studies and Performance.  He is currently taking Graduate courses at William Paterson University in Music Education.  He was the recipient of the Outstanding Senior in Jazz Performance award.  An Iowa native, Mr. Lienhard moved to the New York area in 1991, for schooling.  He has worked in the New Jersey and New York area ever since.  Mr. Lienhard is co-leader of Grey Lienhard Jazz.   In Grey Lienhard Jazz and as a freelance musician Mr. Lienhard has performed with such greats as Joe Morello, Dave Valentin, Ralph Lalama, Jon Faddis, Steve Turre, Derek Smith, James Williams, Carrie Smith, Phil Woods, and Bob Berg.  He has also performed in many jazz clubs such as Trumpets, The Priory, Shanghai Jazz, and Birdland.  Bassist/Author Todd Coolman describes Mr. Lienhard as “a strong player with his own voice‚...it’s onward and upward for Nate."  He has also performed internationally at the Ozone and Montreux Jazz Festivals in Switzerland, the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland, and most recently at the Atlantic Jazz Festival in Halifax Nova Scotia.  He also performed in a variety of classical venues, one including The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra in Iowa.  Mr. Lienhard’s last teaching job was the director of instrumental music at the Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest, New Jersey.  Mr. Lienhard has done clinics and workshops including “1997 Children’s Jazz Series” a WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM production.  He teaches at the William Paterson Summer Jazz Improvisational Workshop, and has been published by the New Jersey Jazz Educators Association.  Mr. Lienhard has been the director of the high school string program at James Caldwell High School along with teaching the Music Arts Class.  He also teaches low strings in the elementary school in the Caldwell West Caldwell School District.

Ms. Annelie Fahlstedt, afahlstedt@cwcboe.org,  began her violin studies in the public schools of Long Island in the fourth grade.  When her family moved to Brooklyn the following year, private lessons were begun at the Cirillo School of Music.  In the ninth grade she was accepted into Juilliard Pre-College where she continued her studies on Saturdays and at the High School of Performing Arts (NYC) during the week.  Ms. Fahlstedt has a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College and a Masters’ in violin performance and pedagogy from Northern Illinois University.  She received her Suzuki certification at the School for Strings in New York City. 

Ms. Fahlstedt’s violin playing has offered her the opportunity to travel and perform at the Opening Ceremonies of the Summer Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada as a member of the Jeunesses World Youth Orchestra in 1976.  She has also played with the Oslo Radio Orchestra in Norway and lived for one year in Venezuela where she played in the Caracas Philharmonic.  Ms. Fahlstedt is a member of a string quartet which gives two concerts annually and plays many weddings and parties.

Mr. Paul Larsen, pel@cwcboe.org, webpage, plays saxophone, flute and clarinet and has been a music teacher in the Caldwell/ West Caldwell Public Schools since 1979.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from William Paterson College in 1979 and received a Master of Arts on flute from Montclair State College in 1987.  Some of Paul’s former teacher’s include Ron Parello, Bob Keller, Hugh Stuart, Neal Bonsanti, Lou Budz, Peggy Schecter, Vinnie Hill, and Thad Jones.

He has performed throughout the years in a wide range of musical venues. Mr. Larsen has performed with Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell, Fabian, "The Shirelles", Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, "The Skyliners", "Little Anthony and The Imperials", Lou Christie and opened with the "Angela Bacari Band" for Rodney Dangerfield at the Tropicana in Las Vegas.  He has also performed with jazz greats George Coleman, Claudio Roditti, and Rob McConnell.  Currently Mr. Larsen performs with the New Jersey Saxophone Ensemble http://njsax.com/ (who's CD received a favorable "three star review" from the "Star Ledger) and other "tri-state" area groups.  The New Jersey Saxophone Ensemble has had several pieces written for them by composers nationally and internationally most notably, by Caldwell/West Caldwell Music Department member, Patrick Burns. 

Mr. Larsen was twice selected to conduct the New Jersey Northern Region Jr. High Jazz Ensemble and has been active as a judge and clinician for various All-State and Regional Jazz festivals throughout the state.  When not playing or teaching music, Mr. Larsen enjoys taking care of his two children.  His hobbies include music and video technology, and working on his family’s own Genealogy.   Mr. Larsen is married to Caldwell-West Caldwell Music teacher, Deana Larsen. 

Mrs. Kamaljit K. Bhamra-Watson, kbhamra@cwcboe.org, webpage, has been a music educator for 9 years.  She has worked in the Caldwell-West Caldwell School district for seven years.  In 1998, she received her B.A. in Music Education at Montclair State University.   In 2005, Mrs. Bhamra-Watson received her Master's and a Supervisory Certificate in Music Education.  Within her studies, she participated in several orchestras within the universities and communities.

Ms. Bhamra teaches violin and directs the orchestras in Washington and Lincoln elementary schools in the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District.  In the year 2003-2004, she had the opportunity to coach the orchestras at Grover Cleveland Middle School.  Mrs. Bhamra-Watson successfully helped the students achieve first place at their annual orchestra festivals.   However, Mrs. Bhamra-Watson does not limit herself as an educator.  Mrs. Bhamra-Watson also works as a recording musician, string arranger, and performer with her string ensemble Mystic Strings.

Ms. Noreen Lienhard, nolienhard@cwcboe.org, Noreen Lienhard received her BME from the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, before relocating to the east coast in 1977.  Since then, she has taught for the jazz departments of the University of Bridgeport and William Paterson University, maintained a studio of private students, and served as a music teacher at various public and private schools. A jazz pianist and vocalist; she is co-leader of Grey Lienhard Jazz, with bassist Nathan Lienhard.  In Grey Lienhard Jazz, and as a freelance musician, in the NJ-NY metropolitan area, she has performed with such greats as Clark Terry, Pepper Adams, Howard McGhee, Ralph Lalama, Gary Smulyan, and Joe Morello. She has performed at the Cork Jazz Festival, in Ireland, and the Atlantic Jazz Festival in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Ms. Lienhard is the author of several books, featuring jazz piano arrangements, published by Ekay Music, as well as a contributing editor/arranger to "Piano Today" and "Sheet Music" magazines. She is also the composer of the NJ-IAJE junior/senior region jazz audition pieces for piano. She is currently working on a beginning piano method, for individual/group instruction. Her recordings include, "Front To Back", with bassist Rufus Reid, and "An NPR Jazz Christmas", with Marian McPartland, which was recorded during an appearance on Ms. McPartland’s "Piano Jazz", radio show. Ms. Lienhard has just completed a CD, entitled "You Plus A Jazz Ensemble", which includes performances by fellow CWC music staffers, Scott Chamberlain, Paul Larsen, and Nate Lienhard. Ms. Lienhard is on the faculty at GCMS where she teaches sixth and seventh grade general music, eighth grade band, and woodwind lessons. She also teaches vocal music at Wilson Elementary School.

Ms.Laurie Simko, lsimko@cwcboe.org, webpage, began her musical studies on the violin at the age of 7 in the Caldwell-West Caldwell school district.  She went on to receive her Bachelor of Music Degree in music education with a concentration in violin from Rutgers University Mason Gross School of the Arts in May 2007. 

Throughout her musical career Laurie has had the opportunity to perform in regional and state wide orchestras in concert halls such as the Prudential Hall and Victoria Theater at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), and Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall.  In college Laurie performed regularly with the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra under the guidance of conductor Kynan Johns.

Laurie teaches violin and directs the orchestra at both Jefferson and Wilson Schools.  In addition to that she teaches classroom music for Kindergarten, grade one, and grade two students attending Wilson and Washington Schools.

Ms. Deana Larsen, dlarsen@cwcboe.org, has been teaching in the Caldwell Public School since 1990.  She received her Bachelor of Music degree from William Paterson University (then College).  Deana has been extensively performing as a vocalist in area churches and in choirs.  As a member of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Chorus, she has performed at NJPAC, the State Theater in New Brunswick, and at the Trenton War Memorial.  In that capacity, she has “backed up” notables including Melba Moore, Christopher Cross, and Peebo Bryson.  Mrs. Larsen sang in the world premier of Hannibal’s, “God, Mississippi, and a man called Evers” and his critically acclaimed, “African Portraits”.  Deana has had the privilege of singing at The Mann Center in Philadelphia for the Inaugural Marion Anderson Award Program.  She also sang as a chorus member in a New York Pops Concert in Carnegie Hall under the direction of Skitch Henderson.  Mrs. Larsen enjoys teaching general music to her students at Washington and Lincoln elementary schools.  She is also happy to be the director for the Grover Cleveland Middle School choral ensembles. Ms. Larsen is on Maternity Leave for the 2006-2007 school year.

Mr. Patrick J. Burns (b. 1969) serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at Montclair State University in New Jersey, where he teaches courses in orchestration, counterpoint, band literature and music composition, and also teaches instrumental music in the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools. As a clarinetist, Mr. Burns has performed with many professional ensembles in the New York metro area including the Metropolitan Opera Summer Ballet Orchestra, the pit orchestra for the Broadway revival production of Camelot starring Robert Goulet, and with the New Jersey Chamber Music Society in broadcasts for National Public Radio and New Jersey Network Television.

In 1986, at the age of seventeen, Mr. Burns founded the Bloomfield Youth Band, a community wind ensemble of some 60 secondary school and collegiate musicians which he continues to direct today. The Youth Band has been recognized by the Township of Bloomfield, the New Jersey Legislature and the United States Congress for its artistic excellence and civic contribution to Bloomfield and to the State of New Jersey. Mr. Burns served as conductor of the MSU Youth Orchestra for three years and as director of the Imperial Brass. Imperial Brass recorded two albums under Mr. Burns' direction. The band’s first album, Highlights, received critical acclaim in the United States and Britain and the second, Imperial Brass and Friends, features world-renowned soloists Philip Smith, Warren Vache, Roger Webster and Chris Jaudes. Mr. Burns has been featured as guest conductor and clinician with public school, university, community and honor bands in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. Next February, Mr. Burns will be featured as guest conductor of the 2007 Maryland All-State Band at Morgan State University in Baltimore.

His compositions for symphonic band are performed by bands of nearly every level throughout the country. The United States Army Band, “Pershing’s Own”, has performed his music in Washington, D.C. and at Carnegie Hall. Other performance credits include the Indiana University Symphonic Band (Stephen Pratt), the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Symphonic Band (Jack Stamp), the Hofstra University Wind Ensemble (Peter Loel Boonshaft), the MSU Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony (Mary Ann Craig), the Ridgewood Concert Band (Chris Wilhjelm), the Hanover Wind Symphony (Peter Boor) and the Bel Air, Maryland Community Band (Scott Sharnetzka). His music has also been performed by conservatory bands in Russia and Japan. The New Jersey Saxophone Ensemble has premiered six of Mr. Burns’ works and one of his works for solo piano, The Persistence of Memory, has been performed numerous times by American pianist David Witten in Europe and South America.

Mr. Burns’ music for symphonic band is published by G. Schirmer, Daehn Publications, Wingert-Jones Music and TRN Music Publisher. His music has appeared on Bandworld magazine’s Top 100 list of band compositions twice. The Instrumentalist and School Music News have also printed favorable reviews of Mr. Burns’ band music and The Classical New Jersey Society Journal has praised his chamber music.  He has recently received commissions from the Goldman Band/Harvey Phillips Foundation, Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble, the North Jersey Area Band Association and the Ridgewood Concert Band. Mr. Burns has been a recipient of an ASCAP Special Composition Award annually since 2001.

Mr. Burns also serves as president of the Bloomfield Federation of Music and as faculty advisor for the MSU chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity.

Mr. Burns’ music can be heard at his website, www.patrickburnsmusic.com

Ms. Marilyn Havrilla, mhavrilla@cwcboe.org, is the classroom music teacher and fifth grade chorus director at both Washington and Wilson Schools. Ms. Havrilla is a graduate of Caldwell College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Music Education. She also attended music education classes at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. Ms. Havrilla has taught elementary vocal music at Our Lady of the Lake School in Verona and is presently teaching 3 days per week at Noecker School in Roseland.

Ms. Elsie Timpson, etimpson@cwcboe.org, is the classroom music teacher at both Lincoln and Washington Schools. She is also the chorus director at Lincoln School and Grover Cleveland Middle School. Ms. Timpson earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College specializing in Music Education. She has been a vocal music teacher in the Roxbury Township Schools, Morris Hills Regional Schools and Hanover Park Regional High School.

Mr. Andrew Burrows, aburrows@cwcboe.org, webpage, is a recent graduate of Montclair State University where he received a B.A. in Music Education. While at Montclair, Mr. Burrows performed with the MSU Symphonic Band, MSU Wind Symphony, MSU Saxophone Ensemble, and several saxophone quartets as well as other chamber ensembles. Outside of Montclair, Mr. Burrows has performed with the Bloomfield Youth Band, the Toms River (formerly Dover Twp.) Municipal Band and been an Associate Conductor of the Ocean Youth Band since 2004.  Mr. Burrows studied saxophone at Montclair State with Paul Cohen and David Bixler. 

Mrs. Thea Colacurcio, akarlsen@cwcboe.org,  is a lifelong resident of West Caldwell, graduating from James Caldwell High School.  She graduated from Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts and received an associates’ degree in executive secretarial science.  After spending ten years in Texas, Mrs. Colacurcio moved back to West Caldwell and began working for the Board of Education in 1987.  She is currently the secretary for the district’s Music Department as well as the secretary to the Vice Principal at Grover Cleveland Middle School.